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New Zealand Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 3443, 26 May 1898, Page 2

The suggestion of |Commissioner Tunbridge that the police force not should be increased has within skouoh the last few- days received police, striking substantiation in this city. On the evening of Queen’s Birthday, when the town was crowded with holiday - makers, and the

necessity for kjfp : ng order was mush more than ordut try, the pel cs force »i beat in the centre of tho city (the Mount Cook and Te Aro men having their own districts tojlttend to) consisted ol four constables and one sergeant. One constable was called upon to keep watch and ward over a heat extending from Lam'yoa quay op Willis street a.vl i.’-ng Minasrs street r > < ih t atreLi, a.-, 1 lb a. .n face of ' i m :.i-k that tho Light b rire j»ir'4»ta : Vied to be sent asiioie from the waivdiips ;to keep the peace among sailors. At the i present time tho polioa force available for I this city is shockingly insufficient. Our j small supply of policemen has beeu re--1 duced by about eight men, since three or j four a") ill, two are absent on duty, j uad throe at. Owing picket duty at I '.(wrer/irneiit House. Consequently the ' p-vo.-o and tho ero'.r-vty of citizens bring | in the heart of the city arc entrusted to the carri- of three or four policemen, who cannot pos-uhly watch the beats they are given. Tho police strength should be greatly increased. It should be large enough to allow for such defections, through sickness and other causes, as now make it almost ludicrously small.

The flying trip through New Zealand which Mr Lely is now con- “ fcTAi.s " eluding so far as Wellington in is concerned is remarkable new for this, that Mr Lely is the Zealand, first European artist of distinction to commence a colonial tour in New Zealand. Several eminent “ stars ” notably Sir Charles and Lady Halid, the Hambourg Brothers, and, more recently, Madame Albani—have recently come to the Antipodes and returned without visiting New Zealand, which is regrettable, since visits by such great artists must have the effect of elevating the standard of public taste, and preventing degeneration. That cities do degenerate in artistic taste there can be no doubt. Twenty years ago Adelaide and Christchurch were considered the two chief musical centres of Australasia. But in his autobiography Sir Charles Halle declares that Adelaide is the least musical city in Australia; and probably nobody would now give precedence to Christchurch over Wellington, Auckland and Dunedin as the city in which celebrated musicians might expect to meet with the warmest welcome. It may be hoped that the reception which has been accorded to Mr Lely and others in the capital and elsewhere will induce Madame Melbaandother artistic celebrities who contemplate an Australasian tour not to omit the chief cities of New Zealand from their itinerary. By including them they may find that “ gate-money ” is not their only reward. Mr Lely will leave Wellington a richer man not only iu pounds sterling than he was when he landed here. He takes with him an artist whose exceptional gifts a few musicians of Wellington were the first to recognise; and -many people in Wellington will watch with lively interest tho progress of the gifted girl who will probably date the commencement of her professional career from the day when a much-travelled manager first heard her perform in the Wellington Opera House.