OUR MELBOURNE LETTER. Melbourne, December 30.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 333, 12 January 1889, Page 6

OUR MELBOURNE LETTER. Melbourne, December 30.

HOLIDAY ACCIDENTS. Wii vx a chapter of accidents was published in the papers which made fchcir appearance on Lhe mominp: following Boxing Daj '. Eighb cases of death by drowning recorded under one heading, a lire ab fche Alficd Hospital from which a number of -the inmates were only rescued withsome difficulty, a premeditated muider at Camberwcll, where a man deliberately shot his wife dead, and fired ab and wounded his brother-in-law, and whole columns taken up with accounts of destructive conflagrations in the cicy, and devastating fireb in the country. In many families the present Christmas will not be looked frack \ipon as at all a raerrv one.

THE EXHIBITION CONCERTS. Speaking as a warm lover — though not an aulent student — or music, I am inclined to agree with those who hold that the concerts given in the Exhibition building under the baton of our distinguished importation, 11 r JTiedericH. Cowen, are not in touch with the popular ta=ftc. It is all very well to talk ot the elevating and educational value of classical mubic, bufc it must be borne in mind that the members of the general public do not always crave foi education iv their distractions. . Shalcpere is said, in bheaUical pailance, "to spell ruin.'' Thcreason of this is not far to btek. The average citizen, coming fiom his chambers, office, or shop, and weaiied -»\ith the labours oi the day, goes to tho theatre especially with a view of finding amusement. The same tiling holds jrood with thQ.se who frequent, the conceit hall. Tho nOle in the Exhibition building is, I am prepared to giant, usually well (died, especially on Thursday nights, when the oratorios are given. IJy personal observation, however, distinctly sliowm me that ib id the same peisons who go time alter time, and that the public at laige infinitely prefei Sir Aithuv Sullivan's tuneful though light compositions, such as the " Mikado '" or " lolanths, to his heavier woi k, as for~exatrple '"The Golden Legend,' whilst Mr Cellier's "Boiothy"' is far moie popular than the most involved production of Wagner. Mendelssohn, Handel. Beethoven and Mozait a^e, to be bine, great masters, and an occasional selection from them is coidially welcomed. It is, however, but an infinitesimal proportion of. the public ■who aie capable of sitting out with any ieal degree of pleabure or satisfaction tho whole of one of their great works.

INCIDENTS OF THE LAND BOOM. The proceedings ab the half-yearly meetings of shareholders in the various public companies are just now being watched with con&ideiable interest. Many aro being held about this time, and .Since -it is in several in&tances the first occasion upon which the directors have met the shareholder^ after the collapse of the land boom, a great deal of public curiosity is evinced as to what the reports and balance-sheets will disclose, especially in the cases of those companies involvedin land transactions. The&e poiiodical gatherings have in the main been purely formal, particularly when a aatisfactoiy dividend is declared, but now they are protracted, there is a numerous attendance of shareholders and chairmen and directors are unsparingly catechised as to their past proceedings. In one notable instance it was elicited that a speculator purchased a quantity of land at £1 per acre, and resold it to a company at £1,000 per acre. The vendor, howe\cr, so it was stated, refunded •015,000 of the purchase money.

SABBATARIANISM. I think that a branch of tho English Sunday .Society might, with advantage, be establi&hed in this colony— or a kindred association formed for the same object. The English Society is, I believe, tho only organisation devoted to the good work of obtainingthc opening of libraries, museums,' and art galleries on Sundays, and it has I 9 contend against numerous Sabbatarian Societies far wealthier and more powerful. It is just now making a pressing appeal for funds to carry on its work. I hope some of my readers who share my detestation of museums and libraries not being allowed bo compete with pot-houses on Sunday, may be induced to express their eentimentd in the shape of a subscription.

Every man is fond of striking the nail on the head ; but when it happens to be his finger-nail his enthusiasm becomes wild and incohorent,