OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 7405, 28 December 1887, Page 4

OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER.

[From Ocb Melbourne Correspondent. | Wednesday, December 21. SCENES IN PARLIAMENT. The termination of the session of the Victorian Parliament was marked by an extraordinay scene in the Legislative Assembly. The extension of the City of Melbourne westward waß under consideration in Committee, and Mr Bent, the Leader of the Opposition, in speaking against the Government proposals, asked: " Is prejudice to rule?" Mr Gillies, the Premier, thereupon interjected: "No, nor syndicates." Mr Gaunson, the member for Emerald Hill, was immediately ready with the retort: "Syndicates ! Was not the Tramway Company a syndicate ?" This was intended as a reference to an unfounded rumor that Mr Gillies received some consideration for the trouble he took in passing the first Tramway Bill. Mr Bent could not resist • the impulse of the moment, and followed up with: "For an hon. member to talk about syndicates when he waß paid, to pass the Tramway Bill " He got no further. Mr Gillies was on his feet in a seoond, and gave the Leader of the Opposition the lie direct. A score of members rose to thoir feet at once, and shouts of "Shame," "Coward," and words with a worse meaning were roaied all over the Chamber, turning it into a very babel. In an interval, the Chairman ordered a withdrawal. Mr Gillies rose to the occasion. He was laboring under the most intense excitement, and in a burst of impassioned oratory silenced the House and the Chairman as well. Ho refused to allow a withdrawal, ordered the Chairman to take down the words Mr Bent had used, and it was by an irresistiblo impulse that the Chairman obeyed. In a minute Mr Gillies had the House with him. Kvery sentence, every word, was cheered to tho echo as he repudiated the charge, and as he went on he swept, not only his own friends but many of the Opposition with him, and as well roused their feelings to anger in the most intense degree. He only spoke for five minutes, but the immense force he exercised subdued everybody, and when, after two hours' talking, Mr Bent made a full apology and withdraw the charge, only then did he allow the House to proceed with ordinaiy business. , . Another unprecedented Bcene occurred during an all-night sitting of the New South Wales Assembly. A motion for the adjournment of a debate was met by an amendment that the question be put, and Mr Slattery rose to protest against the latter being accepted. Notwithstanding that the Speaker pointed out that there could be no discussion on the amendment, Mr Slattery continued bis protest amid a crossfire of interjeotions and increasing uproar. After tolerating this for sometime, the Speaker said that as the hon. member had been guilty of persistent disregard of the authority of the Chair, he must direct the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove the hon. member from the Chamber until the close of this debate, or until he engaged not to further disturb the orderly conduct of business. The exoitement became intense, when the Sergeant advanced to carry out the order, but, except saying he would fight it out to the,very end, Mr Slattery allowed himself to be led away quietly amidst a chorus of cries of " Shame!" from the Opposition benches. Then followed a curious scene, which, though marked by muoh uproar, did not show that temper and bad feeling, characterising scenes of a similar description'befor6 witnessed. In dock-work order, led by Mr Garvan, member after member rose to record his protest, and each refusing to obey the order of the Speaker to rewme his seat, they were named in the followwe order : Messrs Slattery, Garvan, Melville, Walker, Hassall, OTfflara, Chanter, Dibbs, Greer, Yangban, O'Sullivan, Lynne, Levien, and WaJI, all being removed outside the bar of the House by the Sergeant-at-Arms. TWO MUBDEBS IN MELBOURNE. A very, extraordinary scene, resulting in the death of a man named John Yontpm, was enacted on the banks of the Yarra, at the bottom of Simpson's road,, last week. Without any provocation, a laborer (Michael Hawkins) deliberately threw a fellow-workman (John Yontom by name) into the Yarra. The two men were working at Mr Nettleton's wool washing works," Jtalhejafjiernopn it was observed that I

Hawkins had been drinking, and was consequently incapable of doing his work. Mr Nettleton, being afraid that some acoident might happen, suggested that he should go home, and return to work the following day. Hawkins took his coat as if he were going home, and walked down the liver to a spot where Vontom &nd five other men -were -working. Vontom had his back to Hawkins, and the latter then walked quietly on to the staging, seized hold of Vontom by the neck and one of his legs, and threw him deliberately into the water. Vontom, being unable to swim, sank before assistance could be rendered by any of tho men on the stage, and was drowned. Hawkins, far from showing any sign of excitement at what he had done, seemed tolerably cool, and contented himself by walking up and down the planking, saying, "Poor Vontom, poor Vontom." On being arrested Hawkins could give no explanation of his extraordinary conduct than that he caught hold of Vontom in a joke, and, not thinking of what the consequences might be, threw him into the river. The deceased has left a widow and four children, residing in Islington street, Collingwood. The prisoner is also married. An assault and robbery, with a fatal termination, occurred early on Sunday morning near the East Melbourne Cricket Ground. A gardener named David M'Lean, who has for some years been employed by Mr Thomas Bailey, of Heyington, Toorak, was attacked by a man and a couple of women, and in a fall, the result of a blow delivered by bis male assailant, M'Lean,'a head was brought in violent contact with the kerbstone and the base of tho skull fractured. He died soon after admission to the Melbourne Hospital. During the day the police succeeded in apprehending the two women, one of whom is 50 years of age, and the other only 18 years. Their male companion has, however, so fir escaped detection. EOBDKRt WITH VIOLENCE. A premeditated robbery, accompanied by gross violence, has been committed upon Mr Robert Ellett, rate collector to the shire of Oakleigh, Melbourne. Mr Ellett, who is sixtyone years of age, and not a very strong man, was going home from the town of Oakleigh, and when within a quarter of a mile of his place a young man jumped up from behind an acacia tree and struck him a terrific blow on the head with a heavy stick. He was making a second blow when Mr Ellett said: "Take my money, but spare my life." Tho fellow paid no attention to this pathetic appeal, and dealt several violent blows over the face and head of his victim, leaving him unconscious and bleeding profusely from a cut on the face and a fractured skull. Prior to doing so he searched his pockets and took all the money Mr Ellett had, amounting to L 6, and disappeared in the direction of Oakleigh, which is three miles distant from the scene of the outrage. Mr Ellett struggled homo soon afterwards, and was then driven into Oakleigh by his son. A WHITE SLAVE IN VICTORIA. An extraordinary case has transpired at Castlemaine. Certain rumors have recently been afloat as to a Dane being kept in slavery for 20 years, and several compatriots determined to investigate the matter. With a great deal of trouble they succeeded in throwing some light on the affair, but for a long time their efforts were checkmated. It was discovered that the unfortunate in question 20 years ago had been wrongfully accused of stealing cattle, and had been acquitted, the informer receiving two years' imprisonment for the crime. Through this a person by some means acquired an extraoidinaiy influence over the man, who is of weak intellect, and actually made a slave of him. Even the personal appearance of the unfortunato victim was unknown to the nearest neighbors, though it has tianßpired that he was driven to work with a pointed stick, with which he was prodded until the blood gushed forth. With a great deal of difficulty it was brought to light that the man had been with his detainer for 20 years, and during all that time had received no wages. When the poor fellow was asked if ho would Hko to go away in charge of one of hi* countrymen, he said that he daren't go, because "The boss would beat him and kill him, and put him in the black hole in the ground." When the boss came up and asked him if ho wanted to go away, the poor wretch shivered, as if expecting a blow, and withdrew his words. A foreigner disguised himself as a swagsman, and, without attracting the boss's attention, had an interview with the slave, and carried him off in a spring cart, which had been concealed near the field. He is at the present time in Castlcmaine, and it is hoped that the caro and attention lie will receive will bring back some of the intelligence he has lost. Those that knew him tnenty years ago can scarcely recognise the wreck he has become, and wonder how such a tiling could possibly take place in this age of religion and civilisation. For twenty long years he has been living within a few miles of them, and he was never seen but at a distance, TRAGEDY AT SHEPPARTON. A double murder has been committed by a man named Michael O'Shca at Yabba Yabba, a small place about twenty miles distant from Shepparton. The man had been living apart from his wife for twenty years, but recently he rejoined her and his step - son, who was twenty-five years of age. On Saturday morning at seven o'clock O'Sbea, without receiving tho slightest provocation, took an Enfield rifle and shot his stepson in the left side just below the heart. Ho afterwards used the bayonet attached to the rifle on his wife, stabbing her in a brutal fashion in the abdomen. He then proceeded to reload the rifle, but Mrs O'Shea in tho meantime escaped. Both Mrs O'Shea and her son have since died from their injuries. O'Shea sccma to have been eccentric in his behaviour, but thore is little doubt that hj? premeditated murder. The cause of the affair is said to be animosity against the son for sheltering his mother, who could not live with her husband on account of his uncontrollable temper. ATTEMPTED CUSTOMS FRAUD. Some time ago shipments of milling machinery arrived, consigned from Messrs T. Robinson and Sciih, Limited, of Rochdale, England, to Messrs Gillespie, Aitkcn, and Scott, of the Yarra Mills, Dight's Falls, Melbourne, and to Messrs L. Kirkham and Co., millers, of Echuca. The machinery was found to be undervalued for the purpose of escaping proper Customs duty, but as it was to be landed duty paid the offence was not ono of thn local millers. After making inquiries into the matter the Customs authorities decided that Messrs Gillespie, Aitkcn, and Scott would have to pay a fine of L 1,500 with incidental costs, and Messrs Kirkham and Co. in L 750 with costs. In order to get their machinery both firms have agreed to this ruling, but they expect to be able to recover the money from tho British consignors. CASE OK INFANTICIDE. Clara Bryant, aged sixteen, has been arrested at Redfern (N.S.W.) for causing the death of het illegitimate cliild. The body of the infant was found buried in the garden of the parents of the girl at Botany. EXPULSION OF AN ENGLISH MISSIONARY. Among the passengers by the steamer Gunga, which has arrived at Sydney from Noumea, was the Rev. J. Jones, lato English missionary at Mare, one of tho Loyalty group, who has beon expelled from his station by the French. His expulsion was effected by a captain of gendarmerie and a number of his men, who left Noumea in the Duchaffaut, sailing under sealed orders. On reaching Marts the captain, accompanied hy an interpreter and a number of his command, fully armed, at once proceeded to the mission station, which had been under charge of Mr Jones for the past thirty-four years, he having been on the island one month after the French took New Caledonia, aHd the interpreter read a dispatch from the Governor of New Caledonia to the rev. gentleman to the effect that he was to be expelled from the island, half an hour being given him to get ready. He was told that if he did not come quietly he would be taken by force. At'the time of the arrival of the gendarmes Mr Jones was at work in the .school-house with his Nativo teachers revising the translation of the Bible, and, having no idea that such a thing was about to happen, was completely unprepared to leave. Consequently he will be a considerable loser by the arbitrary action. The Natives showed signs of making a demonstration in his favor, but this was strictly suppressed. Mr Jones says everything on tho island has been going on quietly, and he cannot understand his removal, except that a bitter feeling amongst the French has been engendered regarding the settlement of the New Hebrides question. A STATE SCANDAL. A most unsatisfactory condition of things has been disclosed at Sydney in connection with the publio funds. It appears that the Treasury makes an advance for Departmental work of about LIOO.OOO, under condition that vouchers for payments be immediately returned—that is, returned within two months; but now it is revealed that in the vast majority of cases these vouchers have not been returned for over twelve months, and with the old and seoond advance notes there is fully Lloo,ooo'unaccounted for. The absence of these vouchers is viewed wrih suspicion. THE WINDSOR BAILWAY ACCIDENT. The amount of compensation which will have to bo paid by the Victorian Railway Department before all tho claimß for compensation of. persons injured in tho Windsor railway accident are liquidated will bo much larger than at first anticipated. Already a sum ot L 78,000 has been paid away in the liquidation of claims, and a large number still remain to be settled. It is estimated that before the accounts are finally adjusted and a balance-sheet- struck, the collision will cost tho Department L 120,000. The excess of receipts oVer expenditure on the working of the Victorian railways last year was L 42.000, consequently the profits for that year have been swallowed up, whilst a large proportion of the profits of the present financial year will have to be hypothecated. The Railway Commissioners anticipate, however, that the excess of revenue for the present year's operations will enable theih' to payoff the whole of their liabilities in connection with the acoident, and still show a profit of L 40.000. THE. BEOIDIVISTE QUESTION. It has been announoed by cable that 300 convicts have been transhipped from France to New Caledonia. The Victorian Premier has received a message from: Sir Graham Berry stating that he bad interviewed the Secretary of State for the Colonies on the subject, and entered a protest against the further deportation of recidivisms to these seas. The Vie-

torian Government entertained some doubt as to the accuracy of the announcement in the first instance, and the Agent-General was directed to ascertain whether or not theiniormation is correct. Mr Gillies is now forced to the conviotion that notwithstanding the recent treaty between France and England over the New Hebrides question, Franoe still mtendß to adhere to the policy of Bending her ernmnota_to New Caledonia. The only result of Sir Graham Berry's interview with Sir Henry , Holland was a promise on the part of the latter ( to bring the matter under the immediate atten- ; tion of the Marquis of Salisbury. MUSICAL AND THEATKIOAL. T heMetropolitanLiedertafelhelda smoke con- , cert for gentlemen at the Athenaeum Hall last evening, the entertainment being the 119 th oi the Society. The principal items by the Liedertafel were 'The Tyrol,' a choral scene, written in a novel and intricate style by Thomas, and Mendelssohn's cantata 'Feztgesang. Messes G. Weston (violin) and G. B. Fentum (piano) supplied instrumental music, and Messrs K. Cunningham and H. Rofe were the solo vocalists. The Italian company have been producing different operas at the Alexandra Theatre with gieat success, and to-night perform 'Belisano for the benefit of Signorina Giovanna Cayallcii. I hoar that some of the artists included in this company have determined to take up their residence in Melbourne permanently. •The Pirates of Penzance' is being produced at the Princess's Theatre, with Misses Braham, Barett, Messrs Leumaine, Vernon, and Frederici in the principal parts. On Boxing Night the new opora ' Ermino' is to be introduced to the Melbourne public. The comedy of ' The Two Roses' has succeeded * School for Scandal' at the Bijou. Throe performances of'Tho Messiah' arc to be given at Christmas time, as well as carol and sacred concerts. PERSONAL AND GENERAL. Dr Dale, who has been preaching for some time past in Congregational Church pulpits, has returned to England with his wifebythoß.M.S. Carthage. Bishop Selwyn comes to Sydney by the Zealandia. „, , Mr Charles Warner, the well-known actor, sails for London from Melbourne this month. Mr Louis Stevenson, the English author, has abandoned his visit to Australia. _ Hanlan has decided to permanently reside in Australia. The R.M.S. Oroya, which arrived from London on Monday, had on board the Rev. J. Marshall Lang, tho Bishop of Bathurst, Sir Patrick Jennings and Lady Jennings. Dr Lang comes to officiate at Scots' Church pending the appointment of a permanent pastor. He is Dr Norman MacLeod's successor at tho Barony Church in Glasgow, and has held an official position in connection with one of the Pan-Presbyterian Councils. He is the author of several works of marked ability, and, altogether, is one of the most eminent of the ministers of the Established Church in Scotland. . , . . News has been received from Kimberley that 100 miles from the Dakover River the bodies of three teparate parties of gold-miners have been found. It is supposed that they have been murdered by aborigines.