Our Contributors.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 501, 3 May 1881, Page 3

Our Contributors.

OUR SYDNEY LETTER

[ifltOM OUH OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Sydney, April 14. Since my last wo have had, upon the whole, extremely fine weather ; at times - ""unusually hot for the time of year. A couple of heavy rains have fallen, however, and not before they were wanted. A great sensation, in the shape of a sham invasion of our city, came off on the 12th hist. The following men of war, the Wolverene, 17 guns; the Emerald, 12 guns; the Miranda and Cormorant, each 6 guns ; steamed from the Heads down the harbor to " Lady Macepuarie's chair" (having been supposed to have passed successfully the heavy batteries at the Heads), and stormed the inner defences ; and after a (supposed) repulse, succeeded in landing a large body of men well armed, in small boats ; the landing forces, after successfully disposing of the opposing forces on shore, triumphantly marched to the city, bringing with them several mounted guns. The whole proceedings occupied only at meist one hour' mid a half, and it is only fair to say that the whole of the manoeuvres were executed well and no hitch whatever occurred ; and'on all sides much gratification was

expressed at the imposing spectacle. The cannonading, when the guns on the shore were being silenced by the broadsides of the invaders, was terrific ; also, when the men-of-war were covering the small boats full of " tars " while rowing to the shore, the noise of war was earsplitting, and the dense smoke lay like a gigantic shroud between the enemy and the defenders. Only the knowledge that it was " all fun," prevented the peaceful civilians from thoroughly realising the full " pomp and circumstances nf dreadful war." Many jokes have been cracked at the expense of our local Nelsons and Drakes, on account of the fact that, while our murdered countrymen in South Sea Islands lie rotting, unavenged, an imposing bombardment of a friendly port was going on for the amusement of the public. Our local critics should, however, remember that our men-of-war are acting under the strictest instructions of Messrs Gladstone, Bright, Dilke, and Co., " who will die before they will fight," and that nothing would please the Captain Corcorans and Admiral Porters of our fleet bettea than to exact heavy retribution from the slayers of their fellow tars ; and it would be almost too much to expect the local naval authorities to incur, perhaps disgrace, and dismissal from the fleat for wilfully disobeying orders from the Home Government. It is, moreover, right that the numerous admirers of the said Govi rament should reme ber how for more important it is that white men should perish than that a single hair of a " noble savage " should be injured—witness, for instance, the humiliating po&ition of England with reference to the Boers, who have three successive times beaten us in A f rica, and the leek has been swallowed humaly by the proud Britons, who from the time of the Conqueror until now have promptly avenged every disaster save in the case of the Americans, who are our own flesh and blood, and therefore perhaps may be allowed to whip " their sisters, their cousins and their aunts " for once.

After the city was captured by the foe, and when Macquarie street was crowded with people packed nearly as closely as sardines, a second excitement occurred, in the shape of a cow wildly careering through the dense congregation of holiday-makers ; and the wonderful manner in which the public made room for the half maddened animal cannot be properly be described ; unless, as a simile, the reader supposes the panic and rush of an audience in a theatre upon an alarm of fire being given. After (it is said) bowling over an old woman and a child, without much damage to them, the poor brute ranie to anchor on the green sward of the outer Domain, and all danger bein,L' passed, a good deal of merriment took place, especially amongst those who had previously been most pcarcd.

The Austrian Band wound up their concerts (so far as the whole body of them was concerned) by giving a "grand fancy dress ball " : and some of the dresses are said to have been more original than decent. About one thous aud visitors attended—tickets £1 10s and 12s 6d for gentlemen and ladies respectively. The music was not up to tho mark, either as regards 'he composers or players ; the latter were in their worst form, and tho former were not remarkable for variety, as out of 20 pieces 18 were by the inevitable Strauss, and the two others by composers unknown to any but the band, one being by one of their own Mozarts. Complaint was made also upon the number of the known demi-monde present; also upon the scarcity of the refreshments ; and the general feeling was that the public had been " had," to use a vulgar and slang expression. Anyhow the public " had " a portion of the band afterwards, for, upon one or two further concerts being given by some of the foreigners (who appear to have split up into two or three detachments) the said public were conspicuous by their absence. Further arrivals of New Zealand

working men in search of employment. If this continues, your colony will sink lower in tie eyes of the New South Welshmen ; as it is, the opinion seems the reverse of flattering, judging by the remarks 1 frequently hear. Parliament ha a been prorogued, and ♦.he great " talking shop" is hushed in silence, if not in despair. The "Pirates of Penzance" still hold their ground at the Theatn Royal. At the Queen's, " Uncle Tom's Cubing is being played to good houses. Cole's Circus is heavily patronised by very enthusiastic crowds, children, of course, well represented. An opera season is about to commence at the Gaiety Theatre; the first work for performance is the " Bohemian Girl ;" and, en passant, I may remark that there is more than one Bohemian girl in Sydney. The Government tramways are a grand success, so far as tried at present ; several extensions have been lately opened, and are largely travelled over by the people. The gauge is much wider than that in use in New Zealand, and greater steadiness is the result. Mr Charles Bright draws large audiences on Sunday evenings to worship his God— i.e., man's own reason —and a very popular God it seems to be—a very accommodating one, anyhow. Larrikinism is largely upon the increase, so the police authorities state . and for foul conversation in public thoroughfares the N.B. W". gentlemauj larrikin can hold his own well with his New Zealand and Victorian conteiupo.•■urie:'-. House-rent is said to be ;.igher in the vicinity of Sydney than in any •tin r portion of the Austalasian colonies ; 1 think, however, that some of the New

I Zealand towns would bo able to compete in this respect. It is contemplated to borrow, altogether, the very modest sum of seventeen millions, chiefly for railway extension. The justification is staled to be that the colony possesses 150,000,000 acres of unalienated land, valued ot over £100,000,000 sterling. That sounds well, does it not ? " The Barber," an outsider, won the principal race at the Hawkesbury the other day, not by a shave, as might naturally be supposed, but by four lengths. The " razor-wie Ider " is now about third favorite for th c Sydney Cup, at 7 to 1. o A couple of good ctucerts were recently given here, the ar ists and artistes being Farley, Coy, Boenia, and Palma ; attendance very modern te, and (jiite unworthy of the performances. Henry Ketfcui has feet, but is very proud of them ; he wears the most showy of patent shoos, witli fancy cloth tops, and makes a central figure of (hem, somehow, in his numerous photos. Kowalski's " Verdngeforix," which I referred to in my last letter, is now a thing of the past. So utterly painful a conglomeration of sound I have seldom heard ; the very incomprehensibility of the work, however, had the natural effect of gaining a somewhat enthusiastic notice from some of the smaller fry of musical critics. In the same way, a public speech to the horny-handed and unwashed sons of toil, plentifully interlarded with quotalions in Greek amd Latin, invariably produces acclamat on and awe.

To allude once more to the sham fight. On the day on w Inch it t.ok place, viz,, the 12th inst., the incom ng Tararua, from New Zealand, was two days overdue, and, as a good joke, it was suggested that should the vessel approach tho heads during " the cannou> roar along the affrighted shore," she would probably not dare to enter the harbor for fear of being blown up, but even might return to New Zealand with a dreadful tale of horror. The telegraph spoils many a joke, and certainly it would have been a good joke—had the vessel acted as the wits had suggested. Unfortunately the Tararua did not arrive, until 24 hours after the battle was over —but, had she arrived in time, I doubt not that her signal gun would have been brought into play upon the invaders ; and who can say that the Wolveiene might not have had to strike colours and succumb to the New Zealandcr. In fact, the whole face of the battle might have been changed, and the city of Sydney spared the mortification of being taken, as was really the case. With the fast-steaming, heavily armed Tararua on tiie side of the besieged, the eincny would very likely have found matters too hot for them ; but it was fore ordained that the city was to be taken, and taken it accordingly was, "for better and for worse," like men take their wives.

The unfortunate victims of the Marquis de Hay's expedition are here, and are being well looked after by the Government and public. It seems that their suil'oiiugs have been dreadful, and many succombed before arrival. Now, however, the survivors are picking up strength and cheerfulness, and express a wish to remain in this Colony. Probably some arrangements will be made lo settle them, altogether, upon some land up country. They understand vinedressing and some forms of agriculture, aud are not undesirable colonists like the Chinese. They are being housed at present in the Agricultural Hall in the Domain, and many visitors go to see them daily ; the gratitude of the poor immigrants seems unbounded for theattentions paid to them. The Railway journey between Sydney and Melbourne is now performed in twenty-four hours, the fares arc : first single, £4 ; first return, £5 ss. Many of the steamers charge only £2 for the single journey saloon, and £4 ditto return. The Easter holidays commence to-morrow (Good Friday), and the Government, as well s public companies, offer a variety of cheap trips by land and water to the public.