Killing Time in Auckland

Observer, Volume XIV, Issue 795, 24 March 1894, Page 2

Killing Time in Auckland

Ii is not so long ago that an Auckland parson was lamenting from the pulpit that our young men should spend so much of their spare time in the bar-parlor and the billiard room, and (the rev. gentleman hinted) in even lees desirable places. The preacher referred not, of course, to Auckland's upper circles, but to the hardworking and respectable middle-class fellows who when their work is done are ready for a little play— without which, aa we all know, Jack is apt to become a dull boy.

Of course, the married man has his home and his 'am fireside,' wife and children, and his home should see as much of him as possible. But the man who is still in a state of single blessedness and who sometimes finds time hang a little heavily on his hands, when his day's work is done, where is he to go ? The Northern Club ? Impossible I The Northern Club is reserved for most exclusive people, between whom and the second-best ditto, there iB, as is wellknown, a great gulf fixed. Why bless you, all our ' distinguished visitors ' and eminent globe-trotters become the guests of the Northern Club— and pick up many interesting tit-bitß there which afterwards appear in their books on the colony and furnish food for much ' innocent merriment,' as Mr Gilbert sings. The Northern is quite too exclusive.

The Auckland Club then? The Auckland was, I believe, designed to acoommo date mortals of inferior clay to the happy persons who are privileged to write 'Northern Club* in the corner of their visiting-cards. But the Auckland is but a feeble imitation of the Northern, juat as the latter is but a faint and feeble copy of the ' swagger ' London article. The Working Men's Club? Just a little bit too rough and ready. The V.M.C.A. ? Ad mirable, but- er— well a trifle too goodygoody for the common or garden variety of sinner who has not the smallest desire to pose as a saint.

The public reading-room and free library? Pew people want to read anything heavier than fiction after being hard at work all day. They want amusement, not instruction. As for the reading-room with its chess and draughts, it is monopolised by the ' great unwashed.' The atmosphere is almost thick enough to out with a knife. The theatre is not always open and not always worth patronising when it is open. What remains ?— the hotels. The fact is there is plenty of room in Auckland for a good middle-class social club where people who want a quiet game of billiards or a chat or a game of cards or chess may go. la the idea worth taking up?