BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

West Coast Times, Issue 197, 7 May 1866, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

LPROAI OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CIIRISTCHUKCIT, Saturday, 2.40 p.m. i ThejEsperauza, from Newcastle, with I coals, for Timavu, put into Lyttelton for repairs, owing to bad weather. Steamer from North just signalled. Arrived—Lady Bird, from Dunedin, Escort returns, 6900 ozs [No' telegram reached usj last evening.]

By the Kangitoto, wobavo Molbouvno files to the lot instant, for full filos of which no aro indobtodto tho courtesy of Mr Adams, iho purser. Tlio pnpors avo almost wholly occupied with tho topic of tho recall of Sir Charles Darling. Tho Lincolnshire, with salmon and trout ova ou board, hud nrrivod, after a fino passage of sovonty-nino days from Plymouth, and the colonial steam slqop Victoria was waiting alongside lo tranship the ova and convoy them to Hobarfc Town. By tho Koera wo have Dumedin papers to the 30th April Nolson to the Ist inst.. and Auckland to tho 27th ult. No Ohristchurch papers roachod us by tho Owland mail which arrived on Saturday afternoon. As a rule, tho whole of our files aro singularly destitute of interest. Tho weather, which was cold and misty during tho early part of yesterday, cleared up shortly after noon, and gave tho public an opportunity of enjoying a pleasant promenado on tho beaoh and tho river side. A largo number of persons risited tko Bceno of tho roocnt wrecks, and a considerable crowd assembled ou tho wharf, waiting [to wolcomo tho new arrivals by tho Kangitoto, who woro brought into port by tho Persevere Wo notico that an oxtensivo and varied assortment of now books is being landed by Mr Munson, of Revoll ptroot, which will bo a valuablo addition to the stocks of litorature in town. Wo loam that tho agont of the Wonga Woiga returned yestorday to town, having, whilo at tho G-roy, «old tho Lull and niaohi. nery of tho stonmor at public auction. Tho sum roaliiod was £240. She was insurod for thrce-fourtlis hor value. The Lord Ashley shippod at tho Grey, on Saturday, 8500 ozs. gold, and from this port 8150 ouueos, making a total of 16,650 ouncos for shipment, to Sydney. Tho Tiokot-of-Leave Man, one of Mr Tom Taylor's late and most popular dramas, was produced at tho Princo of Wales' Opora Uouso on Saturday ovouing with markod success. The plot is simplo, and hinges on tho fortunes of a Lancashire lad named Kobort Briorly, who comes to London, and wo aro first introduced to him at tho Bollovuo Gavdons, whore ho has fallen into tho company of sharpors, who use him as thoir tool, to pass forged notes. Ho is detected and sentoncod to four years' ponal sorvitudo. Boforo tho oxpiration of his term ho obtains a tiokot-of-loavo, and succeods in obtaining a situation as racßsongor in a billbrokor'a oMco in tho city. Ho is recognised by ono of his old associates, through whoso iuuucnco ho is dismissed from his omploymont. Six months elapso, and we find him ondeuvouring to obtain work as a navy, but tho stigma of a jail still attaohes to his name, and starvation and despair stare him in tho i'ueo. Ho is again mot by ono of his old companions, and urged to join in tho robbory of his formor master, but virtuo triumphs, and ho proves tho moans of bringing tho real criminals to justieo, Mr Taylor is indebtod for his story to Iho Lea Drames de la vie of Mons. Brisobarro. In fact, tho inoidouts and plot aro entirely ITronoh throughout. Of tho acting wo aro onablod to speak in tho highest torms, Mr Burford, as Iho Horo Kobort Briorly— on whoso fortunes tho wholo intorost of tho piece culminates— played oarofully, and, in sovoral of tho econoa, was loudly applauded. James Dnlton, tho villain |of tho pioco, found an ablo oxponont in Mr Bartlott ; nothing could bo bottor than his make-up, and tho coolnoßs ho displayed in his oncountor with tho dotectives was a gonuino bit of acting. Mr Lionel Harding as Hawkshaw, tho dotectivo, osohowing all stago conventionality, played offootivoly. Messrs Hogan, Strooton, and Olift'ord, aro dosorving of praise in thoir rospootivo parts, Miss Rosa Ooopor sue*

tamed tho character of Sam Willoughby with hor usual spirit, and was most warmly rocoivod by tho audienco. Mrs Crosbio mado a great foaturo of tho part of Mrs "Willoughby, eliciting roars of laughtor from tho audionco 5 and Mrs Poolo sustained her imputation by tho ombodiment of tho horoino. Wo must not forgot to mention Mr Androws, who played tho small though unimportant parl of Grcon Jones with his Accustomed skill. Tho drama was affectively placod upon tho stago and well mountod. Wo notice it will bo ropcatcd this ovoning and to-morrow.