A. New Zealander In Sydney Town

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 856, 27 December 1929, Page 9

A. New Zealander In Sydney Town

SYDNEY, December 20,

Echoes of Rothbury

The death of the young miner at Rothbury earlier in the week, despite what the Opposition lias hud to say, cannot he attributed to the Government. Rather must the responsibility be accepted by that militant section which has done so much to inflame the men within the last few days. While the miners faced a shower of bullets at Rothbury, these “leaders” were safe in their Sydney offices. When au infuriated crowd attempted to break through a thin police cordon in Queen’s Square. and so disturb proceedings at Parliament House, these men carefully directed operations from behind tile mob. Injured Parliamentarian

Sir. J. M. Baddeley, tho Parliamentarian. who was wounded on the Rothbury battlefield, by a no means gentle tap on his skull from a policeman's baton, is the ex-Minister of Mines. In that capacity he visited New Zealand a few years ago, when returning from a visit to Europe. Mr. Baddeley’s mission to the coalfields was entirely peaceful. He was endeavouring to persuade an angry miner to retire when the policeman struck him. Mr. Baddeley appeared in the House the same afternoon, with an enormous bump on the top of his head. A miner himself, Mr. Baddeley made one of the most successful administrators of this important portfolio New South Wales had known for some time. Nowadays, he is Mr. Lang’s first lieutenant, and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party. Mr. Weaver, the present Minister, and probably the most-discussed man of the hour in Sydney, is a land agent m private life. Romanos’ Anniversary Just what prompted Mr. Romano to siug on the second anniversary of the establishment of Sydney’s smartest restaurant 1 cannot quite imagine. Perhaps it was the little liabit that Mr. Stewart Dawson, the millionaire owner of the Ambassadors, used to give way to occasionally on specially festive occasions. Although, personally, I never saw Mr. Dawson dance a fling or a reel to the accompaniment of his own dinner band on New Year’s Eve, rumour hath it that the octogenarian Scot has been known to do so. “O Sole Mio” However, that may be. But Mr. Romano, attired in the split trousers, the kummerbund, and the ear-rings of a Neopolitan swain, and a coloured handkerchief around his head, sang, very soulfully, “O Sole Mio.” "La Paloma,” after much agitated whispering with the pianist, followed. Then Mi'. Romano, amid much cheering, retired behind a pillar, where a minion hastily handed him a bottle of water. Mr. Romano drank deeply, and emerged to sing, in English, something or other from “The Desert Song.” This, too, was given with that peculiar sobbing effect, the envy of every Italian tenor. Mr. Romano, however, happens to be a baritone, and not a tenor. Nevertheless, the night was a huge success. Mr. John Fuller's Purchase "Caerleon,” the magnificent home of the late Sir Rupert Clarke. Bart., is in future to be the home of Mr. and Mrs, John Fuller, of theatrical fame. For his latest acquisition Mr. Fuller paid £18,250. This mansion is one of the finest in Australia, and is particularly renowned for beautiful panelling in imported timbers. Its site, on the crescent of Bellevue Hill, is probably unsurpassed in the whole of Sydney. “Caerleon” is one of the show places of this city. Mr. Fuller confesses that the fact that tire old home has a £4OO bathroom attached to every room prejudiced him in its favour. The Knighthood District The area surrounding “Caerleon” is known as the "Knighthood district.*’ Sir Mark Sheldon has his home in this vicinity. The home of the late Sir James Fairfax I. is near by, also that of the late Sir Edward Knox. Mr. Walter Brunton and Mr. Colin Stephen are other wealthy landowners living at Bellevue Hill. Mr. Warwick Fairfax, the already extremely wealthy heir to the “Herald,’ ’is also building a new residence in the neighbourhood.

Whether Mr. Fuller will eventually join the knighted ranks, however, is extremely problematical. He may not be as fortunate in this respect as his brother, Sir Ben. The new Federal Ministry, iu keeping with Labour tradition, has already stated that it will make no recommendations from Australia to his Majesty the King for the New Year’s Honour List. As there is every prospect of a Labour Ministry assuming office in New South Wales, unless the coal strike leaders should so mismanage their affairs that Mr. Bavin might possibly catch them napping with a rush election, Mr. Fuller’s chances do not seem particularly bright. The Australian Accent Mr. H. S. Dettman, headmaster of the Sydney Grammar School, and a dominie well known in New Zealand, said the other day;—“A lew years ago I returned from England and thought the Australian talk was horrible. Now I hardly notice it.” One can, of course, become accustomed to anything in time. But it seems a little strange for a leading educationalist to make a confession like that. The average Australian, as a matter of fact, does not realise that there is anything in the least wrong with his accent. It is the other way about, to his way of thinking. An English accent, what we know by Oxonian, or something a little more modified, is not an asset to a young man making his way in Australia. The possessor is immediately regarded with some suspicion. However, one soon comes to the conclusion that, after all, the matter of accent is one for the Australian himself. After all, he is certainly taore individual than the average New Zealander. He will not be content to be a weak imitation of something English. AU the superiority from Maoriland—and the young New Zealander who comes across here to make his living is generally most embarrassingly 1 superior—will not affect him in the | slightest.