OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 8613, 5 September 1891, Page 1

OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER.

[From Our Melbourne Correspondent.] Tuesday, August 25. EXECUTION OF THE NABBETHONG MUKDEBEE. The execution of William Colston, the mu. derer of an old couple at ftarbethong in Febtaary last, took place at the Melbourne Gaol yesterday. Colston met bis fate with steady determination, He walked firmly from the condemned cell to the scaffold wichout Betraying by lifa countenance tbe slightest fear. The bolt was drawn iu the midst of the exhortations from the Rev. Mr Scott, the gaol chaplain. Death was instantaneous, Before the bolt was drawn Colston was asked, according to custom, if be wished to say anything. He replied : “ I have nothing to complain of in my treatment. The law was merciful, and gave me a fair trial. lam now ready to go to my God. That is all, sir.” Up to last Saturday Colston did not show the least remorse for the cruel murders which he had committed ; but bis callousness then gave way, and he wrote a long letter expressing his repentance to tbe gaol chaplain. On Sunday he informed Dr Shields that he no longer regarded bis crime as excusable, in face of the circumstances, but one that was cruel and unjustifiable. The following is tbe letter which was addressed by Colston to the gaol chaplain

Melbourne Gaol, August 22,1691, The Kev. Scott, 0.8., Footscray. Dear Sir,—As you have been kindly instruct' ing me in religions matters lately, I think it only fair to let you know the result, and as there ate so many Interruptions In conversation, I can give yon a better idea in writing. I suppose yon remember the kind of a belief I held a month ago, and I had little hope then that yon would alter it That I believe in a Supreme Being, who made us with the rest of creation, and than He implanted in ns a certain amount of power to rrsist temptation, and more cr less of intellect to understand His mysterious ways ; and that, as cur acts were guided by the quality of intellect or power to resist implanted by Him, the responsibility rested with the Creator, and that in justice He would deal with us accordingly; and that we might safely leave the future to ao just itself. Also that the Bible and New Testament were unreasonable fables, written by a benighted people, and fit to bo classed with the Koran- or Brigham Young's books. And that, in the light of modern science and research, so-called miracles were easily explained or were exaggerated illusions; that teaching by parables was an obscure and shuffling method unworthy to be adopted by a divine teacher or anyone inspired by God. In fact, I believed the whole thing was a myth and foolish. And In this belief I could have died with a certain amount of animal courage, hut in doubt with the mystery of the future still unsolved. That would not be a satisfacfactory end, and would be certainly a bad quarter of an hour in this life, and consternation in the future. How, with you assistance, and by reading some bocki you lent me, I am convinced that I was utterly wrorg. and fell into error through not following op Instructions received whtu young, till I lapsed into utter di belief. I now -■firmly believe vhat there is no way of salvation except through Jetus Christ, the Son of Grd. The fist book you gave me gave reasonable grounds for belief, and historical proof that the Bible history is a true record, and showed that Mahomedan and other heathen writings and Jewish olvil history all help to prove the facts Recorded in the Bible. The second book gave satisfactory and intelligible answers to the doubts and questions of Tom Paine and other itfidels, and proving the authenticity and truth of the bo y Scriptures, and showing a comprehensive connection between the old sacrifices of Moser, Abraham, and the later Jewish kings and priests, and the first sacrifice of our blessed liotd and Saviour Jesus Christ, who takes the burden of whosoever believes that he died for that purpose. The two other books helped me to rt ad the Scriptures with understanding, and now I can easily understand what formerly.eecmed to be mystical, and I am perfectly satisfied that It is a divinely inspired history handed down for oar guidance. To me, now, there is no mystery or difficulty, and the New Testament Is an open book to believers. The result of a short study of it is to the this: That we are all condemned sinners; that we can do nothing of ourselves to make ourselves better; that all in the flesh are corrupt, and cannot by any means be made pore; Christ Himself does not attempt to purify the flash. We have to be born again. That is a phrase which pnzded me most, but In reality it is simplicity itself. Seeing that we can do nothing to qualify our-selves-that without belief no good works can save ns; that praying to God without belief avail nothing—for by belief and faith comes -the grace of God, without which nothing can he done—what then is to be done ? It is simply tbfs t We have only to believe that Christ died in order that we might live; that He was sacrificed as a standing atonement for sinners. ‘Trait in Him at once, then pray for light, the Gospels will confirm this belief,

and through this belief of faith in Christ comes the Grace of Ood and understanding. And with the Grace of Qcd a new spirit - a spirit of repentance and faith, a desire to serve Him. This is the new Spirit. This is being born again—in the Spirit, and while we have faith this Spirit will not leave ns. With this belief and faith comes the knowledge that we are pardoned sinners ; and once knowing that, it becomes easier to resist temptation, for doubt has lied.

It is easy now to see that wloked desires are for the hampering of the ft :sh only, and how li tile the flesh has to do with the hereafter. Anyone abiding in this faith om face tbe w.-rld and ridicule, happy in the knowledge that whatever happens to the flesh In the Way of accident, poverty, or death, cannot affect ;i.e hereafter in the slightest degree, and they cm cont mplate death In any form with tquanimity. With this feeling 1 can meet my fate with the assurance that my past sins are forgiven ami that my soul will be received by God as acceptable through faith in His only begotten. Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ, and to me the mystery of the future is solved. I could say more, but this will enable you to judge whether my views are correct, and time is short. I know I have given you very little encouragement hitherto, bat I like to bo sure ox a thing before I speak. And 1 think you will bs doubtful as to my thorough repentance, as I have not made much show of it. My view of repentenco 1s that the very act of believing and trusting in Christ, and wishing to serve Him is repentance, and continued by faith is continued repentance. I could not atone for my past sins. Bat Jesus has already done so; and, as 1 trusted Him, he pardoned me. It is for my sits of to-day, to-mnrrow, and so on that 1 need to seek fresh forgiveness, and to pray for strength to keep in faith and grace. Thanking yea for your kind assistance, and with a full hope of meeting you at the throne of God, unr Judge and Redeemer, general. The Anglo-Australian Bank, Limited, which is closely connected with the British Bank of Australia, Limited, announced on Wednesday last the suspension of its operations. The announcement was not unexpected, in view of the position of the British Bank of Australia, which stopped payment on the previous Saturday, and in which the Anglo Australian Bank was the largest shareholder. The paid-up capital and Calls unpaid of the former institution amounted to L 176,680, of which the latter held over L 104.000. The freehold properties of the Anglo-AnstraliaU Bank are set down at L 432,692 4a Sd, and it is partly to the difficulty of realising on these, but principally to the Unexpected downfall of the British Bank of Australia, that the stoppage is attributed. A special meeting of the shareholders will be held shortly, when a proposal will be made to wind up tbe company. A telegram from Launceston states that Mr Horne, manager of the National Bank, went to Hobart yesterday, and will to day ><o through the accounts of the Van Diemen’s Land Bank, prior to making a definite offer for amalgamation. The accounts are worse than at first believed, and probably the nvailablo assets will not amount to above L 70.000. In consequence of a rumor that the report to be presented at the shareholders’ meeting is of a very unfavorable character, a large line of shares were sold at Hobart yesterday at the sellers fearing a heavy call. Large depositors and shareholders are feeling more uneasy than at any time since the suspension. The polling for the election of honorary medical officers for the Melbourne Hospital was taken last week, and, as usual, created great interest. The voting was carried on briskly, over 5,000 persons availing themselves of their right as subscribers. The following gentlemen were elected ;As physicians to in patients, Dr Springthorpe, Dr Maclnerney, Dr Moloney, and Dr W il'iama ; and as physicians to out patients, Dr Nibill, Dr Astlca, Dr Howard, Dr Boyd, and Dr Daish. As surgeons to in-patients, Mr T. N. Fitegerald, Mr C. Ryan, Mr R. A. Stirling, and Mr F. D. Bird were declared -elected; and as surgeons to ont-patieuts Dr W. Moore, Mr G A. Syme, Mr C. J. Shields, Mr A. F, Noyee, and Mr H. Ray were returned as the successful candidates. The death is announced of Mr J. P. MacPherson, M.L C., ©{’Victoria. He was a native of tbe colony, and was first elected to the Legislative Council in 1887. Mr MacPherson was brought up to the law, but on the death of his father be gave up his profession and devoted himself to grazing pursuits. He was owner of Nerrin Nerrin Station, and was also a partner of Sir James M'Culloch in other station properties in New South Wales. He was a brother of the late Mr J. R. MacPherson, who held a prominent place in Victorian politics a few years ago.

The steamer Australien, which arrived at Sydney on Wednesday from Noumea, brought news of the total destruction by tire of the barque Nautilus, The barque caught fire while loading at Noumea,. She had. on board 193 tons of oopra Ad a quantity of beche de mer and pearl shell. The men from the German warships and the Australien assisted at the fire, which was fought for many hours, but without avail, An attempt was made to scuttle the vessel, but the water was too shallow, and everything above water was completely destroyed, only a portion of the hull escaping. Two members of the crew, South Sea Islanders, were suffocated, and Thomas Biggins, a seaman was severely burnt. Captain Woodhouse and the remaining fisjs of the crew came to Sydney by the Australien, A terrible accident happened at Reedy Greek, New South Wales, on Saturday last. A youth named Patrick Gleeaon was going out shooting, and as he was passing through the passage of his brother’s house, where he was living, he met his sister-in law with her little girl, who was only a few months old, in her arms. He stopped to speak for a few moments, and while he was doing so the gun exploded and the charge struck the child in the face and head, causing shocking and fatal injuries. The skull was almost completely blown off, and the brain was punctured with shot. A few of the pellets struck the mother in the face, bat her injuries are not regarded as serious. It is not known how the gun came to explode.