OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 7363, 8 November 1887, Page 1

OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER.

[From Oer Melbourne Correspondent.]

Novehbkr 1. the racing carnival. ' •

Melbourne's annual racing carniraLis npV in full swing, and the sudden settling of the weather is most opportune for both tradesman and pleasure seeker. The winter hits, been an unusually wet one, productive of enormous good to the country, but causing not a little irritation to townsfolk; bat last week the finest of spring weather setin, and everybody is pleased. The summer clothing stocks, which had been accumulating much to the discomfort of the drapers, have been rapidly disposed of, and Melbourne now appears in her richest attire. Her citizens, with. visitors from the country and all corners of the adjacent colonies, throng her' streets/ Everything is bustle, and sanguine anticipation is depicted on every countenance. For this is Cup day, and in an honrthe greatest event in the colonial sporting world is to be run. Thousands are flocking to the railway stations and tram and bus termini, and in a very short time Melbourne . will be deserted, and Flemington racecourse—the finest in the world—will be called upon to accommodate probably the largest assemblage which has yet taken place. THE CHINESE QUESTION. There is to be no rest for the Celestial in this country. Mr Deakin, the Chief Secretary, has been waited on by a large deputation, representing the trade societies and. the Anti-Chinese League, who desired to bring under his attention the urgent necessity which, in their opinion, existed for repressive legislation being immediately introduced to prevent tho influx of : Chinese. The proposals of the League were placed before Mr Deakin, and the evil influence exercised by the Chinese in their competition with Europeans was urged on the Minister with unanimity and emphasis. Mr Deakirij_ in reply, admitted that he believed Parliament and the people were strongly in favor of anti-Chinese legislation ; but he pointed out that to make final and decisive legislation against the Chinese effective such legislation would have to be sanctioned by the Imperial authorities, and it was in that the difficulty lay. The co-operation of the other colonics of New South Wales and South Australia had already been secured, and, if those colonies would unite with Victoria in) taking immediate action, the Imperial authorities would pay more attention to the xnatter tK&n if Victoria acted. alone. At present, however, the other colonies did not seem to be willing to act at' once. He would ask the Government to endeavor to induce them to change their mind and proceed at once with the legisla-. tion desired. LIVELY LEGISLATORS. Disorderly scenes continue to be enacted in the New South Wales Parliament. In the Assembly last week Mr Melville persisted in speaking to a point of order after the Speaker had ruled, and worked himself up into a great state of excitement, demand- ' ing to be heard. He was frequently called upon to sit down, and when tho Minis-" terialists appealed to him to support the chair he cried out "I won't sit down for you or any dirty tools !" This exclamation seemed to relieve him, for he immediately afterwards collapsed into mildness and resumed his seat. Subsequently Mr O'Sullivan oalled Mr Inglis "a liar," and four times used similar epithets, wbioh had all to be withdrawn. On another occasion an incident occurred involving the question of privilege. Mr - Haynes, in denouncing a tramway scheme, talked at Mr Thomas Robertson, the solicitor of the projectors, who was sitting in the Speaker's gallery. Mr Robertson chafed a good deal in silence, until Mr Haynea made a particularly offensive statement, " when he roared out "It's a lie!" There was a great deal of commotion, and Mr Robertson (at the request of the Sergeant-at-arms) retired. Mr Robertson sent ,&. letter of apology to the Speaker next day. It was accepted, and thus legal proceedings were avoided. ANNEXATION OF FIJI. The proposal that Fiji should be nnited to Victoria has been brought under the notice of the Premier (Mr Gillies) in a formal manner, by a deputation headed by Mr E. Langton, as chairman, and Mr T, H. Prichard, of Fiji, as secretary of the Fiji Annexation Committee. Mr Langton deal*' fully with the subject, stating that the form and administration of the Government of Fiji were so bad that the Colony could not prosper. Expense of administration, labor restriction, and Native taxation were the s , chief causes of complaint. The Committee' - at the same time submitted a scheme on which they suggested Victoria might undertake the government of Fiji. This scheme proposes to make Fiji a province of Victoria, and to give her representation ;in;; this Colony's Legislative Assembly, while purely local affairs should be administered by an official appointed for the purpose, assisted, by a Provincial" Council of official and elected members. Other details of the ,- proposed form of government were'"also'*: suggested, and the estimated cost of govern;- "*"" ing the island was L50,G00 annually, .which .. could be raised locally. Mr Qillies,. in reply, undertook that the Government carefully consider the matter, which, ; hjp ; remarked, wonld require very gray« - sideration before they could place a deliberate proposal before Parliament' or comma-"-nicate with the Imperial Government on. the subject. :;

A STARVING SHIP. ■ The French barque Julie, 504 tons, bound '• from Eureka (Humboldt Bay) to.Melbourne, with a cargo of redwood, had had a terrible voyage. After being 100 days out 8h»--, managed to make Sydney, where she bad to* ' await the service of a friendly Bteamer to" tow her out to sea. She encountered a succession of heavy gales, which smashed in the bulwarks and swept away the whole of the deck cargo of timber. Some weeks ago provisions ran short, and after the crew had been living on reduced rations for some time they were compelled to exist as beßt they could on albatross flesh and rata, which were captured on the ship by the half-starved sailors. Prior to reaching Twofold Bay the , crew had been living principally on a stew, made chjeSy of rats. .:

THE MAIL CONTRACT. Telegraphic notes are at present being £ exchanged between the Premiers of New *■ South wales, South Australia, and Victoria,, with reference to the new ocean.mail service contract to be entered into between the Imperial Government and the Australian: colonies on the one part, and the Orient and :■ Peninsular and Oriental Companies on the; other. The Home authorities having repudiated the terms originally agreed"' negotiations were commenced afresh upon a new basis submitted by Mr Goachen on behalf of the Imperial Government—namejy*,.. that Great Britain pay the two shipping companies carrying the mails a subsidy of L 90.000 per annum, the Australian colonies to furnish a joint subsidy of LBO,OOQ, and each retaining their own postage. Thft'lcolonies have endeavored, without success, to induce the Home Government to adhere to the terms of agreement arrived at somemonths since, involving a larger contribuV* tion by the Imperial Government. ' l

THE CRIME KECORD. The latest pha*e of the epidemic' r * m Melbourne has been the discovery of t&e ■■■* proceeds of innumerable robberies, extending over the last twelve months, in the house of" an apparently estimable young carpenter, of .-> Toorak, named Aquilla P. young man has been pursuing hfc lawfftl" rs day and carrying dnaTseriesOf*" very unlawfal proceedings by night, lived with his parents, but the house vMicb/-/-has been made the receptaole of the mimT'/;" arfciales which he had stolen was being bTOIL;j, ; by him in order that he might be fIOJ|T veniently situated for entering ppon 'ifcbft, married state. The house itself has. built to a great extent of material from contractors' works, and it was crammed with all sorts of stolen property,?'>f Aquilla might have got married and. grdwta.^*

f«.t on the realisation of his unlawfully annexed effecti but for the fact that one left a pan-of buggy | wheels in his back yard. Inese were noticed bytheraUway guard o a passing S, and their similarity to wheels which £id been taken from the buggy of a neighbor led him to give information to the police. The place was visited by a constable, and the buggy wheels identified as those which had been stolen, and when the house came to be searched it was found to contain at least L2OO worth of goods, the proceeds of many robberies. The trade of the criminal enabled him to carry out the most impudent thefts with impunity, for he could visit a building la course of erection with a hand-cart and help himself unstinttingly without anybody taking any notice. The Prevention of Criminals Influx Act is being rigidly enforced, and a South australiln criminal recently arrested was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment m irons. Another prisoner was sentenced to thirteen months' in irons undei" theAcfc From a statement of Colonel Sargooo s cardener, this last-mentioned man had the Impudence to present himself at the Colonels residence on the occasion of a garden party, and asked to be allowed to join the comp ,ny. He had no card of enlrie, and on being questioned stated he was a detective connected with the Melbourne force, and was sent by the head of the Criminal Investigation Department in company with Detective Wardley. As he was unable to produce Ins authority as a detective, he was obliged to leave the premises. Staurenghi, the defaulting Geelong woolbroker who was arrested at San Francisco, has been committed for trial. Altogether he has embezzled more than L 2.000, but he could only be charged on the single information on which he was extradited from The frequent use of " Rough on Eats " by suicides has led to the juries at two coroner s inquests in Melbourne recommending some restrictions on its sale. One instance of poisoning was that of a young girl who preferred death to being talked to by her mother for walking out with a sweetheart. Two cases have occurred of young girls taking laudanum on account of unrequited love. The stomachic pump, however, brought them to their senses. Elizabeth Faulkner, a domestic servant in the employment of the Rev. T. Armstrong, incumbent of St. Colomb's Church, Hawthorn, has been arrested on a charge of infanticide. A murderous assault was made on a police trooper by a man whose name is at present unknown, at Narine, South Australia. A warrant had been issued for the mans arrest for stealing goods, and the trooper proceeded to the bush to arrest him. As he was about to lay hands on him the man resisted, and then bolted. The trooper called upon him to surrender, and fired two shots in the air to intimidate him. A young man in the vicinity caught the fugitive, and the trooper rushed to secure the prisoner, who stabbed him with a butcher s knife in four places, and also severely bit him. The trooper managed to secure his assailant, but his life is despaired of. William James Broadman, who has been arrested at Sydney for sundry larcenies, is an original thief. Accused's method was to dress himself up very fashionably and make a round of the solicitors' offices at the time they were left open to be cleaned. Jnst before his arrest he was discovered in an office, but he was equal to the occasion. He had a roll of documents under his arm, and, adopting a patronising air, he informed his subsequent captors that he was the manager, and that they must call again to-morrow, as the principal never did business after hours. After arrest he was taken to a fashionable boarding-place at which it was ascertained he had been residing, and his effects were there searched. Amongst them was a cashbox bearing signs of having been forced open, and which has since been identified as being stolen from a lawyer's office. It contained amongst other articles fifty two skeleton keys, latch keys, files, etc., gold and silver jewellery; several burglars' jemmies, screwdriver-', chisels, and other tools. The police believe him to be identical with a man who has been wanted for some time in connection with robberies in Queensland.

The Sandhurst police are investigating a case where a peculiarly villainous outrage was attempted. The landlord of the Early Bird Hotel, Upper Shcepwash road, on_ returning to his house on Sunday evening, noticed a smell of fire, and on examination found a jar three parts full of blasting powder with a lighted fuse inserted in it. But for his timely return, the house would have been blown to smithereens. His hotel was some little time back burnt down, and it would now seem that Mr Thompson has been the victim of incendiarism. THE SCKRKY HILLS OUTRAGE.

A special meeting of the Box Hill Court was held last week for the purpose of investigating the charge of robbery with violence preferred against Alexander (Jarrick in connection with the outrage recently committed at the residence of Mr Henry Boyce, Canterbury road, Surrey Hills. Mrs Boyce deposed that on the evening of the sth October her husband left home abozt eight o'clock, and did not return until eleven o'clock. At half-past ten o'clock she heard a knock at the front door, and on answering it found the prisoner standing on the verandah. He inquired if her husband was at home, and she replied that he was not. Prisoner said he wanted to see him about some work. Witness told him her husband would soon be home, and suggested accused should go and meet him. Prisoner said he would prefer to wait. After some conversation, in the course of which witness made some reference to her brother, in order that prisoner should not think she was alone, she resumed her household duties, leaving prisoner standing outside the door. Presently be entered the kitchen and remarked: "Look here, missus, we know all about that brother of yours. If you make any noise I will knock you down; if you don't, I'll not mirt you." Witness became very agitated, and implored him not to hurt her infant, to which he replied " I won't hurt you or your baby if you keep c|itiot." She ran into the bedroom, where the baby was sleeping. Prisoner followed, and producing a piece of hayband from his pocket tied both her hands and bound her to the railing of the child's cot. Tearing a sash from her dress, he stuffed it into her mouth, which was also bound with a piece of cloth. In order that she should inform him where the money was kept, prisoner loosed the band a little, but she only shook her head to indicate she did not know. He then struck a match and searched the room, taking possession of two silver watches and a loaded revolver from off the dining-table. Three cruet-stands were subsequently missed from another room. Prisoner turned down the lamp and made a hasty retreat. Her husband returned shortly before eleven o'clock, and had to cut the hayband to release her. The prisoner was committed for trial. THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF DETECTIVE NIXON. A heavy sentence has been passed by Mr Justice Holroyd on Christopher Farrell, convicted of shooting at Detective-sergeant Nixon with intent to do him grievous bodily harm. The prisoner appears to have spent a great part of his life in gaol. According to his own account, he was first convicted in this Colony at Geelong in 1859, and again two or three years afterwards. He then aeems to have gone to New South Wales, where he is stated to have served several long sentences, but, though an officer from the Darlinghurst Gaol was in Court, His Honor refused to allow the record to be put in evidence against him. Farrell handed up a statement to the Judge, and His Honor, in delivering sentence, said: "You are an old man, and therefore I regret all the more thatl cannot listen to the appeal which you make for mercy. It is not to punish you or inflict any hurt or harm upon you that I pass sentence. It is to prevent men from committing one of the most dangerous crimes that can be committed, and for which you have been convicted. There is not the slightest reason to suppose that your weapon went off by accident, as you say. You deliberately fired at a constable in the lawful discharge of his duty . If you had fired at anyone the offence would have been serious enough, bat it beoame still more aggravated when yon were resisting the rightful exercise of the law ; and that cannot be too Saerally well known. The sentence of the art is that yon be imprisoned and kept to hard labor for twelve years." Farrell, who b over sixty years of age was completely overcome, for to him the sentence is practically one for life. AMUSEMENTS. The many amusements of Melbourne have been added to by the display of fireworks, wblob have come to be recognised summer Alvertlsemento. The Italian and comis operas still attract large audiences at the Theatre Royal and the Princess's. At the totter " Masootte " was produced last Saturday, when Miss Maggie Moore redeemed

her laurels in the title-role. Miss Colborne Baker made an excellent Princess, there being less restraint in her acting than usual, and her pure vocalisation being all that was desirable. "Modern Wives," which still holds the boards at the Bijou, is well spoken of by everyone. It is to be succeeded by " School for Scandal." The Opera, House was opened on Saturday by Clarke's " All Star Novelty Combination," who give a Christy Minstrel ami gymnastic entertainment. It has the drawback of not being free from vulgarity and coarseness. The Fisk Jubilee are still appearing at the Town Hall, but are not drawing so well as formerly. The Cogill Brothers are doing splendid business at St. George's Hall. Mr Locke Richardson has given one or two very successful dramatic recitals lately. In Sydney, at Her Majesty's, "Called Back " has been revived with satisfactory results. It is to be followed by " Held by the Enemy." At the Theatre Royal " Harbor Lights " has maintained a steady attraction. At the Criterion, with Miss Essie Jenyns as Beatrice, "Much Ado About Nothiug " secures good attendances, and at the Gaiety " Post Obit," with Mr and Miss Dampier in conspicuous parts, appears to have gained a good deal of preference. At the Opera House, "Brighton," otherwise "Saratoga," with Mr Saint Maur, is still being produced. PERSONAL AND SOCIAL. The Scots' Church Committee of Management have received an intimation that tne Rev. J. Marshall Lang, D.D., an eminent Scottish minister, has consented to come to Melbourne and take charge of Scots' Church congregation for six months. Dr Lang was to leave England by the Oroya on November 9, and is expected to reach Melbourne shortly before Christmas. Mr J. C. Syme, one of the proprietors of the ' Age ' newspaper, was entertained at a dinner last week by the News Agents' Associatioa on the occasion of his marriage with Miss Bluir, daughter of Mr D. Blair, of East Melbourne. He was also the recipient of many presentations. Mr and Mrs Syme proceed on an extended wedding tour through Europe and America. A naval and military ball, at which the Governor was present, came off at the Melbourne Town Hall on Thursday last, about 1,000 people being present. A garden party was held at Government House, Melbourne, on Friday last, and was atteuded by 2,500 ladies and gentlemen. By the steamer Iberia the following members of Shrewsbury and Lillywhite's team of English cricketers arrived in Melbourne on Friday via Sydney:—C. A. Smith, L. C. Docker, G. Brann, W. Newham, A. Shrewsbury, J. M. Read, G. A. Lohmann, A. D. Pougher, R. Pilling, J. M. Preston, J. Briggs, and G. Ulyett. Mr D. M. Davies, the member for Granville in the Victorian Assembly, has been createa a Minister of the Crown withoutportfolio, in place of the jresent Speaker. He was returned as a Radical ten years ago. Though ho bears the same name as the Speaker, he is no relation. The death of Mr Carl Feilberg, editor of the ' Brisbane Courier,' is announced. Mr Feilberg was well known outside of Queensland by various literary works with which he was associated. He was a regular contributor up to within a few weeks of his death to the columns of the ' Australasian,' and was a member of the ' Argus' staff during a visit which he paid a few years ago to Melbourne. ITEMS. The Customs authorities of Sydney have seized on the premises of several tobacconists 5,000 " Old Judge" cigarettes, which formed part of a large quantity which have recently been smuggled into that city. The report of the engineer appointed to inquire into the cause of the Petersham railway accident shows that it was due to the breaking of a very faulty Brunswick axle, and he suggests that axles of the same brand should be tested, with a view of ascertaining whether it is safe to continue to use them. Steps are now being taken to remove the old standing complaint against Sydney in regard to the insufficiency of its hotel accommodation. Three or four first-class hotels have been opened, and several others are in course of erection.

The question of giving lady medical students separate clinical teaching is not satisfactorily settled yet, the Alfred Hospital authorities being inclined to throw difficulties in the way. The construction of the annexes to the Melbourne Exhibition building is proceeding rapidly. The wooden framework is up over fourteen or fifteen acres of ground, including the quadrangle, in which a large portion of the floor hasbeen laid down. The contract time for the completion of the additions is eight months, and there is every prospect of their being finished within that period, 200 men being employed on the job. During a visit to Melbourne aud Adolaide recently Sir Henry Parkes had conversations with the Premiers of Victoria and South Australia regarding the status of the AgentsGeneral for tho Australasian colonies. He is of opinion that there should be uniformity in regard to the appointments and tenure of office of these gentlemen, so that they may have greater weight with the Colonial Office in London. According to present arrangements, the Agent-General fur Queensland is a member of tho Cabinet, and only holds office as long as his Government is in power; the Agent-General for Victoria holds office for a fixed term $ and the representatives of New South Wales, South Australia, and New Zealand are appointed at pleasure, and may be displaced at any time. It is not unlikely that the Victorian Government wil recommend Parliament to grant a special vote to the Governor next year to defray the heavy expenditure thai he will necessarily be put to in dispensing hospitality in connection with the Centennial Exhibition.

The uncertainty of mining operations is illustrated in the story of the Magdala mine at Stawell, Victoria. Mount Morgan was the freehold property of a Belector, who had hopes of making some discovery, but he was advised by a geological expert thai the mountain consisted of useless iron ore, and he sold out at LI per acre. The useless iron ore has now turned out to be the richest gold-bearing stone which has been found on a large scale in the world. The Magdala mine was started twenty years ago by soms enterprising Ballarat residents, and after spending L 130,000 they wound up their operations a year or two ago. Adjoining ground has since been worked by other people, and a reef has been found 25ft wide, and averaging l|oz to the ton.

"Atticus" in the 'Leader' tells the following story : A lady <vho has been spending a fortuig in the delightful highlands of Daylcsfoul writes to me: "I was humiliated to-day, JI went f° r a wa 'k to the mineral spring at Tipperary Point, passing by the old dam that is a sort of land-mark for travellers. On my return I got astray among the mountain tracks, and began to thiuk I was regularly bushed when I met a clerical gentleman from whom I thought I could inquire my way—' Can you put me on the dam read ?' I asked in my very politest tones. He appeared to be honestly shocked, and his look of horror at once told me the interpretation he had put on my innocent question. However, all he said as he took off his hat was: ' Madam, I am a stranger here.' I really believe it was Dr Goe I met." The tender of Messrs D. Munro and Co. at L 97,818 has been accepted for the construction of the railway line from Fitzroy to Whittlesea.

It is intended to celebrate the Centenary of Australia by a series of religious services in connection with the various churches throughout Victoria, Bishop Barry, in his opening address to the New South Wales Anglican Synod, said that if the new Divorce Bill became law the Bench of Bishops would do their duty and direct the clergy as to the course to be adopted regarding remarriages under the amended law.

A curious case of narcotic poisoning has occurred at Sydney. A leading resident left the care of a young family to a servant for a time ; and so that she might get out of an evening she gave them laudanum and chlorodyne to put them to sleep. One of the children is so ill that she is to be sent to England, and it is feared that its constitution will be permanently weakened. Three others are also severely injured. The servant will be prosecuted.