Our Australian Letter.

Otago Witness, Issue 1501, 21 August 1880, Page 9

Our Australian Letter.

THE OPERA-HOUSE TRAGEDY.

Melbourne society was profoundly shocked by the terrible tragedy at the Opera-house on the 24th ultimo. The circumstances tinder which the outraged husband revenged himself upon an unfaithful wife and her infamous paramour, and then tried to Beck oblivion in death, could scarcely be surpassed for tragic sensationalism. The horror of his deed has been obliterated from the public mind by the intense sympathy which is felt in all circles for his terrible mental sufferings. The conduct of his wife is almost inexplicable. Ln person her husband was eminently handsome ; he evidently loved her tenderly, and waa most indulgent to her caprices, and oven when his gu«pioiona were aroused he yet treated her with astonishing forbearance. She, on the other hand, has displayed a callous indifference to his mfferings, and suoh an utter disregard for ail womanly delioaoy that she b»i thoroughly disgusted the community.

She has never expressed the slightest rogret for her conduct ; but, with a brazen impudence which has created amazement, has avowed her undiminished preference for her seducer. If it is poseibls to apportion degrees of blame in such a sad business, M. Soudry may be said to have exhibited himself in the least repulsive light. He has endured his sufferings with philosophic indifference, and at any rate has had the good sense to keep his reflections to himself. He will probably soon be well enough to leave the Melbourne Hospital, and will then disappear unregrettad from amongst us. His poßition as Assistant Frenoh Commissioner to the Exhibition has been filled up, so that he will have no inducements to remain. Poor Greer lingered in dreadful agony for six days, notwithstanding that the injury to his brain rendered his case hopeless from the first, When informed of her husband's death Mrs Greer merely laughed. Her conduot in the Hospital has been 80 peculiar that some doubts of her complete responsibility for her actions have arisen. She will probably booh recover from her wound, but she has thoroughly wrecked her life. The jury who inquired intoMr.Greer's death considerately returned a verdict of. suicide while temporarily insane. THK NEW TORRES STRAITS MAIL CONTRACT. A tough battle is proceeding in < the Queensland Assembly at the present time. The Opposition are stonewalling the proposed mail contract which the M 'll wraith Government wish to conclude with the British India Steam Navigation Company. For a fourweekly service via Naples, Port Said, Aden, Colombo, Batavia, Thursday Island, Cooktown, Townsville, Bowen, and Keppel Bay, the Ministry are willing to pay the enormous subsidy of L 50,000 a year. In the North the proposal is regarded with much favour, but a very contrary opinion prevails throughout the Southern districts, and in the metropolis the mercantile community are greatly opposed to the scheme. The Government are probably strong enough to force the contract through, but the Opposition, led by Mr Douglas, are making a determined fight. Politics are very bitter in Queensland just now. Neither side can see any merits in their opponents, and scandal- I ouß insinuations of corruption and dishonesty are the order of the day. A seleot committee j is inquiring into the serious accusations made against the Premier and Colonial Secretary, but the nature of the evidenoe is kept quite secret. A GOLD-MINING REVIVAL. Something approaching a revival of goldmining — not, however, on the colossal BCale of 20 years ago— has taken place of late in Australia. This good fortune is not confined to any one colony, but extends more or less to most of the group. In Victoria the Ballarat quartz-reefs are attracting much attention ; indeed, a speculative mania is abroad, and oompanios are started by the score on the metropoliban goldfield In New South Wales an extensive and valuable goldfield has been discovered at Temora, a place situated some 40 miles from Cootamundra. The population is now numbered by thousands, and the field, though promising, is quite overdone. The Margaret rush, in the Northern Territory, is occasioning considerable excitement. The yields obtained seem to show that gold is plentiful. Several large nuggets have beeu found — one weighing 401bs, It should, however, be borne in mind that the diggings are difficult to reach from the South, that water is scarce, and provisions dear ; also that the Chinese already monopolise the best auriferous ground yet discovered, and are too numerous to be subjeoted to the experiences of a roll-up. THE MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. The arrangement of the courts has already commenced. The buildings are finished, and appearances suggest that the Exhibition will present a pretty complete appearance on the opening day. The Finiaterre, with the French exhibits, has just arrived. Other large consignments from various Continental countries are daily expected, while Victorian and other Colonial goods are constantly being sent in. The ceremonies incidental to the inauguration of the Exhibition will not be very elaborate. Our finances won't admit of lavish expenditure on triumphal processions, &o. We shall take refuge in the reflection that severe timplicity must befit a nation of workers. THE YOUNG AUSTRALIAN TOTB. Politicians are beginning to take into serious consideration the best way of conciliating and educating the young Australian or native vote. The last general election made it apparent that this vote was becoming a moat important factor, and it will yearly become more so. Before many years the ruling power will no longer be men born in Great Brltaiu and brought up amidst British associations, but native-born Victorians. It is estimated tbab, including infanis, the natives of this Colony already exceed the remainder of the population, and the electoral rolls are being annually increased by the addition of tho votes of some 8000 young Victorians. I'm ing the recent aeppal to the country atleaattwo seats — that of Cirlbon and one of those of Sandhurst — were determined by this vote, in each instance a young man being returned who had certainly no special qualifications to urge on his behalf excepting that he waa a native of the Colony. The Liberal party being the gainer by these seata— for young Australia when first tasting politioal fever is usually ultra-Kadical — have since endeavoured to consolidate the native vote by means of politioal associations, to which only Australian natives, or youths who came to the Colonies before they were 10 years of ago, may be admitted. They, however, made the mistake of starting their associations on a purely party basis, and this at once led to divisions, which have resulted in the formation of a rival association in Sandhurst on a broader foundation. The Young Australian Liberal Association, which the Radical* initiated, adopted the following as their primary principles : — •'Maintenance and readjustment, when necen&ary, of the protective system. Abolition of plural voting. Payment of members." But the Australian National Association, the rival and decidedly more popular society, inviteß the members, in the first plaoo, to declare its objects to be—" 1. To secure federation of the Australasian Colonies, and the ulti»Ate fuiioa of the natives of those polonies

into an Australian nation. 2. To promote patriotic co-operation of Australians to secure the social, political, aud general advanoement of their country, and not toe advancement of any political party. 3. For the mutual education of Australians to the formation of liberal and deliberate views upon the various political problems of our country as they arise." The extent to whioh party spirit influences every movement in this country is exercising a most pernicious effect, and gradually kindling a bitterness of class feeling which muot be highly prejudicial to our advancement. No greater mistake can be made than to encourage our native youth to take sides before their political education can oven hive commenced. The valuable lessonß taught by national history and political economy are lost to them, as neither subject is included in our State school curriculum. If under these circumstances the coming rulers of the destinies of Australia fall into the hands of designing politioal tricksters, who will simply use them for their own selfish purposes, what hope is there that tho future of these great and free communities will be intelligently directed ? THE MEAT EXPORT TRADE. This important question is dragging painfully. Eich Colony is apparently desirous of benefiting by the experience — perhaps to be painfully purchased— of the other, and the consequonce is that no really decisive step has been taken. The Victorian Company profesa to be able to despatch a first shipment of frczon meat early in October, but very little is known about their arrangements. Tho Sydney Government intend to run three refrigerating cars on the State railways before the spring trade in meat begins. _ The meat trade in Sydney ia in a transition state. Large supplies of country-killed meat now reach the metropolis, and it is proposed to extend this by developing an export trade as well. In Queensland several wealthy squatters have started a meat company, with a capital of £00,000, but the enterprise is still in a rudimentary stage.