THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1881. THE ADDRESS OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2176, 15 February 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1881. THE ADDRESS OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Me. A. Wilson’s address at the quarterly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce is unusually pregnant and interesting. He has, moreover, a certain amount of good news to dilate cn, always a pleasant task to a gentleman in his position. The first matter of any importance he referred to was the reduction of the railway tariff rates on agricultural produce. Next came the desirability of adopting a form of average bond for consignees, and the payment of deposits under average bonds into the hands of trustees specially appointed for the purpose, rather than into hands of comparatively irresponsible parsons. With regard to the exhibition of wool to be held at the Crystal Palace at Sydenham on the Ist of Juno, it appears the public have responded most feebly to the appeal of the Chamber of Commerce, and only one individual has sent in a sample. This is much to bo regretted, although the Chairman suggests that it may not bo as bad as it looks, seeing that some growers may have sent home samples through their own private agents. A gentle slap at the property tax follows, Mr. Wilson holding, with many others, that an increase in the Customs’ duties is the / safest and most convenient method of raising the revenue. The success of the Strathleven and Protos experiments is next touched on, and Mr. Wilson very sensibly suggests that Canterbury should he the district to take tho first steps towards forming a trade with the home country. This proposition is a self-evident one, seeing how much our pastoral and agricultural interests exceed those of other parts of New Zealand. But there should be no delay, 1 because, as m instance that the public !

are becoming very much on the qui vive t wo have already noticed that an enterprising butcher in Wellington proposes to start in this particular line on his own account. Mr. Wilson adverts to the rising of tho Customs’ revenue and to the fact that tho exports for 1880 have exceeded the imports. The large accumulation of capital in various countries is mentioned, and a hope is expressed that, whatever Government rules the destinies of New Zealand, no further loans will he countenanced, for years to come, either by the Government, the Assembly or the electors. With this concluding sentence of a very satisfactory address we most heartily concur, and apparently so do the Chamber of Commerce, judging by their applause. As a statement of the prospects of the country, the address holds out hopes that wo arc turning the corner, and that patience and perseverance alone is necessary for us once more to reach a satisfactory standpoint. Tho lesson our misfortunes have taught ns will not have been thrown away if public men continue to hold tho sound views on the subject of borrowing that are entertained by the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce.

THIN-SKINNED ARTISTS,

Messrs Paladini and Riccardi have written an indignant letter to our contemporary the “Lyttelton Times” respecting certain remarks wo made in onr issue of yesterday reflecting on Mr Simonson’s company. They declare that they have persistently and successfully laboured for the amusement and instruction of the public, and they resent eur remarks as an outrage. Now it seems to ns that such a broad assertion should bo supported by some sort of argument other than the ipse dixit of the gentlemen in question. Wo stated that Mr. Simonson’s assistants were, as a body, mediocre, but we by no means meant to reflect on the artistic capacities of Messrs. Paladini and Riccardi, or on those of several lady performers of the company. We, however, maintained, and still maintain, that the company as a whole is not up to the mark, and both in point of numbers and quality is quite unable to offer an intelligent rendering of many of the operas placed before the public. The manner in which the forbearance of the audience has in numerous cases been drawn upon, has been quite incompatible with any pleasing rendering of the stirring scenes pourlrayed. And what wo meant to say was that a good ordinary theatrical representation is, viewed critically, much superior to a more pretentious performance, where the credibility of the listeners is unhealthily strained. Let us take for instance two operas, the one given at the beginning, the other at the end of the season, and it will at once be apparent what wo mean. “The Hermit’s Bell” is an opera which does not require a by any means large mise en scene. There are a few soldiers, a few peasants, and a few exiles. But we confidently appeal to the audiences that saw this opera whether the whole affair was not made abs®lutoly ridiculous by the manoeuvres of the main body of the performers. The identical individuals who one moment were peasants were the next moment soldiers, and their extremely small number rendered the absurdity still more glaring. But when the mensoldiers and peasants donned military cloaks, and the female peasants light dust cloaks, and were transmogrified, without the slightest fui fier change, into a body of hunted fugitives, the climax was reached. It may be said, indeed, that this arrangement was unavoidable by reason of the small number of the chorus. But there is but one step from the sublime to the ridiculous, and that step is passed when a company endeavours to give an intelligent rendering of an opera that lies totally beyond their reach. The same with the “ Trovatore,” the other opera wo alluded to. The same body of soldiers appeared at one moment as under the command of the besiegers, and at the next as under the command of the besieged, without, as far as we can recollect, any change of costume whatsoever. If any opera company undertakes certain works, it should do it thoroughly, and confine itself to what is well within its powers. We in Christchurch live somewhat out of the way, it is true, but we are not all “young men from the country ” on that account, and some of us have seen operas performed as they should be. If Mr Simonsen thinks that by getting together one or two tolerable artists he has formed a company and can leave the rest of the affair to providence, we have to inform him that the public of Christchurch are not of the same opinion. Madame Simonson’s delineations have, we allow, given unqualified satisfaction, and Messrs. Paladini and Riccardi are decidedly good in some characters. But the company as a whole, wo repeat, is not up to any mark at all, and for persons who have seen the greater operatic works given as they should be, it has frequently been nothing less than painful to visit the Theatre Royal during the past operatic season.