DICK SHORTLAND. Pollard's Opera Comppny.

Otago Witness, Issue 1851, 30 March 1904, Page 61

DICK SHORTLAND. Pollard's Opera Comppny.

Masterton, March 22. Dear Pasquin,— The J. C. Williamson Dramatic" Company played a two-niights' Ssa?on here to big business. The pieces prcducod were ' The Light that Failed" and "The Admirable Crichton." both having h<virty leceptions. Mi- Cuyler Hastings, Mr Hamilton Stewart, Miss May Checker, and Miss Florence Gleeson were perfect in their respective parts, while the other members of the company weie well placed. The scenery (especially in "The Admirable Crirhton") wa3 superb. Wirth's Circus appeared here recently, and despite the wretched weather which prevailed, the huge tent was well filled. A really meritorious performance was given, each item being heartily applauded. The Howard Bros, and Herr Pagel are the stars of the combination. Montgomery's Entertainers opened to a very large house. As usual, "Monty" has a bright little show, the contributors to the programme being Misses Ettio Hargood (the possessor of a cultivated and very sweet mezzo-soprano voice), Miss Eva, Brady, Mi E. Montgomery, Mr Harry Hall. Mr Fred Gibson, and Zeuo (juggler). The biograph views were very ges-d. Cooler and M'acdcrmott's Biograph was shown here to two very good audiences. The Zulu Healer has been pushing his business in Masterton. Beoides appearing twice in the Town Hall to give demonstrations of his skill (the admission being free), he also gave a lecture entitled "Sound the World in Eighty Minutes." Tht yttendan.ee at the two demonstrations was enormous, but the lecture did not draw such j largo house. — Sincerely yours, FRA DIAYOLO. Kaitaia (SCO miles north of Auckland), March 20, 1901. Deir Pasqiun,— We (the Black Family) left for v trip to the "Fai North" m the = s. Clpiit.maii on March 7. Next d«y we arrived m Evissell ai 10 a.m., where a regatta vas being held. Captain Karqu'hax very kindly delayed, the Cu-ibnum's dep'irture till 11 p.m., to allow of our givmg an enteitamment, winch we did t) an overflowing audience, with only eight holds' notice. JNTex< day "re arrived at Mangonui, -where we left the steamer and gave <mr cntcrtainmen'r, charging 3s and 2s, which is cur eclniissicn up here on the gumfields. On Thui &cla\ we engaged a large 'bus and fouc h-orses mad drove tc Tveria,, then on <o Kaitci" Waipauakura, Hohouia (tvo mjlits), Awaniu, Herekino, and lasi nisilxt (Friday) we weie to oppea.r here in Kaitaia on a lefurn visit , but the iaui set in in. tonents, and now the whole

Cv-mitiy is under water for mi'es, roads impassable, and we aie weather-bound ci the hotel, ard must remain so for several days. To-jiiglvt we pro billed for a leium visit to Itfangoiiui. The so-called loads here aie iiist awful. Hohoura is the farthest north gumfields, some 210 miles from Auck'and, and have pbout 1400 diggers. We did great business there and at ICaitaia. We arc Ike first musical co to travel these parts. Kind regards from • self and family. JOHN BLACK. [

self and faiuny