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Star (Christchurch), Issue 50, 11 July 1868, Page 2

y ' ----■ "■■■■■■■ ■■ ■ ••■•■! We aro very glad to boo that a com. miltoo luui boon at lust formod for the purpose of inaugurating in Ohrintchurh a oluhb of amuHomenttf which liah oi' lato yoare bocomo vory popular iv Kngland. Wo alludo to what aro commonly known j\h " penny roadinga." Tho titlo, by-tho-by, doon not clouHy oxpi'oßß tho moaning infcondud to bo couvoyod. An ovoniug spent in thoao " l'ofldingrt" in not dovotod oxclusivoly to reading and being road to. Mußie, both vocal and iuotrutnontal, ontoiv lai'goly into tho programmo, as a gonoral rule, and rocitadona aro also ooeiAHi'onully introducod. A ploasant and intoroating divoraity of nvtioual amusomont ia tlius nflbrucd./ Tlioro fii'O two features^ connoctcd with fchouo nmiMomonta which will help to commond thorn to tho attention of tho public. In tho flrafc placo, thoy | pai'talco noithoi 1 of a soctarian nor a I Hocial cliws clmractci 1 , and next, tho porformora boing all voluntoor«, they will nocossarily bo ft vory ohoap mode of amußOinont. llithorto, tho public of QliivißtP'liurolv havo boon vory poorly offforainiißomcntor instruction of any kind. Wo npoak of tho public in tho broadoab aonso. Truo, thoy liavo — at loaat tho malo portion of thorn— had tho occasional opportunity of attond. ing a political mooting m tho Town

Hal), without paying for it. But theso have bcou romnrkably dull proceedings sinco tho Maori war and tho lighting Superintendents havo vanished. Buyoud these meetings they have had little except tho choico of tho theatre mid a low concerts, at prieos out of all proportion to their moans. Fivo shillings, or even thruo, for nn evening's amuseluonl;, i« simply a prohibitive duty. ( Tho " readings " intended to Oo d<>livorod in tho Town Hall will bo open to the public at a nominal cost, and fli'Bfc come will bo ll rat nerved in the matter of aeata, Perform*!! 1 .-* in all departments havo, wo understand, already volutoored their sorvieoa, and the ontortainmonts will bo undor tho able management of ono of the most obliging and olllciont of secretaries — Mr McGardoll. Tho first performance will tako place- shortly, and then wo hope tho public will frooly patronise those ladies and gontlomon, who, with a ninocrtJ dosiro to provido a little amusement and instruction for their fellow- townsfolk in theso dull times, havo eomo forward to do their beat to pleas©. We aro Huro this is all tho rccompenao that is looked for.