AIHOUDAY TRIP TO MELBOURNE, 1894.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2654, 3 May 1894, Page 4

AIHOUDAY TRIP TO MELBOURNE, 1894.

By " Cushion Tyre". (Concluded.) After passing through the'various wards, and trying a cell or two, we were shown out into the prison-yard, where lie buried most of the great criminals. Here may be seen —without monument or name of any kind, save the ill-fated ones' initials rudely carved on the bluestone wall—the graves of Deeming, Ned Kelly, the outlaw, and Mrs Knorr, the baby-farmer. The warder also showed us the cell in which Deeming occupied the night prior to his execution, It opens out on to " the drop," where the executions always take place. The huge kitchen, in which the cooking is done by steam, was next visited. Here may be 1 seen several cooks—all prisoners—busily engaged in preparing the meals for their brothers in misfortune. A taste of prison food, hominy, not unlike porridge, with a piece of excellent brown bread, given us by way of a relish, and a hurried view of the prisoners' hospital, and we took our departure, knowing better how to value our freedom on emerging than on entering this great criminal prison. The excellent order and supervision, the difficulty of escape, and the spotless cleanliness of the whole buildings call for special praise and admiration. Pentridge, which we visited the next day, puts one greatly in mind of the pictures seen of Norman keeps—of the Feudal age. It resembles a large castle, with its nnmerous towers and turrets, with its sentries on duty, its thick, high wall which surrounds its farm of 140 acres, and its massive iron gateways. This prison is self-supporting, for every man is made to work at his trade, and the results of his labor go to Bupport the prison. On the farm are grown the corn and vegetables used by the prisoners. There is also a blacksmith's and wheelwright's shop, a woollen mill, a carpenter's shop, a bootmaker's shop, and branches of various other trades. Thus the prisoners build new apartments and cells to the prison, make all their own clothing, their own and the warders' boots, make all the necessary farm implements—such as drays, rakes, and harrows—and supply the railway department with seats and mats for the various offices. Pentridge is really au interesting place —well managed, and turned to practical use. Here, afe in Melbourne Gaol, order is very strictly kept, the buildings and surroundings are scrupulously clean, and the prisoners healthy and well looked after. Amongst the motley crowd may be seen all types of mankind : some with manly, intelligent features, and others in wnose very face is written treachery aud crime. It makes one sorry to see one's fellow-men so reduced, and so lost to all noble and honorable feelings, branded as a felon, and caged, barred and locked up like a wild beast. I think to be allowed one short half-hour of inspection of those great prisons makes one value one's frsedom more highly than by reading all the books ever written about our " glorious inheritance." This brings me to the end of my sight-seeiug, with the exception of a trip by rail and by ferryboat down the coast to a watering place called San Eemo, where I wanted to see an old schoolmate. San Eemo is one of tho many fashionable watering places of the metropolis, and has rather pretty scenery—marine and bush—-around it. During the good times the little village was alive with weary, worn-out city men recruiting by the seaside. Now it is not nearly so well patronised, as people have not "the necessary needful." Nevertheless the place has much to commend it for quietness, sea-air, and pleasing natural surroundings. Just a few remarks on Melbourne ways and Melbourne people and this sketch is done. The people in the city move along as if they had m» -time to spare. Each day seems to go by too rapidly for them—so rapidly that in speech and conversation they abbreviate everything, aud talk slang incessantly, quite unconscious that it is such. Thus " Tassy" is ued fop Tasmania —no time for the latter word; they themselves are " Vies.", not Victorians—tho latter is a waste of time. " Praan" is Prahran ; « St." is St. Kilda ; " biz." is business; "aarc." is sarcasm; and "mow" is moustache. "Beans" ia the word universally used to indicate money, whilst " donna" is the word used for girls. It is not a difficult matter to pick out the native Victorian amongst the throng of people. He is tall, active, wiry,. with an abs9nce of that healthy colour, and tamed complexion, and Bolidity of appearance which are characteristic" of the native New Zealauders. The women aifl ifril, dark, and thin, and with little or no eolottP ift their faces, and are also wanting in that ruddy, healthy glow peculiar to N.Z. girls, Wearing apparel and living are much cheaper tftan here, and that is why the people appear so well dressed. It is rare indeed that in the city you meet a shabbily- dressed individual, and if your gaze were confined alone to the city you would think there was no poverty in the community. Once turn your footsteps to aay of the back streets and spurns of the suburbs, aud there in all its grim array you are face to face with the other and Badder side of human nature —the misery and wretchedness of the poor". Here you meet men who were strong and well-fed, now ragclad and hogging from door to door; poor mothers in liko condition, with a crowd of famishing scantily clad, and helpless children, who, like " young guttersnipes," search the bins and back yards of the houses for morsels of food. People liying in the suburbs are constantly answering the door to the calls of the helpless wretches who beg for food, and tell most piteous tales, often concocted, of loss of of work, and starving family. We, in New Zealand, have nothing like the poverty thajb exists in Melbourne, and instead .of being dissatisfied and unsettled about our lot here we ought to be thankful wo have not reached the extremities of poverty now seen on every side in Australia. Fruit of alji kinds js very cheap in Melbourne. It must make your readers' mouths water to hear of delicious grapes.from lid to 4d a lb, ripe pears 2d »ud 3d a ib, bananas ljd a dozen, and jtb/a finest and choicest tomatoes l£d a lb. Fish, game, muftpn, and bread are 1 also much .cheaper jhau in New Zealand. ThkT u ? thase things into account \.b je easy to ?*° t ' mt °" 0 P ou hl Jive much cheaper in Melbo: ir » etna »i» NewZfialand. The heat, a dull, hea.7, oven-like heat; (he hot dusty winds, and tllC retched mosquitoes make one wish to bo ,u Now Zealand. That Melbourne is now in a shockingly bud state ia visible sides, and that th« outlook fur the coining winter is decidedly gloomy for'the labouring classes is also patent to all; so it will be many years before the Queen of tho South regains tho bustle aud activity, the trade aud consequent property noticeable in every branch, and so favourably spoknn about by visitors to Melbourne during the great exhibition year.

CONCERT' AT-TJPPBR"WAITOHI. The concert in aid of the school funds came off at Upper Waitohi on Thursday last, and for the first time fine weather favored tho occasion. The schoolhouse was packed from stage to door, and the committee are to be congratulated on what must have been the most successful gathering they have yet held. Mr John Talbot was in the .chair, and in his opening remarks alluded to the prosperous state of the school. He also stated that owing to the length of the programme there should be no " encores." The programme opened with an overture by Messrs Pearse, which pleased the audience much. Then Mr Burn, of Kakahu, gave that old favorite, " Sailing/' in his well-known taking style. The next item, "The Toilers," by Miss McCulloch, of Timaru, was one of the gems of the evening, and in answer to an imperative encore she gave " Polly, the Cows are in the Corn." Mr T. Pearse then played the pretty violin solo " The Mocking Bird," in his usual style, and had to give " St. Patrick's Day " before the audience had had enough. Miss Halford sang " The Arab's Farewell" very nicely, and Mr Tait's comic song, " The Modern Sailor's Song," completely brought down the house, and, of course, they wanted « more," so he gave them " The Musical Snuff-box," but still they were not satis-, lied, and the chairman had to intervene. Mr McCulloch did not do himself justice in his rendering of " Love's Old Sweet Song," but fully retrieved his laurels! later on in the evening. The next item! was the favorite, " After the Ball," which; was given by Miss Y oung in a particularly pleasing style, and, a vociferous encore; following, " Coining thro' the Bye" increased the favorable impression her first song had produced. Mr Shortland closed the first part by singing " Daisy Bell," aud had to repeat the last verse. Messrs Pearse played " The Gathering of the Clans" as the overture to the second part, and were encored. Then Mr and Miss McCulloch sang " What are the Wild Waveß Saying," which was a treat for a country audience, after which Miss Halford gave " No, Sir," very nicely. Mr Pearse's playing of "Babylonia" obtained for him the usual encore, which was followed by what was perhaps the most popular item on the programme, "Ask me again, and I will not say no," sung by Miss Young in most taking style. For an encore she gave " Robin Adair." Mr McCulloch was very successful in his next song, " Tho' Poor, I'm a Gentleman still," aud his encore song, " My Name is Pat," was his best effort, and "caught on" splendidly. Miss McCulloch sang " Pepita," and had to reappear, and then Mr Shortland gave " Two Spoons," and " The Old Folks at Home " as an encore. Preparations were then made for the conclusion of the concert, which took the form of a very laughable operetta, the " Short-sighted Mendicants," which was splendidly performed by Messrs Tait and Burns, and highly delighted the audience. Mrs Burn and Mr felimland played the accompaniments throughout tne evening sympathetically and artistically. At the close of the concert Mr Qument proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the performers, and called for three cheers, which were given with great gusts. Cheers were also given for the schoolmaster, Mr Goldstone, and for the chairman. The usual dance followed, and was kept up with great spirit till morning, all seeming to enjoy themselves, although the room was rather crowded. Messrs Fraser and Moore acted as M.C.'s, and Messrs Thornley and Patrick provided excellent music. The performers and visitors were most hospitably entertained at the schoolhouse by Miss Goldstone, and one and all agreed that they had had a good time.