OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 8408, 8 January 1891, Page 4

OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER.

(From Our Melbourne Correspondent,

Wednesday, January 3. SEHIOrS BURkJLAKY. On Monday, the 22nd ult., the premises of MrH. Hanslow, in Elizabeth street, Melbourne, were entered, an iron safe was broken open, and the contents (consisting of jewellery of various descriptions, to the value of L 300) were stolen. The rear portion of the premises has been considered liable to dinger from robbers; and, warned by an attempted robbery some three years ago, Mr Hanslow took special pains to safeguard his shop by having an iron-bound door constructed, civics entrance from the workroom to the shop, which again was protected from the inside by a heavy bar of iron passing across the door and fixed at both ends in the solid brickwork. Notwithstanding these precautions, the burglars made their way into the shop, opening three locked doors, including the iron one. Once inside the shop, the burglars directed their attention to the safe, which is a large one, and to place it in position demanded the labor of six men. It was taken through the work room into the lumber room, where it was burst open, About four o’clock next morning the policeman on duty discovered the door at the rear open, and reported the matter to Mr Hanslow, who resides at 811 Drummond street, Carlton. The only clue left by the burglars was the skeleton key used to open the door leading into the yard. In the lane was found a bank book containing a number of L 5 notes, which had been taken from the safe. The burglary was placed in charge of Detective Whitney. He instructed Detective Bannon to keep a vigilant eye on the premises of Messrs Leon S. Mendelawitz and Co., at 71 Madeline street, Carlton. About noon, whilst standing on the opposite side of the street, Detective Bannon saw a suspicious individual enter the shop and begin a conversation with Mendelawitz. Alter a short time the latter came to the door of the shop and looked up and down the street, and returning to bis customer, who is known as Thomas Carroll, the lastnamed walked out. Carroll proceeded in the direction of Queensberry street, and on getting to Madeline street entered into conversation with another man. Both went down Queensberry street to Bouverie street until they got to Grattan street, where they had some drink. The detective also went into the hotel, and, ordering a drink, had a good look at the two. Leaving the hotel, Carroll and his companion led the detective a long chase, but eventually they retraced their way by a very circular route to Madeline street, where they entered the University Gardens. As they came out the detective noticed that their pockets had a very bulky appearance, and he concluded that some of the stolen property had been secreted in the gardens. Carroll left his companion and proceeded again to Mendelawitz’s shop. On entering he was followed by Detective Bannon, who found two other men talking to Mendelawitz and hia partner or assistant, Horvitz. He seized Carroll, at the same time stating that he was a detective. As soon as this announcement was made he was attacked by the three men, whilst Mendelawitz quickly swept a quantity of jewellery on the counter on to the floor. The detective was thrown down, whilst his bead was driven time after time against the floor. The companions of Carroll also kicked him brutally about the body, and inflicted a number of nasty bruises. Carroll also in some way cut Bannon on each side of the neck, and blood flowed freely from the wounds. Bannon was possessed of a loaded revolver, but he had no opportunity during the struggle of getting it out of his pocket. Detective Teague, who had also been directed to watch the shop of Mendelawitz, had his attention attracted by the disturbance, and entered. The two companions of Carroll at once decamped. Detective Bannon was freed, and able to rise. He got out his handcuffs, and with these struck Cairoll heavily on the head, inflicting a severe scalp wound. Throughout the whole of the straggle Mendelawitz and Horvitz stood by passive spectators of the brutality of the three men. On the way to the detective office, Carroll nearly succeeded in escaping. The prisoner, who is twenty-live years of age, described himself as a laborer. The occupants of the shop in Madeline street were subsequently arrested, They gave their names as Leon S. Mendelawitz, thirty-one years of age ; and Benceon Horvitz, twenty-eight years of age. A searching examination of their shop resulted in the recovery of nearly the whole of the jewellery taken from Mr Hanslow, while in addition there was found about L7OO of jewellery of various descriptions, all believed to he the proceeds of burglaries in the city and suburbs. In one of the drawers were found two six-chambered revolvers fully loaded. Amongst a number of gold and silver watches was found a bar of gold Sin long and in thickness. The premises are two-storied, and the rooms above are occupied by Mendelawitz and his wife and family. In a shed in the yard at the back was found a large crucible red hot, which, it is believed, had been specially prepared in order to melt down the booty expected to be received from Carroll, Other crucibles, about one hundred in number, ranging from the size of a thimble up to a large melting pot, were also found, besides a large quantity of different kinds of acids. A number of precious stones were also found, most of which have been identified by Mr Hanslow as his property. MK ALLISON SMITH. The following letter concerning the attacks made in the Victorian Parliament upon Mr Allison Smith, the acting locomotive superintendent of railways, appeared in the ‘ Bendigo Advertiser ’ on the 19th ult. : “ Sir,—lf an attempt is to be made to pnrge the Railway Department from its alleged cancerous accumulation of iniquity, I ask what kind of men are to do it ? Surely not miserable place-hunters or puerile slaves to toadyism. They must be men of courage, who can show M.P.s, or other magnates attempting to coerce them, the door, and quote to them the regulation of the service which rightly forbids officers of the Railway Department discussing departmental work with members of Parliament. They must be men who can stand on their feet and defend those workers under them who do their duty by refusing to fear or favor those who fail therein. I take it,

sir, that faithful workers in any service are greatly discouraged and heavily handicapped if the unfaithful have equal Advantages with themselves, and unless the right of protection ia afforded to upright men by the disrating of unworthy fellowworkers, from whence will come the incentives for young men entering the service of the State to do their duty Aiid raise themselves on their merits■' In reference to Mr Allison Smith, I happen to know from about ten years’ personal experience (whatever bis actions may have been in Victoria) that in New Zealand he passed through unflinchingly a perfect hail of fiery opposition from members of the railway service and their friends when be insisted upon enforcing proper discipline and economy in his department ; but the result of his action then was to place that department in such a state of efficiency and clockwork regularity as to excite the envy of the sister colonies. Moreover, on the eve of his departure his fellowofficers and employes flocked together from all parts of New Zealand to pay him their respects, and wish him farewell. These, sir, are facts within my own knowledge, and I sincerely trust that a full inquiry will be afforded Mr Smith, for unless he is much changed since I knew him, be earnestly desires it, and if such an inquiry is held I am prepared to hear such startling revelations in his favor as will overwhelm his adversaries, and show the poverty of their charges, compared with his lionlike attempt at reform. Supposing for a moment that in order to appease the disaffected Mr Smith is compelled to retire, will his successor be required to cledi with the employes according to their deserts ? for, if so, unless the alleged want of discipline in the service is a myth, it is reasonable to suppose that a similar howl of denunciation will be raised against him.—Yours, etc., James S. Lane, late of New Zealand Railway Service.” SMALLPOX AT TORT PHILLIP HEADS. The barque Kelton, which arrived at Port Phillip Heads yesterday from Rio Janeiro after a voyage of twenty-six days, has smallpox on board. All the crew have been attacked, and at the time of the arrival of the vessel at the Heads the captain aud mate were among those prostrated. The ship was managed by those of the crew who were in a convalescent condition, and all on board seem to have had a hard time of it. When the boat got within the Heads she was flying the yellow flag, aud the pilot therefore did not board her, but directed her movements from the stern, his boat being taken in tow. On reaching a spot half-way between the stock quarantine jetty and Point Nepean, the vessel went ashore in about 12ft of water. When she struck, Dr Browning, the health officer, was on the way to her in the launch Lion, but as ia his usual practice in cases of smallpox he simply spoke to those on board without going on the vessel, and returned to the quarantine station to make all preparations for her quarantining. The second mate, who has had charge of the vessel ever sinco the captain was taken ill, about fourteen days ago, informed Dr Browning that the officers and crew numbered thirty-one, all of whom had had the smallpox ; that one death had occurred, and that the captain, the first mate, and four seamen were the only ones at present ill, the others having become convalescent. At the same time he stated that two of the cases appeared to be of a serious nature. A THUNDERSTORM AND ITS EFFECTS. A heavy thunderstorm passed over a large portion of Victoria last Sunday evening. In the Rutherglen district the lightning was very vivid, and the thunder was suggestive of a battery of artillery. Rain fell in torrents. Just before the storm two boys, named Andrew Harrison, thirteen years old, a son of Mr Mellor Harrison, manager Reeves’s vineyard at Liliput, and William Olcorn, ten years of age, son of Mr Isaac 01corn, of Liliput, were returning from the paddocks with cows. When the storm came on they took shelter under a tree, and the lightning struck the tree, killing both boys. A search party went out, and found both lying under the tree, Harrison lay as if asleep, but Olcorn’s eyes were wide open. It is reported from Deniliquin that something in the nature of a cyclone or tornado swept over the district, doing an immense amount of damage to property. A few minutes before the cyclone occurred a large black cloud was noticed coming towards the town from the north-west, and directly afterwards the wind blew at a terrific rate, accompanied by thunder and lightning. Hailstones also fell of enormous size. The storm lasted about half an hour, and during that time the inhabitants of the town were terror-stricken, and did not know what to do to save themselves or their property from destruction, as the wind was travelling with intense velocity. During the time the cyclone lasted corrugated iron, timber, limbs of trees, and other debris were blown about in all directions, and immediately afterwards there was a dead calm. It was then seen that an immense amount of damage had been done to the buildings in the town. Scarcely a house has escaped serious injury of one sort or another. About a score have been completely destroyed, and many damaged to the extent of hundreds of pounds, whilst dozens Have lost a chimney or two, which have fallen through the roofs. The banks of the Edwards River are literally covered with fallen trees and branches, and many street trees have been destroyed. Roofs of stables and outhouses were carried away in all directions, and the streets this morning were strewn with verandahs blown away, iron, timber, trees, and other debris. During the progress of the cyclone many narrow escapes occurred through falling houses, chimneys, and timber, and the loss sustained by the town is very great. The town now presents a peculiar and dilapidated appearance. Many of the houses which have not been totally destroyed have been damaged to such an extent that it would be better to rebuild than repair them. A MISSING BANK MANAGER. The clothes of a bank manager named 0. W. Bennett, who was connected with the Paddington branch of the English, Scottish, and Australian Chartered Bank, have been found on the sea beach at Bondi. He was last seen on the 12th ult. As there are deficiencies to a very considerable amount in the bank’s accounts, it is supposed that he has absconded and left his clothes on the beach as a ruse. He was a prominent member of the Sydney Liedertafel. MORE LABOR TROUBLES, During last week there has been something in the nature of a strike amongst the wharf laborers and coal lumpers at Melbourne. The men refused to attend at a free labor bureau which the Shipowners’ Association had established. Here the men were required to register themselves and obtain a ticket, which, on presentation at the wharf, entitled them to work. The ticket system was introduced by the shipowners in the interests of the free laborers who had joined them during the strike, and to whom a continuation of work was promised after the strike had terminated. It was found that the foreman, being desirous only of engaging the best and most experienced men, did not give the inexperienced and less efficient men, who had worked during the strike, a fair share of the work, and the latter complained bitterly that the shipowners were breaking faith with them and throwing them over as soon as the urgent need for their services was gone. To remedy this it was resolved to engage men through a third party only, who would not be influenced by personal favoritism, As, however, not only the unionists, but the majority of the free laborers, so strongly objected to this system, it has been given up, and work on the wharves, whichhad been partially suspended, has been renewed.

A meeting of the Committee of the Victorian Mill Employes’ Union was held on Monday evening at the Trades Hall to consider the preliminaries of the strike which is contemplated in the event of the master millers enforcing the new system of working the mills, which includes the principle of freedom of contract. The date which has been fixed for the coming into force of the new system is January 5. It was decided to evoke the assistance of the engine drivers, who are said to be willing to unite with the mill employes in resisting the introduction cf the new system, and the secretary, Mr Harrell, was also instructed to write to Mr F. Humphries, secretary of the Employers’ Union, informing him that the men will strike in every mill in which the new system is sought to be introduced.

is the rarest metal.