SIMONSEN'S ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA COMPANY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 2426, 8 July 1876, Page 2

SIMONSEN'S ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA COMPANY.

The Agent for this Opera Company came ashore on Wednesday last from the steamer, and the opportunity was taken by a few gentlemen to endeavour to secure the performance of the Company for a few nights. The proposal made by Mr. Raphael was that he wns willing to cnll in here on his way to Auckland, and play for four nights, if a guarantee of £400 was given to him. We hear that several gentlemen are ready to guarantee the amount if they find tho public como forwnrd and apply for n sufficient number of tickets. The price of the tickets has been fixed at two pounds for the four performances, nnd persons wishing to procure them should leave their names with Messrs. Humphries and Son, Mr. Cottier, Mnsonic Hotel, Mr. Drew, or Miss Retford. The Opera Company consists of sixty performers, and is one of the finest that has visited this Colony ; therefore the performance will be Buch as hns never before beeu witnessed in New Plymouth. Nr.mcs of those intending to take tickets must be sent in before Saturday next.

Mr. Pitcairn, we henr, has been appointed Clerk in the Resident Magistrate's Office, at Nelson. Bradshaw's Guide. — Wo have to nsknowledge tho receipt of the Juno number of this useful Guide. Mr. William Bennett hna been gazetted as a Clerk in the Deeds Registr}' Office, New Plymouth. Taranaki Jockey Club.— The hnlf-yenrly general meeting oE the Tarnnaki Jockey Club will he held this evening, nt 7 o'clock, at the White Hart Hotel. The Annual Meeting op the Agricultural Society will be held at the Omatn lun on Wednesday next, when members are requested to nttend, there being an election of three members of the Committee and other important business to transact. Compensation asked for by Old Settlers. — His Honor Mr. F. A. Cnrrington presented a petition to the House from nineteen pioneer settlers of New Plymouth, praying for a quarter of an acre of town land in New Plymouth, as wns promised them before leaving England ; or for compensation, o Arrival op Imsiigrants. — Several immigrants arrived on Wednesday last by the steamer. The following arc their names :—: — Margaret and Mary Ryan ; Dnvid Greenway 33 years, painter, nud Sarah (35), Eliza (4), aud William 8; George Smart (19), painter. Winter Evening Lkctures. — Mr. W* M. Cromptou delivered- a very interesting lecture ou "The Suu" on Tuesday evening last, which was illustrated by several coloured diagrams. Considering the trouble the lecturer must hnve taken in preparing the lecture, ho cortaiuly deserved a better audience. The Governor's Coat. — A correspondent of an Auckland paper gives tho following description of the coat worn by the Marquis of Normapby ou opeuing Parliament — "The Governor was apparelled in, I supposed, the uniform of the aucient Assyrian Cohorts when they came down liko the wolf on the fold, for he was "gleaming in purple and gold"; liia largo chest was one dens'.< mass of heavy gold lace, unrelieved by the slightest bit of colour. You could see from the sleeves of this wonderful coat that the ground colour was n dark blue. It struck me if that coat were uuder some of our stampers at the Thames that a tolerably rich yield would bo obtained. (JMajor Clare. — The Wai/tato Times speaking of Major Clare's removal to New Plymouth, says — " In the case of Major Clare, very great regret will be felt by the settlers of Waikato generally, that his removal from a district iv which he has lived so long, and nt his time of life, should have been considered necessary. Major Clare boa now reached the years mentioned by the psalmist as the allotted Bpan of life, and it does Heem very hnrd that this officer, who has served the Colony from the commeuccment of its troubles, who has made for himself n home in the district, iv which, as Bubordinnte, and aa officer commanding the district iv the nbseuce of the lospector, he has gained the respect nud ersteeni of all those with whom, officially or otherwise, he has beeu brought into contact, should be thus suddenly removed. The State that thus repays the services of years will come to look in vain for zeal from those who serve it." A New DODGE. — The "Loafer' 1 in the Press writeB — "There's a new dodge for raising the needful, which I want to tell you j about. A mau advertises " bottleß of scent, price one shilling, with something else in the wrapper." A friend of mine on purchasing a bottle found enclosed anew farthiug. Another fellow was surprised — very much surprised — at finding a half sovereign, and another whose itnpccuniosity is notorious, borrowed the necessary robert, purchased a bottle of scont, aud in tho wrapper found a renl five pound note The above facts arc confirmed truths, but unfortunately the scent ns above is not sold here. It happened in England. The Bankruptcy Act. — The " Loafer in tho Street' in the Canterbury Press writes- - "I have beeu engaged recently in n cultivation of the Bankruptcy Act. It's a cruel Act. There's no use in being a debtor vow. Debtors have no protection. There was a time when " the Court" was a garden of Bendermcer to any business men. Alas ! those times are o'er. An Act which condemns a too provident or even n too improvident debtor to remaiu with a Damocleaa (I say bully forDnoioolean, eh ?) sword hanging over his bend is an Act unfitted for an ndvnnccd stntc of civilisation. As little Nipper says, the only course for a fellow to pursue now iB to live ou the interest of his debte.

ANNUAL SUPPER OF .'THE -LOYAL EGMONT LODGE, 1.0.0. F. THE fifth annual supper of tho Loyal Egmout Lodge, of the Manchester Unity Order of Odd Fellows, was held in the lodge-room of the hall on Thursday evening last, when over fifty persons sat down to an excellent repast prepared by "Mr. Horatio Hammond, of the Ship Hotel. The occasion was also taken advantage of to present Dr. O'Carroll (the late surgeon) with an address. The chair was occupied by Mr. Seffern, P.G. ; Mr. H. Hooker, P.G., and Mr. Lashford, P.G., acting as croupiers. The ample and appetizing supper having been partaken of, the usual loyal toasts were proposed. The Chairman said they had met that evening more especially for spending a few hours' in social conviviality, as it had been their custom to do for some four or five years past ; but, on the present occasion, he had a very pleasant duty to perform, that of presenting to Dr. O'Carroll a slight acknowledgment for the valuable services reudered to the Egmont Lodge during tho ten years he had l>cen connected with it as their Doctor. The Chairman referred to Dr. O'Carroll's connection with the Lodge in the most complimentary terms; and said it wns a matter of considerable discussion hoY the members should best express the esteem iv which he was held by them. It was felt that no present of a mere monetary value could adequately express the sentiments of the members of the Lodge," and it was finally unanimously resolved that an nddrcss would be the best. He had now much pleasure in presenting that Address, which waa as follows : — ■ To Fatrick Joseph O'Carroll, M.R.C.S., &o. DEAR SIR, — In accordance with a resolution passed unanimously at a special meeting of the Loyal Egmout Lodge, No. 4632, of the New Plymouth District 1.0.0. F., we have much pleasure in asking your acceptance of this address. Aa the medical officer of our Lodge, duriug a period of ten years, you hnve endeared the hearts of the Brethren to you, and we have adopted the present course to mark our appreciation of your long and faithful services, to thank you for your unwearied attention to ourselves, our wives, nnd our children, and to express our regret at losing the services of so able and valuable an officer. During the past ten years the Lodge has passed through many vicissitudes, yet you remaiued with us, attending to ourselves and ! families with the utmost care. For this we thank you, and at the same time we feel sure you will be gratified to learn that the Egmout Lodge is again nttnining to thnt position of prosperity it formerly enjoyed. In couclusion, we would again nsk yonr acceptance of our best wishes, and we trust that you may be spared many years, not only to afford relief to the afflicted by your medical skill aud knowledge, but to enjoy the prosperity you have earned in your profession. Signed on behalf of the Lodge this thirteenth day of August, one thousand eight huudred nnd seventy-five. William F. Moon, Noble Grand. Richard Charles E. Lawrence, Vice Grand. William Bennett, Secretary. The Chairman then called upon those assembled to drink Dr. O 'Carroll's health, which was responded to in a most enthusiastic manner. Dr. O'Casroll replied at some length, saying thnt he much regretted having to reBign his position ns Burgeon of the Egmont Lodge, and ho had only done so when he found that ns a Government officer he would be interfering with private medical practitioners who were coming iuto the place. He spoke in highly complimentary terms of the skill and ability of Dr. Wavren, their present doptor, who he felt sure would do them justice, and he was certain that the good feeling that existed towards himself would be extended to Dr. Warren. Ho said he should never forget the time wheu as a young practitioner in the plnce, nnd a stranger to nearly all here, the members of the Egmout Lodge had elected him their Surgeon, nnd given him, he might say, the first lift in the place. He concluded by again thanking them for their kind wishes and expressions of esteem, which would never be forgotten by him. The Chairman then proposed " The Board of Directors of the Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows," which was responded to by Mr. E. Humphries. The Vice-Chairman proposed "The New Plymouth District," to which Dr. O'CARROLL replied. Mr. Julian then proposed the " Loyal Egmont. Lodge of Odd Fellows." Mr. Harris Ford, in replying, spoke of the vicissitudes through which the Lodge hnd p.issed, and the money it hnd lost through building the Hall ; nnd said that nothing but the indomitable pluok of the members, and the faith they had in this Society that kept them from becoming bankrupt. The Lodge wns started in 1858, nnd they hnd nmnssed over £2,000 in funds ; but through the depression caused by the war, nnd through building the Hall, they lost it nil. It wns not until 1873 that they ngsiin began to recover themselves, when their fund was £231 2s. Bd. The members were then paying tenpencc a week. In 1874 the contributions were raised to Is. per member per week, nnd since then, up to the end of last June, after defraying all expenses, namely, sick pay. surgeon, secretary, reut, district levies, and miscellaneous expenses, their funds hnd increased to £602 ISs. 11 Jd., showing an increase in two and a half years of £371 lCs. 3Jd, They had. £SCO invested ou good securities nnd benring interest; nnd the remainder wns either owing by other lodges or in their officers hands for carrying on the business of the lodge. They now numbered 132 members, seventytwo wore married, and sixty single ; the average ages being 34 iiiue-twelfths years. Mr. Ford concluded by saying thnt tho nnnncinl position of the lodge in a few years nt the rate they were accumulating funds, would be of n most substantial nnd satisfactory nature. The Vice-Chairman proposed tho " Loyal Excelsior Lodge" which was responded to by Mr. Collins, who said, although they did uot number so many members, was in a very flourishing condition. The Chairman proposed the " Kindred Societies" which was responded to by Mr. W. Bennett, on behalf of the Friendly Societ}'. The Vice-Chairman, in very eulogistic terms, proposed the health of Dr. Warren, the Lodge Surgeon. Dr. Warren replied iv a very complimentary manner to the members, nnd snid he should never feol any inclination to resign his position as their doctor. Several complimentary toasts followed, which were iuterspersed by song and speech, nnd a variety of talent was brought out. Tho amusement was kept up with unflagging spirit nnd in excellent good humour till " Sonic wee short hour oyont the twal," when some thirty who hnd remained concluded a most pleasant evening's festivities by singing " Auld Lnng Syne."

A Collector Sold. — Diamonds aro supposed to cut diamonds. Hero ia a case in point. A short time since (says a contemporary) in n country township, the bailiff of the district wns met by tho local collector of educational rate, mounted, booted, nod spurred. Tho educationalist served the official icpresentntive of tho majesty of the law with a notice to pay hia rate. Tho bailiff blandly accepted tho notice, waited till he saw tho collector dismouut from his 6tecd, aud then, producing n warrant from bis pocket, seized tho horse, saddle, and gear. Then that collector had to fiuish his circuit on foot, nud delivered himself, I believe, of sonic silent solemn solid Saxon eoulonccb.