The Globe. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1468, 31 October 1878, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1878.

A motion was carried in the House on Tuesday night to the effect that the next session of the Assembly should bo held in Christchurch. According to the telegram the resolution was only agreed to by a majority of one. This is probably right; but the division list as transmitted is evidently wrong, and it would, therefore, be hazardous to refer to any member as having voted in a particular way. Assuming that the result as given is correct, it may not be altogether superfluous to caution the public against building any hope on the decision. It is not the least likely that any Government in their senses will feel bound, on so serious a subject, to obey a more resolution carried by a majority of one, without debate or consideration. The determination must be regarded as ono of those ponderous witticisms in which the Legislature occasionally indulges towards the end of a session, and by no means as an instruction to the Government. Some years ago, if we remember rightly, a similar resolution was carried, affirming the desirability of the next session being held at Akaroa, but the Government of the day very properly declined to treat this as an instruction. It must be evident that the enormous expense of transferring the head-quarters of all the departments, and the public records —as would bo unavoidable were the decision to be acted on —from ono place to another for a few months would be quite unjustifiable, to say nothing of the circumstance that there is no accommodation for them here when they come. Still less is there any suitable place in which the Legislature could hold its session. Of course, if such a resolution as that referred to had been arrived at after mature consideration, and it had been determined to change the seat of Government permanently, the matter would have to be treated seriously. But in the absence of any such reason for regarding it in this light, it cannot be denied that the Government will undoubtedly serve the country very much better by ignoring than by obeying the decision of the House. It is, perhaps, to be regretted that the Representative Chamber should indulge in ill-timed jests of this character, as a Government may some day arise which will be indiscreet enough to take such a foolish resolution as a literal instruction, and the Legislature clearly will have forfeited all right to blame them for doing so. But in a House where coarse jests upon the length of honorable members' noses and ears, and the capacity of their crania are permitted, with other fun of a still less becoming character, it is not surprising to find that such resolutions as that upon which we have commented are occasionally agreed to in a kind of elephantine mirth; and the colony is perhaps rather to be congratulated on their comparative rarity than members greatly blamed for agreeing to them at all.

The attendance at the entertainments given by Madame Tasca and company on Monday and Tuesday evening has been so exceedingly sparse as to excite considerable surprise even amongst those who were acquainted with the eccentricities of the people of Christchurch on this subject. It has been suggested that this is attributable to the somewhat high tariff of charges. Seeing, however, that the charges have on occasions been higher, and yet full houses been attracted to entertainments which most assuredly were not superior from any point of view to those given by Madame Tasca, this apology for the negligence of the residents must be laid aside. How then is tho mystery to be accounted for ? Here is a pianiste of such rare excellence that it is no more than strict fact to say she has few equals in the whole world. Once before only have tho people of Christchurch had an opportunity of hearing a performance upon the piano of equal merit, and it will probably be many years before such an opportunity is offered again. And yet in a community which claims to be the most refined in the colony, and especially arrogates to itself an unapproached superiority in matters musical, an .audience of some thirty or forty people is all that can bo got together to listen to a Tasca! Looking at the counterattractions at present to be found in the city, and without depreciating tho several other entertainments which have no doubt the!}.' special merits, it must be admitted that these do not constitute the reason why the Oddfellow*' Hall has been so ill-patronised. The so-called " nobility" of Christchurch have not been crowding tho theatres of late. It is not Mr. &&&o§, nor yet Johnny Trotter, who has led to tiio neglect of Madamo Tasca. Tho reason is—aa| li> may as well bo put in a few words as in raau-y—• that with all their vaunted cultivation, itui. of musical superiority, the elegant foil:, of this neighbourhood do not care a iig for high-class music for its own sake. In a word, then- ai'-'S on the subject of music are all affectation^,, }\ T e had purposed to write more (strongly «tt this matter; but cut bono'i The people av<a tree, and it is not probable that plain speaking will change their views. Only let them not be Wgry jviiAE. neighbouring communities speak of Christchia-c!i 3 as Miss Evans spoke,—a place where the will go to a dog and monkey show, b.ut spurn at real art. Jj&i them choose their own amusement*,, but abstek from making themsolvos a laughs gtock by aver again assuming

airs on (lie subject of their musical taste. Fastidiousness in any matter is bad or good according to its subject. But hypocrisy of fastidiousness, under any circumstances, can only excite disgust and challenge ridicule.