OUR AUCKLAND LETTER.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 1351, 20 June 1881, Page 2

OUR AUCKLAND LETTER.

,Tns J',topic of conversation which at ;preserit|epms to engross everyone's attehtio'n is"' Pollards Lilliputian "Pinafore " Troupe. Each night the theatre is crowded, and intending visitors -{o the lower parts of the house had in many cases to have their money returned tlTtgn, as "no room " was tho uniftnabcry. The Press — one and all — speak in most eulojistic terms ot the performances, and old inhabitants say they have seldom seen their theatre so well patronized.

Haselinayer, the conjuror, and his wife, did very fair business for one week at the Lome-street Hall. They have left here for the Thames en route for the youth. Herr Carl Schmidt, who was recently appointed conductor of our Choral Society, gives a good account of the ab'lities of some of the members, and truatß with drilling and constant practice to make the society one of the leading ones in New Zealand. To pass on to more si-rioiH mutters I may mentiqn that tho recent and continuous outbreaks of tire in our city have caused much alarm, and at present great interest is manifested v the case" with regard to the fire at Messrs Bindons bottling store. Th« Bros. Bindon are now on trial, and although on one hand much sympathy is felt with theie gentlemen, on the other agian the circumstantial evidence is so strong against them that the result seems an almost foregone conclusion. The libel case against Mr. Wickham, of the JFrce Lance will occupy the attention of the Court shortly, and the pontiff, Mr. W. J. Hurst, M.H.R., has purposely remainr I in our city to await the r: *ult. The other members left here lft wek for the " Empire City." There waa little or no excitement at their departure. The petition for a Town Hall will be pushed forward, and doubtless will be paced and if jerccted on the proposed site, will make a very welcome addition to the architectural buildings of our city. Theu|>roai.b<|tup«f the proposed Auckland Coffeo Palace Company h?s been adverti. cd, and much talked over, and although amongst the names of the Provisional' Directors may be found several of our leading citizens. The majority of outsiders prophecy an utter failure without the addition of more influential natu"-. than appear on their list.

The leading features of this Company will be to provide. Ist A superior Hotel with the comforts of a home from which alcoholic liquors will be excluded. 2nd A large Koom where Tea, Coffee, Cocoa, Lemonade, Aerated Waters, &c, can bo always had, for the special benefit of the working classes, at a cheap rate, as supplied in the Coffee Palaces in England. 3rd A Restaurant where meals of the best quality will be served in a clean and attractive form. , 4th Separate Dining-rooms for Ladies only, Ladies and Gentlemen, and Gentlemen only. sth A Billiard-room, Reading-room, and Smoking-room, for social recreation. " The newly-inaugurated Devenport and North Shore Ferry Company are working off their aharea veil.

One Word in conclusion for Madame Lotti Wilmott, who has been staying here for some time past. She lectured on Saturday evening last, taking for her subject, " The law ot population and the struggle for existence." The hall was moderately filled. The lady's commanding appearance and remarkably free flow of language was well received, and strict! attention wa3 given to the subject iq • 'hand, Madame Willmot, previous to her last illness (which lam glad to say 1 proved anything but serious) gave severjaf. interesting lectures, and showed a great apetitude for gaining information in an incredibly short space of time. | Having visited all our principal buildings and places of interest.iaone week, ad the end of that time she. actually told the Aucklanders more of their city and what was going on around and about them, than they had any idea of, although many of her hearers had lived here all their life.

Gonzalo,