MELBOURNE TOWN TALK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1868, 15 June 1888, Page 3

MELBOURNE TOWN TALK.

(From our own Cokresfondbni.) The. Executive Commission of the Exhibition has decided to allow certain sideshows to be Introduced into the Exhibition grounds, much to the astonishment of the publlo at large, To my mind these additions will detraofc seriously from the dignity of onr great Centennial, and will not add materially to if b attractiveness. There is to be a swltoh-back railway, a tobaggap slide, and an electrlo railway bo far, and there io mooted the question of an ice-rink, a dancing saloon, and co forth. At this rate our boasted Exhibition will deteriorate into nothing bettor than a great raree-show, and 1 myself am surprised at the aotlon of the Commission In letting any kind of outside Show gain entrance. Bythe«way, apropos of this, Bomobody haß come out with a new name for the Exhibition, modelled on tha idea of the " Healtherles," " Oolinderieß," eto, at home. It ia the " Oentennerles," and being applicable and neat, will no donbt bo taken op. Melbourne has been scandalised during the week by a prospectus appearing m the daily papers of. a project entitled " The Great Centennial Land Distribution Co " The idea was to cut np a large estate and divide it into co many prlza shares, the highest share to carry 10,0 acres, guaranteed value £20,000, and the lowest aharo to , oarry an allo'ment of 4(1 feet, worth some ; few pouodß. J^a other/words, it was to be a land lottery on somewhat similar principle? to one of Miller's aw.eep*. except that there ware no horses, arouaad a universal outcry of indignation, and has been withdrawn, Bat, strange to say, the names of some of onr most Influential capitalists appeared asdlreotors, and everybody Is wondering how It comes about that suoh men could lend their names to what was nothing better tbao a gambling swindle. Business morality Is sinking low Indeed when such Bchemen appear before tho public. The spirit of speculation is life enough here, heaven knows, without adding to It the last taiut of unlawful gambling. Melbourne seems to be on the tiptoe of expectation regarding Miss Lydla von Finkelstein, whose lectures on the Holy Land have attracted such attention In Adelaide. She opens to-morow evening, her initial lecture being " The Homes and Haunts of Jeauo." I have had the gratification of being introduced to the lady. ' She la exceptionally tall an(| even txraieatto-loo^lng.* wliu a head' d£ golden hair, and a njanrier and voice bo agreeable as t6 leave nothing to he desired. She riaa leotared pretty well all c^^r the world, »nd seema to poasesi wonderful powarfl of action and gesture. She informed me she spoke clx languages fluently, »moDgst them Arabic, and appears altogether to be a very remarkable woman. Seats foi her leo'.urft; hlVe aiieaoy been rushed, so she is sure to oarry all before hgq.