AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 31, 5 August 1925, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

SYDNEY'S BIRTHDAY HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED (niOlf OUR -OWN CORREJPONMHT.) SYDNEY, 30th July. Sydney aa a city celebrated its 83rd birthday a few days ago. The word "celebrated" is perhaps hardly correct, for the occasion was unhonoured and unsung. Sydney is, of course, the oldest city in Australia, thoueh not the first place to be proclaimed a city. That honour actually belongs to Adelaide, which, by the passage of legislation, was declared a city two years earlier. Ordinarily, Sydney would probably have made a bit of a fuss about its ciyio birthday, but it was so occupied with preparations for the American fleet that it overlooked the occasion, which was recalled by one of tfce daily papers. Under the Act under which the town of Sydney was declared a city the right to become a citizen was given to every male of 21 years who occupied a house, warehouse, counting house, or shop of the annual value of £25 for one year prior to the passing of the Act, and who lived in the city or within seven miles of it. Now every owner of property, tenant, and lodger has a vote. Before the establishment of local government, three police officers were charged with the control and conduct of Sydney's minor affairs. Times, indeed, have changed. Looking back over the long past, one thinks also of the fact that it was onfy under the stimulus of much pu,blic agitation that Sydney Cove was transformed to the present busy Circular quay. Governor King, incidentally, in an order issued in 1803, informed the inhabitants very plainly that they were expected to cart material to fill up the wharf on the eastern side of the cove. The authorities had another way, too, of getting cheap labour. "All persons,", stated an order issued in 1806, "loitering about ( the wharves will be put to hard labour for the rest of the day." If that order operated to-day about the wharves and Circular quay there would be almost inexhaustible supply of cheap hard labour. TENNIS AT 82 Old age is not always a'regret. John Corrin, of Tenterfield, in the northern highlands of New South Wales, whose youthful activities have just been proclaimed to the world, is to-day, at - the age of 82 years, still an active tennis player, and can, it is stated, hold his own with most of the players in the town. One of the early residents of the district, and now a retired farmer, Mr. Corrin walks a mile every bright day to the local public courts, and plays untiringly throughout the afternoon. He has hobbies in literature and his garden, and is a big prize-winner each year at the local show with his vegetables and flowers. CLERGYMAN AS PLAYWRIGHT Amid tho dry labyrinths of theology, the Rev. L. T. M. Hamilton, curate of St. Mary's Church of England, Waverley, has found novel relaxation. He has become a playwright. He has not produced heavy drama, pointing a moral, as might have been expected, but he has, in his flight of. fancy, staged, before a large audience, a three-act musical comedy, entitled "Guilty or Not." The piece is unique in that of the nine characters in the cast eight aro males. The comedy, which is brightened with songs and choruses, is not likely to appeal to Scotsmen who are a bit touchy, for the leading figure, played by the author, is Sandy Mack, with the reputation of being the "meanest man on earth." The scene centres round- the adventures and escapades of Sandy Mack with regard to the purchase by him of a newlyinvented wireless apparatus. From all accounts the curate of St. Mary's has scored something of a triumph with his comedy.