THE HIBERNICON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 98, 13 March 1875, Page 6

THE HIBERNICON.

— <-+ — During the week this entertainment has been liberally patronized, the Hall being well filled on each evening. In addition to the great merit of the Panorama the singing is of a superior order, but we were sorry to find that sometimes the promise made by Mr. Baker, that he would, during the evening, present some of Ireland's best Bongs, all of which should be carefully chosen, was not always carried out. With the singing talent of this company we might naturally expect something good and at the same time something creditable to the poetic genius of Ireland. With the reputation of the company and the name of their entertainment a first-class Irish performance might be looked for j but there is, to our mind, too much of the common place burlesque business — a good deal of which, by the way, is not always complimentary to the sons of Ireland. We should like to hear more of the genuine poetry and music of Ireland ; of course, it is all a question of management. As we have said, the company have the talent; they have been well supported, and have succeeded in pleasing their audience, but we feel sure they would be even more successful and give greater satisfaction if they selected songs that fairly represented the Irish character, and pourbrayed the good and the -witty as well as the ridiculous. Next week the Hibernicon proceed to Invercargill, where they will find a goodly sprinkling of the genuine Irish character, and we hope that the hints we have thrown out will be acted upon, for then our friends down south may look for some excellent entert uument. Towards the close of the entertainment of Wednesday c /ening it was announced that Friday evening had been set apart for the benefit ot Mr Moran, when, doubtless, this really wonderful Irish comedian will be rewarded with a crowded house.

It has been estimated that if the population of London goes on increasing at the present rate it will exceed twelve millions by the end of a centary, and that should it continue at the same rate during the next century, by the year 2000 it will have reached the enormous aggregate of twenty-five millions of inhabitants. The London ' Review ' mentions tho following remarkable circumstance in connection with the subject of life insurance : — " The Equitable Assurance office has just paid a claim under a policy which must have been one of the oldest in the world." The policy was taken out in December, 1795, for =81000 on a life then aged 13, at an annual premium cf J2lB 16s. It has has now become a claim after existing 79 years, and the sum paid is ,£7905, being nearly eight times the sum originally assured."