MELBOURNE TOWN TALK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1862, 8 June 1888, Page 4

MELBOURNE TOWN TALK.

* [B? OCB OWN eOBBBSPOHDHHT. Th» Governor* Levee on Thursday. and dinner on Friday, and Lidy Loon's reception and dance on the same evening were all sooceistul m their way: I myself wan hardly enough to dare the perilß of Si Kllda road on Thursday In order to pat Id an appearance at the Laves, and was pleased with tbe result. The Bight was a brilliant one, and ealoalated to Impress the beholder with the growing power and importance of the Colony. I counted twenty consuls and tiee-consnls amoDg the nnmber presant and there must have been som not known to me personally. There were eight or Bint judges, and a g)od sprlnkliijg of allltas? men, consploions among them B«i*g Colonel Price m his plotaresqae Ranger's costume. But by far the post gorgeous pereeiage was the Conanlj for ABitro»Hnngary, who was shop'y resplendentj while Hit flono? Mr Justice Williams m Lls soarlet rubes of office, looked linposing and dignified, and came In -A good second. ■ , The different Mayors looked well m their blaok and gold, and the Episcopal lawn stood oat m bold relief. The military ■oajrlet and consular uniforms leot a warmth of oolor to tbe black-ooated throng; whilst the flawing gowns of the University dona gave it aleo something of diversity. It seemed to me as an interested observer, that the reception of Chief Justice Hfginbothsm was made a special feature, not only by the Governor, but by everybody, and he wss undoubtedly the guett of the evening at Sir Henry Loch's offiolal dinner the day after, whloh clearly shows that the general sympathy Is with him m conneotlon with his resignation of the Presidency of the Exhibition. Altogether, the levee attack me as being bcillian and imposing , and I notice each year the attendance grows larger, and the ftumber of distinguished visitors present greater. A growing evil m Melbourne has been pointed oat to me, which the Press ought certainly to take up. The Public Licensing Bill dealt with tbe compulsory oloelng of publio honees by ballot, and the stoppago of farther new licensee. This has led to a huge monopoly m ownership, Instead of assisting and working out the views of the Blue Ribbon party. Rapacious owners of hotels are gaining a rich harvest, and statistics show us that there Is no limitation m the consumption of intoxicants The provisions of the Act have done nothing more than arreßt competition, and now owners, as the cents fall m, double and treble them, and m ■ome oases exaot a bonus of £500 or £1000 for the privilege of leasing, Honest publicans are gradually being driven from the field, and only those will be left who can meet the rntnous blackmail by adulteration and other malpractices. It seems to me simply atrocious, that a law meant to ameliorate the condition of the many, should be debased as to be ttte means of fattening a few greedy hotel owners —for that is nhit it really oomes to. ' Ministers and their supporters are now girding ap their loins for the fray, and the Government is preparing to receive its enemies with a rakh-g fire from tbe two big guns, the Electoral Bill and tbe Tariff The most sanguine supporters of the Government, however, do not anticipate that these will be brought into play until some time after the session opens, as the political signs indicate that the debate on the address io-reply is likely to be more thaa usually protracted. There are numerous qae&tlots that oao ba conveniently discussed- on this motion, both of a personal and publio character, and of these the pri&cip&l is the Chinese ques lion, about wbicb the country will hear a good deal as soon as Us legislators assemble for the " transaction of business." Melbonrne is somewhat dull at present m regard to things theatriosl, nothing new having beea billed during the week. The ohlef attraction ia the Frenoh Comedy Company, who are attracting conriierable audiences at tbe Freemasons' Hall. The actors are deo'dadly clever, one ia ptriioalar — a Mdlle. Deimanoonrt — bving far above anything we have m Melbourne now m tbe shape of aotreeses, Bat so far, the class of plays ohosen have bcea one-act faroes, that hardly Rive time to arouse interest before they are over. But everybody who lays claim to culture goes to hear them of course, and there is great brnshing up of Freooh every* where. It is quite de rigwur to sit out the entertainment, even if one doenn't understand a word of it, aod none of our fashionables ever think of showing any signs of weariness, but laugh and simpar (sometimes at the right. pUoe and sometimes not), with unfakiag aaat Apropos of this a> higend told me a good Btory a few days ago. We have lately had Simonfen's Italian Opera Troupe here, and to one of tbe operas my friend took an acquaintance of his — a Bquatter. He seemed to eDJjy the music very much, but coming out my friend happened to remark, " It's a pity one can't understand thft words," "Speak for yourßelf," answered tne cultured tquatter, "I've known French ever since 1 went to Paris with the old woman. ' I had the privilege last Saturday of being allowed entree to the mansion Sir W. J. Clarke is putting up at Jolimont, fast beyend the Fuzcoy Gardens, and I was literally astounded at tbe magnificence »nd Dalatial grandenr of the building, %t is a noble-lookjng edifies from outside, but the interior is still more wonderful. " I cannot attempt to describe it, it is aulte beyond me ;. bat lj wss pointed " o«t mantelpieces that cost £800 each, stained glass windows at hundreds each, and callings with panelß painted m oil*, each paiatlng of which coat £40 or £50, The corridor leading to the ball-room la B hnndred feet In. length, so I was told, the j dining hall 45 i by.3o, and the two drawing rooms 70. Ihe cost of the building before be £60,000, so It can be imagined, our millionaire baronet is not sparing any expense. Without a doubt it will ba by far the most palatial private resMßnoe m the whole of Australia, snd ryat far behind Government House itself. _By the death of i np member for WlHlamstown, Me A, Tv Glark, &KLA tbe House losea one qt k 8 metA % w eighteen years m Parliament^ and, only retired (mm his post tiroagb the mera necessity of MHoe healt^ flfc.aer.vioes to the country hay j WW W»* whilst his long experience at :• goUtfoa made him one of the moet *M e ! men m the Boose. I myae !f knew Mm 5; well, bavlng beeu connected with Vta In j papers, m the Williamstown *Admdsor" i w^lf U°T Ot A y '■ **•*"*»*.•• He i «L \ \ handsome »an, with a lone ; iltl*?™ '«* wildly soft aud j gently eye. ma obsracter spoke m his ? Sirff** 1 ?' he>#s the largea, hearted I*. SJ.BW ■ a?.™ J-have ever method combined ! wun ttsuch an Inuate delicacy that fow I but hia most Intimate f rlaada kneir or ever SiLn 7 th £ free^"ded- charity he : SPSS* H? 7" P' oß *"* 00 * In- BGr fe?i hln *j v?" d health an d "twDgth Xa i P "? €4^ hl ? J ? e wotl!d . wi » h <>ut a \ -£l?i ■. d ? nfct » htve b een a man of : would have it he only reached the «ge of : forty.two. HewasaLiberaltothebaok. i