MELBOURNE GOSSIP.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2698, 26 October 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

MELBOURNE GOSSIP.

[from oun own correspondent]. The Melbourne police seem to be invested with powers which would be considered arbitrary, as they would certainly be unconstitutional, in London. Not long ago a policeman locked up a respectable looking man who had the temerity to " ask for his number ;" and only last week a respectable middle-aged man was " charged" at the City Court with the heinous crime of " being an unwilling witness." No wonder that several persons who heard the charge expressed surprise that any person should bo liable to be arrested, without a warrant, and brought up in custody simply on account of unwillingness to give evidence iu any case. Judges and magistrates are very properly invested with certain powers iu respect of refractory But discretionary powers of "arrest," without any sort of warrant, are not usually given to policemen in well ordered countries. Inspector Thomas asked for the •' discharge" of the man in question, as he was wanted as •witness in a case, and was then "willing to give evidence." Ono would think he was. A tasto of the "cells" hnd unsealed his lips, and no wonder. The question is—how had Inspector Thomas corao to conclude the man amongst his usually interesting clients? Such nn incident would have created little or no eurprise in St. Petersburg or Moscow. But, then, Melbourno is not St. Petersburg, or Moscow. The Government in thesa cities is almost intolerably despotic ; the government of Melbonrne is almost unnecessarily democratic. And the only explanation I can find why it is possible for similarly unpleasant incidents to occur in both is that— extremes weet.

It seems that wo are not to have a Sunday newspaper. It is, perhaps, as well that it should be so. There will bo one Sunday nuisance tho loss, A pack of noisy news boys, screaming out the sensational contents of a newspaper, specially compiled for the delectation of the class ■who would patronise such a sheet, would naither iuerease the attractions of Melbourne thoroughfares, nor improve the minds of the readers. At tho same time it is doubtful whether over-legislation for Sabbath observanue either improves the morals of a people or increases their religious aspirations. There is a very old Book, in which is contained the sayings of the greatest religious teachers that ever lived, from which some useful lessons upon this point may be learned. There is something said there about ■vvhited sepulchres, which is applicable to the inhabitants of Melbourne to-day as it was to the people spoken to nearly two thousand years ago. However, if people think the better of us because we prohibit the sale of newspapers, tobacco, cigars, beer and spirite on Sunday, whilo we legalise the sale of fruits, pastry, lollies, "summer drinks" and similar notions well and good. Though, to the thinking of plaiu people, it is not easy, on religious grounds, to discover the difference. A man who has forgotten to replenish his tobacco pouch on Saturday must go without his pipe until Monday morning ; and snickers best know how much the deprivation will help forward his religious devotions on Sunday, especially when he meets crowds of people regaling themselves with oranges, &c, which they may purchase on their way from church.

The time is rapidly approaching, if it has not already arrived, when orderly citizens who may be suspected of carrying money about thorn, will have to go about their ordinary businoes armed with revolvers. Not only that, they should be empowered to shoot whomsoever molests them. If the law is poweiless to protect the ordinary taxpayer, the least it can do is to authorise tho said taxpayer to protect himself as best he may. It is not so very long ago that a young man was robbed of nearly £200 in broad daylight, in sisrlit of several persons, in a thoroughfare in Carlton. And last Saturday a pay-clerk, carrying £175 12*, was set upon nnd robbed at midday, in a public place at Richmond. In both cases the thieves made their escape by means of a horse and bugsry, which they hud conveniently ready. In the Carlton case the highway robbers wore subsequently captured. Let us hope that justice will speedily overtake tho perpetrator* of this last robbery. Bur, in the meantime, what are we coming to '! We are apt to wonder at the fcnta ol Claude Duval, Dick Turpin, the fuotpad* of JJbrkliyjth, I'addington and elsewhere. Hut things, are nearly as bad in Melbourne to-day" as timy wore in London a luindivd years ago. There is hardly an hour passes thai does not witiu'ss a robbery of some so: I in one or other of the suburbs. These have become 80 common that h.irdly one case in ten gets into tho newspapers. It is not too much to say that lawlessness is rampart throughout (he Metropolitan area?, and that the authorities are powerless to grapple with it. As for these daylight robberies of large sums from pay-clerks and others who have to move about with large sums of money, those who are so employed will have to go about armed ; and even then it will not be quite safe to

go alone. Fuller particulars just received by the mail reveal what was only suspected before, namely, that comparatively few of the peoplf; who have been out on strike in London are really dock labourers. The bulk of tho nuinluT was made up of coal porter.", cannon, seed crushers, chemical, copper arc, and phnsphato workers, tailors, tailoix'sses, and many others who have no irrievnneo to complain (if. Thpy threw away tin if tread and Luttsr out of sympathy with the dockers. These facts may perhaps to sorno extent explain tho reason why Mr John Burns has over £10,000 i.f Victoiiau money in his hand", which ho hardly knows what to do with. Tho final representations of " The Silver Fall*," an excellent drama of its kind, will bo given at the Theul.re Royal next Friday evening, and on the following night "Human Nature" will bo revived. The powerful combination cast of London and Australian artistes, combined with the completeness of the mounting of the piece, have resulted in success, and doubtless the theatre will be very largely patronised during the final performances. " A Doll's House " was presented for the last time at the Princess' Theatre on Friday, and on Saturday night Miss Achurch appeared as Mercy Merrick, in " The New Magdalen." Mr Chas. Charrington taking the part of tho Rev, Julian Gray. TSoth artistes acted splendidly, and as their performances were moro in touch with the audience than the character representations assumed by them in " A Doll's House " it is safe to predict a successful run for "The New Magdalen."

Mr George Miln, who has ventured upon a twelve months' lease of the Opera House, is doing a good business in Othello, and in the character of the Moor, he ia ably supported by Miss Jordon aa Desdemona. His intensity of acting in the third and fourth acts commands the closest attention of tho audience, and the effect which ho prodnces in the death scene stamps him as an actor of great power. On Saturday night there was a change in the cist, Mr Miln appearing as lago, and Mr W. H. Leuko taking the purt of Othello. Mr Leiiko as was expected from a previous knowledge of him, gave an even performance of the Moor, mid Mr Miln placed before tho audience further evidence of his scholarly reading of Shakspore's creations. Othello, which is splendidly placed upon tho stngo, will probably run for a couplo of weeks longer.