AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Evening Star, Issue 5991, 25 May 1882, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

A concert in the Melbourne Town Hall in aid of the Russian Jews Relief Fund realised L 350. The principal artists in Melbourne gave their services gratuitously. The Montagu-Turner Company's success in Melbourne continues unabated. Signor Venosta and Mr Joseph Barrington are now regular members of the Company, Mr Farley having seceded. Letters patent have been granted by the Solicitor-General of Victoria to Messrs Lees, Rock, and Moore, of Oamaru, New Zealand, for an improved barbed fencing wire and an improved machine for making it. A scene of some disorder took place at a recent sitting of the Commission of the Presbyterian Assembly of Victoria. While the draft Declaratory Act, containing the statement of belief, wasunder discussion, the Rev. W. Henderson, who opposed the draft, asked the Rev. M. M'Donald whether he believed it possible to save any more souls than those which were elect of God. Mr M'Donald replied in the negative. Mr Henderson rejoined, amidst cheers from the back of the hall, which was crowded, "And yet you preach the Gospel! If I thought that the preaching of any man would have no effect whatever on the future of his listeners, I would not preach any longer." An excited discussion followed, some members contending that Mr Henderson had misrepresented the meaning of the Declaratory Act. The Rev. Mr Robinson claimed that Mr Henderson be allowed to conclude his remarks without interruption. The Rev. Mr Rentoul, of St. Kilda, said all the confusion was due to Mr Henderson speaking direct to a member instead of through the chair. The Rev. Mr Wardrop interjecting " The two dictators of St. Kilda again," another scene of confusion arose, three or four members rising together. After some disputation, the Rev. Mr Wardrop withdrew the expression he had used. After further discussion, the Declaratory Act was sent down to the General Assembly for approval. The election of two directors for the Australian Mutual Provident Society resulted as follows: —lves, 19,294; Murray, 14,754; King, 10,173; Saddington, 10,115. Messrs Ives and Murray are therefore elected.

It is reported that the only child (a boy of five years) of Constable Bowen, who was killed by the Moonlight gang at Wantabadgery, has inherited L 14.000 from an English relative.

At the Police Court, Melbourne, on May 2, James Jenkins, restaurant cook, was charged with attempting to shoot a butcher's assistant named Nicholl Russell. The parties were rival suitors to the housemaid at the restaurant where accused . was employed. .Russell, hearing that Jenkins intended to shoot him, challenged to fight him with fists ; the latter replied that he did not want to get black eyes, and only fought with weapons. Subsequently finding Russell, the housemaid, and two or three other persons talking together, Jenkins challenged Russell to step aside, and immediately levelled a revolver at him. The housemaid, declaring that she would sooner be shot herself, jumped between them. Jenkins was then arrested and remanded.

A penny subscription is to be started in the State schools, under the sanction of the Minister of Education, to supplement the Mansion House Fund for the relief of the Russian Jews.

A strange accident occurred at the Hobson's Bay Railway Station. Whilst the carriages were being shunted the door of a van flew open and struck a large iron column supporting the roof. It snapped the column in two, and the falling column dragged the girder and displaced two other columns. Three wooden pillars were quickly substituted. There was no interruption to the traffic. The columns were of tubular iron plate, three-quarters of an inch thick. The door of the van was uninjured.