REV. HASKETT SMITH.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 10422, 26 September 1895, Page 2

REV. HASKETT SMITH.

Oi 1 all the eminent lecturers who have yet visited the colonies, none has appeared with greater success throughout Australia than Mr R. S. Smy the s latest celebrity, tbe famous Orientalist, the Rev. Haskett Smith, in fact his success has eclipised his predecessors of the lecture platform, he having given more lectures and drawn larger audiences than any of them ; in Melbourne he gave twenty lectures to overflowing houses in the large Athenreum Hall. The press *nd public are unanimous and outspoken ia their, opinions of the merits of his lscture. The Melbourne Australasian the most important paper of Australasia, says of him. "An interesting nnd catching speaker who can conjure up in words a vivid and real impression of a distant scene, and familiarise it to his audience, with extraordinary success by a few graphic and 'sometimes quite homely touches. The salt of humour ia not wanting either, so that altogether the Rev. Haskett Smith, approaches as nearly as possible, the ideal of what a lecturer should be. " Tho Melbourne Argus, quotes : "These lectures which are nightly attracting and captivating such large audiences are unique, both in matter and illustration, his audiences always go away enthusiastic, wishing there were more, and a feeling that a cloud of ignorance on some interesting point has been dispelled." An additional attraction to the aloquent and masterly delivery of Rev. Haskett Smith and quite a feature of his lecture entertainments is the introduction of the marvellous limelight views with which they aro throughout illustrated. Most of these views are photographs -taken- by Mr Haskett Smith on the spot himself, and are essentially unique, true and lifelike. Next week our readers will have an opportunity of hearing tL«se interesting lectures, as arrangements have been completed for two of his famous lecture entertainments to be given in the Alexandra Hall on Tuesday and Wednesday next. Tho subject for the opening night is ; The Crescent and the Cross, or the cradle of Christendom. Prices have been fixed at really popular scaleß, viz., 2a and Is to enable everyone to hear ths finest lecturer that has ever visited the colonies.

THE LUCAS- VOSS COMPANY. We understand that the above talented Company -will appear shortly in a miscellaneous programme of variety and dramatic incident at the Alexandra Hall. Mr Lucas and Miss Silla Wilde, artists with Home reputations, are on a visit to New Zealand for the good of their health, and local playgoers may feel convinced that they have a treat in store. Mr Voss is well-known, and as Shakespeare says : — " Good wine needs no bush." Popular prices will be charged. A sacred concert 'wul be given on Sunday, and admis»ion by collection.

The Gymnasium Club's Social, to be held in the Drill Hall this evening, promises to be a great success. Ticket* are selling freely, and all who attend may be sure of spending a pleaeinfc evening, the floor being in capital order. Cricketers are reminded of the general meeting to-night of the Taranaki Cricket Association, to ba held at tho Criterion Hotel at 8 p.m. Besides the officers and club delegites, all members of affiliated cluba are entitled to attend and speak, and this being ths first general meeting of the Association in New Plymouth, it ia hoped cricketers will roll up and show their appreciation of and interest in the welfare of the governing body of the diatriofc. Cricket prospects for the coming season are much better than ,they Jiavo been for many years in Taranaki, and there is every nrobability of some outside matches playe<J here with our representatives. Referring to the meeting, the Hawera Star says,*" The Association was successfully inaugurated at beginning of last season, and was the means of arranging that pleasant and exciting match with the Fiji team. This season there is promise of still further outside matches, and it is quite likely that Taranaki may have matches at homo with the New South Wales team, Auckland, and Nelson, and probably also Hawke's Bay. It is to be hoped therefore the various clubs afljliated will be fully represented at the meeting on Thursday. Tho Association has no 6xed headquarters on account of the scattered state of the clubs iv the province, and as last year tho meeting was held in Hawera, this year it is to be at New Plymouth. Cricketers' attention is called to Eules 11, 12, 13, and 20." The contractor for the rubble protection work at the breakwater is making excellent progress with the work. On Wednesday despite the high wind blowing the work of trucking stone down the mole and tipping it over the side of the structure was actively carried on. The Union Company's s.s. Omapero from southtrn ports? with 204 tons of gdneral cargo arrived at the breakwater about noon on Wednesday, and met with quick despatch. The steamer left for Weßtport the same night. The Union Company's s.s. Oroti from Westport with 125 tons of coal arrived at the breakwater this morning, and after discharging cargo steamed for Greymouth. A social in connection with the New Plymouth Volunteer Gymnasium and Athletic Club will be held in the Drill Hall to-night. The annual mooting of the Taranaki Cricket Association will be hold at the Criterion Hotel to-night. We have received samples of Mr Martin's photograph Christmas cards issued by MesarsH. I. Jones and Son, of Wanganui. Those cards are very excellent specimens of tho photographic art, and include views of Muoriland scenery and pictures of natives selected from Mr Martin's beautiful collections. Each card includes two or more pictures artistically embellished with appropriate designs and mottos, and at the back of each card is a description of tbe attractions of this wonderful country. The series consists of twenty-four different varieties, which are supplied in two sizes. Mr Thomas Ayery is the sole agent for theae photo Christmas cards, who has a well aaflorted stock of them on hand. Tli'- leclut I'leutum in Auckland wns intcM at tnji, iimsiiiucji ua it Raw lliu public an ■ >in>.ii tunity (it suriiiK how far llio looiil iibws !• ijiut-H wiil go in niiiinjt tlnii faviiuiitu'.olmms to tiie oii|i|ioi t of thu " f i uu and imli|ieiiilent"' No one fact wus ircntdoil bj cither side that wus nut dcnird, or (jtmliKt'd, »r misu'pruxented l>y tlm other. JrVilmps liiilulii Zulu's BiiL'gestion to let every uitiult* carry a aigtmturu would Inivc n milutury effect, Imt aliis I wo do not in New Zealand unit our " guiding power" to lending articles. We distort faats ; \vu wilfully igiioio current events, in order to liiin^ lilmnt ihut conBiniinnition — tlm ulnctinn of "our party" nmn There in one suljeet both sides Agree on, and Unit i» thut Vanity Fair (Jinuiettes ure worthy of tho conndonco of both (Janice. A London correspondent writing to a conttmpary under date of April 9th says: —"A few days ago I had a long chat with Sir George Grey, whom I found in hiß rooms at St. James's, engaged in preparing another shipment of valuable books for tho Auckland Library. He was very sheerful, and said he felt quite well, but at times a hollow cough shook him a good deal, and he seemed more infirm ihan when I saw him last. Ho admittod that his bad cold of last winter — which I strongly suspect to have been influenza — had loft its mark on him. Still, he siiid, h<j, found the English climato suit him very, well, and ho believed he would not have lived through the wet winter which he was told Now Zealand had just experienced. Sir Goorgo still expressed his full intention to return to New Zealand, though he did not know when be woula bo able to leave Ecgland," ,