AMUSEMENTS.

West Coast Times, Issue 233, 18 June 1866, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

The Dramatic Company at the Prince of Wales Opera House, under the management of the proprietor, ' Mr James Bartlett, continue to well sustain the fortunes of that house. No bolder experiment could have beeii tried in Hokitika than the erection of a theatre on so large a scale, and with such complete appointments. We have before taken occasion to describe the house, which is in all respects one of the finest theatres in the Australian colonies. We have now to mention that it has, since our last summary, been brilliantly illuminated by gas manufactured on the premises — the first introduction of gas on the West Coast. The effect is very fine, and has contributed materially to the success of many of the pieces produced. Mrs Charles has Poole completed her engagement and left the theatre to make a professional tour through the neighboring provinces. Miss Rosa Cooper, an actress of very great and versatile ability, is the leading lady of the company, and sustains a succession of parts with a delicacy, grace, and force of expression, that establish her olaim to a high rank in her profession. She is well supported by Mrs Crosby, an artiste of a different class, ' but one equally popular, and as deservedly so. Mr James Bartlett, the manager of the company, is himself one of its most efficient v members. In his proper range of characters he is inimitable, and plays well all the parts in which Charles Matthews has distinguished himself. It is proposed to give this gentleman a substantial mark of the sense entertained by the Hokitika public, not only of his giteat ability as an actor, but of the spirit of enterprise he has displayed in putting up a theatre which many feared at. the time would be found to be far in advance of the requirements of the town. The result has shown that his judgment Was bettor than "theirs: for we believe we may say that in all respects the season has been a success. At any rate the theatre, is a pul lie boon. The pieces that have been produced upon the boards, have been of the highest class, such as are offered to the audiences of the first-class theatres of London,' and the other great English \towns. The company is a numerous one, "and we do not care to mention/ other names than those we have referred to,' as it would be impossible to notice all, and a selection would be necessarily iodividious. A ball giveti by the members of the Volunteer Fire Brigade, to celebrate the opening of their new engine house, •tirafc a very successful and brilliant affair. Another ball is appointed to take place at the Prince of Wales Opera House, on Wednesday next. It is gi^en in honor of the anniversary of Her Majesty's accession to the throne, by the Freemasons of Hokitia; and every effort is being made to give it eclat. The work of catering for the guests has been confided to Mr Wagner, of the Shamrock Hotel, who id understood to be making the most elaborate preparations. The pit of the theatre is to be boarded over, and the house to be placed at the disposal of the committee from an early hour in the morning, to enable them to carry out their decorative arrangements. This ball is expected to be 'the most brilliant affair of the kind that has yet taken place on the West Coast. An exhibition of waxworks, a branch of the establishment of Madame Sohier of Melbourne, has been on view for some days past, at the Fire Brigade Hall, and has attracted a large number of visitors. The figures exhibited are yery excellently modelled.

The fine new schooner Stanley arrived on the 29th ult. from the Manukau, -which port she left on Monday, the 21st. She is commanded by Oapt. Dayies, who on his last visit to this port was master of the three-masted , schooner Little Fred. He reports light head winds and smooth sea during tho passage. She brings a large miscellaneous cargo of over 200 tons ; there was no inoident of moment to report since leaving the Manukau. The Challenge tug steamer took her in tow and made for the bar, and had it not been for the ririlfulneßs displayed by Oapt. Wilson, of the tug, a very serious mishap might have befallen this rerjr fine Vessel . In towing in she grounded on thefbaV ft* 'she was drawing 9 feet of water, and stuok for a considerable time, but the Challenge wad kept well over to the South §E>it, ana- succeeded in towing her off into the nrwiwiiifotr-