# Charleston: Its Rise and Decline/Chapter 18

Chapter XVIII.
THE CASINO—MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE AND LIBRARY—SHOWS.
THE CASINO.
IN early days the two rival places of entertainment were the Casino de Venice in Prince’s Street East and the Victorian Hotel and Concert Hall in Rotten Row, behind Williams’s pharmacy. The former completely out-paced and overshadowed the latter. Mr. Dobson, Provincial Engineer, remarks in his Reminiscences, that in those days “Charleston was a very busy place, especially at night-time, when the miners were in town, which consisted almost entirely of public-houses and stores. There were two large dancing-halls with good orchestras. These halls were licensed and did a big business, the proprietors providing partners for their patrons. Each dance cost two shillings, and each man was entitled to two drinks, one for himself and one for his partner.” Yet, old-timers say that seldom did a Casino girl become intoxicated—they kept a tally of the drinks paid for but not consumed by them, and received their value in cash from the proprietors, a system that suited all parties. These girls were brought in groups from Australia, but were carefully selected by the senders, not picked up haphazardly—bright, vivacious, good-looking, and neither too fast nor too slow. In a community of which probably five-sixths were males and mateless, these girls had many suitors, and married more quickly than their employers could replace them. Here let it be said that the majority chose their life-partners wisely, and became respected wives and mothers. They made money; but it costs a pretty penny to clothe a pretty figure—they aimed at being the most expensively arrayed and to set the fashions. Moreover, though ​men may prefer blondes, there has never been any objection to a girl having more in her stocking than a shapely leg.
The Casino was run on lavish lines, expense being of little consideration in view of the golden harvest it gathered. Its large dance-room was provided with a stage, and was used for many purposes; travelling entertainers, local balls, concerts, etc. It is recorded that in 1867 church services were conducted therein.
In 1873 there visited Charleston a Dr. Carr, apparently an itinerant preacher, mesmerist, and phrenologist. He preached in the Methodist Church, and held an entertainment in the Casino for the benefit of the hospital, aided by Messrs. Arthur King, George Aldous, and Owen McArdle. It was not a financial success; Charlestonians did not desire to have their heads read by a stranger, especially in public. Yet, Vorley the photographer did this for his patrons, attaching a “phrenograph” to the portraits of such as desired one; and the Rev. Porteous in 1867 gave many lectures on the subject in the Methodist Church.
In 1867 there were Casinos at Hokitika, Greymouth, and Westport also. In Westport there were three, “all vying,” says Mr. R. C. Reid, “against one another in the strength of their musical bands, the number of the ballet dancers, and the shortness of their skirts.” The Casinos were the centre of night life, and not neglected in day-time—the forty-hour week was not then observed. The arrival of a party of new girls was an event, the coach being met by a welcoming crowd who gave them practically a civic reception.
THE INSTITUTE.
The Mechanics’ Institute and Public Library was upon Section 254 in Camp Street South. No official information regarding it is available. It filled the urgent need felt by the more sober-minded and the younger sections of the people for entertainment less audacious than that offered by the Casino and other concerns. Educationally its library and reading-room were a boon. The latter secured a wide range of the best overseas publications, while the former had well-stocked shelves catering for all tastes, from light fiction ​“yellow backs,” to classical and standard works. It was one of the best libraries of the Coast.
In May, 1870, the Methodist Church instituted a series of “Monday Evening Entertainments” termed “Penny Readings.” As these “readings, lectures, etc.,” proved popular, the same body set up a Committee to collect funds for the establishment of a public “Social Institute” for weekly gatherings. The Committee included Messrs. H. Masters, G. R. Brown, Walter Cato, Dick, and Franklin. In January, 1871, a special vote of thanks was accorded to the Rev. J. White, Walter Cato, and Mr. Franklin, by the Church Committee for “their very successful efforts in establishing a Social Institute in Charleston.” Eighty pounds had been collected, and this was subsidised pound for pound by the Provincial Government, in addition to a grant of £200 in 1867-1868 for the foundation of a library. Thus, in 1871, was born the Mechanics’ Institute and Library. As years passed, its concerts became a portion of the town’s life until, in 1878 or so, they were its only source of entertainment beyond a few dance-rooms, most of the concert halls, etc., having faded away as the gold faded. In 1874 the number of subscribers was 130, the subscriptions amounting to £26/14/6; and the sum of £30/14/6 was expended on new books. In 1875 the Government made a grant of £52. In later years the concerts were held fortnightly instead of weekly, and in still later years were less frequent and at irregular intervals. It closed about 1911; the building being sold for a few pounds. All items of the concerts were by local talent—readings, recitations grave and gay, songs from operatic items to the rollicking “Champagne Charlie,” or “There’s Life in the Old Boy Yet”; music, classical and otherwise; and one-act plays. Such programmes might be criticised to-day but, when listening to the radio, one wonders whether, on the whole, the public taste has much changed during the years.
Charlestonians were proud of their people’s talents and not disposed to hide them under a bushel; various performers were described as “the greatest piper in the world,” “the sweetest songster in the province,” etc., while “unexcelled propounders” were common. It was claimed, probably ​correctly, that two of the musicians had “performed before the German Emperor.” There cannot be omitted mention of the “Conversation Lozenges” without which no concert was complete. It is said that their sentimental and loving inscriptions were in not a few cases effective—had broken down barriers and overcome reticence, served as straws to show which way the stream ran. The Institute was a boon to the people. After all, life on a goldfield is not packed with diversion; it is a full but, in some respects, an empty life.
This typical programme is taken from the Charleston Herald:—
“Entertainment, 29th September, 1873.
“Mr. Douglas, Chairman. Schmidt and Beer, Set of Quadrilles. Warmington, Cornish Reading. Miss Gillespie, Song, ‘Beautiful Star.’ Donne, Reading. Holme, Recitation. Mrs. Fries, Song, ‘I See Her Still in My Dreams.’ Delaney, Reading. Bates, Song, ‘That’s Where They Make a Mistake.’” The admittance fee was sixpence. This entertainment ended abruptly because, the night being stormy, some of “the promised performers did not attend.”
A number of showmen brought entertainment to Charleston. There was “The Hairless Horse” without a hair on its body, and “The Dancing Ducks” whose owner was found to have had hot plates for their stage. He was thereafter known as “The Duck.” There were lecturers, conjurers, mesmerists and what not, but few found favour on the Coast. One show, however, was acclaimed by all, the Panorama, a series of alleged scenes from famous battlefields, painted upon calico and moved across the stage in sections, while the showman pointed with a rod to details and explained them. One scene depicted a red-hot cannon-ball apparently hitting a general. When in the next section he reappeared unscathed, the impressionables of the audience cheered. What would be thought of it in these days of movies and talkies can be imagined.
NEW YEAR FESTIVITIES.
An annual event looked forward to by all was the “welcoming in” of the New Year. One or more “Grand ​Balls” were always provided for the occasion, frequently in aid of the hospital funds; dances were arranged, and hotels vied with each other in supplying music, entertainment and hospitality. At midnight the real revelry started, with bonfires of tar-barrels, firework displays, community singing in the open and, of course, many toasts and some horse-play. New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day were the two most observed festival occasions of each year.