Our Contributions.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 464, 4 January 1881, Page 2

Our Contributions.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF SYDNEY.

(CONCLUDED.),

Since the elections were over things have been "in statu quo" he/e— at all events than being "in statu —and I have, through pressure of busi ness, been unable to get materials for an interesting letter. Sirenryparkes, as our premier is usually . called by the "great unwashed," has been ' in Melbourne trying hard to bring Mr Jerry Brabam to his senses, concerning the vexations border duties. Victoria's Extremity is the opportunity of New South Wales, and there is abundant evidence furnished by Unchallengeable statistics, that this Colony will,.under existing circumstances, speedily outstrip her rival, and, until late, years, superior " The Lyster'Opera Company aro ,'Tj|%|| forming to extremely good houses; Feischutz " being the only onb of the ■ grand oporas as yet placed upon thoM Arines Beaumont is in very good Y0 and is greatly, pleasing the mssicvol] tion of the public. To Speak the thpj^"

- aw* iij ii in mi l. j; finer operas, better performed upon tlie whole, have been very badly patronised by the New Zealand public; and it would appear, either that th.c Sydneyites are Mnoro easily pleased or that the mass of tho people of your colony have tastes above, or below high class music.

Probably though, tho extreme depression in monetary matters in New Zealand may be a better reason for the scanty, support (bitterly commented upon by th< head of the Opera Company) given to the Lyßter troupe upon their last visit to your shores.

The Bulletin newspaper seems to be making considerable headway here. It is ..& weekly paper of the so-called " Society ' kind, and is edited with more than the usual amount of care, as regards its personalities. On the whole it is fairly witty, concise and varied. The same can scarcely be said of its namesake of Melbourne. Nevertheless our Bulletin is not im maoulate.as the following choice specimen (from, its Melbourne correspondent) will suffico to show :—" The Earl and Countess of Ellesmere have arrived. The Earl looks like a consumptive linen draper, while the Countess exhibits a great 'fondness for jam tarts," etc., etc.

It occurred to my mind to wonder if tho writer would have written anything similar about, say, James Mace. As it is only a cut at an educated man of good family; probably delicate ; and a son-in-law of the Governor of Victoria, it is of course all right.

Water is reported to bo scarce in the reservoirs supplying -thiß city, and for some days the. streets have not been watered. What an extraordinary thing it is that preventible unpleasantness is not looked after in time. I suppose .that there is water enough to be bad, by spending the necessary amount of money and brains, in -the right direction. Tha same outcry is hoard each summer in Melbourne, although an unlimited supply is to be had for tho trouble of bringing it in pipes of sufficient size, or quantity, for twenty miles, from, the Plenty.

The correct thing at Manly Beach (for cads) seems to bs, to walkabout amongst the visitors, on Sundays as well as other days, in soiled clothes, trousers tucked up to the knees, with a knife in leather case, stuck in girdle or belt, in order, apparently, that the public may be forced to be aware that aforesaid cads are engaged in yachting pursuits.

The disgusting show that is now being made of everything which can by any human Ingenuity be termed athletic sports illustrates several proverbs; paiticularly that one " from the sublime to tbe ridicu lous is but a step." I imy mention, fer_ the benefit of* the uninformed, that the yachts.are invariably clean, and tho water as a lake, and the work would .'not soil a-drorssitit; but cads must be a show, or they are miserable, and the .grandeur of being something outre in quite irresistible to the minds of the 'arriea of Sydney Rents are very high in Sydney ; higher than in Melbourne; is the general impression. The weather is getting very warm now and those who can afford the time and money, are looking forward to life by the briny, " far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife," or to visiting Now Zealand, Tasmania, etc; where a cooler temperature may be enjoyed. I must now conclude by wishing your Colony a speedy revival from the recent hard times, and trust that Akaroa and district will have their share of tho (hoped for) good things to come.