Wellington Jottings.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume I, Issue 50, 15 September 1893, Page 2

Wellington Jottings.

THU »CEOL*a. The enterprising burglar it frequently on the job here of late. So often, in fact, that the local newspapers keep their •• burglar par" standing, and simple alter locality and name of person into whose house the burglar has entered. Sunday night, during church hours, it the favorite time for Bill Sykes, and several of our church-going people have discovered, on their return troin church, that a few valu able articles have disappeared. Of course, burglars prefer taking superior articles. Unfortunately the poor Australians, who recently came over, are suspected. But why. 1 know not. They «**e. generally, ill-clad, and only in one or two cases has the suspicion of the new arrivals been wellfounded. In my opinion tin 1 police should more keenly watch the well-dressed gentry who loaf about our billiard saloons and bars. They seldom, if ever, work, and it is a mystery how they live. AN AMBITIOUS YOUNG MAN. Wellington is blessed with a full-pledged operatic composer, and “ quite a young one, too.” Hitherto, he has established his reputation by composing and publishing waltzes and a barn-dance, which were so full of technical irregularities—such as theorists call consecutive fifths (hidden and otherwise) false relations, doubled sixths, ice. —that any musical person, with a smattering of knowledge of harmony, would shudder on beholding them. Now he has astonished his townspeople with the pro duction of an opera (opus!). Out of curiosity 1 paid my admittance fee to hear and see it, with the full intention of afterwards giving a candid criticism. Here it is:—The members of the orchestra took their seats in front oft he stage. Shortly afterwards the composer, Jones (a good old Welsh name) made his appearance, and received a slight ovation. With a thick volume of manuscript before him, hearing the magic word “ music” on the corner, he opened it at tin* overture. The orchestra being in readiness, tin* signal was given to commence. A monotonous series of simple chords, with un accidental suspension here wild there, and a tug-of-war between tin* brass, to see which intstruments were the loudest trombone, comet, or horns—all in slow time, assured mo that the composer was not acquainted with musical form or the treatment of brass instruments when employed in the orchestra. The f>ot poun tor such the overture evidently is—livened up further on, but the similarity of the rythiu, scarcity of modulation, exceptionally small number of changes, and prevalence of much dominant and tonic harmony made me feel uneasy, and I was glad when it had finished. In the front seats sat Tallis Trimnell. our B.A. in music. He must have enjoyed it. The scenery, dresses, Ate., were really splendid. Imt the Wellington Amateur Operatic Society does not possess many good voices. Still the acting is above the average for amateurs, and that goes along way where the voices are defective. The libretto of the “ Monarch of Utopia” is of the burlesque order, and brimful of “ far fetched puns,’ which would he better if they were omitted. Through the whole of the first act there is a want of continuity in the music, and the Abruptness of some of the modulations gives a very doubtful mood of key. Key relationship has evidently been neglected in the composer's studies. The second act is an improvement on the first, and I noticed the iiorns and the trombone were more quiet all through. No doubt the exeeutionists were “pumped out” of wind. Occasionally their dominance would manifest an awakening in some part of tin* music where they were not wanted ; but, perhaps, they wished the audience to remember that they were still there. The opera, extravaganza, or burlesque the l itter I should say—is founded on “ Bomhastes Furioso.”

THE WEATHER. If the wretchedly had weather does not soon abate, our eitv fathers will have to take steps to roof the city in. The streets of Wellington are none too clean in wet weather, and on dry days wind and dust usurp the place of rain. Too much bad weather makes business dull, and puts tradespeople in a bad humour, and 1 think it high time that we offer up prayers for its cessation for a time. THF. women’s FRANCHISE. The ladies are jubilant on receiving the franchise. They are going to shut up the pubs, remove all social evils, and show the men how to “ legislate” at the ballot-box. When they try to accomplish all these tilings we will all sing. “ Oh, that will be joyful.” John Rigg, M.L.C., the young printer lately hoisted to the Upper House, has been re-christened Higgler, on account, they say, of his wriggling during the voting oil the amendments, and is condemned and praised, the arguments in his favour being that he is a political tactician, and knew that the Government diil not want the Bill to go through both Houses, but had rushed it through the Lower House fully expecting, and hoping, the Council would throw it out. Anyhow, the milk is spilt now. and we must make the best of it, and trust to results. Halle hqak! HALT lIKRKINGH AND REEK. I happened to drop into a public bouse here the other day, on business, don’t, 'cher know. when, behold, on the counter stood a plate of salt herrings and a plate of bread. They were evidently put there for the benefit of customers (?) —or landlord—and seemed appetising. However, mv modesty prevented me from annexing one, and, again, I had no musk lollies in iny pocket to give a better odour to mv breath, after the relish, and I am thank ful I resisted the temptation. The above hint will, no doubt, be relished by Fahi attia publicans, for salt herrings beoonn valuable to a publican—when used for business purposes —in dry and hot. weather. AN UNFORTUNATE MAN FROM PAHIATUA. It is rumoured here that a sick man named, I am told, Clifford, who arrived at I the local hospital from I'ahiatua, suffering l from rheumatic fever, on Saturday last, and who has since died, was subjected to the abuse of several youths while in the* train coming down. During the whole journey he sat in the corner of a carriage with his chin resting on his breast, unable to speak or move, and without food or attendance. It is said that the youths, wlm were fellow-passengers, thought him intoxicated. hence their remarks. On his arrival In to, an cxp'*ss awaited him at tin* station-~a comf >; table conveyance for a dying man—and “ carted” him to his destination. And yet we are a Christian people. PONRKK.