MELBOURNE TOWN TALK.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 194, 11 September 1888, Page 2

MELBOURNE TOWN TALK.

(FBOM OUB own correspondent.} “Serve us right,” said the member for a Gippdand district, known to be coal-bear-ing, 11 If Melbourne were to be plunged in Cimmerian darkness for twelve months, it would be only what she deserves. Hero we have coal deposits enough for ail practical purposes if opened up, and we rely upon a place six hundred miles away. Talk of protection and looking after our interests ! Bah 1 the Government will protect a man who wants to make patent pills, but an industry like coal-mining can go begging for want of a little interest.” This tirade. uttered in the House a few days ago, was of course apropos of the miners' strike at Newcastle, and though my friend was rather “ quick i’ the mouth," I think he is not far wrong. The coal famine we are now experiencing in the metropolis will without doubt bear fruit. A quelque chose malheur est bon— “ It is an ill wind that blows nobody good and if it results in the opening up of our Gippsland coal-fields, the present inconveniences we are undergoing may well be looked upon as blessings in disguise. So far, indeed, we are not put to any very great trial of our patience. C ial and wood have risen greatly in price ; and the gas is at half pressure ; but I am greatly in hopes, before anything m >re serious intervenes, that the strike at Newcastle will have ended, and nothing will be left of it but the incentive on our part to make ourselves secure for any future crisis by developing our own resources in Gippsland and elsewere.

In the meantime Melbourne folks of course rush to anticipations of the darkest hue. The papers seem to foster the scare, and draw lurid pictures of the city being given over to Stygian darkness and desolation. One religious priest had taken the novel course of declaring it a “ visitation, even as the Egyptians of old were punished,” whilst a comic paper on the other hand says the public should not make any out-cry about it for they are bound “to keep it dark. ” The only people who are really pleased are the makers of “ oils ” and the importers of kerosine. “My Boy,’’said a well-known merchant to me in Collins street yesterday, slapping me exultantly on the back,''l've got eight hundred cases of kerosene landing now, and it’s going up in price every day. Come and have a drink on the strength of it,” which I did. It is a lucky thing the cold weather we have been having has come to an end, otherwise we should feel the scarcity of coal much more. As it is, by the aid of gas-stoves and candles plus a little patience, we shall not suffer vary much at the hands of the recalcitrant and arbitrary Newcastle miners,

I must confess to a dislike to introducing political topics in my weekly column of Melbourne gossip; for I find it difficult to treat of such matter so as to make it chatty and agreeable. However, if I am to “ hold the mirror up to nature,” I must say something about this aggravating farmers’ question, which is causing so much talk and rancour. The farmers want increased duties on imported stocks and cereals, the G >vernment don’t— voila tout. It is the old battle-cry, rus versus urbs —town versus country. Unfortunately the country party is split up into two factions, which of course tends to weaken them; but still they are stroug enough to hold their own, and if they get defeated on this question, they will do their utmost to throw the present Government out at the general elections at the beginning of the year. “The Government is doomed anyhow," said a prominent ocuntry member tome the other day. “ They have continually broken faith with us. I call them no better than political pawnbrokers.” “ Why? " lasked. “Because of their unredeemed pledges,” he answered with a sour smile.

I went to the forlorn looking and barn-like Alexandra Theatre on Saturday evening to see the first performance of young Fergus Hume’s “ Mystery of a Hansom Cab,” and did not enjoy it much, the acting not being first-class. Fergus’ novelette, however, makes a good play, a-d it is a pity it should be brought out under such poor auspices, being a Melbourne play, written in Melbourne. New Zealand may be proud of young Hume, for he certainly has made a , name for himself at Home. His people tell me that 300,000 of the “Mystery” have been sold in England. Unfortunately, here in Australia, there is an injunction against its being published just now, there being some quarrel about copyright. He is just publishing his second attempt, “ Madame Midas," a story dealing with mining life at Sulky Gully, on Sir William Clarke’s estate, “ Madame Midas ” is Miss Cornwall, a wonderful woman, who has simply made the Sulky Gully district. A dramatical version of the novel, the joint work of the author of Phil Beck, has been produced, and I hear a hundred thousand copies of the novelette have been ordered before publication. So I take it, fame and fortune are now in the grasp of young Fergus, the former Dunedin “ dude ” and exquisite.