Melbourne Items.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3492, 23 April 1890, Page 2

Melbourne Items.

April 8. ,Mr Trenwith gave a new definition of Freetrade last night during the course of his discussion with Mr Henry George. It is not often that two prominent lunattos are permitted v . to mount a platform, each astride of i*-, one pi his favorite hobby-horses, and !w tilt at eaoli other for the delectation of some thousands of people who ■'.' • have paid a shilling' a piece for ',. admission to the show. When I couple " lunatics" with the name of Mr Henry George, it is in connection , with his Single Tar sohenie-a 'atu- ; pehdous ; robbery, whiph never could have been evolved in the brain.bf any . : sane man under the impression that ; . : it can benefit any community whatever. And when t connect the }erm "lunatic 1 ' with MrTrenwitli, 1 because only a person of that class ■ ' would undertake to publicly disouss a question about the almost rtfditrien- •; '," tary elements of wHioh ho evidently '.' . ; knows nothing. •.-,;' That Mr Trenwith can elicit : ■'..■.•.• applause from his Trades Hall audiences no one denies. .Even the professional fool of the,old times, when every person of distinction maintained a "jester," had Sense enough to discover what would best' tiokle the fanoy of the'master'who ■ fed him,' and itdoes not appear that .■ /.> Mr Trenwith, who represents the j0 electors of Biohmond in Parliament, '■*»"-■■ has gotm«ohfurther'than-thati. l '' have said that he has given a new ' : . definition of freetrade,''" My contention is,"_said Mr Trenwith," that Protection increases the prioe that ; the producer gets, and reduces the price that .the consumer pays, by . wiping out the unnecessary hosts of middlemen, Freetrade as we know it, or as it ever will be known, means that a number of persons whose interests in trade consists in carrying things about, will manipulate the markets so that we shall 1 produce that we require for ourselves, 1 in order that they may buy for us for importation," This is a rather long- <*: winded sentence, even for the member '« 1 for Biohmond. But if it has any ~" I meaning at all, that meaning is 1 that merohants, commission agents, brokers, carriers bylondand by water, 1 ship builders, and all such ungodly ' persons, together with the myriads

of human beings whoin they employ —including the dock laborers-are . an unmitigated nuisance of stupen- ( >•■ dous dimensions; they are one and all conspiring against the rest of the human race, wanting to buy and sell for them, run their errands, fetch and carry things for them, in order that they may earn an honest living. There is no need for them; they produce nothing; "they, toil not, neither tip they spin," according to ; , , Mr Trenwitli; they only buy and sell ' aiid'camj things about. In short they are the outward visible sign of Freetrsde. But Protection does not want Freetrade. It does not need men to carry things about for it; it is a great principle is Protection, a goddess greater than she of Ephesus; Trades Hall is its temple, and Mr Trenwith is the high priest thereof, Altogether, Mr Trenwith had a fine time of it last night, and ho made the most of it; his tone was loud and assertive.if, bis ; argumentß were not over convincing even to many of his own disoiples. In order to afford country visitors . . an opportunity of witnessing Mr Charles WarHur in whatis considered his'most powerful impersonation, the management of the Theatre Royal have. revived Charles Bead b famous temperance drama" Drink." In the character sf Conpean, Mr Warner is nightly exhibiting to crowded houses the truth of tlia Latin ■:■ averni," especially when the direoting power is brandy. ■• "La Tosca" has been withdrawn from the Princess theatre, where the great J. L. Toole now exhibits his marvellous ability as a comedian; and there is little doubt that during his season in Melbourne, which, according to the arrangements entered into for his appearance 5 -in the other colonies, must be a short " ' one, tho house will be packed nightly. "Robbery under Arms" continues the attraction at the Alexandra. The new Bijon Theatre has been opened under the management of Messrs Brough and (Boucicault and .' tho splendid company vfith whiok ';•&'' they have surrounded themselves: *"'■ -They are playing in Lord Lytton's comedy '.' Money." A now hall called the Gaiety, in >, Bourke-street, has been opened by the comio singer, Harry Kickards. The Victoria hallib closed; but the Cogill Brothers are as popular as ever at Sir George's In the presidency at the thirteenth •" annual meeting of the city of Mel' • bourne Building Society last Wednesday, the Hon. Alfred Deakin had • an easy task before him. Notwithstanding the trying circumstance against which all financial institu- '. "; tions had to contend during the last year, Mr Deakin had to tell the shareholders that tho directors recom- ' tnended that all investing shares must- be creditod with 8 per cent interest and a 2 per cent bonus, arid fixed shares with 10 percent interest payable in cash. The sum of £16,803 6s will be thus-absorbed, leaving'a balance of £675 Ha Id to be carried forward. Of the profits thus made the sum of £6,166 8s 8dI ; had been already paid as an interim dividend last half year', In the courso of his remarks, Mr I Deakin pointed out that the deposits had inoreased by £60,000, and the advances on securities by £45,000, durinst the last twelve monthß, wLioh , '■** affords evidence of the esteem iuwhich tbe is held by the public It was quite in the order of things that '• a meeting of such a satisfactory acter should not be allowed to close without an expression from thoshareholders of their appreciation'of the excellent management of their officers; and Mr.O.J. Bichardson, ' the manager, was warmly oompli- ? ' . mentolupbn the indefatigable zeal and watchfulness lie had exeroieed in I the conduct of their affairs. In ■ alluding to'the efficiency of his staff, the manager said that the .work was increasing: they had how 1,154 ; shareholders; 482 depositors; and • ; 928 borrowers. ,'-.. : '.' !; ■'.■'■ Mr Alderman Leet, of Sydney, 'Lmust be a very pompous, as well as a n - very Belfish'person, It is known that •■•••■■ tbe municipal corporation of that "" capitalhave built a very splendid hall, and that they have bought a magnificent organ to adorn it-one of the largest instruments in the world, in ~ faot.. It also says a great, deal for ' their musical taste that they have engaged the' service's of r one • of -'• England's greatest .organists to inaugurate the instrument, Mr Beßt'." '. has arrived in Australia,' but the . great organ is not ready for him, and'.,.'. ' ' vvill not be ready'for. two months.""-, '- Nevertheless, lie : has received an ,• :;

Alderman Lees lias been mentioned in connection with it, jhat'jNto ventures to play in any colony, liefore he has opened the Sydney organ, his engagement will bo cancelled. I don't know what Mr Best may happen to think about Mr Lees, and thoao whosuppoithiui, but I believe we would find it difficult to matoh such a contemptible proceeding, oven in Melbourne, where somo strango tgsaro done occasionally. Woll, Jould liko to hear Mr Best play upon our small organ—only we must wait until Mr Alderman Lees has dono with him. •