THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 1882. ÆSTHTETIC CHRISTCHURCH.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2432, 21 January 1882, Page 3

THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 1882. ÆSTHTETIC CHRISTCHURCH.

Once again, though perhaps in more polished language, the people of Christchurch havejboen told, in effect, that their taste in the matter of amusement does not soar above dogs and monkeys. The original remark was made by an actress of no mean ability, under whose regime the drama did not by any means flourish. Mr. Robson, a gentleman who has recently visited us, has the same experience to relate in a different and perhaps what some people would call a higher and more refined style of entertainment. Ho was told that in Christchurch there was a largo section of the public, highly educated, highly refined, being in fact what is now known as quite too utterly utter, and that as his entertainment was decidedly of an intellectual and thoroughly goody goody style, he was hound to succeed here far better than in any other part of New Zealand. The fact is that we have been so much in the habit of posing ourselves before the rest of the colony as the city in which high art of all kinds is fostered and supported that people elsewhere begin to holiovo it. Indeed wo almost do so ourselves. It only, however requires a visit hero to rudely dispel the illusion, as. Mr. Robson equally with other entertainers of a high class, have found to their cost. It is true we rushed in crowds to hoar Mr. Proctor deliver lectures on the A. 8.0. of astronomy of some such character as one frequently sees in publications intended for the instruction of tho working classes. But then Mr. Proctor was “ tho thing you know,” and though perhaps not half tho audience who attended understood what it was all about they felt encouraged by having been in the company of the creme de la creme. Somehow or the other, however, elocutionary entertainments, though of high class, do not appear to have boon tho fashion just when Mr. Robson made his visit hero. The mutations of fashion are, it is wellknown, exceedingly unaccountable, and therefore we will not pretend to discover the reason why a negro minstrel troupe of no very extraordinary merit should he crowded out to tho doors and Mr. Robson left to discourse to empty benches. Perhaps there is to the mind of the Christchurch supporters of high art and culture moro “ soulfnlnoss

to use tho now testhetio expression in contemplating tho expansive grin of Mr. Billy Wilson in ouo of the sublime

and elevating melodies peculiar to negro minstrelsy than listening to selections admirably rendered from the worts of such insignificant personages as William Shakespeare and Edgar Allan Poe. We regret exceedingly that it is not possible to translate the latter into what are called “ nigger funniments,” as this appears to bo the only method of securing public support here. have not the slightest objection to the public, if they think proper, flocking in crowds to negro minstrel performances, but let ns be honest and say at once this is the class of entertainment which wo desire to have in Christchurch. Instead of that we place ourselves on a pedestal above other cities and prate of our support to all that is highly intellectual and artistic, which is merely a sham. In fact, to sum up the whole matter. Miss Rose Evans was perfectly right—dogs and monkeys are about the level of our taste in amusement, and this being so, we should have the courage of our opinions and say so. THE NEW DRAINAGE BOARD. The newly-elected Drainage Board has started on its career in a fairly businesslike manner. Judging from appearances, there is likely to be plenty of talk at the meetings, but perhaps that is not an unmitigated evil. One thing is certain, that the selection of Mr. U. Harper as chairman is an exceedingly good one. His firm hut courteous manner will go far

towards repressing tho flood of talk which some of tho new members appear

to wish to pour forth. The work they have to do is comparatively easy, for the present at least. When the time comes for a further supply of money, then the troubles of the present Board will begin, and they will then soon find themselves as unpopular as their predecessors are claimed to have been. However, as the evil hour has not yet arrived, it is no use looking ahead for trouble. There is, however, just one veryimportant matter to which we desire to direct tho attestion of tho members in their capacity as a Board of Health. That is the imperative necessity which exists for compelling those trades which, from their very nature, are a nuisance to the neighborhood, to remove from the more thickly populated localities. However careful and anxious the proprietor may he to prevent annoyance, it is almost impossible to do so. The spread of the city is so rapid that these factories are nearly all in the midst of closely built neighborhoods. This should not be and we hope that a system of rigid inspection will be instituted by the Board, so that any what are called in the Act

“ noxious trades” may be at once compelled to remove. The residents in certain neighborhoods have ere this had to suffer great and very serious annoyance and danger from the existence of these factories because the Board was so tender of the interests of the proprietors. This is a state of things which we hope will not ha allowed to exist under the new regime, hut that warning will at once be given to those concerned that they will have, in the interests of the public, to find some other locality. It will of course he urged that it is exceedingly hard upon the proprietors of these establishments, but in reality it is not so. They start in these businesses well knowing that the provisions of the Health Act enable the Board to clear them out, and also that, however careful they are, it is impossible to avoid giving offence. Under these circumstances we fail to see any hardship. The interests of the few must give way to those of tho many, and as the existence in crowded localities of such factories is prejudicial to health, it is the duty of the Board to see that they are removed.