MELBOURNE TOWN TALK.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 626, 27 June 1891, Page 2

MELBOURNE TOWN TALK.

[By Standard Special Cobbesfondent—- “ Boccaccio.”] Melbourne, Jane 9. General Tulloch has thrown a bomb shell among the managers of our benevolent institutions by declaring that the Immigrant's Home is a disgrace to civilisation, and that neither that place nor the Benevolent Asylum are to be compared with the County workhouses in England. When it is remembered that the County workhouses are still the abodes of misery described by Charles Dickens in Oliver Twist fifty years ago, that the average cost of the food of an English pauper is not more than about 2s 3d per week, and that the respectable classes of the English poor willingly starve and see their children starve rather than enter the doors of such places, it will bo understood that the statement is a startling one. But as it is Messrs Zox and Godfrey continued to add point to it. The former pointed ont that 63 old people were now in gaol because there was no room for them in any Benevolent Asylum whatever, and the latter asserted that hundreds of old people living between Ballarat and Maryborough were awaiting their turn for admission to one or other of these asylums. These statements do not apply to Melbourne alone, but the entire country, and the result will probably be an entire revision of the system. There may be an attempt to board out the most suitable of the old people as children are boarded out. This plan is followed in America, and might be useful here. In country homes where wife and husband are both for ever busy, an old man or woman who could patter about would be worth having if no pecuniary ootb

were attached to the keep of the visitor. The weakest of such poor old folk are generally strong enoug to see that the baby does not tumble into the fire, and that the saucepans do not boil over. It is arid that the missing steamer Tamarung was loaded with 1400 tons of coal, and that her utmost capacity is not more than 1200 tons. If this be true there will be a great howl when the facts are known. It is also asserted that no skipper dare now, hesitate to venture forth in face of any weather, no matter how much too heavily the ship is laden. On the other hand it is remembered that the Tamarung was one of the best victualled and most comfortable ships on the coast. She did not Uy herself out for passengers, but would take one or two now and then, and those who travelled with her were only too glad to go again. The Bernhardt boom is the biggest that the theatrical world has seen—£Bl4 the first night and an average of over £6OO per night ever since, which gives a return of about £3500 for the first week. Of this amount it is understood that the fair Sarah receives £l2O per night, one third of the gross takings in addition, and also £4O per week for hotel expenses. These sums together give her £720, £1.666 6a Bd, and £4O, making in all £1.856 6s Bd. The Williamson Garner management have the baUnce, £1,643 13s 41. Of course they have the heavy expenses of the Theatre to pay, rent, lights, band attendance, and so on, probably £4OO per week, and their preliminary expenses must have been enormous. Last Thursday the Divine Sarah issued letters of invitation to every manager in Melbourne, music halls, waxworks and all, stating that Madame Sarah Bernhardt would be delighted to see the whole of the employees of their company at the Saturday matinee of La Dame-Aux Cameliue, with which she began her second week. A certain music hall manager marched up to the Theatre on Friday, and demanded to see the actual writer of hie invitation, which he produced. He was shown up to the gentleman in question—handsome Phil Greenwood, who was treasurer for some time during Mr Musgrove’s absence in New Zealand. The manager demanded to know whether they were playing a joke on him, and was told no, the invitation was all right, and had been issued at Madame Bernhardt’s personal desire. Then he asked why the Pandemonium it had not been signed, and on being informed that invitations were always couched in the third person, and consequently always went unsigned, he said he did not care a Continental about the third person. There were only two persons in it, himself and Madame Bernhardt. Furthermore, he was ready to bet new hats that the invitation ought to have been signed, and, oddly enough, he found an ally in one of the firm’s agents who happened to be there. Words came on so quickly that the manager and his supporter offered to bet £lO each that they were right, and Phillip might have made a £2O note bad he chosen to take np their rash wagers. I! Sir Henry Parkes wins in the general elections now pending in New South Wales, he will frost from Federation until he has settled everything else. It Mr Dibbs wins ha will practically frost from it altogether, as he favors a form of Federation which no one else can see any reason for accepting. . That is to say, he is not contented with the idea of Intercolonial Free Trade, but desires to see Protection established in New South Wales as against Victoria. He also swears not to consent to Federation until Sydney is named as the Federal Capital, a decision which will postpone the arrangement sine die. Police protection is sadly wanted in our suburbs, which become more unsafe every day. People are hustled and robbed, ladies assaulted, and houses stripped of their fittings and all their windows, door handles, finger plates, and other garnishings pitched into the streets. The people cry out for help from all suburbs, and a day or two ago a deputation from Canterbury asked the Chief Secretary for a police station, ns there were none nearer than Surrey Hills. He promised to ask the Chief Commissioner to spare one policeman, but one is not of much use in a district which has 15 miles of unmade roads to patrol. Our fores requires immediate revision, and in the slang of the Theatres will have to be brought up to date at once to save wholesale plunder.