MELBOURNE GOSSIP.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2608, 30 March 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

MELBOURNE GOSSIP.

(from oor own correspondent). Amonu the many issues which aro to be fought at the forthcomiug gener il election is that put forward by an organisation calling itself tho Home Protection Party. The name has rather a catching sound, aud might mean many things; but I understand the members of the body are bauded together for one clearly delined and absolute purpose—tho total and u< ter extermination of the liquor traffic' in Victoria. The object, doubtless, is a very worthy one, but any person of common S'use knows that the total and utter extermiuation of the liquor traffic is outside the bounds of possibility. The Home Protection Party has of course no very great following, at least, so far as active and energetic workers are concerned, and is only kept together by a few extremists, who have not the faculty of understanding that they are embarked on a hopeless mission Tβ think of utterly exterminating the liquor troffic is just as reasonable perhaps as seeking to change human nature, aud if the leaders of the movement—whom I honestly believe are guided in their agitation more from a proclivity for stump orations than anything else—would only see that great reformations are brought abont by reasonable and friendly concessions, they would not endeavour to embarass aud involve the present political position by their ridiculous and useless whimsicalities. In connection with the subject I think I cannot do better than quote the following : — "Don't think that a man, who's a total abIs therefore as good as a saint—to be plainer, Don't be sure that a chap who'll not drink, smoke, or marry, May not all the same be in league with Old Harry. He comes from tho Western District, and represents a constituency with which he can do as he pleases. As a supporter of the Coalition Government he has been consistent; not that he believes very much in the pack, but that he is too lazy and easy-going to engage in any unpleasant opposition. But for all that ho has talents, if he would only wake up and take a serious view of things. The other day, whilst leaving the House of Parliament, he was addressed by two strange ladies, who, thinking him an attendant, asked him to show them over the place. He politoly led the way, duly pointing out the objects of interest Finally one of the ladits handed to their conductor a sixpence, which the hon. member toik with a- low bow, and afterwards hung upon his watch chain, declaring it was the only sixpence which he could tafely say he had honestly earned. The ranks of the Melbourne press, in the demise of Mr Htrry Keiley, hare lost an able writer, a most discriminating musical critic, who h is led and fostered musical taste in this city for upwards of twenty years, and a thorough gentleman. He had a simple, kind and trusting nature, and a heart which was bigger and more burdened with generosity than a rich and fruitful vine. His pen was never dipped in gall, and his words were always those of assistance ami encouragement. As a graceful and facile writer, of superb and eloquent English, his contributions to the Argus, were ever such an one could read with exquisite pleasure. He died at the age of 57, and I believe ho first exhibited his musical capacity in this colony, by performing on the concertina to the delight of the diggers at Pleasant Creek. The Titnes-Parnell enquiry is still dragging , its slow length along—to uso a much hackneyed expression, but its proceedings during the last few days have been enlivened by the sensational evidence given by a man named Piygott, who supplied the Times with tho incriminating letters attributed to Mr Parnell. The headings over tho cable intelligence on this subjoot speak of sensational disclosures—but for "disclosures" I should be iiiolined to substitute the word " fabrications " or something stronger. The witness who is making these sensational statements, is upon his own showing a traitor, a spy aud a person whose word cannot under any oircumstanoes be relied upon. Does any one believe for a moment that there ever wa< a plot on foot to murder the Prince of Wales and Mr Gladstone, or that if there was, which is extremely unlikely, Mr Paruell knew auythingr about it. And again, Piggotl's statements that Mr Lahouohere, M. P., offered him £1000 to swear that he forged the letters must be a simple tissue of falsehood. The Ago correspondent may well say that the Times case has completely collapsed, for if Piggott is a sample of the witnesses by which it hopes to justify its action, it might just as well withdraw from tbe proceedings with the best grace possible. The principal object of the enquiry was to decide upon the genuineness or otherwise of tho letters attributed to Mr Parnell, but so far the Times has not brought forward any evidence in that direction worthy a moment's consideration. Many of my readers are doubtless aware that most of the great attractions at the forthcoming , Paris Exhibition will be the immense tower—l fear to say how many feet high, designed by M. Eiffel, and called the Eiffel tower. The tower of Babel is, in fact, to bo nothing to it. It seome, however, that tho structure, now some 250 metres high, was recently in danger of falling, and tho intelligence created intense excitement, ia the French capital. People from all parts of the city flocked to tho locality, examining the huge iron structure; and after looking at it with plumb-liii"s held between it and their eyes, came to the conclusion that it did not stand straight. Such commotion ensued that it became necessary to havo tho condition of the edifice officially vouched for. Tbo engineers of the Exhibition consequently met those of M. Eiffel, and proceeded with great care to examine the structure with their theodolities from every point of view. Thoir verdict was that it leaned neither to the risht or to the left, but stood perfectly straight. This was of course reassuring for those who lived near tho Champ de M.irs, but it is doubted whether the additional announcement that precautions had been takon to put the tower straight, if ever it did show an inclination to lean over, ie equally so. MrT. P. CaulrJeld, the "Boy Politician," who -,vas once among us in Melbourne, has left us to (ling the lustre of his genius over the Parliamentary life of New South Wales, was defeated ut the election held lately for the constituency he had previously represented. He now says bitterly that " Parliamentary life is a dog's life," According to this we assume the " Boy Politician :, recognises the fact that he has bad his day. Mr Canltield has, in the gall of his bitterness, strangely enough given voice to the views of most respectable citizens concerning a Parliamentary career—in New South Wales, at any rate, though we have uo great cause for throwing stones out of our own glass Houses of Parliament. Edward Ruffian, described by the local paper as "an apparently respectable man," got three months at the Geeloiiij Police Court last week, tie tiviilently knew better than anyone could tell him how to live up—or down—to his name. Ono of the principal mnisations of tho past week has buijn the Butler trial which lasted until latu on Saturday, when the jury brought in a verdict of guilty. Such an oxpofio of tho criminally lax management of a government department has raroly bunn brought before tho public, and if somo radical changes are not made, and that shortly too, in the administration of this branch of tho government service, there is but little doubt that tho electors will express their sentiments pretty freely at tho forthcoming elections. I road in one of my English fdes that confectioners havo been making knivoi of eugar and calling them Jack the Kippers. Surely this is something infamous, and ought to oall for the immodiato intervention of tho authorities. Tho men who do this sort of thing must certainly bo at their wits' end for nuw devices. The indecency and coarao obliquity of this

method of pushing trade amongst children nun hardly be too strongly condemned. Evils enough have been traced to the Whitechapol murders, and to spread a knowledge of them among: children canuot be productivo of anything , but harm A lad of 14 was recently tried ut Sunderland (England) for stubbing another lad to the heart, and it is as likely as not that the crime was influenced by the reading or hearing of those atrocities.