PASSING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1891, 1 May 1890, Page 21

PASSING NOTES.

From the point of view of this column the proceedings of the Anglican Synod at Wellington must be set down as disappointing. There were all the materials of a first class ecclesiastical row. Theclaim of bishop No. 1 had been jumped by bishop No. 2 ; whereupon bishops Nos. 3, 4, and 5, attended by their chief fighting men, clerical and lay, met by appointment the spoiler and the spoiled, similarly attended, at Wellington, in the intention, as was fondly hoped, of submitting the question to the ordeal of battle. An ecclesiastical fight may not be edifying, but it is generally accusing; — alas, in this case the fight- did not come off! Nothing at all seems to have happened but a ballot, peacefully transacted in half-an-hour — a ballot preceded and followed by two or three prosy speeches. And yet, according to the Synod correspondent of the Lyttelton Times, everybody was secretly ready for a fray and " loaded to the muzzle." I suppose their powder must have been damp, for anyhow not a shot was fired. The primacy campaign, in short, on both sides seems to have resembled very closely the military evolutions of the King of France, who — With twice ten thousand men, Marched up the hill, and then — marched down again. Neverthless, although from the Passing-Note point of view a fizzle, the Synod, I suppose, has in reality done its work. The Bishop of Nelson, who, like somebody mentioned in Holy Writ, "loveth to have the pre-eminence" and, to get it, jumped the claim of his episcopal brother of Wellington, is put down a peg. So far well. It is to be hoped that he was also cast in costs, or, in other words, made to pay the Synod's travelling expenses. Of sketchy writers from Australia who this year have discovered New Zealand — producers of "Notes," "Diaries," "Impressions " — the number is large ; thanks to our Exhibition. Their estimates of this country and its inhabitants, it is satisfactory to observe, is generally favourable. Our mountains are tall, our lakes deep, our friths and sounds romantic ; we live in towna that possess a reasonable amount of substantiality, with the due proportion of hotels, town halls, and churches. Altogether, the Australian visitor approves of us, and pats us on the back with a word of praise for everything in which we have ad-

vanced beyond the civilisation of the Digger Indian. Of course, there are features which invite adverse criticism, and one of these, as I learn from a writer in the Melbourne Daily Telegraph, is the absurd ambition of the Dunedin people in attempting to convert into a harbour the malodorous ditch that connects their town with Port Chalmers. The writer is very severe on the Dunedin Harbour Board, who, he thinks, are spending their money in a fruitless contest with^ Nature. But this criticism, however just in itself, comes rather awkwardly from a Melbourne man. What about the stinking sewer that connects "Marvellous Smellbourne" with Hobson's Bay? The upper harbour of Dunedin is a veritable arm of the sea — (beat up it from Quarantine Island in a five-ton yacht on the flood tide against a sou-wester, and you will have had an experience of salt water navigation not soon to be forgotten) ;— on the other hand the Yarra is strictly and literally a big drain, the cloaca maxima of an evil-smelling and occasionally typhoid-stricken city. The Union Company's steamers and other large boats navigate this sewer, churning its filthy contents into unspeakable offensiveness ; but the Melbourne writer entirely approves of that. What afflicts him is the insanitary condition of the Dunedin upper harbour, and the folly of attempting to convert its broad tidal basin into a haven for ships. This is amusing. It may be that the Dunedin Harbour Board could have done better than spend their money in dredging a ship channel to Dunedin. Possibly they ought in preference to have built a railway to the heads, or a great sea mole at Waikouaiti. But before our Melbourne visitors take us to task for the Victoria channel, they ought to offer us some explanation of their own Yarra.

" A good sherris-sack," said Falstaff, " hath a twofold operation in it. It ascends me into the brain ; dries me there all the foolish and dull and crudy vapours which environ it ; makes it apprehensive, quick, f orgetive, full of nimble, fiery, and delectable shapes, which delivered o'er to the voice (the tongue), which is the birth, becomes excellent wit." Whether Falstaff was on this occasion lying, as he was on most others, I am unable to say. But if " sherris-sack," or sherry as we now call it, had any effect . whatever — and I doubt it — in drying up the foolish, dull, and crudy vapours that environ the brain, the same valuable quality has not descended to its modern banquet representative — champagne. That I have fead experience of banquets the reader already knows. As the result ot that experience I say that as a specific for removing dull and crudy vapours from the brain champagne is a total failure. I move a vote of noconfidence in it. A fatal objection is that it induces long-windedness, whereas brevity is, and always must be, the, soul of wit. lam not sure indeed whether a ' good deal of the indigestion that follows banquets is not attributable as much to the speeches as to the dinner. The connection between the mind and the stomach I cm told is exceedingly intimate. A depressing mental influence has the curious effect of impairing the solvent properties of the gastric juice. What then could be more depressing than to notice that someone who has to reply to the toast of " Parliament," or the " Volunteers," or the " Press," as the case may be, is going to give you at midnight a dissertation upon representative institutions, or a .history of the volunteer movement in the colony ? Thus I find that indigestion follows the impairment of the gastric juice ; that the gastric juice is vitiated by a depressing mental current ; that the mental depression is produced by long speeches at an inappropriate hour ; and that the long speeches are directly induced by the champagne. At the next banquet I shall suggest sherries . But I forget ; Igo to no more banquets.

■ " If the consequences are so distressing, why do you go ? " It was a simple enough question to ask of me, but I found it exceedingly difficult, to answer. Times without number have I asked the question of myself without ever getting a satisfactory reply. Why do Igo to banquets ? It must be years now since I registered a vow never to attend another. I keep the register going, but the arguments in favour of each succeeding banquet are so undeniably strong that when I make up my mind to go I always feel as if I were answering the trumpet call of duty. There was the banquet at the opening of the Exhibition, for instance. It marked an epoch in the industrial history of the colony. I'had to go, I did go, and I suffered. I also registered a vow. Then there was the Victorian banquet. One must be civil to one's neighbours. Who was to know what important advantages might accrue to New Zealand from the interchange of ideas ? I attended, suffered, and registered again. Then came the New South Wales affair. Was it possible after attending the Victorian to stand aloof from the New South Wales banquet ? — a Freetrade colony too. Clearly not. The thing had to be done, it was done, and I too was very nearly done. That one at any rate would be the last. But the banquet to Mr Roberts 1 I put it candidly : Could I, in common civility, refuse ? I <sonld not, and did not. Hitherto the chief evil had been the inevitable headache. On this occasion the experience was novel and distressing. I might have laid my head on the pillow for perhaps an hour when in some mysterious way I found myself at dead of night, and alone, treading the well-known avenues of the Exhibition. I took it leisurely enough until I reached the New South Wales court, just opposite a huge alligator. Is it any wonder that my forehead became clammy and my limbs shook as, without the slightest warning and with great deliberation, the monstrous creature came down from its wooden pedestal and advanced towards me with an expression of countenance not to be mistaken ? I find that I can run. So can an alligator. In what direction I ran I cannot tell —it was of no consequence so long as I got away. What the end might have been I do not like to think. But it was an intense relief when a voice — in reality sharp, but which to me seemed melody itself —said : " Mr Civis, may I ask whether you intend to get up to-day 1 And. you bawl in your sleep as if an evil spirit were lifter you." Shall I ever again attend a banquet I—No,1 — No, thank you.

Fifty-four members returned for the South Australian Assembly and not a Freetrader among them all 1 The race is extinct, like the blackfellow in Tasmania, the moa in New Zealand, and the megatherium in some other countries of the world. What will be the result? Tremendous duties, cessation of imports, universal local manufacture, all the money "kept in the country " — a Protectionist paradise? Not at all. For although the Freetraders have died out, human nature remains the same as ever, and human nature refuses to set any value on that which may be had for the asking. Contention is of the very essence o^E enjoyment. It was Stuart Mill himself — a man who has supplied so many weapons to the armoury of dull and tiresome persons that I quote him with hesitation — who declared that were he to suddenly accomplish all the public objects for which he was striving he would be a profoundly unhappy man. Happiness is extracted from the battl e rather than from the fruits of it. A compact Protectionist phalanx in a Legislature can derive immense satisfaction in wresting from an unhappy minority of Free traders an additional 5 or 10 per cent, ad valorem, as the politicians say. But when 50 per cent, may be clapped on, iievtine co7itradicente, the desire to do it vanishes at the thought of the vulgar ease with which the object may be accomplished. Then the Protectionists will be debarred from making speeches on their favourite subjects, for what body of men could patiently listen to speeches where all are of the same mind ? Politiciana must have something to wrangle over, and as they can't wrangle over Protection, I take it that the South Australians must find something else, in which case Freetrade and Protection will probably drop out of the arena altogether. I anticipate, in short, that the cause of Protection there has been ruined by its own success.

A correspondent of the Daily Times rebukes the Dunedin people for misunderstanding the spirit of Haydn's " Farewell Symphony." They ought to have listened to that " beautiful and pathetic " composition with tears in their eyes, whereas, on the contrary, being merely ignorant barbarians, they treated it as a joke, and signified their appreciation by " roars of laughter." Well, barbarians we may be — I laughed with the laughers, and so make their cause my own — barbarians we may be, but the epithet " ignorant " is a cap which will more accurately fit our critic. The " Farewell Symphony" was written as a joke, was first performed as a joke — the composer himself conducting— and certainly has never been given by an orchestra in any other sense Haydn was Kapellmeister to Prince Ester hazy, an Austrian magnate who had built for himself on his Hungarian estates, in tbe midst of a vast swamp, a palace second in magnificence only to Versailles. For the service of his chapel and private theatre the Prince maintained a numerous troupe of musicians and actors, all of them hired, like domestics, at an annual salary. Haydn, the Kapellmeister, or musical director, received the magnificent allowance of £78 a year, or, in the currency of the country, 780 gulden, which certainly sounds better. The artists were not permitted to bring their wives and children, but, on the other hand, were allowed a complete holiday whenever the Esterhazy family went for the season to Vienna or Paris. One year — it was about 1775 — the Prince being unusually tardy in departing, Haydn ventured to give him a musical hint that the orchestra was growing impatient. Here I may as well quote a sentence or two from Grove's " Dictionary of Music " : —

It has often been asserted that Haydn intended the " Farewell Symphony " as an appeal to the Prince against the dismissal of the ohapel, but this is incorrect. The real object was to persuade him to shorten his stay at Esberhaz, so as to enable the musicians to rejoin their wives and families. As one after another stopped playing and left: the orchestra, until only two violinn were left (Tomasini, the Pricoe's favourite, being' one), the hint was unmisfcakeablej '• If all go," said the Prince, "we may as well go too " ; and Haydn knew that his object was attained.

There is another story traditional amongst musicians as to the origin of this symphony. It is said that Haydn had shocked the nerves of the ladies of the Prince's court by the unexpected fortissimo chord in the " Surprise," and that he devised the little comedy of the "Farewell" to put them in good humour again, and so make his peace. But the " Surprise " belongs to Haydn's London period, 20 years later, and was one of six written for the Salomon concerts, at which it proved a special favourite. Says the writer in Grove's "Dictionary": "Haydn confessed to Gyrowetz, who happened to call when he was composing the andante, that he intended to startle the audience. ' There all the women will scream,' he said, with a laugh, pointing to the well-known explosion of the drums." Haydn, in short, was a musical humourist. Witness, in addition to the " Surprise " and the " Farewell," his " Toy Symphony," his " Ox Minuet," and his " Jacob's Dream." This last piece, an apparently easy sonata for violin and piano, he composed as a practical joke, and sent it anonymously to an amateur who professed himself addicted to the extreme upper notes of the violin. " The unfortunate performer was delighted with the opening — here was a composer who thoroughly understood the instrument ; but as he found himself compelled to mount the ladder higher and higher without any chance of coming down again, the perspiration burst out upon his forehead, and he exclaimed, ' What sort of composition do you call this ? The man knows nothing whatever of the violin ! ' " From which it appears that the correspondent of the Times is not tbe first who has failed to recognise the humour of Haydn's musical jokes. _____^_^^___ Civis.

A Gazette was issued on Tuesday afternoon calling Parliament together for the despatch of business at 2 o'clock on Thursday, 19th June. A somewhat amusing discussion took place at the Arthur street District School meeting last Monday. Sir R. Stout gave his opinion of the clause of the Education Act referring to the appointment of teachers, stating that it was framed to enable boards of education to provide for the promotion of teachers. This was challenged by Mr William Hutchison, who said no such argument was used by Mr Bowen, or when the bill weut through committee, aa he hacj

voted on every clause in it. Sir Robert retorted that Mr Hutchison was not in Parliament in 1877 when the bill was passed, and Mr Hutchison was just as positive that he was a member at that time, and that Sir Robert Stout was not. These flat contradictions created much amusement, as both gentlemen were absolutely certain. A reference to the official record, however, shows that Mr Hutchison was not a member of Parliament when the Education Act was passed, so that his recollection must be of some one of the amending bills which have been discussed in committee but have not passed their final stages. At the nomination of candidates for electibn to the Portobello Road Board on Monday, the following gentlemen were duly elected: — N.E. Harbour subdivision, Mr G. G. Russell ; Broad ,Bay, Messrs G. Anderson and R. M'Taggart; Portobello, Mr W. Diokson. Richard Henry Britton, who was on Midway to New Zealand to visit a brother, committed suicide at Hobart last week in a most determined manner. He was arrested on the Doric on a charge of embezzling money while employed as storekeeper by the War department, having retired after 30 years' service. While waiting to be sent back Britton filled a nail can with water, tied his feet together, and deliberately put his head under water until he was drowned. He was an old soldier, and among his effects were two medals for service in the Crimea, obe of which bore tho inscription " Corporal Henry Britton, Ist Dragoon Guards." He also had clasps for Balaclava, Inkerman, and Sebastopol. I At Christchurch on Saturday a husband of 18 years was ordered to find a surety of £jSO that he would pay 15a a week towards the support of his wife, aged 17, and their one child. ' Tasmania has decided to hold an industrial exhibition at Launceston, opening in November next. The buildings, according to present arrangements, will cover about an acre of groutid. Applications for Bgace close en Ist July. A concert and ball was held at Sawyers' Bay on Friday evening last to commemorate tjie opening of a public hall which has recently befen erected in the township. The building, which is of wood, is an exceedingly neafe one, aud will accommodate fully 250 persons. There is an excellent' stage and a convenient ante-room. The acoustic properties of the hall are all that could be desired, and those present on Friday were greatly pleased at seeing so excellent' a building. The attendance was a very large one, and Mr Cleghorn was called upon to preside. The programme was both varied and excellent ; the opening glee, " Men of Harlech," being well rendered by the Sawyers' Bay Choral Society. Among the vocalists who contributed to the success of the evening were the Misses Thomson,' Wignall, Paton, Davidson, and Kelly, Messrs Cleghorn,' Wignall, M'Peak, and Stephens. Miss Duke played a piano solo ; Mr T. M'Connell was heard to advantage in his cornet solo ; and Mr Ross was loudly applauded for his masterly violin playing. Several of the vocalists were enoored for' their efforts, and a very enjoyable evening was the result. The induction of the Rev. A. P. Davidson, as the colleague of the Rev. Dr Stuart, and oopastor of Knox Church, took place on Wednesday evening in the presence of a very large congregation, the church being crowded soiine time before the service commenced. The North Otago Timeß states that a young man who left Oamaru rather hurriedly a sb^rt time ago has been arrested in Melbourne on a warrant issued for his apprehension. His financial affairs are not quite as satisfactory as they might have been. ' At the meeting held in the Town Hall on Wednesday afternoon to take steps to acquire Waterlow's picture, "Sunny Hours," over £130 w|as subscribed in the room, and from the enthuaiasm exhibited there is no doubt but that the required sum will be rafted, and probably enough to purchase one or two other pictures. A meeting of the committee was subsequently held, and subscription lists were distributed. In the preliminary medical examination at the University of Otago, thrse candidates— J. M'Brearty, J. A. T. Bell, and J. M'llroy,— passed in the compulsory subjects, and are thus entitled to register as students in the medical school. The following candidates passed ,in optional subjects :— J. A. T. Bell and J. M'llroy, in French; F. Fitchett, W. Wilford, and J. M'llroy, in logic; and F. Fitchett and C. M, Hector, in Greek. The Education Board exhibitions have been obtained by Miss Mary A. Sinclair and Mr J. Porteous. The manager of the Bank of New South "Wales yesterday received a cablegram intimating that at the half-yearly meeting of the proprietor?, held at Sydney, the usual dividend of 15 per |cent. and bonus of 2§ per cent., equal to 17§ per cent, per annum was declared, and £10,000 added to the reserve fund, which now etands at £950,000. We have been asked to publish the particulars of the voting which took place at the election of the Pahnerston School Committee, and which was as follows :— J. C. Scott, 181 (59 voters) ; W. Robertson, 162 (54 voters) ; James ArkJe, 160 (47 voters) ; John McDonald, 134 (43 voters) ; Robert Steel, 125 (41 voters) ; Alex. Gilmour, 119 (37 voters) ; William Chapman, 93 (29 voters); Thomas Muir, 60 (27 voters); Jamps Kitchen, 90 (35 voters) ; William Paul, 24 (10 voters). The first seven were elected, all of them with the exception of Mr Chapman having been members of the old committee. We have also been asked to say that a hearty vote <of thanks was given to the chairman for the manner in which he had conducted the proceedings. Mr J. F. Herbert (of Ardmore, Kelso) and Mr Cunningham (manager of Moa Flat station), who have been in Dunedin for the past day or two on business connected with the establishment of a rabbit-tinning factory at Heriot, have arranged with Mr John Roberts (Mr J. Clark's attorney) to call for tenders for the erection of the factory. It will be about the same siz-* as the well-known Pomberneite Factory, between Colac and Camperdown, Victoria, aud will be capable of tinning about 10,000 rabbits per day. The promoters of the factory anticipate that they will put through about 7000 rabbits per day during six months of the year. TheWaipori Amalgamated Deep Lead Company washed up on Saturday last for a return of 24nz of gold. This represents a little over a fortnights work. A telegram received from the manager of the Gallant Tipperary Company states that the amalgam return (plates only) for the fortnight is 106oz, from about 80 tons of 6tone. The prcpectui appears in another column of the White UHffs dredging Company, formed to work a Claim on the Bullar river a^oufc 22 miles from West-po-t. The nominal capital i« £10,000 in 20,000 shares of 10s each. The beaches of the Buller river have long been known to be auriferous, and as according to reporto gold has besn found throughout the claim, tun prospects averaging L>4gr per cubic yard, tlie property seems a very valuable one- The claim is to be worked by h bucket drpdge. Messrs A. Jjarweman and R. and A. J. Park are the local brokers. Thp dhf-n>rs are all well known Dunedin business wen. Alareje number of shares, we are Intormea, have been already applied for.