The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. MONDAY, APRIL 12, 1886.

Inangahua Times, Volume XI, Issue 1690, 12 April 1886, Page 2

The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. MONDAY, APRIL 12, 1886.

The Called Back Company *gave their 1 farewell performance in 'the Oddfellows' Hall on Saturday evening last, the piece presented being the* sensational drama " Won by a Neck." The attendance was over flowing, and snoh'a scene of struggling and tumult as that which'occurred for seats will not soon be forgotten. A few minutes after the doors were thrown open every seat in]the house' was filled. Still the people, regardless of f the strongest efforts of the management, forced their way np the gang way, glad to be allowed to wedge themselves into any possible pos ition that would enable them to only bear if not to tee the performance. In this way every inch of space in the front of the hall became blocked, and at length the moment camo when the tide of people was fairly beaten back by repletion. Then a terrible struggle began at the rear of the room. Those who had already procured tickets, and who stood struggling at the entrance, working, or rather fighting their way, into the hall, moli by inoh, suddenly fouud their advance checked. A frightful scene here ensued. A large number of boys had taken up their position against the back of the last row of seats, and as the dense crowd behind them swayed backwards and forwards the boys were in imminent peril of being crushed to death against the barricade. Screams, shouts, and imprecations filled the room. The force of the crowd seemed irresistible, and in spite of the efforts of Mr^mith, the manager, and a number of constables, surged forward and threatened to overwhelm the sitters'in front. At this stage the play, which had just been started in order, if possible, to quell the disorder, had to be stopped, for at the instant of , the first appearance on the stage a number of seats in the rear went down with a j terrific crash as though the building had collapsed. The audience in front rose in alarm, women and children screamed frantically, and it seemed as if nothing could avert a fearful panic. However, no very serious consequences ensued. By i i a little firmness on the part of two or i three gentlemen present the audience , were kept in their seats, and Mr Bowden, ' , police officer, Lyell, who chanced to be j present, having pluckily forced his way j into the crowd quickly ejected one of i the principal disturbers. This had a - sedative influence, and the excitement shortly after calmed down, and when the j performance was resumed every thing was . quiet. An additional element of alarm i was imparted to the occasion by the be- | lief that the disturbance was occasioned j by some of the doubtful characters who j were attracted by the races, and who in a ' panic might have imagined an opening j for business. There is no doubt that had j a cry of fire been raised when the excitement was at its height! the consequences would have been dreadful. Happily I nothing of the kind occurred, and the performance to the end was thoroughly enjoyed. The company left for Westport yesterday morning. The weather, which held up so propitiously for the races, broke up yesterday morning, when a cold rain set in and has continued with very little interruption since. There is every prospect of a continuance of bad weather. We give this latter prognostication on the authority of a gentleman who has been studying the habits of the native night-bird. It may be well to add that the night-bird here referred to is a feathered one. Church goers were shocked out of their propriety yesterday morning by the town crier parading Broadway, bell in hand, and making some important announce ment to the public. The first supposition was that it was a case of " Boy lost." Iv this the guess proved only slightly out, inasmuch as it was a "[little monkey " that could not be found. It seems that one of the syndicate who came to the Reeftou races for the purpose of providing sport for the public, brough* a trick monkey with him, and some time during Saturday night the animil disappeared, and all search for it has proved unavailing, and the urgency of the case therefore fully justified Mr Cox's services being called into requisition. We remind those interested that tenders for driving extension of level for, the Inangahua Low Level Tunnel Company will close to-morrow, at the office of the company. Pressure of late telegraphic matter, compels us to hold over one or two local matters until our next issue. TOWLE'S PENNYROYAL AND STEEL PILLS FOR FEMALES quickly correct all irregularities, aud relieve tl.e distressing symptoms so prevalent with the sex. Boxes Is l£d., and 2s. 6d M of all Chemists. Prepared only by E T. Towle, Chemist, Nottingham, England, Wholesale of all the Wholesale Houses, Beware of Imitation*