AUSTRALIANS: BY A NEW CHUM.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2445, 19 January 1881, Page 3

AUSTRALIANS: BY A NEW CHUM.

The following uncomplimentary reference to Australia and its people isfrom the pen of a special contributor to the “ Bombay Gazette ” of Nov. 22. The writer says ;—“ None but the strong and healthy should attempt to visit our colonies, and even they should be prepared to undergo every sort of discomfort without the remotest prospect of any sort of return for their trouble. . . Australian hospitality, though, as report says, abundant in the form of meat and drink, would be a decided trial to one not accustomed to regard eating and drinking as the great end of existence. 1 cannot speak from personal experience of colonial hospitality, as I was only favored with such specimens of it as were offered me by a few personal friends, and they not colonials pure and simple, being, in fact only a few years from England. I have no doubt that a large buyer of wool or wheat is received in Australia with open arms, and can eat and drink to at every turn gratuitously. One can only wish such a visitor power of self restraint, for the food is indigestible, and the drink questionable, . , Melbourne is in all respects essentially uninteresting; commonplace reigns supreme. Its inhabitants are on a par witli those of an inferior commercial town of provincial England, with which its society and amusements are in keeping. . . The very few friends with whom I had the good fortune to fall in were from England or else those with whom I was in some way formerly acquainted or connected. In Victoria one instance occurred which realised what I had imagined colonial hospitality to be, my acquaintance being sought by a perfect stranger on the ground of my being a public man; and I must say that the kindness and attention received at the hands of this gentleman and his wife and family amply atoned for the neglect experienced elsewhere in the case of those from whom I might have expected some

slight courtesy . . . There are to be found through the colonial towns, fashionable circles, preachers, and parties, but anything approaching a literary or intellectual coterie does not exist in the colonies of Victoria or New South Wales. I make the statement on the authority of some of the best bred people they were English whom I met with in Sydney .... Melbourne is a remai’kable proof what gold can achieve in a short time as regards solid material prosperity, but its existing state abundantly proves that the precious metal can secure to its possessors neither refinement, intellectual enjoyment, nor yet moderately high-class literature. Its society is riot the centre of a moral atmosphere that would render it possible for a man to introduce his wife or family without circumspection to any with whom he may make acquaintance, even under the aus pices of those whom lie has been led to consider respectable. . . It is my decided opinion that they devour too much solid meat, as I consider three meals a day, the staple of which is made up of blocks of flesh, fried with onions or served with oysters, to be more animal food than is necessary ; but as all Australians declare it to be essential for them I can only say I am sorry for them, and feel an additional sense of gratitude that I have been merely a sojourner among them —for by far too long a time.”

The delegates from the South, appointed to attend t tbe Wellington Fire Brigade Conference wcie passengers by the afternoon express to-day for Ohristcliurrh, Mr Moss Jonas snbmitted the privileges in connection with the forthcoming visit of the Australian Eleven, to the hammer to-day at his rooms. Lot 1. Publican's Booth was knocked down to Mr John Callanan of the Shamrock Hotel at £3O; lot 2, refreshment booth, was bought in for the Club at £IG. In order to push the Brunner Company’s Coal far and wide and also to meet tie times, Mr McArdle the local agent has reduced the price to 40s per ton. Mr Kennedy offers a reward for the conviction of the spoliators who are in the habit of demoralising bis posting boards. Tenders are invited by Mr F. J. Wilson. Architect, for additions to building in the Great North Road, A meeting of the Sheridan Amateur Dramatic and Musical Club takes place at Stone’s Hotel, at 8 to-night, for the transaction of important business. Mr H. Evans invites tenders for the erection of a warehouse.