WINGS from WELLINGTON

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4824, 13 September 1894, Page 2

WINGS from WELLINGTON

(By Our Own Correspondent.) 7 , ■ ■ Tuesday.. The Church and the Stage'/tOm' Cousins the Comtalh.—Th 'Budget Bilk. " Fni'j nni Rumours of.WarsJ —The Colonial Brink Amalgamation.— Ihe Colony's Annmmri/, -The Close of the Session.—A Friend to the Clerk— A Martial Maori.—Tico Little Jokes, not Vouched for.

Mr Walter Beritloy's lecture, on Sunday,"The Cliuvchaudtlie Stage," was a masterly exposition, from the actors point of view, of the bond of union which should exist between theso two: great educational \ factors. Mi' •Beiitley pointed out that the' preacher and tho actor were both inculcators of tlio highest moral teach--ings, inasmuch as the great object of both, was to deprecatevice And extvlt vii'tue.; That this itnaxim as regards the stage, is true to a large extent, thero is no doubt| but Mr Bentley. omitted, of course,' to notice that many of -the most celebrated plays. can hardly be called object lessons so far. as tho deprecation of. vice is concerned, nor does it follow that a virtuous hero and heroino are necessary adjuncts to a successful play. In the old-f asliionedmelodrama or in the. modern sensational play vice generally is vanquished, and the villain held up to opprobrium while virtue triumphantly prevails before the curtain falls. Iu Well cele: brated plays,. however, as "La Damo aux Camellias," "Frou Frou," "Fedora" and "La Tosca,";of the French school, or the recent English "Second Mi's Tanqueray," it can hardly bo held that their exaltation of virtue is'the predominant feature; on the other hand rather is immorality, or vice, call it what you will, condoned. '

Thero are many other plays I could mention, wliicliwould tend to. show that not necessarily is tlio stage ft teacher of ethics. Ibsen's plays, for. instance, contain a peculiar system of morals, which hardly fit.in. with tlie teachings of the pulpit. However, we will let all ! that pass, and simply say that Mr Bentley made out an excellent case, and what is a rare point about a lecturer, he enchained his audience's attention: to the end. Mrßontley's object was 1 nn admirable one, too,'; it was to benefit tho Hospital funds. ;In that ho succeeded, as far as:he was able, though most certainly the audience did not- : perform' :l tlioiv share towards "the '• godd/;'woHf. !! The Opera House, roughly spealnng, seals about 1200 .people .comfortably. It. was crowdedon Sunday evening and yet the collection was only a 1 littlo overL2o or, about ,4cl per. head. Not a very expensive Sunday evening's amusement, was it?

:TheNew South Wales football team created a very, favourable impression iii Wellington by their quiet arid : gen'tlemauly conduct,' Something has,been ; heard: about .their boisterousnesß,but there were no signs of it in Wellington. Itisnotinreason to expect that . twenty-four young men in tho. best of health and spirits can exactly go'through their tour withoutletting ofEsteam occasionally. There was,howevei'idecidedly no trace, of larrikinism or horseplay. The tcamis.composed.of a fine . looking lot of young fellows, but it; is. quite evident that their r staying powers are not equal to the New Zealanders. The match, against Wellington was interesting from the fact that the teams were fairly evenly .matched. The recent tour of the home. team had evidently stiffened them, ft little and the play was certainly not up to! the average, although' we did manage to defeat the ■ visitors, who played a plucky and scientific game all through, Ono of the members of tho. team, Mr 11. C, .Dibbs, it may interest your readers to know is a nephew of Sir George Dibbs; the late Premier of Now South Wales. | The team plays Wairarapa at Masterton, I notice, on the 25th instant. Your men from'all accounts, should make a very close match of it with the Cornstalks. : , ' i

I trust that the Government will consider favorably the petition',of the electors'.of Tuapeka for a. com-. passionate allowance to the widow of the late Mr Vincent Pyke and thatasumwill be placed on the Estimates which will be of , assistance to Mrs Pyke in her declining years. Tho widow of Vincent Pyke deserves some consideration at the hands of tho CoIony ( from the fact that her late husband" did the State some service" in many capacities, both in his public and hisprivate life; Vincent Pyko's admirable administration of tho goldfields in Otago in the early days should riot be forgotten, and his advice and assistance in the House regarding goldminiug- matters' was always eagerlyßought after, arid freely given, It -was perhaps solely Mr Pyko's (sturdy independence which kept him out „.of office on 1 several occasions wlion -his . inclusion in a Ministry with tho portfolio of Mines under his charge, would have beori favourably regarded by''all parties in the.House, Upon sentimental grounds also, it would be a graceful act to relievo the necessity of tlio widow of the author of that charming' colonial rainanco,Wild Will Endcrby'," There will not, I am sure, be one voice the proposal to vote Mrs Pyke some consideration;

. The Government has climbed dowi. considerably in their proposals" to force foreign Insiirancb. Companies to makoir deposit of portion of their funds in the Colonifat Treasury. This is, rio doubt, intended as a concession ' ■ coiis'equerit upon'' the recent'.representations mado by the Insurance Companies, both New Zealand and Foreign, I doubt, hojpover, whether the Bill Jim, a chanco of passing, as I have heard that strong opposition will be shown to the measure. As to the rumour regarding . State ( Fire' Inaurance. there not; much'"'"'cliance of this , over coining off. „It is the custom, I am informed, where state' and > municipal fire insurance exists, to only insure; buildings and not stodk.' A' State fire insurance decould not tlieroforo supply all riot be adapted to \this , .Colony,•in consesequence. Sthtq life irisiivance is,of couse, a vastly, different matter, as it' is enabled to perform .the ivholo contract. The Fire and Marine Associations throughout the Colony are nowcombining to opposetho Bill just brought andit will -be interesting'i to see 'if their opposition will be successful; If tlie Bill; is passed. iii its present 1 foriit nearly ; all tlio smaller foreign Jitij, Marine, .Life and Accident Insurance Companies, -will; at once withdraw froni'the,Colony, y" 1 <»- *

It is rumoured,althouglilam of course.uuable to Bay with what truth j

7" i aithoTGovernment liaa received cable advicJsfrpmthe'Agettt-Genoral' >• to tlio effect that thVAdvanses to Set.; t »: tiers, Bill- is viewedwith wisfavonr': in financial, ciWles in I London Locally tlieifl is a very mil e d feeing on : the subject, Manyfaro m- vfavor oTgivirigthe scheme up to a certain poiritj witlmodiß^tioiiß of the original proposal, ; ink they think it will tend to raise tW P l ®* sent depression, and aid-in tM3& tlcment of the land, ".'Others tEpk that to put the. scheme ...into op®" tion/wouldf a);\ once JP® (Jolony's credit,.~-An animated®® pwronged'debate"" SvilP^inoyitß result . when , the BiH cornea ofi? 1 ' Bficond i)

; .Five out of the seven of V 0 ■■■■■•. Directors of the Colonial BankajW 1 Wellington attending to liamehtavy duties.!! They are Honfc.Meßta ! &V Ma6Leani(Ohair. man), Reynolds, Downie Stewart, Oliver'andLarnach. A majority of ■ the Directors of thisina titutioii have tlvos been enabled to confer together, every day with" perliSpiCmbrt-.coh. < venience than if they-had Dnnedini , ; .The ' two diractora are PrHislpp;and'MP.'o.\ Noil),' of Duncdin, V ;There-;is no douiit ihati tiiq. stat«iiieht( lyhioli iap- \ peared in.' to-night's" co'ncernirig *;thpl 'propoihisbeing submitted tolliS' Gov- ; ernmentbefprg 48 Hours is substantially correct.''Bfefore thia ... letter appears in print, you will have most probably been put in possesaioti of the amalgamation . propoaaU wliich the directors, in, .conjunction with Mr Jote Moiwy, have been time past. I'lt risi': at': any;; rate the opinion in business circles: in town that the result of these deliberations will bo made public before the euc| of\the week." Thero ; . is litilo or, nb . speculation as to the, details of the amalgiMation. ,

. Wellington lias, hitherto. laid ,a - Half -heartedclaim;.to the- 22 nd of | January,'lß39, jis being the date -of the foundation of the Colony from the fact that the first settlers' undot the New Zealand Company'landed' on the shores of Port Nicholson on that date, A special Committee of Parliament Ims, however, decided that the correct Anniversary Day is , the 30th of January, as it was npon this day in the year, 1839, that CaptainHobson fh'stlandod ; atKororarcka, in the Bay of Islands, and proclaimed thfl'Quecn's; sovereignty point atijssue was, ho.wever, ; : not.'to decide mpon the rival clainiSi of Auckland ; and Wellington, ' for- it has long' beeit. recognised that' the: official , .<procla; matibn by' Captain Hobson, gave precedence: to Auckland, although the firsti regular settlera .landed i%Wellington' a ; week before, but to' detennine whether the 29th or oOtli,, of January was the actual day upon which; the' proclamation \vas made. The' Committed lifter hunting, up documentary evidence report;that although Captain Hobson reached Kororareka, I think this is how it is spelt, on 1 'the 29tli Jaftuaiy," ;lie'did not land till the following! day! "In future the! Anniversary', of Auckland and the Anniversary of the Colony will therefore be the. 30th", January, and that day will hereafter bo proclaimed as a general holiday throughout the' length and 'breadth of the land;''' Wellingtotf wilt be the 'gainfer t for .we .will obtain two holidays instead of one-jour ownanmwsaiy on the 22nd, and tlie : Colony's anniversary .; on; the: 30th, ■ Such- an arrangement will he satisfactory to all concerned, , • •!,-,/ v

! It is said that thesession willclosd on or about the 10tli October. The Government will have to huny their policy ; ; measures through# sucli is the.case,.for practically.nothing bail been dono in this direction yeV-'Afl spling ; advances members™ more and more anxious to get home, : and the fine balmy spring weather of the last week reminds tlwse' enga'gediri Agricultural'pursuits''tliat there is nowplenty to do about the farm, Consequently, they say lot the Parliament go hing, and seiid uVhome to our flocks, and our herds. . Those engaged inJiulsinesS ill the towns do not ; .mind .so much forthoyargua that a month or so longer does not mako a great difference. The Government , Vill., no-doubt,announce in a week oi' sowhatmeaijures tlioy intend to drop—wbatinnocents they intend to slaughter. -' 1 ■ ' . •: *J_

flie clerks have notbeen forgotten fter all iii the Labour legislation; or I hear tliat notice of motion ins been given in the Legialaive Council. to insert, a clause n tlio Shop , Hours Bill, prolibiting clerks of all descriptions ram working more than the' speck' led shop.hours,' This seems , a fair indreasottal)l6 provision, fer'jurely fit is not right for a. shopman to vork more , than a certain number lours it surely 1b not right for ' a. ilerk to workiany'number of hours lis employor chooses to inako him.iVliat is sauce for the gooso is sauce or the gander, and why clorks should not bo protected by Labour egislation has always seemed incomn'eherisible. Bank clerks frequently work; .15. i;;or 16 hours i day during busy times, and they ire nono itoo ! ,well - paid for ilieir services. • It is a perfectly logical butane 'of 1 (legislation I'egfirdirig the hours-' 'Of' ' 'shop labour, to, place clerks r on a ) will not; Buch'a ' proMßlJHKrtito Radical even ' fop a Tlio clerk, ujilike tlio working man, is a creature of np importance, ■ and'nobody, cares whether he is overworkcdior underpaid,', or' whether 1 .ho has a weekly.haif-holiday omot. Not,for him does Parliament

pass protective .measures, for. .the [lbor clerk has "only ; a bodyto bo kicked, and a, soul to be damned.' Store power't<j Honi' gehtloman n the Legislative Goancil, [whoeyer-' io ! may be, who has remembered tlio jlprlc,may fc. meetwitH the good fortune it deservesi

■ 'There'is on view in Mi' McGtwor Wright'spicture shop,' a splendid threo-quarter length portrait, iiibilsj of Major ; Kenip. t te Rangihiwinui, l^' ; t of Maori subjects—Lindauer.!i Tho v gallant reipresented in the ■ fall uniform oi a Major, in the Militia, and he weara'the sword pre* sentcd to Mm;byH,M; the Queen,' for- services' in <the'Wanganui Wats. Upon, his..breast he wears the<NiZ; War medal," and the much coveted distmqtjoii fot jthfr N.Z/Oross, enly given in cases of special'gallantry. vdl known for me to enlarge upon them, and that tttey ,Vt in-Wellington is proved by tho knot: oi admirors 7 whiclit.may 1 be- seeifew; at any time during "the day gasfy| : mg at the Major's ; martial '..piotare'fe. in tho window of Mr Mo'

Grcgor Wright's shop. Major Kemp is ninißQlf; still 'iuiown, on Nativo Business' intent,' but the soldierly form-, of tlio Maori: in the : picture would , not bo. identified with tho Morly Native' of to-day, - who may frequently besdon a bout ,the streets,' looking anything but tho distinguished .warrior he once was. | Meeting of a Ladies Charjw]o Association in Wellington, hroies discussing the crowded state , .°f the 'Benevolent Homo and speculating as to how the congestion may be relieved, Ono worthy old lady ' suddenly breaks in sympathetically upon the conversation thus:" Suffering from congestion are they, poor things! Bad cooking I suppose? Can nothing bo done to relievo tlionip , .What a shame it is. that they won't - lot thoiii have a doctor! Now, I romomber when my children were at all congested I usually found tluitr-! Torrent of explanations from 'nil round, and collapse of the motherly old dame who only knew one meaning for congestion and immediately applW that meauing to the inmates of tlifTtlonie.

There is a good joke floating about too, anent a cortain southern wh° hails from Caledonia's . rugged shores. Tho said canny Scot was one of the 'Parliamentary, excursion party which recently visited Nelson. Upon arrival in Nelson the M.II.R.'s were hospitably welcomed by tho Mayor and escorted to hia residence. Before partaking of refreshment the genial host suggested that perhaps cold water and a little soap would bo required to take off the stains of travel. Tho host first addressed himsolf to our friend the Scot, who promptly replied " Eh mon, dinna fash yerscl • ■■ abootme, for yo kon I had a wash in , Wullington I" This was a couple of days before and tho party had ' visited Pictonand thosouiuls!