NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Thames Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 8015, 9 April 1895, Page 2

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The sudden termination of the libel case Oscar Wilde v. the Marquis of Qu^nsbury, and the an-est of the plaintiff on charges implying 1 the grossest immorality have naturally created a great sensation in society circles at home. Wilde, who was born in 1856, was the son of Sir William R. Wills Wilde, M.D., surgeon-oculist to Her Majesty, and man of letters, while his mother, Lady Wilde, is known as a poetess of no mean ability. He was educated at Portora Royal School, Enniskillen, afterwards proceeding to Trinity College Dublin, of which he was a scholar, and, on obtaining the Berkeley gold medal for Greek, fee mint to Oxford jj» J874/. He #b r

tamed first deniyship at Magdalen College; a first-class in Moderations, 1876; and a first-class in Greats, and the Newdigate prize for English poetry 1878, He went to London the following year and was the originator of the iEsthetic movement. He published a volume of poems in 188O,andin 1881 lie proceeded to America where he delivered over 200 lectures on Art. His drama of " Vera" was produced in New York in 1882 ; " The Happy Prince and other Fairy Tales" was published in 1888. Ho is also the author of " Dorian Gray"; "The Duchess of Padua," a five-act tragedy produced at the Star Theatre, New York, in 1891; " Lady Windermere's Fan," a successful comedy produced at the St James' Theatre, London, in 1892;

" Salome," a play written in French for Sara Bernhardt; "A Woman of No Importance," a comedy produced at the Haymarket Theatre in .1893 ; and a farcical piece entitled " The Importance of being Earnest," which was produced at the St, James' Theatre, London, last February. He has also contributed many clever articles to the leading magazines, In 1884 he mai'ried Constance, daughter of Mr Horace

Lloyd, Q,C, and has a son and daughter aged respectively 10 and 9 years, , It is probable that the evidence which will be forthcoming in support of the present charges will reveal a state of affairs almost unheard of.

A correspondent of the London Times says that at a recent meeting of the Clinical Society Drs. Washbcurn, ■ Goodall, and Cax*d gave the results of anti-toxin treatment in 72 cases of diphtheria, at all ages 5 admitted to the hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylum Board since October 23 of last year. Of this number only 14 died, being at the rate of 19"4 per cent. The mortality in the same class of cases during the whole of the year 1893 (397 cases with 166 deaths) was 41.8, and during the preceding 1 months of 1894 the mortality had been 36 per cent (400 cases with 144 deaths.) Adding these figures together to get as large a basis of comparison as possible, we get 707 cases with 310 deaths, equal to a percentage mortality of 38.8 per cent.

The usual soiree and public meeting j n connection with '.he anniversary services of the Wesley'an Church will be, held.'this, evening. Tenders will be received by the Occidental 6.M. Co. up till 12 noon on Thursday, the 11th met., for driving 100 feet or intersecting the reef in the above-mentioned company's mine. Specifications can be seen at the mine. Mr W. Cheighton, who died at the Hospital yesterday, was a very old colonist, and has resided at Parawai for many years past. Mesdames Puruem, ahd Jakvis have to hand a splendid stock of autumn and winter good?, which they are selling at lowest prices.

Speaking of the woik shown by Mr H. D. at the exhibition of the Auckland Society cf Arts, the Herald says : Mr H. D. Driver, Thames, is a new exhibitor, and shows some good work, lie has a fine seascape, " Catepaws," showing a squadron of n:en-of-war of the old school in a calm, with a breath of wind (a " catspaw") just catching them. The light breeze has caught the rearward ship, and is just touching the three-tieeker in the foreground, and every detail is faithfully represented of the grand old sailing ships of the British navy under a cloud of canvas, and wont to " move tho waters like a thing of life." Puru Point, near Waiomo Thames, is by contrast a local scene, and a realistic representation. The composition is good, showing parts of the coastline, with study of pohutukawa. The ketch, under sail, is executed in the excellent style in which Mr Driver's boats are painted.

We have already acquainted the public with the fact that W. S.jWylie had coming to hand a large quantity of drapery, clothing, &c, for this season, 'j he goods now being opened, he fiads the stock about two thirds heavier than necessary. Now, during the fourteen years which Wylie has figured as knight of the yardstick at Thames, he has always seen that sterling value was supplied in the drapery line, and ihis has never been more fully demonstrated than at present, as he intends during the next fourteen days to mark the new goods at net cash prices in order to bring the stock down, and make more room, so all we say is if you don't buy big parcels from Wylie you ought to. —FAdvt.]