An Aucklander in Melbourne.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 139, 13 June 1891, Page 3 (Supplement)

An Aucklander in Melbourne.

(By Waitemata.)

No. IV. Reception of Sir George Grey. Since my lasb notes the little but everincreasing colony of New Zealanders here has been thrown into unwonted prominence by the steps they took to welcome their Grand Old Man. I was down at bhe Station when the Sydney express arrived. Mr James Munro reburned ab the ■-same time, and the contrast in the reception : -of these two men fresh from the conclave X>i statesmen was indeed striking. It aeemed as though the Victorian statesman \ras deserted, groped around alone, while •the little band of New Zealanders who awaited Sir George attracted everyone who happened to be on the piatiorm to wibD ess their reception of New Zealand's delegate to the Federation Conference. The consequence was that when the Maorilanders cheered, their enthusiasm carried away the Victorians and th 9 welcome accorded Sir George was «' federated " and hearty. The old genbleman look very pleased. He went to the Grand Hotel ab noon, and afber overland journey, and recepbion ab bhe station, sat chatting with callers, was interviewed, and addressed a meeting of New Zealanders, all before six o'clock on bhe day of his arrival. Prebby good bhat. By the way, I musb tell you as an outcome of Sir George Grey's visit to Melbourne, a New Zealand Associabion will be formed to afford a means of re-union and social intercourse to New Zealanders here. I pub my head in ab bhe meeting held the other nighb when on my way to the theatre, and saw Borne well-known in Auckland, notably Dr. Leger Erson, Messrs Ed. Lowis, Cunningham, Brown (son of " Snider "), F. Vaile, and others. Dulness in Business. If any young fellows are contemplating coming over hero, I would give them Punch's advice, " Don't." Things are very dull, and a bad winter is expected. Quito a number are turning longing eyea to New Zealand. Sitting in the reading-room at ihe Public Library bhe other day, I was astonished at the number of people who came to the window and asked for New Zealand papers. I asked the attendant if ib was usual, and if all bhese were people from New Zealand who wanted to keep in touch with the place. He said he had a great number of inquiriers for New Zealand papers, nob wholly from ex-residenbs, but from those artisans who move round to whatever colony offers mosb inducement to work in, and thab jusb now New Zealand seemed in favour. Sir George Grey alluded bo bhe coming prosperiby of New Zealand in his speech here. I nearly forgob bo tell you bhab he addresses a Vicborian audience on bhe single tax on his return from Adelaide in a day or two, his health permitting. I heard that Henry George delivered a very telling address on the same subject when he was here. The vast audience rose as a man and cheered him, and ono would have thoughb would have foughb hard bo carry Oub bhe speaker's teaching ; bub alas ! nob so, when lie wenb we heard little or nothing more of the matter. Now, the New Zealand veteran will no doubb raise their enthusiasm on the subject for a night.' Leb bhis suffice for polibics. An Epidemic of Murder. You will have heard bhab bhere has been quibe an unprecedenbed number of murders here bhis year. In facb, the Monday morning executions have provided diversion for people of the class given to congregate round the gaol while the terrible affair is proceeding, and then gloat on the question of details in the evening journals. I had kept clear of this " up at ten and down at eleven business," when it was forced upon me in an unexpected way. Mr Phil. Stewart, the genial manager of the Waxworks Museum, etc., sent me an invitation for a matinee he gave to the members of the theabrical and musical professions, and good-naburedly took me " behind bhe scenes" inbo the room where the figures are made. There I saw a cast of Fabba Chaud's head in plaster of Paris, wibh bhe blood all around bhe neck of bhe cast. Then he showed me the wax head, in the rough, of the Hindoo, and a remarkably fine head it is, quite wanting, so the modeller said, in the usual characteristic of tbe murderer's head, no destructiveness developed. Wilson, who, you will remember, murdered his sweetheart, was finished, bub kepb in bhe back room oub of deference bo the wishes of his parents. Poor young fellow ! —his mother and Bister have both lost their reason since his crime, and there is no doubb he was not responsible for his deeds. Ib will no doubb be news bo some of your readers if I bell them, while on bhe subjecb, bhab bhe under lip of all those who have been banged ia considerably drawn in, while the upper lip is much puffed and protrudes. This is caused by the hanging, and in looking at the wax figures evon one can imagine whab they suffer. The rush of blood to the head puffs the flesh over the eyes and the upper lip. Johnston, who killed his wife and children, has refused to allow a cast to be taken of him. Now to leave the horrors.

I might say in passing that the matinee to " the profession " was to enable it to see the performance of "Jack," the fighting kangaroo, a really funny sighb. "Jack" boxes his keeper and parries bhe blows and keeps his head oub of bhe road in such a comical way that the " pros " were shouting bravo all round. Ib is difficulb to get him into bhe gloves, bub when he is in he uses bhem. Government House. The Counbess of Hopetoun will soon be here again. In her absence her sister, the Hon. Mrs Acland Hood, has done the honours of Governmenb House. I wenb to a largo garden party thore on Thursday, which passed off most successfully, and in the evening atbended a brillianb ball given in aid of the creche funds and opened by His Excellency. The Town Hall. This reminds me to give a little description of the Town Hall, where this and the great balls are held. Ib is a grand building ; a fine hall for dancing, wibhbalcony running round, a large organ in ib, and a platform that is moveable, so thab ib can be run back and decorabed and a dais erecbed in ibs place. When bhe hall is decorabed and lib wibh elecbric lighb and thronged it is a really pretty sight. Supper is served in the Committee-room, and other rooms are used as drawing-rooms, the corridors make promenades, and the spacious cloakrooms are always in charge of obliging attendants. So everything is ab hand to give a ball on an extensive scale with comfort in the Town Hall. Theatrical. In- the theatrical world bhe advenb of Bernhardb is bhe evenb of greabe.b inberesb folks here are looking forward bo. The much-talked-of Evangeline Company brought by Jimmy McMahon from America is simply panbomine. nobhing more. Socially, bhe season promises to be very brilliant. All bhe wealthy people leave Melbourne to escape the hot weather, though the summer has been exceedingly mild. Now they are back and many fixtures are made already. Williamson, Garner and Co., I hear, intend to devote themselves entirely to the management of the Princess Theatre. I went up the other night when a theatre party—which form of amusemenb is becoming very popular here—were in possession of the amphitheatre and making things lively. I should mention that the bank clerks, public aervice. and other i» -*»«

occupation rent a portion of the bheabre ab a fixed sum, make up parbies of 1,000 or 1,200 abrong ab a reduced rabe, and all over expenses goes to club funds. When one of these parties favours a place of amusement, bhere is generally a full house in the other parts, aa the clubs occupy tho intervals by a display of their members' vocal powers, and sing popular airs in chorus. As the bheatre is gaily decorated with flags and their own particular mottoes, banners, ebc, a bheabre parby 1,000 strong, benb on making a nighb of ib, afford bhe resb of the house no little amusement.