THE TIME O' DAY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5033, 23 May 1895, Page 3

THE TIME O' DAY.

[llY 'I'M SENTINEL.] Wellington, Tuesday. Wrdddiooke," outhe "witch's curse." The Wellington Amnteur Operatic Society are to ho congratulated upon their entcrpriso in producing, for the first timo in Australasia, Gilbert and Sullivan's quaintly humorous conceit "Ruddigoro," which possesses not only a Übnllo written in Gilbert's happiest vein, but teems with delightful music in Sullivan's most inolodious and original style. If the people of Wellington have any discrimination, " Ruddigoro" is bound to be a huge success. This charming little opera was first produced at the Savoy Theatre, London, in January, 1887, but ■ for some peculiar reason, it never seemed to 4#tch on " with the British public. Mny peoplo aver that the somewhat startling name was the chief reason for its non-success, whilst it was openly assorted that the great Gros«n'thwas so dissatisfied with and heartily disliked his part, that he made np Ids mind to kill the opera hy his indifferent performance of the character. However, be this as it may, " Ruddigoro" in my humble opinion, ranks amongst the best that the gifted twain have yet produced. I can well remember, how half Lmi- .. don was wondering why the other half did not like " Rnddigore," and the half support which was accorded to it, soon removed it from the boards of the Savoy, alter about seven months run (a poor run for r. Gilbert and_ Sullivan opera), and it has never since beon reproduced. " Ruddigore" now makes its reappearance at the Antipodes, under tho happiest auspices, and I will warrant that the discerning Colonial audiences will quickly appreciate its §d qualities. By "the courtesy of Stage-manager, I had the p'leasof witnessing a full rehearsal, with orchestral accompaniments, the other evening, and the performance : went with a rim, both musically and histrionically, which augurs favourably for the opening performance on Wednesday night. Quite the strongest cask the Amateur Operatic Society has ever got together, will appear, and the line orchestra under Mi Tallis Trimnell's most capable hton, will do full justice towards their share of the performance. "Ruddigore" will be well worth a trip to town, and 1 would strongly advise all thosowho can conveniently make the journey, to do so. REVERSING THE TABLE.

The following amusing incident was recently related to me, but I must disclaim all responsibility for the bom Jitfa of the story, which, however true or false, is, 1 think, rather 100 good to be kept out of print. As an example of severe justice of the Draconian order, the «cident" takes the cake." It apars that the Headmaster of a 'ge Educational establishment not a hundred miles from Wellington, found it necessary to chastise one of the boys for an alleged misdemeanour, which subsequent enquiries proved the boy to be entirely innocent of. Calling the whole school together, the master explained how he had been mistaken, and bringing the injured innocent to the front of the room, he held towards him the cane with which the punishment had been made, and invited the urchin to take it out of him (the Headmaster), as a solatium for the caning wrongfully inflicted. The boy, nothing loth, seized the rod, and for some considerable time, laid in with a will on the sacred person of his teacher. The master bore Ms punishment without flinching-, and justice being thus meted out, the school resumed the even tenor pf its way, and nothing more was Bought of the matter. One does fiot know whether to admire or deprecate the conduct of the master. His ideas of justice may have been somewhat distorted. There is, however, no question at all about the boy, it appears to me, for the young wretch was apparently unable to appreciate the simple generosity of his master in thus making the amende honorable before the whole school, without taking advantage of his (to me) somewhat unnecessary ideas of justice, in inviting a retaliatory castigatiou. The boy who could deliberately, as a revenge, and with a cheek which appears almost uncanny, thus have the effrontery to retaliate upon the person of his master, richly deserved the whipping he received in the first instance. May he receive many another lusty thrashing, for his audacity, before his school career is ended, is my ijneere wish, P" TAKEN FROM A COUNTRY GAOL." The prisoner foggan, who escaped some .few days ago from the Mount Cook Gaol, is still at liberty despite all the efforts of the policcto discover his whereabouts. There can be no doubt that the escaped prisoner has plenty of friends in Wellington who have not only most ingeniously aided him in his escape, but have with considerable cutcness covered up his trail afterwards. I have nothing to say either for or against the prison officials in Wellington, for happily I have not yet had any practical experience of their efficiency or otherwise, but I do think the system of espionage must be somewhat lax when a prisoner's escape is not discovered for uearly two hours after the bird has flown. All this it must bo remembered happened in broad daylight, right under the nose of the warder who was in charge of the gang. Foggan apparently was a criminal of the worst class for he .was sentenced to seven years penal /wrvitude for burglarious entry. He "is not therefore a desirable subject to be at large. Very truly may the escaped one chant, a h Mikado, that be was" Taken from a country gaol by a set of curious chances." The worst of it is that the chances are against the police taking him again. GUINEAS FIRST, QUALIFICATIONS AFTERWARPS.

i There is a Society whose head- ; quarters are in Wellington, which jwoices in tho high-sounding title of «Tj.V New Zealand Institute of Accotiutants." Apparently the Inaiu object ot the Institute was to obtain the guii' the qualifications of its members' being but a secondary consideration. Tllis mußt be iio for when the ms * ol ™l by certain gciit/« me » the majority of whom are not accountants, nor have any professiona I qualification in this direction at all, they decided that anyonocouldbead'witedwithoutany examination at all, simply upon pay. ment of a fee of £5.58. It will thus bo apparont from the outset that it kMwas somewhat a doubtful honor to the privilege of writing ' M.N.Z.I.A. after ono's name, It is therefore, rather absurd to suppose that really capable men are likely to submit themselves for- examination at the haads of a body of men, many of whom know as much atfflit

accountancy as the cow docs of astronomy, and wlioso only qualification consists in their ability to plank down five guineas. The Institute has beon built onathorougbly rotton foundation, and this being 1 so it cannot possibly stand,

ruanc Auomsii on ran science op " COOKING." I do not wish to weary your readors by pursuing tho question of accounting much further, but there is a very important side issue in connection with this matter whiehrequires careful attention. lam alluding to the so-called auditing of public companies in which very often the examination of tho accounts in nothing more nor less than the veriest farce. Favboit from me to cast reflections upon anyone, but I do think, and so do many dozens of business people in this city, that the timo has now arrived when the auditing of companics,accounts should be undertaken by skilled accountants occupying an independent position in the public service, The Government should in fact undertake the responsibility of auditing the accounts of registered companies as they do the local bodies. It would he mure satisfactory for all concerned.

" MAX S INIIDIAXITV TO WOMAN." The good people of this city arc very fond of forming societies for the prevention of this and the preservation of thai, but it does not seem to have occurred lo anyone yet that there is a line opening for the formation of a Society having for its object the prevention of cruelty to women and children. " Man's inhumanity to man " is a string that lias been very much harped upon at all times, but apparently we consider thattheprevention of cruelty to the brute creation (in itself a most admirable thing) is infinitely more important than the protection of women and children from the brutality of their husbands and fathers. Several instances have come under my notice recently of gross brutality and inhumanity on the part of men towards their wives and children. The "sanctity of an Englishman's house" has been a sullicieni deterrent to prevent the interference of the neighbours in gi'oss and revolting acts of cruelty, biitwitha Society nosuch sentimental scruples would be possible, in the majority of instances the women themselves daie not seek police protection for fear of the consequence.'-', ami they therefore suiter in silence from the cruelties of brutal and drink-besotted husbands. Such ut Society, us I have suggested, could do much good in Wellington. There is one in Auckland ; why should there not be one here '! 1 commend the suggestion to the consideration of those worthy Wellington philanthropists who are always going about seeking what good they can do.

Tin; (ji;ke\'.s i:ii;ihi>av. (Jonsiderableiiiifavorablecoinnicnt is being made in town, regarding the action of the Defence Minister in taking upon himself to notify that the usual volunteer Birthday parade need not be held this year. The volunteers themselves do not look upon the time-honoured instilutiunof aparade and thociistomary/t« tit:jaw in honour of Her Majesty as any hardship. In fact they arc only too delighted to show their loyalty to their sovereign in this manner, and it is besides a function that the public much appreciate and turn out in large numbers to witness. In all parts of the British Dominions the birthday review is a fine qua nmi in military ciicles. Why New Zealand should be the exception, everyone fails to see. The Premier's action looks very much like hike-warm loyalty, which to those who know him seems somewhat unaccountable. The paltry excuse of hardships at Easter which the volunteers underwent, seems hardly sufficient. There isalso much disappointment felt at the fact that the usual Birthday Ball will not lake place at the Government House this year. The reason for this is that Lady Augusta Boyle has not yet sufficiently recovered from the effects of her recent severe accident at Auckland, which resulted in the dislocation of her ankle. lam informed that the young lady is progressing satisfactorily, but that it is very much feared there will bo a certain amount of peiniaiient stiffness. The Ball will take place some time in June, probably after the opening of Parliament.

T.U'IXG THE RISK. The lire at the Government Insurance Building the other night might very well have been a serious affair which would possibly have resulted in the lotal destruction of that line pile of buildings. Had it not been for a passer-by (he consequences might very well have been more serious than they were. That a passer-by,by the way.should discover the fire does not speak very much for the system of fire inspection or night-watching in the building. J am also informed that the whole of the Government Buildings in Wellington including the Parliament Buildings with its priceless library are totally uninsured against lire, the Government finding it cheaper to take (he risk themselves than to pay heavy premiums for insurance. Now, of course, this practice would he entirely unobjectionable if an Insurance Fund were established; but is there such a fund in existence? I heard vague rumours at one time of a fund existing, but I very much doubt if it exists now. It has been swallowed up, no doubt, in the Maelstrom of the many financial operations which have taken placo in the hist few years.

CI.KANMXESS AXI) (iODLIXKSS. Mr Chang Luke, the Chinese Evangelist, is succeeding admirably in Wellington in the conversion of his fellow countrymen to the ways of grace. At a recent Methodist entertainment, no less than thirty "converted" Chinese graced the proceedings by their presence J am glad to hear, and so i am sure will everybody else be, that Mr Chang' Luke is meeting with so much success in his mission. Jlr Chang Luke might, however, remember with advantage that "Cleanliness is next to Godliness," Could he but instil the habits of 'cleanliness into the minds of his countrymen, he would, on the authority of Holy Writ, he half-way on the road with them to Godliness, and he would, moreover, atthosame time, bo doing the community at large a signal service,

A MOBKBH MAGICIAN. Professor Leonard, who lias recently paid Wellington a visit, must, on his own high-flown authority, be reckoned as on a level with the seers, soothsayers, necromancers, and oracles of old, Oracular, Die Professor distinctly was, for 'he was very carefnl to mako statements which were capable of being oxplaiued in any way, which most

' suitable to the occasion or the person, I have heard of and spoken to a : good many people in town who thought it worth while paying their guineas for the purpose of'consnlting this modern oracle, The professor certainly performed some wonderful feats in thought-reading, but oven in this ho was as often as not wrong as right. The professor professed to foretell the future but unfortunately one can hardly (est a man's accuracy in this respect until the future comes, so that part of the business may be set aside as not being worthy of any very serious attention. It iseasy enough to" call spirits from the vasty deep" but the question is " will I hey come ?" A good many highly respectable citizens, young and old, rich and poor, " consulted" the Professor, but I havo not heard that they arc very much better oil' for the consultation. It is not much in return for your guinea to be told you were born in such and such n year, or that you came out in a ccrlain ship, ffondc ful as it may be you hwm all that. You want to be told something you don't know, and to be assured at the same timo that what you arc being told is correct. As, of course, this is impossible, 1 donotquileseelhcadvantages of Professor Leonard's gifts, unless as a source of scienlilic interest, A I large amount of faith is necessary to accept prophetic ullerauces regarding the future, and if you haven't that you had belter save your money and keep away from Professor Leonard, and men of his ilk.

THE WELLINGTON A. IV f. ASSOCIATION. I am sorry to see that the Wellington Agricultural and Pastoral Association are about to lose the services of their genial SecretaryMr 11. D. O'Cnlliighan. Mr O'Callaghan has steered the Association's bark through many troubled waters ami by liiscourtesyaml good humour has smoothed over many of the dangers and difficulties which have beset its path in the last few years. I hope sincerely that the Association will secure a new Secretary who will till the lequiremenls of this trying position as well as Mr U'Calhighnn has done.