NATIVE OBSTRUCTIONISTS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3504, 4 August 1880, Page 2

NATIVE OBSTRUCTIONISTS.

ARREST OF EIGHT NATIVES. The Constabulary arrested four natives who were engaged fencing yesterday morning, and this morning four other natives were arrested. Thej' will be brought into town this evening by conveyances which have been sent out for the purpose. On the arrival of the Hincmoa to-morrow the prisoners (numbering 40) will at once embark under the charge of a detachment of the A.C. Force, and will be taken direct to Lyttleton.

A man named William Brown was arrested this morning on a charge of stealing a quantity of beer, valued at £G, from the cell w of the I Beach House Hotel last night. Mrs. Davics, wife of the proprietor of the hotel, noticed this morning the footprints of a man near the cellar door, and she traced them for a considerable distance along the beach in the direction of the Outfield Road, when she saw Brown lying asleep on the sand with a can of beer by his side. She at once informed the police, and the man was arrested. It appears that beer has been taken on several occasions from the cellai, but no clue could be found as to the thief until Mis. Davies with great diligence traced the delinquent to his retreat. An entertainment was given last evening, at the Odd Fellows' Hall, being a complimentary benefit to Mr. E. E. Gilbert, under the patronage of the various Friendly Societies. The attendance was moderate. The first part of the programme consisted of a number of songs, recitations, &c, the most attractive being the descriptive sketch entitled ■• Mr. Skinner going and returning to the Charity Dinner," which was ably giveuin character by Mr. Ainslie. Mr. Gilbert was very successful in the songs, "The place that gave me Birth," aud " Happy Dreamland ;" and was encored on each occasion. His voice has many excellent qualities, and his expression is natural and unconstrained. Mr. Francis performed some enlivening selections on the piano, the execu- , tion being highlj 1 " creditable. The laughable farce " Box and Cox," which concluded the entertainment, was produced in a satisfactory manner, and was thoroughly appreciated. Mr. Adams' impersonation of '• Box" was worthy of notice; mid Mr. Ainslie was quite in his place in the character of " Cox," while Mr. Oliver made an energetic " Sergeant Bouncer.*' The Legiox of Honok.— ln addition to the award of the Gold Medal (L'Academie Natiouale). aud aho the Silver Me lal, awarded to John Brinsrnead & Sous, of Wigmore-stroet, London, for the superiority of the^Piano exhibited by them last year at the Paris Exhibition, the founder of the firm has been created Chevalier of the Legioa of Honor, this distinction being conferred ou no other British Pianoforte Manufacturei!