NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1575, 19 October 1912, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

It is always a pleasure to record the efforts of those aspiring to tho highest flights of artistic endeavour, irrespective of what their particular art may be. The visit to Wellington of' Mr. Oscar Asche, his charming wife (Miss Lily Biuyton), and their talented company of distinguished members of the theatrical profession, is worthy of more than passing note- In "Kismet," Mr. Asche showed' in, a striking manner the marvellous advances that are being made in the form of the presentation of modern spectacular i drama, and in the Shakespearean plays so far presented for the delectation of lovers of the highest form of the drama, the actor-manager has shown with consummate skill the comedies which pleased Queen Elizabeth and her court may be enhanced to a degree of visual enchantment never contemplated by the author. It is a tribute to Mr. and Mrs. Asche, and little less to the able company of players who support them, that public appreciation in Wellington has been so strikingly shown. They came' with a reputation of artistic work well done, a reputation which has been worthily upheld, and their success— reflected in the records they have broken in Auckland and Wellington —should be a spur to maintain the same high standard of exoellencc; and an encouragement to other noted players overseas to extend their influence and fame by visiting the Antipodes.

The report of tho Parliamentary Committee on the petition of the Messrs. M'Lean who to be relieved of their responsibilities under their contract to pierce the West Coast mountain range and construct the Otira_ tunnel,- is very sweeping. Not only is it recommended that the petitioners should be granted very considerable concessions, but it is urged that the Government should call for fresh tenders for the completion of tho work. The Messrs. M'Lean certainly have met with very great difficulty in carrying out their contract and on the figures shown will be heavy losers by abandoning. their contract at the present stage. No doubt they would do still heavier losers were they to attempt to complete tho undertaking. But we arc not concerned so much at the moment with the merits of their position as with the merits of the whole work and the suggestion of the Committee that it snould be pressed forward to completion. This portion of the Midland Railway work is one of those undertakings which the Government certainly should not press forward. The best thing that could happen for the country as a wholo is tnafc this work should be abandoned for tho time being and the money that is being wasted on it expended in directions whero it will be of real value to the nation. The failure of the contractors to complete the Otira tunnel should really bo welcomed as affording an opportunity for laying aside a project which ia not only going to cost tho people of New Zealand a large capital sum, but which will also be a heavy annual drain on the revenue for working expenses when the line is completed.

The little "breeze" which occurred at the sitting of tho Public Accounts Committee yesterday will probably servo to arouse the curiosity _ of the public oh a question of etiquette. Apparently it is regarded in certain circles as an "impertinence" for tho Chairman of a Parliamentary Committee to endeavour to keep ft witness to the point when that witnoss is the proud possessor of an hereditary title. We do not profess to know the special privileges claimed by baronets when in the witnessbox which are not shared by common everyday folk, but it will certainly be interesting to learn from Mr. Speaker or from the House whether a chairman of so important a Parliamentary institution as the Public Accounts Committee when acting in his official capacity can be "impertinent" to anyone—even i a baronet—who oomoß under his jurisdiction