Local Intelligence.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1733, 20 June 1862, Page 3

Local Intelligence.

Shakespeeian Reading.— At the Atbenaum, on Wednesday evening last, the Judge read the leading portions of King John, accompanied by a running commentary on, the characters and incidents of that play. The audience was an exceedingly good one, but we would suggest the absolute necessity of closing at a much earlier hour than £ past 10, otherwise the audiences will be greatly reduced, and the praisaworthy efforts of the Judge to amuse and instruct,, rendered abortive. The domestic arrangements of the majority of the lady attendants require that the lectures should close as nearly £ past 9 as possible. With punctuality in commencing, it will be found that an hour and a hatfs lecture is on oidiuary subjects sufficiently long to be interesting, and more conducive towards ensuring a good asdieoce than if the habit of commencing late and concluding late becomes the rule. We wouldavail ourselves- of this opportunity of expressing the hope that advauiage will be taken of tbe presence of Assembly members to procure from them a few lectures or readings. Mr. Fitzgerald of Canterbury for instance, has recently givea four readings of the " Idylls of the King." — one ou each night; they must be a trsat which it would be very desirable to get him to favor a Wellington audience with. Many of the other M. H. It's, or M. L. C's., would no doubt be willing to leave pleasant recollections behind them after this fashion, if applied to. The "Pole Stab".— This vessel, for the loss of which strong fears are entertained, had as a passenger Mr. Charles Baker, formerly of Otago, but then oh his way from Napier to Auckland to enter upon the duties of a Resident Magistracy, in a Natire District of the North, to which he had been only recently appointed; Mr. Charles Baker is a near relative of Mr. E. Baker of the Native Department here. BrFJJS VbLtrNTEKBs— Mr. Sewell (for * the Colonial Secretary) has forwarded a circular despatch to the Superintendents of provinces intimating the intention oi the General Govern*

ment to give their employed a half holiday to enable them to attend parade. Tbe circulas says "It will be expressly enjoined that unlesr the officers of government attend the parade for which this leave from official duty is granted, a day's pay will be deducted from their salaries, should they be absent from both office and parade." Mr. Sewell concludes by expressing the hope that the Provincial governments will make similar arrangements. Photographed Tbukr than Life. — Our readers will recognise in the following from the Southern Cross, a remarkably correct description of Wellington ! Swan and Davis had better shut up shop -their best pictures conld never impress so truthfully what Wellingtioa is, as does the description of the Cross Correspondent, Of course this is one of that journal's correspondents for whose unimpeachable veracity the editor vouches. We have been favoured with the sight of a private letter, dated Wellington, May 23rd, in which an Auckland man describes the "Empire City" to his relatives. Thus :— "Wellington is & little, better than either Nelson or Picton, hut no one would mistake it for a town at the North of Now Zealand. It is a town ( "city" the Weliingtonians call it) of ono street. Of course there are what are to be streets laid off, which can be built on when some 300 feet deep of hills are cutaway the date of whioh work is in the distant conical. The graves are disposed in rows above each other like pews in the gallery of a church. It is amusing to listen to the people here running down Auckland who never saw it, and praising this miserable, hilly, earthquake/, shivering country. It is intensely cold. Snow has fallen copiously, a sight which we never ace in Auckland. I thought that cold tended to leanness, but whether it be their self-satis-faction, or the cold, or both combined, certain it is that Wellington is of all places I have seen, the town of fat people. I saw a woman the other day •so fafc that she only walked at the rate of a mile an hour, and that rate of locomotion appeared quite fatiguing. Then as for commerce I cannot imagine how they manage to make money, for the wind blows so here that the shop-doors are kept shut all day long. The town or "city "does not seem extending, as I can only see one house being repaired, and there are no new buildings going up.'' — "Daily Southern Cross," June 2. Soua Grapes. — As our readers must feel interested in the chances of the Fox Ministry going put or keeping in during the ensuing session, we favour them with the deliverance of the Southern Cross oracle. The reason assigned for the probable retention of power by the Fox Ministry is remarkably rich: — '•It ie not at all improbable that the present ministry may manage to survive the session, not because they command the confidence of the country, but because they hold possession, and nobody is inclined to dispute it with them. The best men in the country feelthat in its present critical state nothing is to be gained by an unreal sharing of responsibility, but ttiat the Governor who is in reality supreme — witness his introduction of an expensive native policy by proclamation — should be recognized as such. The present members of the Government are, it is true, content to accept their anomalous position in reference to the great question of the day, and are ready to play the parts of. clerk, messenger and scape-goat, as required, but it would not be easy to find others equally pliant, and this it is which leads us to believe that they will be allowed to retain their present position." Town StmvEYons. — It is with pleasure we see that Mr. C. M. Igglesden, formerly of Wellington, has been appointed town surveyor at Lyttelton. Old hands will be both interested and surprised by the announcement that Mr. Rowland Davis, for many years living in Canterbury but formerly oT Wellington, has been appointed Town Surveyor at Christohurch. The office was however speedily again vacant, as the following extract from the Canterbury Standard will show— " The chairman, on the part of the Street Com - mittee, inforraed the Council that many of the works were being done in an unsatisfactory state, and that the surveyor had not been acting in ac. cordance with their instruction, the chairman mentioned this to the surveyor, who immediately stated he should resign his office. The following letter from the surveyor was then read : — 11 Christchurch, May 26th, 1862. " Gentlemen, — I bej to tender my resignation for the following reasons. " I understand from the Street Committee that they are dissatisfied with my mode of carrying out the works. I feel myself to a certain extent insulted, by the fact of my pay sheets being sent back to me. " As you have done me the honor to elect me your surveyor, I shall of course be happy to attend to the duties of my office, till such times as you have appointed a successor. •' I am, gentlemen, " Your obedient servant, "ROWLAND DAVIS, " Town surveyor. " To the Municipal Council, Christchurch." San Franoiso Minstrels. — This talented company have been giving nightly entertain ments at the Royal Olympic Theatre, during the week, to crowded and fashionable audiences. •The entertainments are of such a character, that it is almost impossible to give a correct description of them; they must be seen and heard to be appreciated. Since the company's first visit to Wellington, it has been re-organised, and although we miss some old farorites of the public, yet oh the whole, we consider the new combination of talent far superior to the old one. A new feature has been introduced, in the shape of a female character, which enables the company to perform operatic selections, and Ballets, which they were not able to do before. The strength of the company has also been increased, both in tlie musical and singing department. Tbe solos, duetts, quartettes, and chorusses, are rendered wiiu great taste and effect ; and the puns and jokes exploded in such a pleasing manner, as to add greatly to the pleasures of the entertainments. Mr. Brahara has a fine toned tenor voice, of great compass and power, and the manner in which he sung "Let me kis3 him for his mother;" " When other lips and other hearts," " Beautiful Moon," " Good Bye," " Guiding Star," etc., elicited the warmest applause. The masterly manner in which Mr. Oaten performs on the concertina, is worthy of all praise. We have never beard his equal on this instrument in ( Wellington. The "Blue Bells of I Scotland" was beautifully rendered, with all the variations, and being rapturously encored, Mr. Oaten substituted a faithful imitation of , the bagpipes, to the no small delight of the Scotsmen present. Tbe dancing of Messrs. Chittenden and Clarke, the latter of whom very cleverly personates the female characters, is all that could be desired. The life of the Company, however, is Mr. Cowan, who plays the tambourine ; and who is leally a very clever low comedian. The manner and style in ( which the several pieces have been put upon j the stage reflect great credit upon the Manager J Mr. Howsoc ; and wetiust that he may be ! amply remunerated for bis spirited undertaking. The programme is changed nightly. Royal Lyceum Theatre. — The lovers of the drama will be pleased to observe, by an advertisement in another column, that Mr. Webster, having returned from Dunedin, has taken the above Tuentve for a short season and secured the services of Mrs. W. H. Fuley, Mr. Swan, and all the available talent

in Wellington, he intends opening on Monday next, 23rd Inst. The pieces selected for the occasion are, the elegant comedy entitled "Delicate Ground," and an entirely new farce called the "Four Sisters," in which Mrs. Foley will sustain four characters ; with an Interlude of Singing and Dancing. The quarrel scene from "Julius C»sar," the character of Brutus being sustained by an amateur, will be introduced in the Interlude. We understand that Mr Webster shortly expects to be joined by some of the leading members of the Royal Princess' Theatre, Dunedin, when some of the most popular plays will be produced. We wish them every success.