JOTTINGS from WELLINGTON

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4941, 14 February 1895, Page 3

JOTTINGS from WELLINGTON

(By Our Own Correspondent). Monday.

| Government Gardening —A Liberal Luciilltts.—l'hc Half-holiday Question. —hblicßiiths anill'ublic Decency.— A New Liuirj for Wellington.—The Spicy Breezes on the Hutt Road.— 'The llorowhenuu Commission The' Emiinciputm of the Si'X.—linssimi Im in ignition—"The Heathen Glanee" Again.—A Coolgardie Romance.

The Government House Grounds arc now open to the public, twice a week, while the Governor and his family are away from Wellington. A small section of the general public, mostly consisting of nursemaids and children, patronise the grounds pretty extensively on the open days, but beyond these, the privilege is not much availed of. This is somewhat to be wondered at, for in Wellington where gardens, green lawns and open spaces generally are scarce, one would have thought that the Governor's kindness and consideration, iu thus throwing open his domain, would have been more appreciated by the public. Lord Glasgow is the first Governor who has ever thought it worth while to open the grounds to the public, and (his is another instance of His lixcellcucy's kindly nature. The Government House grounds arc very nicely planted and laid out, but considering there are nearly always three or more gardeners constantly employed in keeping the guldens in order, the result is not very apparent, for the show of flowers is extremely poor, and would not do much credit even to a eottasre garden. Jn fact, l it seems fo be the constant aim of the men employed, (o produce as little as possible for the expenditure of public money. The Public Works Department has, I believe, control of the maintenance of these giomuls, and the wonder is that a better result is not insisted upon,

Mr Seddon's landscape garden, as (he dreary waste of desolate looking flower-beds and hopeless lawns in front of the Parliamentary Buildings, is now called, has not turned out a success. At present the whole grounds are several inches deep in manure, which has been laid ou with a lavish hand iu order to coax the cold clayey soil to produce green grass, or to bring forth shrubs and (lowers. So much might have been done, as the grounds originally were, with the walks shaded by graceful trees, to make the place attractive, and at comparatively small expense, instead of which somuch has been done at a heavy cost to make everything repulsively hideous. The grounds are a positive eyesore to Wellington as they are now, and indeed will remain so for many a long year to come. As an example of vulgarian vandalism, the " improvements" to the Parliamentary grounds stand supreme.

The Premier having decided to reside in Wellington permanently, extensive alterations have been put in hand to make I lie iiolcsworthstrcet Ministerial residence habitable for His Majesty, King Richard. 1 do not .say that the repairs were not | required, but surely it was not necessary to spend the money when there arc several other official residences which the Premier could have taken his pick of without putting the country to any further expense. Commend me to your New Zealand Liberal of the new school for making the money fly. He must have (1 am speaking of those in power) the best of everything, handsomely appointed offices, large stall's of secretaries and messengers, and all sorts of comforts and conveniences when travelling, which the old time " Conscivative" would no more have dreamt of indulging iu than Hying. Your latter day Liberal Lucnllus spares himself nothing, notwithstanding all his vapouiings about economy, the need for retrenchment, and his constant cry of fraternity and equality, Ho may legislate for the amelioration of the masses, but lie takes mighty good care to ameliorate his own condition lirst.

Considerable feeling, and no little irritation, is being shown in town still, regarding the choice of Wednesday as the half-holiday. Needless to say, this irritation exists chiefly amongst the shop-men. and not amongst the shop-keepers. The shop-keepers are almost universally satislied that the choice of the day has fallen on Wednesday, and the ill-timed action of the deputation of shop assistants, which recently took upon themselves to wait upon the Minister for Labour, to urge an amendment of the Act, to suit their own particular views, has alienated from them a good deal of public sympathy, tho outcome of which will probably be a strenuous resistance to any further tampering with the liberty of the subject in the direction of restricting the conduct of business. The shop-assistants have far the best of the bargain as it is, and they had much better rest content with what they have got.

It is an everlasting disgrace that I in a city of something over 30,000 inhabitants, there are 110 better provisions for public baths than exist at present. One small private swimming bath is all that we have, and that is situated in such an inconvenient locality as to bo practically useless, except to a few who live in the immediate vicinity. During the present stiflingly hot Summer the want has been severely aggravated, aud yet in spite of all the agitation which has taken place, we are no nearer the possession of suit, able baths than ever, As matters are now, police regulations notwithstanding, large numbers of men and boys daily bathe from the breastwork, or from the skids of the boating sheds. It is true that most of the adult bathing is performed in the early morning, hut all day long, at the Thorndon end most particularly, hordes of boys, iu pirn's mkrubilis, are to be seen disporting themselves in the harbour, One can hardly blame tho lads very much, but it is an outrage on public decency nevertheless, which should at once be put a stop to, The favorite resort of these bathers is just at the end of the Thorndon Hsplauade, a spot constantly passed by women and children all day long. It was only the other day, 011 a public holiday, that a whole host of naked urchins were seen disporting themselves in the water, in full view of trains and carriages, which were taking peoplo out iu large numbers to tho Hutt races,

Wellington is to be congratulated thai tlie Quceu's Drivo is at last an accomplished fact, A finer drive could not bo found anywhere, commanding as it does a maguifice"'' view of the open sea miles, Tho for" iUl ' several has doae inn.i 7 of thl ' s oatlet

lington the reproach that thero was nowhere to go to, and nothing to see, when once one had braved the vilo odours which meet you at every turn on what has hitherto been the main drive about Wellington—the Hutt Road. Upon the Queen's Drive you enjoy the sweet fresh scent of the briny ocean, without fear of having your pleasure spoiled, or your internal economy deranged, by whiffs of the vilest odours emanating from fell-mongery establishments or slaughter-houses, as on the Hutt Road. The seventy separate and distinct smells of Cologne pale into insignificance beside the odours which are encountered anywhere between Wellington and Ngahauranga. To those energetic business men, who lmve so successfully brought to a conclusion What lias been a long-cherished scheme, the City is under a debt of gratitude, To have solved completely what threatened last winter to be a complex social problem, namely, the disposal of the unemployed, and lo have given to the city at the same time such a fine outlet, was a unique experiment mast admirably conceived, and most J excellently executed. An under-1 taking, in fact, for all concerned to I bo justly proud of. I

What has become of the Horowlienua Block Royal Commission, which was announced with such a flourish of trumpets a little while ago ? Is it proposed to defer action until Mr John Stevens, M.H.R., has finished his arduous labours in connection with the Tariff Commission? It was reported that Messrs Stevens and McLachlan, M.H.R.'s, with Mr T, Kennedy Macdonahl, were to form the members of the Commission. Have the Government thought better of it, and propose to make 'different appointments ? It is sincerely to be hoped so, because two of the proposed members know too much about the facts concerning the ownership of the Block as it is, whilst the third, after the recent Ashburion eselnndre, is manifestly unfitted fo aspire to the important and honorable position of a Royal Commissioner. The general opinion is that the Commission should consist of gentlemen whose judgment is not likely to be biased, even unconsciously, by a pre - acquired knowledge of the sinuosities of the case. One of the Royal Commissioners named has for years past acted as an advocate for one of the principals concerned in tho dispute, whilst another has acted as agent for the Government concerning the payment of purchase-money for a part of the Block. Under the circumstances, it would be fur more satisfactory for all concerned if an entirely independent set of Commissioners were appointed.

Several instances lave come under my notice lately of letters and parcels posted in the city lamp-post letter boxes missing mails, although posted iii ample time. It is a pity that the public mind should be filled with distrust regarding these letterboxes, for tliat they are an undoubted convenience, when some distance from a Post Ollice, cannot be denied. It is quite an easy matter for (he person who is employed to deal' these letter-boxes to omit doing so without much risk of detection. 1 do not say that the omission would be intentional, but it might occasionally happen as a result of forgetfuluess or carelessness. Were detective dials placed on the boxes, which the person employed in collecting the letters was required to ad just each time he made a clearance, the risk of an omission would be minimised. A Post Ollice official would, of course, be required to inspect the dials at stated times, in order to check the collectors.

The employment of women iu tlm Public Service of the Colony is already assuming' considerable dimensions. In Wellington, in particular, there are quite a large number of ladies employed in the service of the State, There are several lady clerks, and shorthand and typewriters in the Public Trust Ollice, while in the Accountant's Branch of the General Post Ollice, there are at least a dozen more. Then there is the large Telephone Exchange staff, which is almost exclusively composed of girls, to say nothing of the iemale employees in the Government Printing Ollice, and the lady Inspectors of Factories. Lady telegraph operators were tried some years ago, under Dr. Lemon's regime, but were not found a success, from the fact that after undergoing a thorough system of training, and just as they were becoming efficient, they invariably got married, and all the expense and trouble of teaching them telegraphy was thrown away. Certainly the avenues for the employment of women are widening everyday, and if the State assists much further in this direction, the old cry of " What shall we do with our boys ?" will become more acute than over. While sympathising fully with the very natural desire of girls to earn for themselves an independent livelihood, the question will rise uppermost in one's mind as to where the wives and mothers of the future generation are to come from, if the girls absorb much further the boys' billets.

A Russian nobleman, it is stated, is now on his way to 'Wellington collecting information on his tout' through the Colony, regarding population, the terms of settlement on the land and other matters, with aview to establishing a scheme of Russian Immigration, The Government are to bo requested to furnish him with all the information with a view to furthering his object. What about Mr Reeves' Undesirable Immigrants' Bill, and arc Russians desirable immigrants ? In view of European complications arising at any time are we justified in affording this Russian Count all the information he seeks ? He may lmvu an ultorior object in view, who knows ? There have been so-called Russian noblemen here before, whose credentials would not bear scrutiny, A mistake might happen again; it is as well to be careful about these mysterious Russians, who combine the cunning of a Machiavelli, with the polish of a Beau Brummel.

The Wellington Woollen Company will have to look to its laurels, ifor them is another Richmond in the field, in tlie shape of tUp Kiyiapqi WooJleji Cpmpany, who have just opened up p, branch establishment in Wellington, far the sale of its iqamifjictures. The Petono Oonjr pany has hitherto thought itself unassailable in thia District, and if it does uofc mii.icl, tliQ DU'eoto"" loon! Companywill fi-*" .. a of the trade slin x . .nvay from them. On the otuer hand, tho presence of the nival institution, may institute a healthy rivalry, which may wako up tho local factory, and put renewed

vigour into its somewhat languid operations.

I hear, that there is a big scliemo on the tapis to supply Wellington with milk during the winter months, when tho operations of the N.Z. Dairy Farmers' Union are curtailed in tho manufacture of butter and cheese. The factory will act as I milk vendors during the winter, and thus not only keep themselves going during the slack season, but they will also keep their suppliers together. The public will derive the advantage of not only being able to obtain good and cheap milk, but they will be able to obtain it in any quantity, and at any time—no inconsiderable advantage in the city during the winter, when milk is not only scarce but dear. How this scheme will affect the private milk vendors, if it conies off, remains to be seen. Possibly they will all prefer to sell wholesale to tho factory, instead of retailing it themselves.

[ A large number of Chinese fruit sellers, who are also grocers, are to be prosecuted for keeping open their , shops on Wednesday afternoon. I Fruiterers are exempt, under the Act, and I suppose the artful " Heathen Chinee," thought he could keep open his shop ostensibly to sell fruit, and if occasion required it he could dispose of his groceries on the sly while his Europeancompetitors were dosed. The nrgus-eyed Inspector, however, "spotted " tho little game, and John Chinaman will Hud that it docs not pay to evade the law.

There is now in Wellington a- Mr Mills, who has just arrived from Western Australia on a visit. Mr Mills is the happy possessor of the nice little sum of £70,000, which represents his share as one of the original owners of the Londonderry mine at Coolgardie. It will be remembered that this mine was sold to an English Syndicate at an enormous price, and £70,000 was Mr Mills' portion. Mr Mills' career forms quite a little romance. Two years ago lie was, 1 am informed, an employe on an up country station iu Victoria, where he became enamoured of a fair rustic maiden, who, however, would have nought to say to him on account of his poveity. Mr Mills forthwith threw up his billet, and made his way to Coolgardie, filled with bitterness towards the whole sex. He joined a- party who were working a claim, since become famous as the Londonderry. For some months, barely ' tucker' was made, but at last rich gold was struck. From (hat moment, the fortunes of the party were assured, for the claim, day by day, turned out more and more gold, until at last, as is well-known, it was bought out by a powerful Knglish syndicate at a fabulous figure, Mr Mills, with a magnanimity which is rare, sought out the maiden who had previously spurned him in his poverty, and once more asked her hand in marriage. Needless to say, the maiden was not on this, the second time of asking, quite so unassailable, and the lucky miner received the consent which, as a poor station-hand, he had previously pleaded for in vain. Sequel: Jlr and Mrs Mills are now travelling through New Zealand on their honeymoon trip.