WELLINGTON.

Evening Star, Issue 4110, 29 April 1876, Page 4

WELLINGTON.

{From our own Correspondent.)

April 22. Another of ouc_ celebrities has passed away. Colonel St. John (pronounced Simjeri) died early yesterday morning, and his name ought not to pass into forgetfulness without a word or two beyond’ the simple obituary notice. He was a descendant of the famous or infamous Bolingbroke, the sophist and man of the world, who is probably best known as the friend of Pope and Swift, and the deceased possessed some of the versatility of his ancestor. On leaving the Imperial army. Colonel St. John joined the Colonial forces and distinguished

himself as a gallant officer in several of our West Coast campaigns. Here _it was that hard work and hard living told upon an originally strong constitution. A light and merry heart bore up the soldier under privations, but Natiire although a long-suffering is a relentless creditor. Latterly he acted as private secretary to Sir Donald M ‘Lean, in which capacity he made himself both trusted and useful. For some months he had been “falling off,” “breaking down,” as we call it, and to all but himself the result was very evident. The end came suddenly at last. Colonel St. John was the author of a goodly volume, giving a spirited account of his raids and rambles among the Maoris. He was well read, and a classical quotation came as readily and aptly to him as to “a proper Eton boy,” although 1 am not aware that he ever was at Eton. He was buried to-day - with military honors, the funeral cortege being attended by all the leading people in town.

Theatrical management must be a moneygetting if not a profit-making business. Mr F. M. Bates has just offered L 250 a-quarter for a one-year’s lease of the Wellington Theatre, and been refused. . It is probably an advantage to the public that it should be so, as they arc more likely to get pleasant changes under a less permanent managership, but the holders of the property may hold on longer and fare worse. JNo one has succeeded better here than Mr Darrell, and no one better deserved to succeed. Mr Hoskins tried a short season a couple of weeks ago, but it ended in a .fiasco, one leading actress, at least, having become “indisposed ” during more than one of the performances. The Marionettes are drawing food houses. They close to-night, and will e succeeded in the Oddfellows’ Hall next week by the Lydia-Howard Opera Troupe. Mr Macandrew expressed his disgust at the Colima not coming into Port Chalmers on her first voyage to Dunedin. The people of Wellington have equally good cause to be disgusted for much the same reason. When the propeller went, inquiry was made if the vessel could be repaired here, and some officious’individual telegraphed in the negative. It was a pure mistake ; but Wellington harbor suffers unjustly in the public estimation by such mistakes. The Colima

could have been taken on the Wellington patent slip and repaired easily enough. . v uch a bulk would certainly have tested the capabilities of the slip, but it would have stood the ordeal triumphantly. There are some absurd political rumors afloat. They have, however, not a shadow of foundation. One is that Mr Fitzherbert and Mr Ormond ' are candidates for the Speakership of the House of Representatives, with the Government sanction. I wonder how many Richmonds there will be in the field before tbe battle begins ? If Mr Reynolds definitely makes up his mind to offer himself for the chair, the Government will support him, and there will be no doubt of bis return. There may be a sharp contest between Mr OTlorke and Mr Seymour for the chairmanship of committees, but the latter has all the chances

in his favor from circumstances that need not be particularly referred to.