Recreations of Queensland Statesmen.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 59, 19 July 1884, Page 5

Recreations of Queensland Statesmen.

It is said that one night, after a most festive dinner, a member of the Cabinet, wellknown for his admirable style of dress and a gentleman who, for the sake of the story, we will call Mr Green, being in that sentimental state which a good dinner and a large quantity of champagne sometimes produce, (determined on their way home to pay a visit of respect to the grave of a mutual friend not long dead. They stopped the cab outside the cemetery, and whilst groping about (for the night was dark and wet) a kangaroo rat jumped up. Away went all thoughts of the dead friend, and helter-skelter after the kangaroo rat rushed the Cabinet Minister and our friend Mr Green. After, however, falling over graves and tombstones, the chase had to be abandoned, and our friends stood wet and mud- bespattered among the tombs. Mr Green was equal to the occasion. "Let us frighten the cabman," suggested he. No sooner suggested than done. So, pulling their coats and waistcoats off, this worthy couple arranged their shirts outside their nether garments, and covered their heads with pocket-handkerchiefs. In this guise they crawled through the wet grass, and, suddenly emerging into the road, raised an unearthly snout under the cabman's very nose ; but, alas for the scene ! the" latter was fast asleep, and nothing but a shaking would wake him! Imagine Mr Gladstone or Lord Derby being the hero of such a story as this. We can hardly fancy even such smaller stars as Mr Mundella or Sir Henry James under the circumstances ; and yet, in Queensland, Cabinet Ministers are openly chaffed about such things in the club. — "The Never Never Land," by A. W, Sterling.

Manager Abbey, of the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, took a "benefit " lately, and the seats were sold by auction. The boxes were sold first. Mr Theodore Moss, of Wallack'sTheatre, paying 2,100 dollars for first choice. Mr Moss then gave the box back, and it was sold again to the artists of the Metropolitan Opera House for 2,000 dollars. Madame Pattipaid 1,000 dollars for the next box, and Col. Mapleson, Abbey's rival, paid 230 dollars for another box. Altogether the seats and boxes brought 15,000 dollars, a great portion of it being paid in by Mr Abbey's rivals in business. Mr Swinburne, is likely before long to bring out a new volume of critical essays. The M.S. of Professor F. W. Newman's book on the origin of Christianity has been sent to the printer,