LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9192, 23 March 1908, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

— ♦ Speaking of the depression in the flax industry, Mr Harold Beauchamp, chairman of directors of the Bank of k New Zealand, 6aid it is evident that unless some arrangements can be made by which employees of flaxmills can be induced to accept lower wages, between 7000 and 7500 men engaged in the industry in various parts of the dominion will be thrown out of work. This will be most unfortunate, as the majority of the men who find work at the various mills are of the unskilled type. Mr Edward Geach's new dramatic organisation will open a season in tha Theatre Royal to-night, the opening production being Lingford Carson* four-act cimedy drama /"A Modern Adventuress." The company has jus* closed a successful season in WeHing--ton. The play is described as being a . mixture of wholesome comedy," with a leaven of stirring incident. The cast includes, among other old Ckristchurclr' favourites, Miss Helene Burdette and Mr Harry Diver. The box-plan is open at the Dresden, and th© day sales have been placed at the West End. " A Modern Adventuress" will be followed by a series of further London and Australian successes. The company wa. expected to arrive early this morning by the Rotomahana. The Opera House was packed on Saturday evening, when Fuller's Entertainers presented an entirely new programme. The artists were all, heartily applauded, and encores greeted each' number. ' The Marlowe Sisters gave a couple of songs and dances in. each portion of the programme, and Mr Tom Bryant's club and axe swinging was one of the feature© of the performance. Madame 'Blanche Corelli was enthusiastically recalled for her ballads, and gave Gounod's " Serenade " in an artistic and finished manner. The dancing of the Lucas . Sisters was full of spirit, and gained immediate favour, and Miss Gertie M'Leod, a clever serio, was also well received. Les Reggiardbs presented several novel features in their juggling and sword-swallowing turn, the assimilation of an electric bulb being one of the most remarkable. Mr Harry Edwards, who made his first appearance, earned a hearty encore for his tasteful singing, and Miss Brightie Smith presented a scena entitled " Birthday Presents " with marked feeling. Watts and Lucas, in a burlesque boxing turn, were greeted with roars of laughter. The programme was bright and clever throughout, and a series of new and clear bioscope pictures sent the large audience home ijj thorough good humour, A warning wfcs uttered by the Him G\ Fowlds, in the course of a brief address to the Liberal and Labour Federation at Wellington. The federation, he said, stood for equality of opportunity and for the help of those who most required it. In the past government had been largely carried on by privileged classes, and of course the privileged classes had tried to entrench themselves behind further privileges, but the results had not been those anticipated by them. Here, in New Zealand, there was the great body of the Liberal party, which constituted a very large majority of the people. For years the party had been following a course of steady, safe and progressive reform. A small section thought the Government was not moving fast enough, and another section — the reactionaries — was crying out that the Government was bringing the country t<t ruin through its socialistic tendencies. New Zealand had emancipated, itself from the form of government in older countries, and if they looked at the position fairly and sincerely they wou~i see that the existence of tbe tw* "wing" parties, to which he had referred, was a testimony to the sanity and reaisoh of the course which the Government was following. The Goternment was moving steadily along th« line of reform, and ther© was. no use in trying to go in advance of public opinion. To do so would simply result in checking reform. He thought it would not be a bad thing_ if the Liberal and Labour Federation wa. somewhat in advance of the Government of the day. v Don't forget Watson's sale of Alien'a bankrupt stock. Rings, brooches, wafe» ches and general jewellery allless thaa wholesale price. Exceptional bargains in diamond rings: £32 now £26, £19 now £16 10s 6d, £18 now £14 10s. Emerald and diamond, £14 16s now £12 ss. Address, 230, Colombo Street* «-_w Armagh. 9

Xtl""" mmmammmmmmmmmm^uimmi ■mi»»a •I At the opening of the Early Settlers' pL&)] in Dunedin to-day, Mr Donald Heid (president) occupied the chair. Several addresses were delivered reminiscent of the eariy identities' trials &tid tribulations. Mr « R. Webb, J .P., presided at the Lyttelton Police Court this morning, and fined James Leach 20s and costs, in default seven days' imprisonment, ior a third offence of drunkenness. .Three* first offenders were convicted and (lifi.liarged, and one was fined 5s and costs. Doubts having been openly cast upon *he bona fides of the sword-swallowing performances of the Reggiardos at Fuller's Opera House, several members of 'the Press and other prominent citizens [•were invited this morning to attend upon the stage at the theatre and judge the performance for themselves. The insult was eminently satisfactory to both the performers and the management. The swords used, vanng m length from 12 inches to 22 inches, were carefully examined, and found to be solid and free from springs "or other ''fake" accessories, and Professor Itegpiardo legitimately swallowed them. A doubting Pressman was invited by the performer to put one of the weapons tf own the professor's throat himself but .-•was content to assist only to the extent ■of withdrawing it. Those mv I ** l came away perfectly satisfied that the (performance was an absolutely genuine j_>ne. ' - ll __-_-_=--=-=