ROUND ABOUT BRISBANE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2167, 5 September 1895, Page 42

ROUND ABOUT BRISBANE.

Br Cigarette.

PARLIAMENT HOUSE.

One of the advantages of staying m • large boarding house is that yon meet people whom otherwise, you might never come in contact with. Of course there are a great many disadvantages, such as the constant tinkling of pianos, the crying of children, the lack of privacy, and various other little, drawbacks; but, on tho whole, in such a climate as Queensland, whore housekeeping is a weariness to the flesh, a visitor to Brisbane cannot do bsfcter than take up his abode in such a placo as Nothorway, a large private hotel on the banks o! the Brisbane river. It was here that I made the acquaintance of the genial member for Gympie, Mr William Suit the, wboso bride, by the way, comes from Nelson, tho gavdei of Nnw Zealand. It was through the good offices of this gentleman that I was aWo to explore tha whole of Parliament House from tower to basement, having previously not ventured farther than the ladies' gallery, where we went in a party one night to hear a debate on g\rablir>g. If this bill pisses, which it ia" very likely to do, Adaro.3 will have to oanduct his o weeps in some other colony than Queensland. Tasmania has been suggested, and Fiji also, for notwithstanding all the actß ot Parliament, Australians will gamble. It was about half-past 9 on a lovely morning when we set out to " do " Parliament Hou«e. It is cloae to the Botanical Gardens, Government House, and the Queensland Club, and is one of the meat comfortable houaes in th« colony. A wide flight of stairs leads to a corridor, on which open committee rooms, writing rooms, and Minister*' private room*. The council chamber itself is moat tastefully derated in pale greon and white picked out with gold, the effoct being exceedingly cool and restful to the oyo. Tue Legislative Cjuacil Chamber is decorated in the same etjl*, the scarlet velvet of the Governor's ohair and a feir busts and portraits mafcirg a little variety. Traversing a long corridor we reach the refreshment room. This is a large airy apartment daintily set with email tables, and opening on to a v»i<lo balcony. Everj modern convenience is to ba seen hare — heating apparatus for plates, gas etoven for an ever- reßdy supply of tea and coffue, and lifts going up to the kitchen, which is at tha top of the House, and posseases one of the boat cooks in Australia.

Of course, we wanted to sea the kitchen, and as it was not a vary buay time, we wer« permitted to ascend and Inspect it. The floor was all tiled and scrupulously clean, One side was filled with kitchen ranges, and it seemed beautifully oooj, but the calling was very low, and our guide informed us that in summer it was terribly hot. A door opened on to a wide balcony, and hera stood the safe, where the famous cool westerly wind could blow right through. Coming downstairs, we pasted through the bar, a very necessary institution in every Parliament Houae, and then on to the smoking room— a really delightful room, furnished entirely with cane rocking chairs, each provided with 9. little square nut. On tha mantelpieca lay the Piewikr's long cloy pipe, and a few boxes of dominoes were to be seen oa the tables, but no other games. Strange to Bay, the labour membsra do not avail themselves either of the smoking or dining room*.. Next we vuited the libraries, of whlcb there are two. Theie are well patronised, and contain some very valuable books. Opening a glass box wita oak earning* whioh stood on a table, our guide showed as some presentation volumes from the Qae«n. We eagerly examined the sigoatoro and turned over the leaves of the precious volumes, bafc we were more interested in an ancient volume containing engravings of Hogarth's pictures. Fflscinated, we gazed at " The Kike's Progress," "Marriage a la Mode," "The Reward of Cruelty," &a, &c. Bafc time was passing rapidly, and we were anxious to ascend the tower, so leaving the library we traversed another corridor, and coming to a neglected portion of the building, caught sight of some very breakneck-looking stairs, and hesitated whether to climb them or not. However, having come so far we thought it better to go on, and " taking our courage in both hands," as the Frenoh say, we followed our leader op, up, up, it growing hotter and hotter, until at last we emerged through a little trap-door right out on the top of the tower. I never can see any beauty in bird's-eye views myself — they are too extensive altogether — but being a misty morning, it was useless to worry ouraeives picking out the distant objects of interest;, so we contented ourselves watching the winding course of the river, and then made the best of our way dowaward3. It was all very thirsty work, and none of us had a mind to refuse when our hospitable boat suggested an adjournment for refreshment. The sun was shining with its accustomed fury whatt we got outside, and when we reached Queen street it was with a sigh of relief that; we entered " Eschenhagen's " delightful rooms and regaled ourselves with tea, ices, and cream cakes.