MELBOURNE TOWN TALK.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 180, 9 August 1888, Page 1

MELBOURNE TOWN TALK.

(from oub own correspondent.')

Exhibition v. London gaiety co.— and the Gaiety wins, as horsey men say—“in a common canter.” Why I draw the parallel is because seats to both places were thrown open last week, and whereas there was a rush almost unprecedented as regards the burlesque, things went off much more quietly in regard to booking seats for the Exhibition. The Gaiety rush was caused by the change of piece, “ Monte Christo Jr.,” being replaced by “ Miss Esmeralde. ” A friend who was present at the battle of the seats described it to me as being “ simply disgraceful, ” the scrambling and pushing was so severe that actually women fainted, and limp and clinging bad to be dragged out of the crush. It is almost incredible that such things should take place, but I can assure my readers the facts are true. Strong men jostled the few ladies who ventured there; hats were crushed, coat-sleeves torn, bonnets destroyed, and dresses nearly dragged off the wearers' backs. The men smashed the brass rails and woodwork in front of the ticket-office, and broke the chairs in their endeavors to reach over the crowd in front. Such a scene has never been witnessed in Melbourne before, and in all senses of the word it was truly disgraceful.

The sale of the Exhibition seats on the contrary went off quietly enough. There was no rush, and hardly any excitement over the matter. Still the seats went off, and the management declares itself well content. There is a feeling of disappointment in the public mind with regard to the opening day, which I think has had some effect in interfering with the sale of the seats. The fearful condition of unpreparedness is the principal thing. People object to spend a guinea unless they set & quid pro quo, and resent their being called upon to pay so heavily for a betise. By-the-way, the model dairy there has been talked about so much it has become rather a joke among the frequenters of the building. They have paintei) itjeky-blue—and this has been laughingly taken as a sign and a token. It was a witty M. P. who first ‘Good heavens, he exclaimed in mock dismay, referring to its color, “(never for a moment Jggamed it was milk of that kmfi Q ’lo got, out of a model dairy.”

AproMi of the Exhibition I might as well teD a Altpry, which comes to. me throng'd -a (tUird party. There is a well-knows musician here. Signor Alberto Zelman, who has lived in Melbourne any number of y e^ au ” ’• conductor and lender ot the .Lord knows how many musical societies. He is as well-known a figure as any in town, but nobody every suspected 1 him of being a wft W° re _- However, it would seem that 10, wa « t. alking to Mr Curtis, the «BCtetary ot th e Athenanim, and happe mark that Mr F. Cowen had ' iroU fl B i s b out with him enough music to * 7 somevhing fresh every week for years instead of six months. “He has brought out among other things,” added Six’ nor Zelman, “ all the orchestral parts of Mozart’s Requiem." Mr Curtis expressed surprise at this, and remarked “ surely they won’t give the Requiem at the Exhibition “ Oh, yes they will,” answered Zelham patly, “For the benefit of the dead-heads, you know.”

And now I come to think of it, this is not the first time Signor Zelman has acted the humorist The big musicshops in Collins street are the centres around which all the musicians of the city circulate, and any day one can see detached groups of them standing at the doors or in the shops. “ Allan's” is one of the best known, and a favorite haunt of the craft. So much so indeed, that Mr Allan had to issue orders that no one should be allowed to smoke inside the sacred precincts of his establishment —musicians as a rule indulging in unlimited cigarettes. He had a' notice to that effect put up, and lay in ?' a > t or transgressors. Now the first one happened to walk in was Mr Zelman, cigarette in mouth He is a little man, always untidy and not over clean in ap,' ,ea , ranoo - " man, don’t you see notice ? thundered Allan angrily, nointmg to the placard. “ You see tlia* 1 ’ Gentlemen are requested i/otto smoke in the shop ; but you seem to ' ;alie n 0 notice of it.” “ Gentlemans 1 uea ted —not smoke,” repeated little , <C | with his foreign drawl. “Ah ‘ ) Ut then”—sudden relief dawning over' “ 18 face—“ You know lam no gent. 43 ’' mans.”

Elictbicity is now fairly in the field in Melbourne ns a competitor against gas for street lighting purposes. Many of the suburbs at present have under consideration proposals for the light, ing of their streets by the new agent, and already electric companies are in active competition for the contracts. A public exhibition of an underground electric-lighting company took place on Friday evening. Russell-street was the scene of operations, and I can testify from personal observation, that the trial was thoroughly successful. I prophecy that, within six or twelve months. Melbourne streets will be lighted one and all by electricity. It was tried some three years ago in Eliza-beth-street but was a failure ; but of course since then electric-lighting has made vast strides. The gas is so bad in Melbourne, we shall all welcome the change. The Metropolitan Gas Co., which has the monopoly, seetns to do what it likes both as "to quality and price, and of course every householder is its sworn foe, and would be glad to see it dealt a lethal blow—l among the number. ■