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Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2000, 8 February 1907, Page 1

nt tlio Queen's J ■ sill. It, was, on tho whole, fairly- woll done, and it apnea rod to produce n fairly favorable impression. 1 employ the term “fairly” in each respect, because I cannot think of another word which so exactly expresses the truth. As regards tho performance itself, the soloists, choir, and orchestra grappled very earnestly, and on tho whole successfully, with the multitudinous* difficulties that the composer has Provided for them. But “grappling” with music does not quite suggest the idea of a spontaneous and wholly, effective interpretation. Whether the Roval Choral Society will make any more of it at tho Albert Hall, whore they will produce it shortly, remains to be seen. As to the work itself, there is a wide difference of opinion whether it be equal, superior, or inferior to its predecessors, “Gorontius” and “Tho Apostles.” Like both of them however, it strays very widely in form from what is popularly understood in this country as oratorio. It seems now that “'I ho Kingdom” is not merely to be regarded as a sequel to “Tho Apostles,” and not as a third part of that work, hut also that it does not oven exhaust Sir Edward’s musical intentions with regard to tho main subject of “Tho Apostles” and “Tho Kingdom” alike;' for it is said that ho contemplates even a fourth member ol' his stupendous series. A WONDERFUL VIOLINIST. It is devout Iv to be hoped that that wonderful little violinist, Vivien Chartres, will not be spoiled by vho astounding adulation she is receiving in Italy and Germany. As for the Italians, from Royalty downward, they seem simply to have been going mad over this charming little prodigy. I don’t say she is not worthy of all the enthusiasm bestowed upon her. To me she constitutes a marvel more marvellous than any miracle I have over read of, not merely on the score of her superb technique, but also in respect' of the wonderful breadth and maturity of her perceptions and interpretations. The more I listen to her and the more I ponder over her performances the more I am driven back upon the inane consciousness that I am totally unable to understand or explain tho marvels that I see and hear—more especially the greatest wonder of all: Where did that child of barely eleven years get all her astonishing musical weight and ideas ? But that is a question nobody can answer. Vivien Chartres gave a concert on Monday at the Palace of the Quirinal, Rome. The King and Queen of Italy, and the Royal children wer present, and expressed their delight at tho performance. Their Majesties repeatedly embraced the child, and gave her a golden bonbonniere and a diamond brooch. The Royal children, who speak English, invited the little English girl to play with them after the performance. The Queen promised Vivien a large doll, and asked her whether she would like one lark or fair. The child inn ediafoly said “Dark,” at. the same time glancing at Queen Elena, whose raven black hair is one of her most striking features. Recently at Parma, after Vivien Chartres had finished "laying the Paganini Concerto, Baron Attila Paganini, a grandson of the famous violinist, rose from his seat, advanced to the platform, and kissed her hand amid an extraordinary scene of emotion and enthusiasm. On the following morning, Vivien went with Baron Attila to the great musician’s tomb and laid upon it a sheaf of lilies with the inscription, “To Paganini, humbly, Vivien.” LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL EXTRAVAGANCES.

London seems nt last to Have tliorougjh'ly awakened to the. financial dangers into which tlio metropolis is drifting through the monstrous extravagance of 'vhat .fs now goner ally kiiowu as the “Wastrel” Party in the London County Council. The “Progressives,” the members call themselves, hut the name “Wastrel” lias become too firmly attached to he readily discarded. And no wonder 1 The Wastrels are strenuously endeavoring to obtain, before the expiration of their term of office, power to go in for a general supply of electricity, involving a capital outlay—in other words, a fresh debt—of some £30,000,000 sterling; they also contemplate expending a further £2,000,000 upon a new palace for the accommodation of themselves and their officers. Meanwhile, the council’s steamers on the Thames, acquired at so largo a cost, are laid up and useless, and the tramways which the “Progressives” have always stoutly averred to bo paying well, turn out on independent investigation to be really losing money hand over fist, the alleged profits being only shown by outrageous cooking of the accounts, through failure to charge upon the tramways themsolvos expenditure which virtually has been incurred exclusively for their benefit. Even the latest venture (or folly) of the London County Council, the tramway across Westminster Bridge and along the Victoria Embankment, which was oponed a few days ago with a loud flourish of trumpets, appears likely to prove a white elephant. The people of Greater London were represented as hankering wildly for this horrid disfigurement of London's one beautiful boulevard, and as being inconsolable for the delay in their obtaining it. It was pointed out time after time there was not the slightest need for an Embankment tramway, that every increased convenience that this would afford could ho better and more cheaply obtained in other ways, while the proposed tramway would prove a deadly eyesore on the Embankment. The County Council Progressives pooh-poohed all objections, while to another one from the aesthetic standpoint, that one result would ho to in-

jure the plane-trees which form so {treat an ornament not only to the Embankment itself, but also to London, they gave t'he lie direct, averring that no injury whatever was to be done to the trees. Yet at this time, as is now conclusively proved, they wore well aware that serious, if not fatal, injury would bo done, at any rate to many of the trees in making room for the hideous doubledecked ears which the council quite unuoccssarily insisted upon using, That damage has been done, that disfigurement perpetrated, and now*the cars are running, with the outcome, as ascertained by special investigation, that hardly any passengers are being conveyed. It is no doubt' very ungrateful on the part of those who won’t travel by the new tramcars, but the plain fact is that the public did not want them, and won’t use them. Of course the work has to be paid for, and that no doubt means the acquisition of a few votes for the “Progressive,” otherwise “Wastrel” councillors who advocated the folly. THE CASE OF HUGH WATT. The case of Mr. Hugh Watt, exM.P., seems to acquire fresh marvellousness daily. I mentioned previously that after undergoing only onefifth of the sqptqnce qf five "years’ penal servitude 'passed upon him for the attempted murder of his wife, of which lie was convicted of a jury, Mr. Watt has been released. His release was subject to the condition of polico surveillance. A further step has now been taken by the Home Secretary, Mr. Herbert Gladstone, and the release made unconditional.

I have not hoard any objection taken to this course; most people, indeed, felt that the evidence upop which Mr. AVatt was convicted was gravely unsatisfactory and inconclusive. But then the point arises: AA’hy was he convicted at all? And, secondly, if Air. Gladstone now believes him to be innocent, why doesn’t he advise the King to grant Mr. AA’att a free pardon ? Mr. AVatt must be either innocent or guilty. If guilty, he surely deserves at least as severe a sentence as he received—unless, indeed, the subornation of ruffians to murder one’s wife in order that one may bo free to marry another woman with whom one has already been guilty 0/ misconduct be deemed a mere venial offence —but if he did not hire those ruffians to do that deed, and did not attempt to murder his wife, why in the name of goodness is he punished at all? There can be no medium position in such a case. Mr. AVatt cannot be both innocent and guilty. Mr. Gladstone seems to think he can. At any rate, he has acted upon that supposition, which is the only possible logical explanation of the course adopted. AMERIC AN -JAPANESE FRICTION International politics do not afford many subjects of comment tjiis week. But there is qne matrer which New Zealand as well as'Australia will do well to "keep steadily in view,” and that is the growing friction between America and Japan with reference to the treatment of Japanese residents in California as inferior beings, requiring segregation _in the State schools. Nothing is more certain than that Japan does and will most