BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

West Coast Times, Issue 195, 4 May 1866, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

[fbom oob own cobbespondent.] chrißtchxtkoh, Thursday, 9*50 p.m. Sailed. — Lady Bird, for the South ; Wild Wave, for Sydney.

Last evening, tho play of " Borneo and Juliet" was again porforinod at tho Princo of Wales Opera House. Although this tragody has boon highly coinmondod, and has boon a favorito on tho stage any time these hundred yoars — that is to say, over ainoo Gavriok and Mrs Oibber made bucli a sensation in tho two chief characters at one house, whilst .Barry and Iris wife were oqually run after at tho other — although, wo ropeat, its .merits as an acting play have long ceased to bo questioned, yot wo prosumo to assort that it is not only not written with the usual power of Shakspeare, but it appears to have been composed, in Hiany parts, against the grain. Tlioro is no small amount of bad taste, bad writing, quibble, conceit, and oxtravagatce in it whioh frequently mar tho effect o; passages that ought to bo impressive and pithctio. It must be obvious to every unprojudced person who will not permit his judgment to bo swayed by blind idolators and cominontolors upon Shakspearo, that a far inferior dramatist might havo framed out of this subject a fay more moving tragedy. It contain* two or throo forcible scenes that a clover actress may mako a good deal of— being, as tiny aro, scones of atago effect; but tlio tragedy novor did, and never will, poworfully onlis't 1 the Bympathios of tho audionco. Miss Kosa Coopor obtained groat apploußO as Juliet, whirti she riohlymeritod — her doclanmtion boinf admirablo, and her acting passionate and impulsive. Hardly less oxcollont was tho Ron 1 o of Mrs Poolo. Tho last scene botwoon th< ypung and illfated lofors ww hoautitirilj played by both Mv TtovtUM Jopkpfl WownM fa nd,r»imtion,

famous Qucon Mub's speech wns doliverecl with extraordinary skill and cU'ecl. Mrs Crosby mitigated as much as possible the unpleasing points in tlio character of the Nurse. Mr Burford was inipros3ivo as (ho Friar, giving tho language — somo of which is beautiful — - svith a gravo dignity. The small pavt of Peter" fell to Air Andrews, who showed how much might bo niftdo out cf a little by a clevor actor; Miilst tho Apothecary of Mr Tomlinson was suoha picturoof greed, superinduced by need, as only a truo art isto could have displayed Tho house was well attended. As a proof of tho richness of aoino of tho buok terraces bordoriug tho coast wo may montion that tho prospectors of that torraoo running parallel to tho old Auckland load and soparated from it by tho swamp only, will ' take from IOOOoz. to ISOOoz. of gold off their claim. Besides this claim, thoro are sovon or eight others paying remarkably well, although attempts to trace tho gold either way have hitherto failod. That company, however, which was formed for tho purposo of testing the swamp, and havo cut a tail raco through ' it, intend to carry on the ditch until tho terraco is intovseotod, hoping theroby to pick up ho los 1 end. As the Bruce, p.s., ucarod tho wharf yesterday, .a Blight commotion was porceptiblo, amongst the crowd of passcngors which,, thronged her docks, and upon a signal from those on board, soveral constablos pushed.off to her in a boat, and tho stoamer lot go her anohor and romaincd in tho centre of the stream. This rathor unusual proceeding was occasioned by many of tho passengers refusing to show their tickets, soveml objecting to pay, at all j so tho boat was kept clear of tho shore uutil a general must or of tho passengers was made. Of tho many who refused to pay a considerable .'proportion finally "stumped up ,•" ono of thorn, who pleaded poverty as an oxcuso, being compellod to chango a £20 note to discharge his liability. There wore, howevor, nino unfortunate fellowa who rosily had nothing, or at least wo supposo so, for. they submitted to " bracoletiug" with a good grace, and woro marched off to the camp. Wo pity tho condition of theso mon, and fe6l certain that, should their protested impeouniosity be proved noi protoneo, the genorosifcy •of tho owner of tho Bruce will indnco him to forego his claim. Some oxcitemont has been occasioned "down South" by tho intelligence from tho Hau Hau and Six mile rush, for whqn tho Bruce was, leaving she was fairly stormed by a host of diggers — nearly between two and three hundred — and as any attempt to eject them would have been utterly futile, it wa3 wisely determined to bring them up at all risku. Fortunately Mr Inspector Broham was on board, and as the courso adopted met with his entire approbs* Uon, tho captain and agents of the Bruce will of courso be hold guiltless by tho Custom! authorities for this infringement upon the terms of tho '■' Steam Navigation Aot."J -j] A very narrow escapo from a dreadful death ooourred to a minor on the Ist inst., at tho Threo-milo Crook" and should bo accepted as a caution to parties falling timber, u'ot to let tho trco go without first giving warning to auy porson who may bo within its reach, In this instanco a store, kept by Mr Lowry, was partly destroyed, and a digger named John Halcroff, who was just leaving, i; struck violently to tho ground by tho upper branches. He was takon up insensible, and, as soon as possible]) medical aid was procured. Upon examining him, Dr Leo "the gentleman callod in(, pronouncod that no bones were broken, but that tho right arm xw\ back woro sovoreUy injured. Tho sufferor is, howovor, progressing favorably, and is oxpected to bo in v week or two so far recovered as to bo enabled to return to his work again. 4082 ounces of gold-dust wero brought up by tho Bruce, from Okarita, of which amount the Bank of Now Zealand contributed 2432, and the Bank of New South Walos 1650* ounces.