MELBOURNE GOSSIP.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2592, 21 February 1889, Page 2

MELBOURNE GOSSIP.

(FROM Oil! OWN COItUKSI'ONDIiN r).

Tnrc scene in the Exhibition Building just now is a very busy and bustling one, and (jiiite as animated as that which was to lie seen during the week preceding the opening of the great show. The plaec is filled with workmen taking down exhibits and packing them for removal, whilst exhibitors are doing their best to dispose of their goods, and large numbers of the public wander through the various courts seeking to pick up bargains. It is with Inhibitions very much as with Kings. The Melbourne Exhibition is dead, live the Paris Exhibition. Our International Exposition is already forgotten, and the talk now is of France. Victoria, it is greatly feared, will be but indifferently represented there. The allotment of space debars the colony from making a splash, and all that we eau hope to do in the limited area assigned to our commissioners. is to give an exhibition of our natural products. This, however, is but a poor satisfaction to Victorian manufacturers who were prepared to be well represented, had they been permitted the opportunity. The next thing in the way of exhibitions after Paris will, I understand, be a complete novelty. It is stated that a German Association has resolved to initiate a " floating Exhibition." This will certainly be the "newest idea" in that line. An immense vessel, quite a Great Eastern in its dimensions, is to be built on a plan adapted to the object in view ami arranged after the most approved exhibition patterns, with accommodation for a large number of permanent visitors, or passengers. The concern is then to be taken a tour of the world, coming to anchor at suitable stations for a week or a month, as the occasion may demand. A large income is expected to bo derived from exhibitors, passengers and visitors. Whether the exhibition is to include a switchback railway, a fairy fountain and a captive balloon is not yet given out.

Picnics just now are the order of tho day, and the various trades at tho present season are holding their annual.re unions at the several popular places of r.-sort around the shores of Port Phillip Bay. Last week the grocer's turn came round, the shops in the city and suburbs weic all closed, and a very large ga;hiring was the result. George, who is thinking of starting for himself shortly, was there of course, and so was Julia—his employer's very practical daughter. They wandered along hy Lho :,„id sea waves, she drawing half-pounds of cliccsc on the sand with her parasol, ami ho gnxing ever and anon across the briny waves, with a sort of— shall 1 wrap them all up in ono parcel ?— kind of expression. Proje.itly lies-topped, and taking her hand as he would grasp the scoop in the sugar bin, said, " Julia, in the trust book of your affections could you enter niy name ?" "My own,' returned she, "I have a sardine-packed desire to serve at your side behind the counter of bliss, Then it is settled 5 am},

let us soap that the honey of our love will never treacle from the cask of attachinent.'' "Never fear, (lenitst, the currant of our existence shall never be turned aside by the mustard of disregard. " Oh, the sugar of those words, be cried, " neither the vinegar of discontent, the bait of ill-temper, or the pepper of a gos sip's tongue, shall now; part us. Julia, come ond repose that ginger head upon this shoulder." And she went. Tu the average reader the special organs of the various religious denommatioitd mav not, perhaps, be attractive in the seme" of containing much m .crusting lea ling matter. This i.lw, if it ■'•'■onld exist, is, however, a very erroneous one. I can read my Wesleyan Spectator or my Church of Lngland Messenger with a "<reat amount of satisfaction and pleasure —as much sometimes, in lact, as I can get out of the. pages of London I'mich. lor instance, in the last number of one of these periodicals, 1 came upon the following delicious passage : " liishcp Crowther, tlio black liis=lioj> of ihc Niger, was as welcome a guest as any among the bishops who attended the Lambeth Conference. At the bouse of the Bishop of Dover, at Canterbury, he was entertained with honour; and there was no suggestion of incongruity in bis being there. The form of address seemed just as appropriate to him as to any of the ' .-uthreu of the episcopate. At the Lord Mayor's banquet ' n Loudon lie was received iriifami The italics are my own. Now, _is there not something very priggish about this precious piece of writing.' Why should there be anything strange in tlie fact of .Bishop Crowthcr, notwithstanding his colour, being a welcome iu'est at the conference, or recci\ ed at the Lord Mayor's table without condescension ? The Lambeth Conference, the Mayoral banquet, anil the Lishop of Dover's house are very pleasant tilings, 110 doubt; but they are all ou the le.id to heaven, whither I'.ishop Crowthcr, in common with his white brethren, is travelling. Is it to be supposed that when In reaches the (.olden Gates there will be anything incongrous in his being allowed to enter the KU rual City ? or is there reason for surmise that around the Throne he may be received in'l, nnih --- a-, > Good gracious ! _ what an exalted personage a white bishop must think himself. I observe that it takes less policemen in proportion to the population to maintain peace in Melbourne, than it docs in any other capital city iu the colonies. Is this because of our superior virtue, or the superior of our policemen, or that we are satisfied with an inferior quality of peace ? Perhaps it is lor none of these reasons. Perhaps the truth_ is that the quality of liquor sold is fit a more stupefying and disabling kind than the iiei'ee and maddening liquor sold elsewhere — lJi'isbatie for instance.