POPULAR ENTERTAINMENTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 59, 22 July 1868, Page 2

POPULAR ENTERTAINMENTS.

4 As affording a means of harmlcsH amusement, iiiid ii.h calculated to imp.ut instruction to llio comparatively illitemtc— to improve the tastes of the people and divert the inclinations of the nnws to sonic useful end, mid more especially to Instruct the young in a variety of ways— the initiation in Christchurcn of what in the old country are designated "Penny Hauling*," deserves more lima a more piling notice in a local parngnvph, Besides being of inestimable lumcllt locally, an example will be set to our fellowcoloiilsla In various purls of the country which thoy can imllnto with advantage, and our friend.l at horne — tho-jc wlio evince an interest in the colonies— will be glad to sec how speedily wo n&rfmlluta oui 1 l.utitur.oit* to thoso on the oilier side of the glolw, aud will doubtless npm'eciato the program which the work of colonisation in making in this remote corner of the Diitish Kmpirc. Kducation has a vast deal to do wUU tiie colouixatlon of any country $ and, a.i forming part of tho Hchome, tho penny reading sy*Lun, as it lias been aptly ienned, deserves to be fo3tercd by every admirer of moral and tioclnl nd* vuiicomcnt, To establish (his system wna tried in Chritttehuroh be&u.', but through want of energy on tho part of Us* pil.ne movers, the maucr fell to the ground, an noKoluto full me, It ia not long ago since the Jlcv, Ji 0. i\, iloivrc; attempted to revivo thy undertaking, ami ii nwtsi bo admitted that tho one ot 1 two calci'taiuuumU at St. John's schoolroom, though on a comparatively smell scale, were atlei'dod yllh iv degree o? ncccoi quiie in keeping with Iho anilcipfttlons of ihe'r pro.noteiv. Hero, then, was an caimplo sec which has happily bsen acted on, and there is every reason to expect that now the penny readings have become apart and pa .col of cur pci'tnancnt local institution-*, Although for convema\cc'hHvkc tlwy are called J< pem>y reading," the enlei'iaUi.ucjnu aw i>rym : s3il (o be i,o diversified as to partake or a mu-m'ciu character. By this moans, tcdiousnoHs u;il bo averted, and tho cntcituinmcnts become us deservedly popular «w those at homo, 'iro m)<ui>yii>g eonutltleo huvoaeled vcty judiciously i.i fixing the [vice' of lulmMou 0,l biich a Mini as will enable evcVyoao to attend who desires to do so i and the crammed attendance at the new Town Hall lu.->t nighcamply testifies that their decision hivs been seconded by tlu>M> whose support aud appreciation wan required—the people. The ta.'k of delivering the inaugural address wan kindly undertaken by his Honor Mr Justice His Honor wild that before proceeding to the buboes') cf! the evcuing, he thought ii right toHii'.io lh!>c ho h«ul j.ht received a JettCL- from tho Very Hoy. the Dean of Chiisichiu'ch; expressing his regret nt btlng unablo to attend; and^np gieatiiUcrc.it which he took in tho hociuly j. and ho wjviburo Hint all would join in a feeling of rvijrbt, -more I'-uvUiulariy ,a^ Uso cause .of . (lie Dean., iifj.taeo was illucis. Ho owed it to hii friends and himself to explain why he had contented to take no p.QniMc'nt v pari in ti.e pioccvidlngi o£ tho jQvenTng, as' to deliver ihe opening address, Those wlio knew him would give him credit for tho thorough conviction of his inability to discharge ndsqoatc'y the t.wk which he hud uiuliYciikou • bul buintf convinced of the good which might be ell'oclcd by ibis Imiituiion, if prope.ly worked, hv felt that duiy and mun((ne»itf alita demanded thai he should take the place which the kindness of the committee, 4u dororouoo rather to his position than his ability, had aligned him. (Hear, and applause.) Ills Honor went on to refer to tho origin of penny readings in the mother country, and to the groat good which had resulted from thorn. He hoped that llfw noddy would load to tho establishment of a library, and in addition to its present object it would also partake of (he character of a literary Institute, (Applause), To the young men of this city such an institution would be especial ly valuable. There were many hero who had no homes or l'amiliei, and the conso quence wen that after their day's labour wai finished, they were reduced cither to a mere waste of lime, or to spending their leisure hours in a manner little calculated to improve their moral or uocin) condition. But there was another class of young men who were, ho rejoiced to think, more alive to the importance of improvement, and he trusted that from them the society would receive encouragement and valuable assistance. He was glad to perceive that tho committee had noi overlooked one very effectual means of recreation, namely, music, Its power was inivrvelloiis, even amongst ilio.se who did not I'/ulofMtiuid it Hcientifleally ; and on behalf of the committee he had to thii'ik them ladies and gentlemen who were about to contribute, by their musical talents, to the entwtainmeiit of the evening. It scorned to him that if penny readings hud boon found useful and necessary in a country like Kngiuud, they must bo more so in a colony like New Zealand. (Applause) Although, thla wtw ft small beginning, he had hot tlu> Hl'ghleat doubt that with proper miuii'goinont, the movement would eventually bo pof uc Live of good and lasiing rcMilA Tho Commlttco had hardly expected that

there would have boon such a rush of people on their opening night, but notwithstanding that about 7154 obtained admission- very little confusion wiw created, The audience presented an Admixture of nil classes -young, old, and middle aged ; so that the Committee has a positive assurance that their entertainments will be well patronised in future. This being so, It Is n duty >vhich they must not shrink from, namely to provide the very best available talent. Last night's programme was very judiciously arranged, but wo are sorry to say that there was n partial break down in tho enrrying of it out. It is perfectly true that the whole thins is voluntary, but when the names of gentlemen are inserted in the programme to attain certain parts, the public naturally expect that their promises will be adhered to, unless causes intervene over which the promised performers have no control. Of course, we do not know what prevented the carryiug out of last night's programme, but this we do know— and doubt not that the audience was disappointed at it — that no glee was forthcoming. We draw attention to this drawback in the hope that it will not recur. Our hearti&t wishes are that the undertaking will succeed ; and the committee, wo feel assured, will acquit us of auy ill-nature in speaking of a hitch the occurrence of which was rather unfortunate and to bo donlorod. The public have testified that they will support them j let the committee, therefore, exorcise every endeavour to render their future entertainments as instructive and rgrccablo ns it is possible to make them. A»tor the opening address the Cavalry Band performed Uie overture to Tauerodl, which was loudly applauded. Mr Hooves then read tho " Kival Editors," from Pickwick. Those who have read the part can easily understand how it was that so much laughter waa provoked, and low, notwithstanding its length, the reading vas well received from beginning to end, n heirty round of npplanso at tho finish denoting the manner in wlileh it was appreciated. The omission of the glee rendered it necessary t'*ut Mr M'Cardell should proceed with tin raiding of "Tho Annuity." This selection Li in thoi very broadest Scotch dialect, whio Mr MCanlcll his mnnoged to cultivate Tith considerable success, Tho sayings are lire>«l<>Ubly droll, and repeated raar*; of laugli^r wore the result. In consequence of another hitch ia the arrangements, Mr John OHivio* wns obliged to give 1m rending "Vat you Please." It was unfortunate that it ww so, for the audience betrayed signs of a de4re for variation, and little wonder tlwt they did, when it Is considered that threo readings followed In succession. Mr J. Foley gave a solo, which recompensed the patience of tho nudiencc. This gcntlemnn Is well-known to posses ftvery sweet voice, and btwidw this, ho is very judicious in what he selects. Ilia singing wai admired byoveiybody, and an encoro was called» which, however, was not rc'uiomlcd to. The Civalry band then plnyed WrtHi BeJce»l«>'»)i> fi'olrt IrfV Sotmiatnbulfv, wliicli concluded the programme, Mr Ollivier nnnounced that the next entertainment would take place at the Town Hall, OjvTuesdrty evening next. TTwJJoy, Charles Fniscr proposed a vote of thank's t» his Honor Mr Justice Oregon, which was carried with acclamation. Hi-. 110.i0..', in voluvafng thank*-, of Die plt'OAtuc which he had derived from the ciiici'liviiuncnt, and rcUcmtcd his coaviction ihat the undertaking would be highly successful,