MELBOURNE.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2286, 3 September 1870, Page 2

MELBOURNE.

August 27. We have not yet got over the festivities consequent on the opening of our municipal palace. The last, but by no means the least of the civic balls avas that given by the citizens to the mayor on the night before last. To say that it was a success is not sufficient; and in proof of this assertion I avould recommend to your lady readers —for I am sure they will find the particulars very interesting—a perusal of the Aryus of the next day, where they avill find a most graphic description of the ball, and to the extent of sixteen columns. Never avas such a ball as the Mayor’s said the popular verdict, rapidly folloaved by the thought that its glories must he repeated in a return ball, at avhicb the grateful citizens might entertain Mr and Mrs Amess, the most popular lady and gentleman of the day. In describing that avhich ensued ave arc quoting circumstances as yet unexampled in Melbourne. We have had return mayors’ balls in plenty, but they have been slightly perfunctory affairs, undertaken in some sort to quiet an uneasy sense of obligation, and they often served to prove how many persons there avere who shrunk from any position save that of invited guests. This t me, however, there was no trace of such feelings. Those, indeed, avho deliberated were lost, and when the return ball committee closed their lists, hundreds were left lamenting that they avere behindhand. The very formation of that committee avas an unique illustration of the eagerness of our citizens. All sorts and conditions of men, docii indoctiqne, judges and journalists, merchants and Ministers of the Crown, bankers and barristers, professors and professional men, shopkeepers and civil servants pressed together for the purpose. It avas an emanation of the suburban mind that the mayor and mayoress should be iuvited to an “entertainment” (avbatevcr th t might mean), but the thrifty proposition met avith no seconders. The committee, taking heart of grace, threw all suggestions of economy to the winds. To them the return ball must be to the full as grand as the original fete—or nothing. This idea avas eagerly accepted, and carried out in the most satisfactory manner.—A few days previous to the Dali the aldermen and councillors of the corporation of Melbourne entertained at dinner on Monday evening, at the Town Hall, the Mayor of Melbourne, the Mayor of Adelaide, and the representatives of the corporations of oilier colonies noav on a visit to the city, including Alderman Hordern of Sydney, and Alderman Bclbiu, of Hobart Toavn. Mr Jack, a member of the Dunedin Council, was also invited, but was unable to attend, as his engagements necessitated his departure from the colony. There avas any amount of speech making, but the most interesting avas made by Alderman Horven, of Tasmania, wto in the coarse of his remarks gave some amusing reminiscences of municipal affairs in the early days of the colony. He stated that it was the third occasion on which he had been present when the City Council had commenced business in new premises. He was present in 1842, at their first meeting avhen qhey commenced [proceedings in a very humble building, the site of which was noav occupied by the Criterion Hotel. He avas also present on a subsequent occasion, avhen they held their first sittings in the Mechanics’ Institute, Collins street; and though he did not avitness their inauguration of the Old Town-hall, he avas happy to assist at the festivities avhich celebrated the auspicious opening of the magnificent building which bad replaced that edifice. He further remarked, that avhen councillors for the city of Melbourne were first nominated, ho had proposed Aldermrn Smith, the present chairman, a"d observed that it was a curious coincidence that Alderman Smith, Alderman Cohen, the Mayor of Adelaide, and himself, who avere all schoolmates as boys, should be found dining together, holding the positions they did, so many years afterwards. The new hall was used for the first time for the transaction of bufiness on the 22nd inst. The fittings are of a gorgeous description, and are an exact counterpart of those of the General Assembly. Balls and concerts have been followed by numerous public presentations. The most noticeable was that to Mr Alderman Wragge, who was presented avith a silver claret jug and a purse of 210 sovs., in recognition of his important services in connection with the Town Hall.

Total abstainers and evangelical preachers are making a great noise just now about the abuse of the licensing laws. The papers teejn with letters on the subject, and many instances of glaring abuse are given. Of course the police are much blamed, but unfairly, for they have of late made great efforts to put a stop to Sunday traffic, but without success. The other day in our police court we had four little fellows, none of them older than 13 years, charged with drunkenness. They bad come across “a plant ” of a bottle of gin, aud immediately set 'about drinking it. One of them, Fitzgerald, got the lion’s share, the effect being that be became insensible and lay out half the night in the cold. His frolic nearly cost him his life. The police court reports have lately included several revolting ases, all of them traceable to the effects of drink. Here is one of them. On Sunday last, a surgeon was called in to attend a poor woman living in Sackville street, Collingwood. He found her suffering from lock-jaw, which appeared to have been brought on by some one attempting to strangle her. She was speechless, and when gsked to explain who had maltreated her, pointed to the next room, where her husband, a commission agent named Roes, was lying in a drunken stupor. On the previous evening she had taken refuge from the ferocious fury of the same assailant, in a neighbour’s house ; and now the surgeon considered it necessary to remove |hcr to the hospital. The place in whieh she lived was found to be without bedding or necessaries of 'any kind, ppd was occupied by one or two half-drunken females, while it was subsequently ascertained that she herself was under the influence of liquor. In matters, theatrical, we have been busy during tiie past fortnight All the houses appear to qe doing w ell, especially the opera. At the Duke of Edinburgh, “ Froufrou ” is enjoying a most successful run, with Mrs Gladstone as the heroine. The complimentary concert to Messrs Kendall and Horsley, was a grand affair. I believe your Mr Willis has managed to get together a re. markably strong oompany, whieh includes the names of Mr and Mrs Lawrence (Miss

Cassy George), Mr and Mrs Walter Hill, Mrs Hoskins (Miss Julia Harland), and Messrs Metclafe and Musgrave. It is stated that he has arranged for a visit from Mr and Mrs Charles Mathews towards the New Year. The majority of the company leave here by the Claud Hamilton, which is announced to leave on September 10. > Mrs and Mrs R. Roberts sailed by the Malta on the 11th insb. They proceed to Calcutta, having accepted an advantageous offer to join Mr W. B. Gill’s company. The musical profession of the colony have determined to celebrate Beethoven’s centenary in style. —According to Mr Aicker’s quarterly abstract, the estimated population off the colony for the June quarter is 405,637 males, and 317,716 females, or a total of 723,353 persons.—ln well informed circles, it is said the appointment of Sheriff is to be conferred on Mr Kempthorne, R. M., or Colonel Rede.—At Sandhurst, last week, there was a dreadful thunderstorm, and a good deal of damage was done by floods. At Epsom the greatest amount of damage was done. Houses were blown down, a church blown to pieces, only two feet of the wall at the base being left standing ; and a stable with a horse in it lifted clean away and rolled along the ground for 100 yards. In this township alone some twenty persons were more or less injured—some having their arms and legs broken—and at Huntley one boy was struck dead by lightning, .and another paralpsod.—The Government of this colony have an idea of dispensing with the position of Crown Prosecutor, and to distribute the briefs for the Crown among the profession generally.