JOTTINGS from WELLINGTON

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4849, 12 October 1894, Page 2

JOTTINGS from WELLINGTON

(By Our Own Correspondent.)

Tuesday. Music-mad Wellingl6)).—The.:xahe : >* of CilyPropertij.—Should a Chiahman t k a British Mini f Cricket Assoeiatioii"qud Sloddait'i \ English Team,—An Influx ■of MedI'tw.' ' ".v.Tf'j : \

The Minister for Labour''or Education, as I believe, he; prefers to bo called, frequently gets off a veiy smart joke. Asa rule"-Mr Reeves' quips are seen at once and appreciated. Occasionally, however, some smart things pass;unnoticed, -Here is a jokelet which the Minister ! got off at the expense of Mr. Willis, the other day and nobody saw it, Tho member for Wnngnnui,' not noted in tho House, or outsidb for that matter, for the luminosity of his iutelleot, is frequently np in arms about.-tome fancied grievance. The other day lie put a question to the Government

about the inadequacy of the cell accommodation at tho Wangaimi lockup. Mr Reeves got up to reply > nnd \< said that the case had been ovei- "*' stated to Mr Willis, for there w eie 9 more" sells" than Mr Willis.'!ms >h apparently aware of, or he would.,/ J havocnquirel closer into the matter, '< | before putting the question. - Mr : Willis did not seo it.

Wellington has run music mad duniiß tk last week and now that the Festival is -over people find it difficult to settle down to hum-drum lifo again. Really the Festival must be'characterised as a hugo success both musically and financially, For 9000 people in tho course of ono week to attend ■ sach' high-class productions of music, argues woll for the culture and refinement of tho A comic opera company or a combination of burlesque "aitists" could not possibly havepiovedsuch a "draw" as the Festival™as Tho concensus of opinion seemed to be that the"Spectre's Brido" was tho most successful production, which is not to bo wondered at, considering it had been most diligently rehearsed. "The Golden Lcgond" showod signs of want of preparation, but thoother pieces performed were artistically and musically . excellent. Messrs ~ Saunders, Gee, and Pronsonstho male soloists, captured tho honours, indeed Mr. Gee created quite a furore by his masterly singing. Tho lady , soloists wero not such a success. Madamo Bristowo was distinctly "offcolour" tho wliolo time, and Madamoßurfoot,thougltthO|possessor of n very fino voice, abundantly displayed tho fact that cultivation uns required to place hor in tho UiijM rank as a soloist, Tho. Fcsti\JH|H altogether a big thing cal people of tboy did it well/and tooimieJiHHHl cannot bo given to all concerned the result of their unselfish and untiring efforts to make the affair ' the huge success it was. 1 There were soveral amusing little, em/re. tempt which camoto my ears, not tho least amusing amongst .which was a musical quarrel in " A Hut" ■ which took place between two of our leading professional musicians, Each sido had. of course, its partisans, and tho quarrel, while it lasted, was of a somewhat tempestuous nature, A breach of the peaco, it is said, was only saved by tho-intervention of a brawny baritone who acted as peacemaker with complcto succosb, and the incident subsequently ended most harmoniously, I noticed agood many Wairarapa people in town for tho festival, and I havo no doubt they enjoyed themselves mightily. I am glad to hear that the fino chorus is not to be dispersed just yot, tho intention being to combino with the Harmonic Society in tho production of that magnificent work "Judas Maccabieus" about Christmas,

A most important sale of city properties is to take place very shortly when tho whole of that portion of Lambton Quay from Messrs Lyon and Blair's establishement to Mr Kinsey's photographic' studiois to bo put up for disposal by auction by .Messrs Harcourt and Co. Tlicso properties, as your reader aro fully aware, are situated in the very heart of the city of Wellington and I suppose finer business sites could not bo obtained clscwhero in tho ; colony. The particular interest attached to this sale arises from the • ! fact that it will be the means'of in. fallibly testing what speculation is abroad at presentandof ascertaining what prices such magnificent sitos are considered worth. It is some 15 . '.: J or 16 years since a block of extent a little lower down was sold for something but was and even thoughthe has naturally increased with rapid growth of tho town during tho ■ Inst decade, it is doubtful whether '* ' such fancy prices which existed at the time mentioned will rale to-day ' There is one thing quite certain.had a man several thousand pounds to invest in property.onLnmbton Quay at tho present time, he would stand a remarkably good chance of obtain, ing cent, per oent. for his money be. fore the next decade has elapsod.Tho importance of this salo as testing tho value of city property in what is iw.tho most progressive town in thp Colony, can hardly be o\er-esti. mated.

I dont particularly admire the Chinese as colonists, but I fail to seo <~$M what is the objection to their being naturalised as British subjects while vss§ they are residents in tins portion of '* Her Majesty's dominions. I notice A-fsi even a member has" raised the ques- :Sll tion In the House, and do not quite 'ft§ .sco what answer,.he ; can.expeot, ;;;;: S|| Surely it is better, if m must haW-Slt the Chinese in .jOur'midsV.fo makev ; them do theiriuty:as jects, rather than to excludetheffi%/S|||j aliens while thoy a pays ; rates and taxes/and;l ; liej is, taisablo.;, likel, other; eitizonship? By Chinese, we can assume more over, them. Quite .* hunbri of tials have been nat&iise^itfjir^^M

lington recently. A European, I have hoard of, makes a vory good tiling out of tlio naturalisation business. Ho makes it his business to go round hunting up nnnaturalised colcstials and preparing for them the necessary papers for which ho receives a small fee. Tlio objection to naturalising Chinamen is raoro sentimental than realmore insular prejudice in fact.

It is thought that tho Wellington Cricket Association has made a mistako in refusing to call a public meeting togothor for the purposo of raising a guarantco of ,£3OO in order toonsuro a visit of tho English cricket team. Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin aro quite willing to guarantee £3OO each, if Wellington will do tho same, but our crickotors have decided not to agree to this, but offering instead the whole of the proceeds from a three days' match. Now it is quite certain that at least £3OO would easily bo taken at the gates during the match, and therefore the gnaitudora would not be called upon to pivprjf ih amount of thoir guarantee. This being so, surely there can bo no valid objection to obtaining the guarantee if the want of it might prevent Stoddart's team visiting New Zealand. The team asks for £1,200 for matches in the four I chief towns, and possibly tho refusal of Wellington to guarantee its share of this amount may result in (lie projected tour falling through. This would be a thousand pities, not only from the spectators' point of view, but also from the cricketers'. Wellington cricket, much improved as it has during late years, would undoubtedly benefit from the visit of such a famous team, and therefore the local Association should not throw any obstacles in the way. A public meeting and a systematic canvass would easily raise tho 1/300. I hope the Association may be prevailed upon to reconsider their determination. We should not bn behind tho other centres in matters of this kind.

Wellington must be gaining quito ft reputation ns a lucrative Held for the medical profession. I notice several new doctors have recently commerced the practico of their profession here, and "the cry is still they come." There arc already nearly 30 medical men in the city, so I do not know where tho newcornel's aro going to pick up practice, and yet nearly all who are here seem to be doing well, if neatly turned-out buggies and smartly liveried grooms are criterions. The fact is, the medical profession is very much sought after by the sons of well-to-do colonists, and they arc accordingly sont Homo to be educated, and naturally return to the land of their birth as full-blown surgeons and bachelors of medicine as soon as the Universities will license them to kill or cure. Thero is quite a promising crop of young doctors in Wellington at present.