The Taranaki Herald. " Open to All – Influenced by None" NEW PLYMOUTH, MAY 3, 1854.

Taranaki Herald, Volume II, Issue 92, 3 May 1854, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. " Open to All - Influenced by None" NEW PLYMOUTH, MAY 3, 1854.

The Lady Clarke left here for Java on the 26th ult., the day after her arrival, having landed 40 tons of cargo. The Rapid from Nelson came to anchor on Sunday morning last, and brings our files of the ' Examiner' to the 22nd ult. The Velox from Kawhia came in on Monday, and on the same morning the Matilda arrived from Wellington, bringing Wellington, Otago, and Canterbury papers to a late date. There is nolater European news than that our readers are already iv possession of. The approaching meeting of the General Assembly is the universal topic, and we understand from private sources that the members for Lyttelton and Otago had reached Wellington, and left in the Government brig with the) members of that Province for Nelson, but she had not arrived at that port when the Rapid came away. The steamer Nelson had returned from Auckland to Nelson ; and it is reported that the members will be brought'on by her. Her arrival in Auckland may probably have occasioned some alteration in the arrangement officially communicated, and which will be found in another column. ' From Auckland we learn that the Australasian Pacific Mail Steam Packet Company have decided that their vessels shall call at New Zealand under certain conditions. As an experiment the ships of the Company will touch at Auckland on the outward passage from Panama to Australia, and at Wellington on the homeward trip from Australia to Panama. The conditions pointed at, rather than positively expressed, are in the first place, a subsidy exceeding £2000 a year for the benefit to be derived ; and secondly, but beyond all, a perfect assurance that the detention of the steamers in port shall not exceed twelve hours. Accompanying this interesting information is an extract from a letter from H. H« Willis, Esq., in relation to the detention of vessels. " The Company sny that two thousand pounds subsidy promised by your Representative Council is insufficient, seeing that in all probability they wiil bo looked upon m n New Zealand line, instead of an Australian Steam Company ; and there is some truth in this remark, especially seeing that your Port has really become proverbial with ship owners for the long detention of ihipi. You must therefore insist upon a radical cure for this great and crying evil. The great aim and object of thii Steam Company Is to show to the world what can be done in speed of communication by way of Panama; and. if your clumsy Fiscal regulations, and landing goods by means of small asrgo boati, arc to bo the/obstacles to this, your community will have themselves to blame. As tho first impressions — if favourable — are half the battle, prny let mo urge upon you the paramount importance of giving the first steamer of the Company, when sho appears at your port, such despatch as will silence objections. The Director whom I have referred to tells me that in St. Vincent they have brought arrangements to such perfection that they can " coal" and despatch the largest steamers from thenoo in " seven hours," Think of this, and try to do even better/

It is our pleading duty to record the dawn of a new era in the festivities of Taranafcl. To the Freemasons of tUo Mount Egmont Lodge the Public atondi indebted for the very effective manner iv which they entered for its amuiement during the past week. Predisposed as we were to regard the members of that secret society with feelings of mistrust, we now most freely admit, that were the sphere of its usefulness restricted to contributing to the nmusement of our infant commitnity, we should deem Freemasonry an institution of no ordinary value. For a society which caa command a combination of tlio vocal, initrumental, and dramatical talent which has equally astonished and delighted us during three succcssiva evening!, we can but express the most profound re«rtcct. Tlio spacious premises of the Urathers Kino and Vickers wera thrown into one, and formed, with the addition of a stage and raieeil scats, a miniature tuentrc capable of containing 300 persons. The decorations/ consisting of Ma» sonic emblems cmhlazoncd in scarlet on a white ground, had a most chatto and elegant effect. TI)Q motto beneath the Proscenium " Floreat Taranaki" was not inappropriate. Suffice it to say that the admirable arrangement of every minutitc, the total absenoo of mechanic mishaps, avid rigid observance of punctuality, reflect the highest credit on the Masonic Brethren, and fully prove that they work by rule under the control of an able Master. On Wednesday the 26th instant, the evening't entertainment was a concert, in which the services of several old favorites, and of several recently arrived talented instrumental and vocal performerswere enlisted. It was however with regret we no, ticed the absonco of more than ona fair longstreis, upon whose assistance the public had relied. The house was brilliantly illuminated, fend by 7 o'clock crowded to ovei flowing— not only every scat, but every inch of standing room being occur, pied. Fully prepared a« wo were for an unusual muster of the (lite, wo mutt own that \to were completely dazzled by the blaze ol beauty, and as-

tonished at the elegance of the costume of oar Tarnnaki belles j satisfied wo were tbnt they rank pre.cmineritin the Southern hemisphere. At 7 precisely the rise of tho curtain presented j to the admiring gaze of tho assembled company, the beautiful drop Bcone, most tastefully executed by Mr. E. Harris, representing a magnificent Grecian Portico, through the arch of which,, our | majestic Egmont with its snow capped peak tower« ing abovo the clouds appeared in tho distance, whilst tho foreground, represented one of those beautiful meandering mountain streams with pic- • turejque, wooded hanks, which so greatly embellish the scenery of our lavoured district. , The drop seeno was drawn up, and the overling's performance commenced by the overture of L'lia< liana in Algere most artistically played hy Demoijcllos H r, and was suecacded by the Glee ' Hail Smiling Morn,' given with great eff. ct, under the able direction of Mr. Pakims, to whom much praise is doc. Where all weio resolved to please, wo can only venture to praise. Gratified we were to hear the veteran Worshipful Master poming forth his clear, silvery, notes, prov« ing tbnt any diminution of compass was made up by tho incomparable nvcetnois of a voice, which, wo truit, may long be preserved. The several Glees and Madrigals were sung in a. truly professional style. Mcudames II s, E s, and . C n, hnvo ever deservedly been special favorites j the sweetness of their voices being only surpassed I by their peifcct willingness to contribute to the co. jnyment of othors. If the pjofoundest attention,, and most rapturous applaus^j/bc grateful to the vo- I taries of Apollo, the exertions of all who no kindly contributed to the evening.'* amusement wera umply , rewarded. > j Mrs. L 's accompaniment* on the piano were characterised by that correctness of car nnd delicacy of touch, to which few amateurs ever attain. Mrs. E i in the ' Laat Rise of Summer,' nnd ' Ship on Fire,' was decidedly the Prima Donna (f the evening; her full, sweet, powerful voice, graceful cairiuge, and elegant costume, excited general admiration, and her unwearied efforts to please, elicited unbounded applause. Tho Nationnl Anthem, most effectively sung by the whole company of vocalists, closed the evening's entertainment*, and thn rurtain fell amidit the continued peals of approbation of a delighted audience. On Thursday was produced tbo Operatic Drama ' Tho last of the Rod Indian Warriom.' We ben lievo the plot to bnve been taken from Cooper's novel ' The Prairies.' The Public has approved of the piece, and we bow to'its decision. We would willingly have dispensed with the ' Cockney emigrant's part, although characteristically performed, and yet we could hardly have spared Sambo, that benu ideal of a nigger— whoso performance with the bones stunned all creation. Mr. X— — , qs Masanito, proved himsflf an actor o*f no mean ability, bis sinewy form well became the Indian warrior, his carnage proclaimed tbo chief, his attitude in the opening scene was well conceived, and his addresses to Amelia and the president of the Court martial were delivered in an admirable style- His costume, although extremely handsomo, was not exactly that of a red Indian, but more reterabled tho dreis of a Peruvian Inca. Messrs. H— — s and Hr , at Rokmano and Rolaka, Red Indians, were respectable, although we are of opinion that the former sang far too sweotly for a savage. In Mr. V— — s, ns Colonel lUaitlond, we recog« niied a veteran actor, perfectly at ease, and there* fore natural. Mr. S d, as Captain Trovor, had a soldier ' like appearance, and as a Holy Man, was far from contemptible. He sang the Duett with Amelia, with great spirit and was loudly applauded. As a lover Trevor, in our opinion, wai less ardent than a military beau usually is. Amelia was admirably played by Mrs. E s, her acting vtai so perfectly natural, dress so appropriate (and we need not add, no becoming) and the archness with which she sang the duett ' Think on me' with Trevor so truly captivating, that all —^trero delighted, and deafening applause ensued. The forest scene with that representing a room in Colonel Maitland's bouse were admirably executed, and reflect great credit on the talented artist, who unassisted, in » very brief period, painted the whole of the scenes. It is to be regretted that the author did not compose appropriate songs, as ' Calvc'a Head', ' My Bark is bounding', ' Farewell to tho Mountain', &c, although admirably sung, scorned out of place in the Prairie. On the whole the piece was most creditably got up, and on the fall of tbc curtain mot with its due meed of praise! Mr. X— — announced its re-performance on Friday evening. The Mugio Lantern then afforded a rich treat to tho Juveniles, whose bointerous merriment betokened their ample enjoyment. On Friday, punctually at seven, the ' Last of Ihe Red Indian warriors' was repeated with incrcaied effcsl, to a full bouse. Every actor had profited by the previous evening's performance. Mrs. X— — — — s acted with redoubled spirit, her singing was beyond praise, and her dress extremely elegant, although we doubt if the prairies ever produced so beautiful a bouquet, wrapped in lace )i«pi'r, or that a white sutin chaussuro has ever vi sited an Indian wigwam. Perchance the fair 1 Amelia' was captured reiurning from a ball,/f so, we humbly crave her pardon. We may not con« elude without remarking that the British soldier and the British tor were happily illustrated by bro. ther II » and Mr.'W— — n ; (we trust the lattar did not bolt to the Prairies with the ship's colours, although that ' Britannia' on bis hat looked very euipicious. The National Anthem terminated the evening's performance, and the public was not chary of its npprobation, Tho Magic Lantern followed and vraa enthusiastically cheered by tho young folks. During tbo three night's performance not the slightest accident or broach of decorum occurred, we therefore trust that tho public will raino the superstructure of which the Masons havo laid the foundation, and that we shall ere long have a Public Hall adapted for concert and dramatic representations. To those who are opposed to such innocent nmusemcut we would merely remark ' Emollit Morei.'