An Aucklander In Melbourne.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 7, 9 January 1886, Page 5

An Aucklander In Melbourne.

Tin: following letter from an Aucklander in Molhourno will be read with interest: —"You will Bee from this elaborate heading that I am spending my Christmas in Melbourne - that I am staying at the largest Coffee Palace, and in the very centre of tho metropolis. Theychargelss aweek foraroom, and you get your meals wherever you like, and pay accordingly. It is a very convenient way of living, as you are more independent, nnd know that you are not forcod to attend the meals or lose your monoy. It would be ruther an expensive way of living in the long run, but for a few days or a week it is not worth considering. I have a railway pass to Portland, a fashionable watering placo about 200 miles from Melbourne, but as I have plenty to see about the citj, I contented myself with going to Ballarat, on Thursday Ballarat, the great mining city of Victoria, is a good deal larger than Auckland, and is about 100 miles inland from Melbourne. There are some very fine buildings and stroots. I left Molbourno at G. 30 a.m. on Thursday, breakfasted at Goelong (about 4S miles off), and arrived nt Ballarat at 10.30. Forscenory the great attraction in Ballarat is Lake Wendouroe. This is a lake about a mile across, with a numberof bathing-houses, watermen's boats, and little promenade piers on the city side, and very beautiful botanical gardens on the opposite shore. The usual thing is to cross the lake in a steam launch, but as there was a fresh and favourabe wind, I took a boat (at Is per hour), and, sailing alone in my glory, could almost imagine myself upon the Waitetnata. Tho fernery is the sight in the Botanical Gardens of Ballarat, but, as for some reason, it did not open until one o'clock, I had to content myself with criticising the exterior. The gardens are beautifully kept, and several of the " mining kings" have presented marble statues, and helped in various ways te make the Gardens and Lake Wendouree a popular attraction. I left Ballarat by the afternoon train (4 o'clock), and got back to Melbourne at 8.30, in time to see the city on Christmas Eve. The train was very crowded coming down, and as we slowly passed other trains at the stations, loud cries of sympathising "ba-as" were exchanged by the country folks going to Melbourne and the larrikins from the city bound for the country. Melbourne was well worth seeing on Christmas Eve, and I elbowed my way through markets, arcades, and streets for two or three hours. The city was lit up to perfection, but the decorations were not particularly worth noticing. They have a long distance to bring the tree ferns, &c. Of course the shop windows were as well got up as possible, and I believe there were some very good ice representations of Father Christmas in one of the arcades, but I didn't see them. Bourke street—the main business street —was a very fine sight. The General Post-office, a handsome building, lit up by electricity, all the theatres, Beveral arcades, the "Eastern market," coffee palaces, *,c, are in this street. I looked my old friend up, and he asked me out to Kew tor Christmas Day. So instead of spending the day by myself, and eating my Christmas dinner at a rostaurant, I had a "merry Christmas" after all. The Saturday was Boxing Day, and I determined to follow tho crowd and see the countless thousands amusing thomselves. Trams, 'buses, and waggonettes were going everywhere every minute, and so I took one to the " Zoo." As every animal under the sun seemed to be represented, and as the place was all in perfect order, I concluded that it must be as good a 700. as one could expect to see. The children kept the elephant and camel busy, and numbers of monkeys played " tigue " before an- admiring and appreciative crowd. I was much amused at the way the orang-outangs chased one another about and after seeing them swinging about on ropes and beams, would think nothing of the trapeze performance in a gymnasium. There wa9 a great temperance gala going on, so after a couple of hours at the "Z00.," I took a 'bus (fare always 3d) and went there. It was the nearest approach to an English fair that I could imagine, and all sorts oi games, from "Aunt Sally " to nigger minstrel entortainmonta and dancing saloons, were in full swing. There were about 10,000 people present—all of tho artisan and labouring classes. I rather think that it was not select enough for the tradespeople They did'nt seem to be there. By-the-by, I notice as a sign of the times that tho " Trades Union Cigar" is a favourite brand. This looks like liberty and prosperity, if you like. I soon had enough of the "Temperance Gala," so ns a Grand Oriental Fair was ti be opened in the exhibition buildings by Lady Loch, I went there. No building in New Zealand can be compared to the Melbourne Exhibition The bazaar was held in one of the wings, which must have been three or four times the length of the Choral Hall, wider, and with branch wings going off. Entering, you walked for some distance through an avenue of forn palms, past the various stalls, and stopped at the living chess board. Past the chess board was the platform, where 1,000 (supposed to be)children Bang the National Anthem, etc The Vice-Regal party comprised tho Governor and Lady Loch and a eon of about 14 years of age and two little daughters, Aide-de-Camp (Lord Castlerosse), and one or two others. The latter is a nice looking fellow, of about three and twenty, and has, I suppose, been sent out to marry Borne rich squatter's daughter. Being the future Earl of (somewhere) he is much talked of, and he ia always pointed out when in pnblic. About 100 children went through various figures in Oriental costume, and with shawls of divers colours, which they used for the same purpose as the Auckland children did the ribbons, only in a more elaborate manner. I don't know what they called the "dance," but it was very well done, and must have taken a lot of training. After declaring the Bazaar open, the Vice-P.egal party walked through thecrowdandlooked at the stalls. The Lochs are very popular, and they deserve to be bo. Everything in the way of amusements, so long as it is not a professional affair, is under their patronage. They give their patronage so freely that those who think signing documents is the Governor's chief duty are evidently much mistaken. The chief public men have also to give their patronage to innumerable charitable entertainments, and there is no doubt that the Afolbourne people treat the "poor and afflicted " very liberally. There ia always something going on in aid of hospitals or asylums, and the newspapers daily acknowledge receipt of sums of money left with them for some charitable institution. Ididnt notice whether the "rafflers"got anything out of the Governor's party, but they seemed to have quite an elaborate WaJ of, KettinK UP the raffle. Your name and address were taken down, and you were given a ticket, so that there was no fear of being taken in. The girls' dresses were very pretty, and much tho same (to me) as at our bazaars. The whole thing 01 course was on a larger scale, and I expect that the receipts will be very large. I tried to get into the Pantomime on Saturday night, but there was so large a crowd around the doors before seven that I gave me idea up. It was the same at most of the other theatres. I went to St. Kilda, one of the favourite seaside resorts, on Sunday. I also went to Albert Park, a very favourite suburb, where the chief attraction is a large lagoon, on which there are hundreds of boats and small yachts of all kinds and shapes, Rowine Club sheds, boating houses, and refreshment stalls by the score. A great number of people enjoy themselves upon the Albert Park Lagoon, and on Sundays^the boating seems to be in 101 l swing. Next day there was an intercolonial Cricket Match—New South Wales v. Victoria — going on in the Melbounre Cricket Club's ground. The Cricket Clubs possess grounds of their own, and I was as much impressed j>y the splendid property belonging to the Melbourne Cricket Club as by anything 1 nave Been. The ground is about two miles from the Post-office, circular in shape, and only meant for one " pitch," i c., only ope match can be played upon it at the same time. There is a better grand stand than the chief one at lillerslie for the use of members of the Club and friends only. It ia very nicely finished off. The foundation Stone was laid by the joung princes. The publio grand stand is also ahead of the second Elleralie one, and you are charged 2s for admission. The "flat" is the shilling ground, and of course the resort of the larrikins. Inside the Bpace enclosed for members of the Club there is not only the grand stand, but a pavilion and a lawn well Provided with Seats, so that members and their friends' (they can only procure tickets lor two) are well cared for.' I was surprised to see a cricket club psseessing a valuable Jttor»rty with finer buildings than those of S*e1 Auckland Racing Club; I had no idea, »n fait ,that a cricket club could become so Powerful and wealthy a body. We afterwards went to a French restaurant to tea, where they place a bottle of colonial wine upon the table, give you a stew or hash of some sort, Borne pretty strong cheose_ u and salad, and finally a

ridiculously small cup of very black coffee with a small wineglass of brandy. The whole thing did not strike me as being an improvement upon John Bull's ordinary teas. We went to the Pantomime in the evening and managed to git it out, although the house was crammed, and (in the stalls) the popping of lemonade bottles and sucking of oranges resounded upon all sides. It was the Theatre Royal, the largest theatre, with five parts of the house, including dress-circle, stalls, family circle, gallery, and pit. The scenery was splendid, but it was rather too warm amongst the seething macs to be able to thoroughly appreciate it. They had a clowm, with one or two other performers, from Drury Lane Theatre, and no expense seemed to be spared in getting up the piece. It will probably run for a month or two. I have enjoyed my holiday very much, and hope that you at home have had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. ™3