MELBOURNE GOSSIP.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2483, 9 June 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

MELBOURNE GOSSIP.

[FROM OUU OWN" COIIRKSI'ONDENT. |

There is hardly a man in Melbourne (except, perhaps, Mr Bent,) who doea not feel sorry that Mr Service is deserting the Lower House for the Legislative Council. He has been all through his political career " integer vitic seclerisque pur us " — a man of upright life and pure from guilt, and if lie gets into the Upper House (which is as ccrtain as things can be in this mundane sphere) he will have opportunities of work for the public'hy giving it the benefit of his long experience acquired on the floor of the popular Chamber- I went to hear him last Monday at the Athenaeum, where he addressed a meeting of the electors of the Melbourne province, and I was thoroughly impressed with the quiet dignity of his words and manner, the almost lofty tone of his remarks, and the calm impartial, yet shrewd way in which he reviewed the topic of the hour. We may not all of us be Conservatives, nor yet have been in touch with his political opinions during his past career, but anyone who knows the man, and his mode and manner of thought, cannot but be impressed by him, and I ravself say, "James Service, thou good and faithful servant ; long may you be spared to do as good work in the Council as you have done in the Assembly." I hear on excellent authority that one of the earliest questions to be pressed on the notice of the Government is the necessity of establishing a Foundling Hospital in or near Melbourne. Public attention has been aroused lately to an unwonted extent by the numerous instances of infanticide that have lately cropped up. I myself have counted seven cases within the last fortnight, and almost every day one's eyes are shocked by seeing an account of the same thing. There is a strong 1 feeling here that some sort of an establishment where motherless children would bo taken in is requisite : though others aver that a home for foundlings would bo nothing better than an incentive to immorality. I am told that strong representations have been made to Mr Gillies regarding the matter, and he has promised to give liis support to the project of founding a Government institution or the kind referred to. It will certainly be a good thing for the city, and as certainly will help to save many and many an innocent and helpless life.

I was correct in my statement last week that there was no truth in the rumour of the Rothschild's offer for the West Melbourne Swamp, and I think I am equally correct in stating that their agent here is Mr B. J. Fink, M.L.A. The latest news going tho round of financial circles is that this gentleman intends including in one mammoth company all his recent purchases in city property, the compa»y to have a capital of sorno million or so ; but whether this is in connection with the Rothschilds, I am not in a position _to stats. I hear also that a strong requisition is to be made to the Government regarding the Spencer-street Railway Station. It is a complete block to the city,Collins-street, Flinders-street, Bourkestreet, and Lonsdale-street being literally cut off by it. With the bring-up of the extension-of-the-city-westward question again, this sore subject has been revived, and tho public will not let it rest again lightly. We are to have a curious bigamy case, so I am told, figuring in the law-courts, the history of which is shortly this. A young Melbournite, son of a bankmanager here, went over to New Zealand a couple of years or so ago, and while there fell in love with a pretty girl and secretly married her. A short time after he returned to Melbourne, but like a young fool was too frightened to tell his father of his marriage, as the bride was as poor as a church-mouse. In the meantime the girl's father takes her willy-nilly to England, as he disbelieves her story of a marriage, and although poor is desirous of hiding his or her shame. After a time the young bridegroom crosses over to New Zealand to find his wife, and not being able to find any trace of her, imagines himself a free man,and forthwith marries again. This the first wife discovers after a time, and, her father having died in the meantime, comes over to this country to claim her rights. This will make a pretty kettle of fish, and the dishing up of the same will set all the gobemouchcs of society tattling for a twelvemonth.

I notice Mr Cowen, the musical mcestro of the forthcoming Exhibition, has telegraphed out that he intends giving among other selections the patriotic song, " The Empire Flag'," the music of which is written by the celebrated composer, McKenzie. It is not generally known that tho words of this song, one of the

most popular in England, are from the pen of an Australian Mr Stuart Reid, of Eddington Station, near Camperdown. The poem appeared first in Cameron and Laicg's Xmas. supplement of '85. Mr Reid then sent the words home, and McKenzie put them to music so successfully that the song, first sung at ConventGarden, quickly gained popularity. Mr Reid, who is a well-known poet aud writer, must feel proud at knowing his song is to be a prominent feature of tho Exhibition mu<ie. It will be a kind of consolation, for so far he has not gained a penny from it. I mentioned something in a previous

letter about a new arcade to be built running from Collins into Elizabeth-street, I have since heard more about it, and am informed that Mr J. B. Fink, M.L.A. the projector intends making it the most inasrnificent thing of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. The architect entrusted with the building of it has been sent to Europe to procure the latest designs and improvements and decora-

I tions, and has been given carte blanche as regards expenditure. I was talking a few days ago to two capitalists interested in tho venture, and a witty pressman I found in their company. ''Finks Arcade " was tho subject of discussion, and one of the Croesuses was holding forth about it, when my press friend broke in, "Fink's Arcade you call it? Nothing could bo more appropriate." '"How?" said the first speaker, somewhat mystified. " Don't you seo !" answered the other. "Fink's ark aid. That's because he's afloat on a sea of prosperity." Not bad this, considering what passes for a wit now-a-days. I took a trip last Sunday down to Mentone, ono of the prettiest of the marine suburbs round Melbourne. I think it the most picturesque of all our little coast places, and the way it has gone ahead the last twelvemonths is something marvellous. I remember it as a bit of a village with not more than two dozen cottages, now it is a fashionable suburb where a good many of our moneyed men have set up semi-country and semi-marine residences. I see too they have formed (do la manniere Attstralienne) a racing club, and give their first meeting in September. The course is now being laid out, grand-stand being built, and plenty of money being spent. The secretary informed me that the Club intends laying down an electric tramway from the station to the course, which will bo a novelty in

its way. I prophecy a great future for Mentone, as up to the present I only knew it as celebrated for fruit and snakes, aud now find it quite another place. Has it ever struck auy of my readers how misfortune soenis to dog some families aud make them the particular butt of its assaults ? In my experience I have come across several families so afflicted, and on the other hand have known others with whom everything seemed to prosper. As an example of tho former tho Matheson family seems to me to be a striking instance. The lato Mr Matheson during his lifetime was ono of the best known men in Melbourne, and as manager of the Bank of Victoria occupied a prominent position in principal matters. He left a large fortune, but with his doath everything seemed to go wrong with the family. Firstly, Mrs Matheson died, then ono of the sons, then another, and now ono of the daughters. Five of them dead, within a short period—it seems as if somo

fatality has marked them out. One of the Miss Matheson's married Dr. James, the physician, who went home with the

Normanbys and another married Judge Molesworth's son. The immense fortune left by Mr Matheson is thus narrowed down among the few of the family remaining.