MELBOURNE GOSSIP.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2596, 2 March 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

MELBOURNE GOSSIP.

(fUOJI Ol'U own cokukstoxiient). Foi;<;v London is a common phrase out here, but what shall we say about our own "Queen City of the South?" At present we arc all in a fog—of a different kind it is true—for we all want to know what will be the Government policy at tho forthcoming elections, and what will he the popular cry of both parties when the great stnmgle takes place. We hear rumors of tho'rotirement of several ministers, but how will their places be filled ? Shall we have a majority on the Constitutional or the Liberal side? Whichever happens, it vill probably bring on the old party lines, and that will necessitate another election before long. The public seems to be getting tired of Coalition Government and grandmotherly legislation, and would rather have representatives who would do some good work for the country than those whose chief aim seems to be to take up measures that more properly belong to local councils, and to snap and snarl at eacli other. A memorial was erected to one Corns, a cyclist, in Bathurst (N.S.W.) lately. On the occasion of uncovering, a distinguished spider, with the appropriate name of Wheeling, remarked :—" Australia has been able to do more in honour of the fastest cyclist who ever crossed a wheel than the country which gave him birth; and it is a painful feature in our cycling life." It is, without doubt, but I was novor so gloomily impressed before with tho idea that a man should have a memorial erected to him because ho could sit ou a hoop with spokes, and make it go quicker than anybody else. From Loudon comes the announcement that Lord William Novill, well-known in tho Melbourhc Government House circle, will shortly bo married to a wealthy heiress, Miss Murietta. Lord William is a younger son of the Marquis of Abergavenny, and a few years ago he shocked his father—who is the most virulent of Protestants —by becoming a Roman Catholic. The outraged parent promptly cut his erring sou off with "the customary Lut insufficient shilling." The young man, very much to hiscredit, immediately set to work ou his own aceonnt and joined a wine merchant's business, in which he has prospered bo well unit tho firm nu.v trades under the namo of Hatch and Nevill. Lord William, besides being- a consummate judge of the commodity ho soils, is ono of tho best-looking and best dressed young men in London, Tho Muriottas arc a family of Spanish merchants, and Mr Murietta, with whom the Prince of Walts is staying, was lately ennobled under the titlo of Marquis of Sanlurco Ho has bought Lord Granville's great house iu Carlton House ■terrace, London. Mo has no son and his daughter and heiress is to be Lady William Nevill.

Mr William Dawson lost some money at a restaurant lately, and got the thieves arrested. That is all very well, hut he was the means of throwing a slur upon our financial institutions which, if reported iu Loudon, would very seriously affect our next ban. Mr Dawson, it seems, had a curious methodical habit of observing the pound-uutes that came iuto his hands in order to identify them afterwards. One of those i.lok'll from hiin " heidentilied by ;i peculiar splash of ink on the manger's signature." '• It was evidently," Mr Call admitted, " one which the manager had written about Christmas timo." This is very rough, but who was the manager? Also have no police magistrates given curious sentences at "Christmas time?"

Those who may bo called tlio servants of thu public aro generally found uncivil and licyliyotifc in proportion as they believe tboy arc important. It was not until tbo present railway commissioners were appointed that tbo demeanour of the railway officials became at all bearable. It was" not until tlie introduction of the 'busses that cabmen could be brought to their senses under any circumstances whatever, and in tbo same way the employes of the Tramway Company are beginning to show such an utrter disregard for the safety and convenience of the public that not until a substitute is threatened for tho present, magnificent system which monopolises our thoroughfares, shall the lives and limbs of Her Majesty's subjects be considered at all secure. To quote an instance. A gentleman tho other night left Collins-street on his way north, and arriving at his destination, which was not far distant, he gave tho signal to stop, but before he could possibly alight tbo second signal to go on was given, with the result that he was thrown violently into the dust, and allowed to pick himself up as best he could and make his way home. Having some knowledge of the difficulties of proving cases, and not caring to make an exhibition of himself by instituting a law suit, he thought the best thing lie could do was say no more about it. The tram car proceeded until it arrived at Brunswick-street, when a somewhat portly and elderly lady endeavoured to alight. She was not (|iiite so fortunate as tin; ether individual. By the same neglect or inattention on the part of the conductor the poor woman was left lying helpless on the track, and although she providentially escaped with her life, she had to be carried away to thu hospital in what was certainly a moribund condition. Surely if this sort of thing is to be allowed by those who have the supervision of the tramway management, it is time that Parliament •stepped in in the interests of the travelling public, and insisted that the companv should at least have some respect for the lived of those for whom they eater.