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WELLINGTON.

(fbom oub own coebespokdent ) August 6, 1873. An audience of about one thousand persons assembled in the Theatre on Monday evening last to attend the racred concert given by the Carandini company, assisted by the Choral and Orchestral Societies. The performance was certainly one of the best ever given in Wellington. Imd) Fergusson did the honors for the Governor, wh» was presiding at a lecture given in aid of the Atheneum by Mr Bathgate. His Excellency arrived however towards the close of the j>erfonnanoe, and was enthusiastically received. The Carandini company consists of the three ladies of that name, Mr Sherwin, tenor, and Mr Gordon, baseo. The last-named gentleman pos<>es«es a •plendid voice, and is especially effective as a solo singer. Within the last few days it has been announced that a third sister, Isabella, who arrived by the Bangttoto, has joined the Carandinis, and will make her first appearance this evening. The debut of the young lady is looked forward to with some interest, for next to the Nelson people the inhabitants of Wellington are the most music-loving community in the Colony, and. like the ancient Athenians, ever on the qmi vive eithei to hear or to tell some hew thing. This latter propensity has not however found much material for its development in the proceedings of the Assembly this session. Never was there a session so " flat, stale, and on profit able" within the memory of man, or rather since the seat of government was removed from Auckland, and Wellington was furnished with an annual " sensation" in discussing the course of events in Parliament, to say nothing of other more substantial advantages which accompany that privilege. It must be remembered that in making this criticism I speak purely from the gallf ry-critic or club flaneur point of view, from which a stormy debate, or even what is vulgarly described as " a row in the House," is always much more interesting than the transaction of any amour t of business, however important or beneficial to the country. The nearest approach to anything of the sort occurred on Tuesday night, in the debate on the mail service, which lasted till long after midnight, and was certainly characterized by a good deal of bad temper, and what looked very like universal selfishness on the part of honorable members, who however took care to disclaim any such motive, each advocating the claims of his own district on " purely colonial grounds" alone. The result was that, apparently by means. j>f some understanding between the Auckland and Otago members, the Bluff is to be made the first port of arrival and the last of departure for the connections with the Sues service fat the next three years, the Auckland

people being conciliated by the promise of an independent serrice via Sydney, if it is found possible to obtain such a line for a subsidy not exceeding £5000 per annum. The Auckland members assert that less than tlnV amount will be sufficient for the purpose. Mr Yogel, on the other hand, does not. think that a steam service via Sydney, to bring Auckland witbin tho course of port, can be established at all, but if £5000 will do it, the money will be forthcoming. A statement by your member, Mr Cuthbertson, that the Bluff was the nearest port in the Colony to Australia, one of the best harbors in New Zealand, and could be easily entered at all: times of the day or night, occasioned some surprise, and was received with apparent incredulity by the House, but that gentleman persisted in maintaining the correctness of his assertion, and challenged enquiry into the facts, so that it must be supposed he was right after all, although certainly these advantages of your harbor havehitherto remained amongst " things not generally known." Mr Vogel's speech in opening the discussion contained an elaborate history of the Californian service, and a vindication of his owm industry and devotion to the interest of the Colony in his exertions in connection with the establishment and conduct of that serrice. The explanation was well received ; but it is impossible to forget that the service was an utter failure. Two things were brought out, however, very clearly — that the whole cost of the service wus £29,000 per annum for two years, and that everything done was sanctioned by large majorities in the House, and with the full consent and concurrence of his colleagues in the Ministry. It is likely that definite proposals will be submitted to the House for a new Californian service before the end of the session, and if so, the quidnuncs will be gratified by the sight of a row in earnest, the privilege of being the port of call for such a service being altogether too valuable to lose without a struggle. The disbursements in the Colony of the Webb line, during the two years of its existence, amounted, it is said, to over £100,000. Teetotalers and moderate drinkers alike were delighted with Mr Fox's speech on the Licensing BilL Like all that gentleman's studied oratorical efforts, it was a complete success. Though containing little or nothing that might not ha c been found in his speech ol last year, this year's speech was certainly the more successful of tiie two, being more moderate. Beneath the studied veil of moderation, however, traces of the intolerance and fanaticism of the enthusiastic teetotaler were occasionally visible, but for these great allowance should be made, and the measure itself could easily be weeded of all such blemishes. Nothing was more apparent than the difference in the tone of the reception of the bill by the House this session as compared with the last. It was everywhere respectfully criticised, even by it* opponents, including Ministers, and it is said that Mr Fox begins to entertain hopes that next year, if not this, he will be able successfully to pilot his pet measure through the shoals and dangers of committee, which he has yet to face. For my own part I am not so sanguine, and few who are not teetotalers behave that it will become law for many years. Dividing the attention of loungers and sight* seers with the gallery of " the House" has been during the week the bazaar in aid of the funds of the Wesleyan church, held in the Oddfellows' Hall. This amusement however i» much more expensive than the other, thosgh one has the satisfaction of feeling that the money which it costs is doubtless contributed to a worthy object. It may interest some of your readers to hear that for variety of attraction, and the extent and value of the contributions, this bazaar is supposed to excel anything of the kind ever attempted before in the Colony, while the financial success of the undertaking "may be judged from the fact that the receipts, which have not been officially disclosed, are rumored to ha-e amounted to about £500, in three days — a result which I think must be regarded by those more particularly interested as highly satisfactory.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST18730815.2.14

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Southland Times, Issue 1780, 15 August 1873, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,177

WELLINGTON. Southland Times, Issue 1780, 15 August 1873, Page 3

WELLINGTON. Southland Times, Issue 1780, 15 August 1873, Page 3

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