AIM JULIAN NEWS.

Evening Star, Issue 7387, 6 December 1887, Page 2

AIM JULIAN NEWS.

|Fbom Odb Melbourne Correspondent. ] Tuesday, November 29. AN UNSEEMLY SQUABBLE. A dispute b=tweenthieviptoiian Railway Commissioners and th« Melbourne City Corporation in connection with Messrs Johnson and Co.’s contract for making the new bridge over the raijway in Swanston itreet, assumed a ridiculous phase the other day. Police Court proceedings of the previous day left the matter na very unsatisfactory position, ardit was a question whether the contractor would desist in cutting away the road pending a decision of the Council, or whether the'Cdnncil would in the meantime allow the work to proceed without interruption. The arrest of the contractor’s ganger rather blocked than smoothed the way to the temporary settlement. So far as the Railway Commissioners were concerned, it was their intention that tbecontiactor should go on with his work, irrespective of any action of the city surveyor. On the other hand the city surveyor, acting under instructions from the Works Committee of the Council, was equally determined to stop it. Accordingly as soon as the contractor’s laborers started work removing the earth from the excavation formed at the intersection of River Bank road with Swanston street, men in the employ of the Corporation proceeded to use the {laoe as a tip, and discharged into it load after load of fillingup material collected from all parts of the city. £he contractor’s men thereupon shovelled the stuff into their own drays, and carted it away to a portion of the railway reserve. As fast as one load was tipped into the hollow It was shovelled up again and carted away—a practice which was carried on until about three o’clock in the afternoon, when the Corporation drays were eventually {withdrawn. Between 400 and 500 loads of earth and road material were deposited by the city authorities into the excavation, which it was said was paid for at about the rate - V 1 Matters have since been amicably settled.

THE IRISH QUESTION. _ A largely-attended meeting was held at the Melbourne Hibernun Hall last week, at which resolutions were passed unanimously condemning the coercion policy now being enforced in Ireland, and expressing sympathy with, the evicted tenants, and with Mr william O’Brien, M.P., and other gentlemen who are suffering imprisonment in consequence of their action in connection with the agitation. The speeches made, though moderate in tone, appealed strongly to the f the audience, and Mr Molloy, a member of the Irish party in the House of Commons, who spoke for about three, quarters of ah hour, delivered an oddtess which fairly roused the enthusiasm of his hearers. He claimed young Australians as sympathisers with the Irish National cause, and. stated hit adherence to the opinion uttered by previous speakers, that it was. only a matter of .time when Ireland was granted Home Rule, which be emphatically declared did not Rieftn separa; tkmfrom Great Britain. Such aepqiatipawivs not part of the programme of the Irish party of the House of Commons, and Mr Molloy gave various reasons why separation should not be sought for. A subscription list was opened &t the meeting, and the sum of about L4OO Was obtained. NEW GUINEA. Mr W. R. Cuthbertson, the leader of the expedition recently equipped by the Victorian Royal Geographical Society tyr the ascent of Mount Qhrce, in' British New Guinea, has delivered an account of his experiences during ike trip. The narration showed that the interior of the country is well watered, verdant, moun v tainous,- and thickly timbered. ; Mahogany trees of a valuable kind were encountered in the low lands, and at an altitude of 6,000 ft, on Mount Obree, a pice wood was discovered. The moun-. tain summit was reached at P.OfiO/t. Haring 4 journey which continued over a njontb the party remained in thg of health and received the kindliest treatment from ‘thp Natives. Mr Cuthbertson’s diaiy contains no mention of any hostile demonstration having been made ' the inhabitants af any point. They heard threats from time to time of what the savages inland might be ejpscted to do for them, but these were never justified. Most of the aboriginals proved hardy, gopd tempered, cleanly, and well-built men and womeiv Oqly one tribe was found which did not answer to this description, and they were of dirty habits aid suffered from a scaly skin disease. No peculiar wild animals nor signs of preoious metals seem to have been seen, and the most a palling adventure met with was the discovery, of a hollow tree full of human skulls and bones.

THE ALBATROSS EPISODE. Towards the end cf September last a remarkable story was telegraphed from Fremantle, Western Australia, relative to the finding of an albatross dead cn the beash bearing round Its neck a tin plate with a message pricked upon it in French, signifying—“ Thirteen shipwrecked manners have taken refuge in the Orozet Isles. August 4,1887.” Intelligence of the disaster reported in this singular manner was at once sent by cable to England, and the present sequel to the story is told in the following words by an English paper received by the last mril: —“ The Foreign Office communicated the intelligence to the French Minister of Foreign Affairs. The French authorities;'having inquired into the matter, came to the conclusion that*the wreck must be that of the a threemaster belonging to the firm of Bordesl'antl Fils, Bordeaux, which sailed for Noohrea mi 13th December last, And not turfing beedheard of since was thought fo have'perished with>ll on board. The crew of that VeSsbl consisted 'bf thirteen persons. The French Admiralty, after c mraunicating with the Bordeaux firm, have determined to send but a despatch befit from the Madagascar station to the Orozet Isle4i which are situated in tbe South Indian OCefin, some 44deg south of thfe EqUator, and about 59deg east of Greenwich, It is thought 1 thfit the Albatross must haVe traversed f\U[y 2.090 feographlcaTmiles to get to Fremantle. Even ope is still entertained of rescuing thelshipwrecked crew; for the Orozet Islek are stated to abound in game and fish; and the fact bf t()4 words quoted having been written on’ tin plate mak s it app&r probable'* pat some Of thl tinned ' provisions 'that were on boara the Taman's have been saved. ’ N i> doubt th|i wrecked mariners will have a wopdgrfuf tele to tell when they get hack to Europe, ana tpe South' Australian authorities deserve great commendation for haring so promptly advise# the Home Govermpeni of tlje carious trmyaiUf met with at Frenjantle. AN IN rBBEoTIKQ COCKLE. bepu trieJf in the Alexander Craig, residing in- Napier streetj Fitzroy, ipade a claim against Anna Berger, of Lome street, Hawkshurn, for X6y, fjj qdjjfgf money }ep and paid on' her account- *hsl defendant p a rra'yom wjdow, of muWleaga, and tbe plamtif| somewhat elderly. He stated that in Jply Ipst Mrs Berg®, whom buhaq know# some yeara preyiqnsly, camp to thp hopse he lodgpig at, and ahe w in monetar? difopltief. ftr M died only-top days previously. Onp of than proposed marriage, hut there was a conljiot of evidence on (he subject. T|)p phpntif, at any rate, gayp her spme money, paid sevprelinstal. meats op her behalf to a building society, p gas bill, and two dr three outstapding The plaintiff went to lire with the defendant, and a disagreement taking place between than, he [left her house and instituted the present. action. The Defendant asserted that Oraig* made her pn offer of marriage, hat that she, told him he must wait at least twelve months, until -tbe period of mourning W*« over, He, then gave her a ppipher of pra«Wt* fa.new of their approaching. union, vhiph might have carte about had-he not made Improper pto* pouU to her, and . roused h«it9 break off hM • ngageme&t with him. Judge, |lele«worth accepted tbe lady s version of the itory, and gave a verdict Ip her favor.

«ahwat Aoomwm. . ' . An extraordinary ace'dect occurred oft the Wteterhlifia of railway, N.B.tF„ on Saturday night, While a mixed mall and good* train *u pasting the cutting near Brogan? Creek, miles from Sydney, a mays to weigh lOOlons, fell oathe toalfc The engine was thrown over on to its side, the two track* next to it were smashed, and the following two were thrown off the rails, None of the oar* riages were damaged, and the only personal In* juries sustained were suffered by the guard and a fitter, who were slightly cut. The passenger* were thrown from their seats, tat ware unhurt, lam afraid that such an accident aiihe.clms, Seaoliff, on the Dunedin and ChristehUrch lifle, would be attended with more di&stroUa Coti*

I serious collision occurred last Thursday oil the railway near the Springs platform, about seven miles from Wellington (New Sortth Wales). A special train containing life stock was following an ordinary goods train, and on going down a steep incline near Springs the special ran into the goods, telesooping two or three tracks, and completely destroying the brake van and one carriage truck. A horse-box containing two horses was also broken, lolling both animals. Four people were seriously injured—Guard Doig . having a out face and shock to system;. Assistant • guard O’Neill injury to spine; Driver Johnston, shock and internal injury; and Fireman Hogan, broken collar-bone. How the guards escaped with

their lives is a marvel . . PBAUDBIBST WSOLYSKCT. Thomas Games, a Hawthorn draper, has committed for trial on a charge of fraudulent insolvency. This was the man who was " committed to gaol .recently for refusing to answer questions when on his examination before. Judge Worthington. It apprared fc*n the evidence given that Games solo his taswess to his brother-in-law one morning, and n#e of his employes knew anything abofri it UP'Uthe latter came in the afternoon to take olwge of the shop. , v To one h* 1 was going aSraf li fbr 3 *wo‘mcjp{hg, “afraid to face his' outers.” n»kM the witness to keep whs» gad .HPp , would goi ' • ‘ * . ■ " * BftWDY spnifcroAp . A very disorderly meeting j " j .r»‘ e in the West Biding of the Wwabbjn took place afr-ChaltenhAßT Anaxtraordinary vaomey had beeotauaed iniherepre- . sentation of'the ,“h® of;. OrSparks, and the Wied to he.br t the views of Mr DavidAbbott, a candidate for the vacant seat Mr/P*™, the retiring oonn-

cilior, vtho U slrtogly opposed to Mr Abbott, endeavored to address the meeting, but was at once sot upon and thrown off the platform into the body of the meeting. In his fall he clutched hold of Mr Abbott’s watch chain, which broke in the stiuggle. The chain was subsequently found on the floor, but the watch remained in the candidate’s pocket. Mr Sparks again presented himself oa the platform to move his want of confidence motion; and Mr Palmer, of Picnic, who was addressing the meeting in favor of Mr Abbott, was also summarily dismissed from the platform, amid a scene of the wildest confusion, the entire meeting, with a few exceptions, shouting and yelling at the top of their Voice*. A FOOLHARDY EXPERIMENT. Charles Jackson, the Australian Blondin, attempted to walk along a rope stretched at an elevation of eighty feet across the Blow Hole, near Kiama (N.8.W.). After three attempts in the face of a strong wind he desisted. The Blow Hole is an immense cavern, into which tha sea dashes with terrific force, and a fall into the boiling waters below would involve certain death. SHIPWRECKED SAILORS. Two seamen belonging to the British ship Monarch arrived in Sydney from Hong Kong on Saturday. They state that their vessel was lost on the coast of Mindoura, and that they were picked up by a Spanish schooner, the Jesusa, wh’ch subsequently went ashore, and became a total wreck Three of the crew of the ship Moiarch, including the captain, were drowned in attempting to get ashore from the Jesusa. SERIOUS ACCIDENT. A serious accident occurred on Saturday on the Walhalla road. A youog man from Toongabbie, named Fryer, was driving a waggon with eight horses. When reaching a very steep, dangerous point, known as Flour Boy Cutting, the track was obstructed by a fallen log. la consequence the waggon was forced so near the edge of the bank that it fell over the side, and was precipitated down the steep tide of the mountain, dragging the horses with it. The fail was so great that two of the horses were killed and the vehicle smashed to matchwood. One young man was grievously injured, several ribs being broken, he being asleep in the

waggon at the time it fell. Fryer, who was driving the team, brought him to Traralgon for medical treatment. FASHIONABLE WEDDING, A very fashionable wedding took place on Wednesday afternoon, November 23, at Christ Church, Brunswick, when Miss E hel Sumner, daughter of the late Mr T. J. Sumner, of “Stoney Park,” and Captain James Traill, aide-de-camp to His Excellency the Governor (Sir Henry Brougham Looh). were married. The churoh was moat artistically decorated for the occasion, and the ceremony was performed by the Kev. 0. P. hi. Bardin, incumbent, assisted by the Kev. Horaee Tucker. The bride wore an elegant costume of white ivory duchessa satin, trimmed with real duchessa lace; the customary wreath and veil, and carried an exquisite bouquet. There were eight bridesmaids: The Misses Edith and Evelyn Loch, the Misses Kate, Maud, and Minnie Sumner (sisters of the bride), Miss Grioe, Miss Osborne, and Miss Armitoge, who were nil dressed in beautiful costumes of white China silk, tastefully draped with Valenciennes lace, veils, and carrying exquisite bouquets of rones. Captain Keith Falconer, A.D.0., acted as best man; and the bride was given away by Mr James Grice, her brother-in law. Amongst the guests present were the Governor and Lady Loch, the Marquis and Marchioness of Drogheda, the Earl of Buckinghamshire, Sir William J. Clarke, Bart,, and Lady Clarke, Sir George Verdon and Lady Yerdop, the Hon. Francis Ormond and Mrs Ormoud, HRs Richard Grice, Mr Benn, and about 400 others well known in apfslety. Mr and Mrs Traill proceed on a Contipenial topr for the honeymoon, SOCIAL AMD PERSONAL. Mr Edward Jenkips, the author of ‘Ginx’s Raby’ and 'Lord Bantam,’ contemplates an Australian tour at an early date. Mr Robert Louis Stevenson, the novelist, has decided to extend his American tour to New Zealand and Japan. News has reached Melbourne that the Hun!;arian violinist M. Edouard Remenyi has lost Its He ou the coast of Madagascar by shipwreck. Lord and Lady Carnarvon will probably leave Melbourne for New Zealand on the 22ad prox. The Marquis and Marchioness of Drogheda have not definitely fixed their movements, but will go from Sydney to New Zealand and will probably return to Melbourne. A writer in Melbourne ‘Table Talk’ says : “ There i. one noble lady heie at present who behaves in a rather eccentric manner when she visits the theatres. First of all she enters the dress circle wrapped up in an ulster which dates its manufacture at the same period as the origin of her genealogical tree, but which, nevertheless, is an ulster which any well-to-do washerwoman would despise. After making her appearance in this peculiar garment and gaining everybody’s attaution, she slowly takes her place in the Governor’s box, adjusts her eye-glass, glares round at the wild animals in thedress circle, and commences to unbutton the much observed ulattr. Sofnefimes she takes it off altogether and allows the wild animals to havfe a sight of the costume which the enveloping coat had close’y hidden, the aiid costume being frippery, and blousy to a degree. It is very evident'the other vlce--'egal visitors do uot lik- 1 this style of thing, but this “Lady of Ulster ” is above taking the slightest notice of the people’s predilections. However, otlcfi on a time it used to be different, for Iri-h JHefa, even in their proverbial poverty, always preserved their courteous politeness' anq deference to the jaws of hospitality.

THEATRICAL ANIJ MUSICAL. Mulatne Madeline Schiller, who during a long sojourn in Ameiica was reckoned the best solo pianist there, intends giving a series of Concerts ip Melbourne short’y. It is not improbable that she will visit New Zealand. Miss Amy Sherwin gives a concert at the Melbourne Town Hall next Saturday. Mr Robert though, who broke down after the first night's performance of ‘ Schod for Scandal ’ at the Bijou, is still seriously ill. Thf part of §ir Peter Teazle in the ip- aiitime is pptrpstefj to Mr Oathpart. Messrs Brough and Bouoioault have secured tjie Australasian rights of ‘ Monte Cristo, jan.,’ \vhich ran for over SQO nights in London. " Mrs Greenwood and her four daughters pud son, of Auckland, New Zealand, will shortly appear in Melbourne. One of Messrs Williamson, Garner, and Mpsgyove’s opera companies have proceeded to Sydney, where they are producing ‘La M>spottc.’ The cast includes Miss Maggie Mooie, M’sa Oolhonrne Baher, Miss Aggie ?e}ton, Messrs snight Aston and W. Elton. ‘ Patience' js being produced hy the other company at the triumvirate's theatre in Melbourne. This will be withdrawn for ' Pinafore ’ on Saturday*