SUNDAY SHOWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 53, 27 January 1880, Page 3

SUNDAY SHOWS.

— In advocating the opening of the Exhibition on Sundays, the Sydney “ Town and Country ” says :—On Sunday afternoon last, 10,000 or 12,000 were in the Domain, shut out by a corrugated iron fence from one of the grandest exhibitions of art and science that has ever been held on the continent of Australia. The people, having nothing better to occupy 7 them, lounged about the grass, or gathered in a contemptuous spirit round the ranting preachers located there in such numbers, and in such close proximity as to make up an amusing Babel. If a person stood at one point, the roaring of four different preachers could bo heard ; disjointed, excited, objectless orations. Now and again a burst of laughter would drown the strains of well known hymns, and the comedy or satire on religion went on, till people went away dissatisfied with their walk and disgusted with the preachers. Doubtless the whole 10,000 would have gone through the Exhibition and derived profit from the inspection of the solid products of man’s skill and ingenuity. There was but one expression of regret that no leading man really allied to the interest of the industrial classes had taken the matter up. It was thought that in one week 10,000 names could be obtained to a petition for opening the building on Sundays. That we are out of harmony in this matter with Sabbath-observing England, the following extract from the London “Graphic ” will show. That journal says ; —“ Mr. Cross has recommended Her Majesty to remit forthwith the penalties incurred in the action ‘ Girdlestone v. the Brighton Aquarium Company,’ and in the letter announcing the fact he adds that he is of opinion that the changes which he has been given to understand have been introduced by the Aquarium Company in the opening of that establishment on Sunday's are such as render it unobjectionable on the score of public morality, whilst it is a source of innocent and instructive amusement ; and, as long as the company continue such course of action respecting it, he is unable, as at present advised, to see any valid reason for their being interfered with. This, and the news that Canon Basil Wiiberforce has signified his approval of Sunday' openair music by inviting the Southampton band to play in the deanery grounds tomorrow (Sunday), are severe blows to the Lord’s Day Observance Society.”