OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 8768, 8 March 1892, Page 4

OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER.

Ib'aoM Otra Melbourne Correspondent.]

Tuesday, March 1. VICTORIAN POLITICS. Bright days are not in btore for the Shiels Ministry, and the current opinion in political circles is that it will not last long after the meeting of Parliament. The Government 1u.3 been designated a3 a "3top-gap" one, and that is about tho best description which can be found for it. It ia the Munro Ministry, minus head and tail; for, though Mr Muaro and his Upper House colleagues have retired from it, the only now member who has so far been found is Mr G. Dwis, M.L.C., who holds no portfolio. It; was thought for a time that the services of Mr \V. A. Zeai, M.L.C., and Mr Agar Wynne, M.L.C., would be secured, but it has now been ascertained that these gentlemen declined tho honor which was proffered them. The great obstajle to securing Ministers in the Legislative Council is the one-man-one-vote principle to whioh the Government is pledged. It is a legacy fnm the •ud Government, It was tho primary cause of the dissolution of the Munro Government, iind, from all appearances, it is going to cause disaster to the Shield Administration, A stroDg feeling has been raised throughout the colony against the proposal for an equal franchise, not so much on account of the principle itself, but because it is regarded as the first ,itep dictated by the Trades Hall leaders in o. Socialistic movement which would cause the credit of the colony to be damaged in ;he eyes of the older countries of the world u,nd give a shock to enterprise and industry which would hinder our progress for years. Mr Wynne, in an interview with an 'Argus' reporter concerning hi* withdrawal from negotiations with the new Premier, indicated pretty well the current feelirjg in the minds of a large number of electors, and nlao a substantial reason for it. " This U a time," he eaid, " when all 3hould unite to bring back the prosperity which for the time we havo lost, and the Government should certainly do nothing that would retard that result. All the v.-iM sociaiiatic talk which is so rife is doing immenao harm to the colony, for nothing iends so quickly to destroy the confidence of iho investor. We have continual evidence of that in our business as solicitors. I received a letter only a few days ago from a client in Germany who has invested money in the colony through us. ilo says that from what he hears of Australia there is likely to be a policy of repudiation, and that it will follow the example of the Argentine Republic. Under the circumstances he asks advice whether it would not be better to realise all his money at onGO and find investments for it elsewhere, I have written him a long letter, doing the best I can to reassure him, but I don't know whether I shall be able to do so. That man is only a type of many others. We are constantly receiving such letters. Under these circumstances I could nob join any Government which would enter upon a policy which is likely rather to increase than diminish our troubles."

The Premier has arranged to speak at Casterton on the 19ih fast. So far the Government policy has not bean definitely arranged, but it b certain to include tho one-vijan-one-vote proposition, an increase of the otock tax, beer and tea duties, and some retrenchment on the railways and in the public gcrvice. Mr Wheeler, the Minister of Railways, has already fallen out with the Railway Commissioners aa to tho means which should be taken to reduce the deficit on the railways, and it will remain for the Government to tako tho responsibility of carrying out the proposals of the Minister under the powers conferred in the new Bailways Management Act. It is stated that Mi' Wheeler's scheme will not only include proposals for the reduotion of the train mileage, but also the employment of women and travelling booking officers to & much greater extent than at present in the working of the lines. In addition, rates and fares are to bo raised, aud, virtually, a condition of things will be brought about similar to that which prevailed when tte Commissioners took office.

itr Munro to-day takes hia departure from the colony for the purpose of entering upon his duties aa Agent-General in Loudon. Aa a counterpoise to the strong adverse criticism to which he has been subjected of late, Mr Munro has been entertained at dinner by hia old Ministerial colkagues and hia lata Geelong constituents, and he also received a presentation irom members of the Alliance at a celebration of the Victorian temperance jubilee. On the eve of hia departure a writ was served •;n him and his co-trustees in the estate of the late James Robertson, of Essendon, for an alleged breach of trust in having invested money belonging to the estate in the Real Estate Bank. The action, being one in equity, does not prevent Mr Munro from leaving the colony, and he has instructed solicitors to defend it on hia behalf, A communication has been forwarded by Lnrd Knutaford, through the Earl of Hopetwin, to Sir Graham Berry, conveying the acknowledgment of the Imperial Government of the able manner io which he discharged the duties of Agent-General, and an expression of appreciation of the cordial friendly spirit in which hia negotiations with toe Colonial Office were always conducted. A significant meeting was hold at the ivlasonic Hall in Melbourne last weekusder the auspices of the National Association. There was a large attendance, and resolutions declaring for peaceful government, for financial reform, and against the one-man-one-rote scheme were carried with enthusiawzi. The tone of the meeting was -inmistakeably against the pretensions of ti,c Trades Hall leaders. The speakers represented the National Association, the ::owly-formed country party, and the Young Victorian Patriotic League, all having objects in common. The last-.-nentioned League, which has been established to embrace the younger members of ihe community in a political union, h&s already held soma meetings in the suburbs, and promises to be an important factor in the coming elections. THE NEW SOUTH WALES PARLIAMENT The New South Wales Premier (Mr JDibbs), replying to a question by Sir Henry

Parkes in the Assembly the other evening, stated the intentions of the Government regarding the federation movement. He remarked that when the Government oame into office it had beoome impracticable to deal with the question of federation during the present session without suoh an extension of its proper limits as it was felt they had no right to demand. This position arose from oiroumstancesfor whioh the Government was not responsible, and events had justified the opinion that tho matter could not be dealt with fairly this session. The question would be introduced at an early period next session in the form of a resolution or resolutions, giving scope for a debate on the broad question of federation and the principles of the draft Bill to constitute a commonwealth of Australia. A full discussion of the draft Bill in detail would come afterwards, and hon. members in each House would have an opportunity of proposing amendments. The Houses would debate and deal with those proposals, accepting, rejecting, or modifying them as the majority desired. When the other colonies had dealt with the question—it was hoped on similar lines—the draft Bill and desired amendments, in the opinion of Ministers, would bo ripe fordisoussion by a second convention. Ho wished it to be understood that the amendments submitted to the second convention should be not only the suggestions of individual members, but should represent tho opinions of the Houses of Parliament, whether separately or conjointly. Trie retrenchment party made little successful resistance when the Estimates were under consideration. On the vote for the Lunacy Department a long discussion took place, aevoral members complaining of the management of the lunatic asylums and the overworking of the attendants. The retrenchment party tried to reduce the amount of the votes for the insano, the medical board, and the Agent-Gonoral, but were defeated by large majorities. On the immigration vote strong objection was taken to tho proposed vote of L 4.000, and after a dobato an amendment reducing the amount to L 3.000 was agreed to by 39 votes to 32. The protectionist tariff has now received the assent of the Legislative Council. On the second reading of tho Customs Duties Bill Mr D. O'Connor made a strong speech against the measure on the ground that the proposed fiscal change was against tho voice of the electors and against the interests of the colony. Other members having spoken for and against the Bill, Mr R. E. O'Connor, in replying, said they heard a great deal of cheap swagger about defying tho Assembly. It matterod nothing to him or to other members, personally, whether they came into conflict with the Assembly, but it mattered a great deal whether members had the moral courage to give way in the intere3to of the country rather than bring about chaos and confusion. Hon. gentlomen desired not to have this particular tax, but somo ether; and, if they did that, then the Council would become an arbiter of the couutry's fiscal policy, whioh was antagonistic to the spirit, if not to tho letter, of the constitution. It must bo remembered that L 200.000 had been collected under tho tariff, and must be paid back 11 the Bill was rejected ; paid back, not to the people, but to the merchants and importers, and the financiil affairs of the colony would be thrown into disorder. The second reading was carried by 26 to 17, amidst cheers. Concerning the brief aseaion of Parliament which is to be called after tho close if tho present one, Mr Dibb3 states that not only will the Electoral Reform Bill, as already passed by the Assembly, be submitted in an unaltered form, but the Redistribution of Seats Bill will be appended, and in it a reduction of the number of Ministers in the Legislative Assembly will bo favored. The redistribution of Feats addendum has been, it is understood, sanctioned by the Cabinet. SCENE IN THE NEW SOUTH WALES PARLIAMENT. o:ie of thoie disorderly scenes for which the New South Wales Assembly has become noted took place at an early hour last F- i day morning. Good progress had been made with the Estimates in committee. The items of the Colonial Secretary's Department and Treasury Department having been disposed of, tho intention of the Government was announced of proceeding with those of the Attorney-General's and Works Departments, though it was then between 2 and 3 a.m. This raised a storm of indignation amongst certain members of the Opposition. Mr Neild strongly objected, and Mr Cann expressed hia intention of moving the chairman out of the chair. Mr Melville, the Chairman of Committees, refused to accept the motion. Mr Toohey then rose in an excited manner to a point of order, but the Chairman refused to hear him, whereupon Mr Toohey stated he would not be "bullied," and refused to resume hia seat. Further appeals only made him more emphatic, and he declared he would neither i/O reseated nor leave the Chambor till he had been heard. Amidst great excitoment and much dissect at the notion of the Chairmau, the Sergeaut-afcArms was directed to remove Mr Toohey from tho Chamber. On his approach Mr Tcohcy quietly left the House, loudly protesting against the Chairman's action. The Hou:0 then resumed committee work, but shortly after the Attorney-General agreed to report progress. The question then arose as to the mode of reporting the late disorder to the Speaker, and after a lively discussion it was decidod to inform the Speaker of the disorder which had taken placo in connection with Mr Toohey, and ask leave to sit again. On the House resuming, Mr Melville and Mr Toohoy were heard by the Speaker on the niittcr. The Speaker said that as the House had not asked for his opinion on the matter he must dealine to give it. The aotion of the Chairman in preventing Mr Cann from moving a motion wq.s in order. In regard to Mr Toohey, he thought it was within the right of every member to raise a point of order, if ho wished to do so. The Committee then resumed, and after further talk progress was again reported. CNfONIST OUTRAGES IN QUEENSLAND. Information of another of those outrages which of late havo been only too common in Queensland was received by the UnderColonial Secretary on Friday from the police magistrate at Charleville. A carrier named Teake purchased four bullocks from a non-union carrier, and it was found that they had been shot dead, Mr A. Crombie, of Strathdon Station, writing to a friend in Rockhampton, states that the "firestiok brigade" has been at work at Cameron Downs. Six men, well known to the police, travelling from Hughenden towards Muttaburra, lighted the grabs on the road in many places. A police patrol saw the men on the road, and later on saw the fires, but could not convict them. Rain fell soon afterwards, and no serious damage was done. "I only report the matter to you," says Mr Crombie, "in ordey that you may be in a position to advise the authorities of the scoundrelism which is wandering about and waiting any opportunity whioh may offer to reduce Cen? tral Queensland to an ash heap. Our | manager offered LIOO reward for evidence I that would secure conviotioD, but so far without result. I suppose that these are the Revenge Committee, or a portion of them, who some time ago issued a threatening manifesto from Hughenden, They are travelling this way, and would probably have given us afl a turn if rain had not spoilt their game." Six bullocks belonging to a free carrier have been found dead together, perfectly riddled with bullets, in a thick scrub, about five miles from Charleville. A Winchester repeating rifle had been used. The shells of the cartridges are in possession of the police, who have their suspicions as to the perpetrators of the outrage. The black traokeru have failed to track the miscreants. This makes ten bullocks that have been shot during the last fortnight, FINANCIAL FRAUDS. At the Central Criminal Court, Sydney, on Friday last, Frank James Smith and George Jaroea Finlayson, directors, and Augustus Sydney Miller, manager of the collapsed Australian Mercantile Loan and Guarantee Company, who were found guilty of conspiracy to defraud, were brought up for sentence. Before passing sentenoe Augustus Morris, the official liquidator, was called by Mr Justice Backhouse, and stated that if those whe had had the affairs of the company in hand were lucky they would be able to pay Is 10$ d in the pound, and if fhey got LSOO owing by one of the accused they might pay 2s. That would include everything. F. J. Smith addressed the Conrt in

his defence, stating that whilst aoting as managing direotor he had trusted to the auditors and accountants, aa he knew nothing whatever about bookkeeping. He had always severely punished irregularities, and only allowed overdrafts on the best of securities. He had been removed from bis position as managing direotor because he had proved too autooratio in this way. Finlayson said he had been the victim of a conspiracy, and been hoodwinked in regard to the position of the company, and Miller Btatea that he had always acted under instructions, and had no idea he was doing wrong. His Honor, in passing sentence, said there was no evidence to show that the aoouaed had personally benefited by a sixpence; but they had enabled, and were responsible for enabling, others to commit gigantic frauds. Each of the prisoners was then sentenced to Beven years' hard labor in Darlinghurst Gaol. Thomas Jones (a direotor) and James Alfred Buck (an auditor), who were found not guilty in connection with the same case, were remanded to the next sittings of the Court on a second charge of conspiracy. At the Sydney quarter sessions on Saturday William Persy Smairl, late manager of the Imperial Land Building and Deposit Company, Limited, who was found guilty of embezzling Ll.Oll, the property of the company, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment. The accused handed in a lengthy statement to tho Bench, explaining his conduct, and during its perusal ho wept bitterly. Judge Baokhouse, in passing sentence, said that there was no doubt that the aoouaed had borne a good character, otherwise he would not have occupied the position which had enabled him to commit the fraud of which he had been found guilty. The fraud was a serious one, and although no one sympathised with the accused or with his family more than he (His Honor) did, yet in the performance of his public duty he was compelled to pass a severe sentsnee.

George N. Taylor, late manager of tlhe Land Credit Rank, Melbourne, has been found guilty on a charge of stealing two promissory notes, the property of the shareholders. The defence, as set forth by Dr Madden and the prisoner himself—for no witnesses were called—was simply that the prisoner had no felonious intent, but was quite of opinion that his dealings with the oash book and his manipulation of the entries in his own and his wife's accounts were of a perfectly legitimate oharacter. The presiding judge, in summing up, commented strongly on the faot of the antedating of the entries, which might keep the directors in ignorance of the transaction at the time; and the jury, after a retirement of a little over twenty minutes, found a verdict of guilty in regard to both notes, Taylor is remanded for sentence. THK SYDNEY DIVORCE COURT. A shocking case came before tho Sydney Divorce Court last week. Anna Odell petitioned for separation from her husband, Samuel Odell, on the ground of his incestuous adultery with his daughter, Mrs Mary Ann Walker; and Albert Walker sued for divorce from his wife, Mary Ann Walker, on account of her incestuous adultery with her father, Samuel Odell. The evidonce was of a horrible nature, and was not allowed to be published ; but it appeared that Mrs Walker had been living apart from her husband and with her father since 1884, and that she had borne two illegitimate children, of which, tho judge said, her father was undoubtedly the father. Mrs Walker is the eldest of eleven children, the issue of the marriage between Samuel Odell. The Court granted a decree niti in the case of Walker and a judicial separation in the case of Odell, Samuel Odell to pay the costs in both cases and alimony at tho rate of LI per week. A case brought before the Court yesterday was one in which Emily Bradley sought judicial separation from her husband, Walter Bradley, ex-M.L A. for E-ut Sydney, on tho grounds of cruelty. The petitioner Btated that she was married to respondent in 1859, and three months after marriage he commenced to use her roughly. At. that time she returned to her parents, where she remained somo time, until a reconciliation was effected. The respondent, she said, had always been a heavy drinker, and all the unhappiness had atisen from this cause. When in drink the respondent was very violent, and had several times threatened her life. He also used learfully foul language, and his habits were disgusting. The petitioner also accused him of behaving iu a familiar manner with tho servants. Ho had threatened to shoot her, and sho had had all the firearms taken to pieces and hidden, Tho respondent also when under the influence of drink ill used the children. He had formerly been a member of the wellknown firm of Bradley, Newton, and Lamb, furniture warehousemen and importers, of Sydney, but had had to leave the firm because of his habitual drunkenness. Petitioner stated that her health had suffered severely from fear and apprehension of the respondent's conduot; and from tbia cause for about five years she had occupied a separate appartment. She was not quite eighteen when married to the respondent. Medieil men gave evidence to show that the respondent had been treated for illness brought on by excessive alcoholism, and that Mrs Bradley had been greatly injared in health by his habits and violence. The ease was not concluded. ANOTHER PENTRIDGE SENSATION. It is seldom that the police magistrate who goes out to Pentridge prison every week is not called upon to deal with some act of insubordination or breach of prison discipline on the p<yt of one or other of the men undergoing sentence there. To-morrow the circumatauces of a oowardly and brutal assault, committed by a prisoner named Thomas Darby on two fellow-prisoners, whose names are Newbold and Wisdom, are to bo inquired into. The assault, which took place one day during the latter part of last week, was brought about by some little difference amongst a few of the men employed at the stone quarries within the Pentridge enclosure. Wisdom, who was employed at stonebreaking, and sitting upon a heap of stones, refused somo request Darby made of him, when, without any warning, the latter stepped up to Wisdom and dealt him a couple of blows over the head with a spawling hammer weighiDg 101b. Mewbold then came to the assistance of the assaulted man, but with one blow of tho hammer over tho head he, too, was struck down. A sceno of great excitement then occurred amongst the remaining convicts, some seventy or eighty men, who are employed

there, and who witnessed the assault, This body roae en masse, and rushed after the cowardly assailant, who ran in the direotion of the gate at the 20ft wall leading into the interior portion of Pentridge, where the cells, etc., are situated. Pieces of bluestone and other missiles were hurled after the fugitive, who, upon reaching the gate, where a senior warder was in oharge, exclaimed " For God's sake, lock me up, or they'll lynch me." He was at once put under arrest, after which order was quickly reestablished among the quarry gangs. The two men assaulted were rather badly injured about the head?. Wisdom's sentence expired on Saturday, but he was not well enough to leave the gaol. Darby is a prisoner with a very bad record, and is now undergoing a sentence of seven years. OUTRAGE ON A GIRL. On Saturday morning a girl, aged eleven years and eight months and a half, named Bertha Gugger, was oriminally outraged with great violence at her father's residence, Barramunga orchard, situated about eight miles from Geelong. The parents of the victim were absent attending a wedding, but several of the family, including a daughter nineteen years of age, remained at the house. About ten o'clock in the forenoon Bertha brought some lunch to an employe" named Albert Handziker, who was working in the orohard, and aa soon qo she gave him the lunch he dragged her into the fruit heuse and committed a capital offence with great violence. He threatened her that if she said a word about the assault be would murder her. The father, Mr Rudolph Gugger, wag so enraged when he learned the particulars that he rushed off with the express intention of killing Handziker but Mrs Gugger and his daughters managed to prevent him. The man ran away, but was arrested after several hours' searoh, and then admitted she offence. The accused is a native of Switzerland, aged twenty-four years, and has been in Mr Gugger'a employ about seven months. The victim is a very prepossessing, intelligent girl. THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL. * Caste''has succeeded 'The Parveur' at the Bijou, and ' Green Lanes of England'

is being played by the Dampier oompaoy at the Alexandra.

Mr H, M. Stanley has given a second series of leotnres in Melbourne, and now proceeds on a provincial tonr. Mr and Mrs .George Darrell having decided to leave Melbourne for London daring the ensuing month, arrangements are being perfected by a committee of theatrical managers, artistes, and patrons to tender them a complimentary mating benefit prior to their departure. The action against Mr Fred. Leslie, of the Gaiety Company, at the suit of Mr John Maogregor, for assault and LSOO damages, has been settled. The aotion arose out of a dispute whloh occurred between the parties on the night of the 21st August last in the oaf & of the Princess's Theatre. The story of the plaintiff was that Mr Leslie, on the night in question, without any provocation attacked him, caught him by the throat, and struck him in the faoe, injuring him severely; while the case set up by Mr Leslie was that the plaintiff was not sober and made himself very offensive, and finally struck him, whereupon Mr Leslie retaliated and struck the plaintiff. This version of the affair was corroborated by Mr Danby, also a member of the Gaiety Company, who was present during the occurrence. The defence therefore was that the alleged assault was committed in self-defenoe. A settlement of the action has, however, now been arrived at between the solicitors of the parties, it having been agreed that the plaintiff shall abandon the action upon Mr Leslie paying his costs up to date and medical expenses incurred by reason of his injuries'.

The Italian Opera Company continues to eujoy great success at the Theatre Royal, Sydney. During the past week ' Rigoletto' and 'II Trovatore' have been played, and on Saturday night' Faust' was produced before a crowded and enthusiastic audience. The season, which is limited to four weeks, would unquestionably be extended had not previous arrangements been made for Mr Bland Holt to open at this theatre in a fortnight's time. It is probable, however, that terms will be come to with one of the other managements, and that the company will remain in Sydney for a few weeks longer. The Royal Metropolitan Liedertafel gave a concert at the Melbourne Town Hall last evening under the conductorship of Mr Julius Herz. The principal work sung was Hoffman's cantata ' The Maid of Orleans.'

The tug-of-war competition in Sydney resulted in a win for the Swedish team, who went through the contest without suffering a defeat. Ireland was second, and Russia and Norway divide the third and fourth money, The Irish team has issued a challenge to pull the winners for L2OO a Bide, GENERAL, Lord Sheffield's team of cricketers left Sydney for Hobart on Saturday. After playing matches at Hobart and Launceston they will return to Melbourne and play a return match against Victoria, after which they will go to Adelaide, where the last of the test matches will be played. Mr J. Cosmos Newbery haß returned to Melbourne after an eight months' trip to Europe, during which he vieited England, Scotland, Belgium, Northern and Southern Germany, and Italy, and inspected various ore-reducing workß and mining centres, besides consulting with the most eminent mining experts and engineers. An immediate result of Mr Newbery's visit to Europe will be some praotical experiments with the Liibrig method of ore concentration on Victorian goldfields. The proposed Assets Realisation Company is threatened with failure. The representatives of only three of the institutions which are beiug forced into liquidation attended at a meeting which was called for the purpose of fully explaining the objects of the prop33ed Assets Company, and it was held that as so many institutions preferred to stand out a realisation company could not be formed with any hope of success. The Metropolitan Board of Works of Melbourne is now inviting tenders for a loan of L 500.000. Each debenture is for LIOO, five years is the currency of the loan, and 5 per cent, is tho rate of interest which will be payable in the colony. No tenders will be accepted at less than par, and the tenders will be receivable on the 25th inst. A descriptive survey of the city and suburbs is being pushed on by the Board, and tenders have now beon accepted for three further areas. It is said that there are great numbers of surveyors and draughtsmen out of employment, and the Board deemed it advisable under the circumstances to have the work done by contract instead of employing a large staTf for that purpose, Recently the Secretary of the Victorian Cnamber of Manufactures sent out a circular to various societies to know whether they would be willing to co-operate in providing a quarter of the cost of having Victoria represented at the Chicago Exhibition. Only the wool growers replied that they were prepared to pay a quarter of the cost of exhibiting wool at the Exhibition, provided thoy had efficient control over the expenditure, A deputation has since waited upon the Premier asking the Government to bear the whole of the cost, but there is no prospect of the request being acceded to, Ir> the Vice-Admiralty Court at Sydney on Tuesday last Mr Windeyer delivered his reserved judgment in the suit White and anothor v. the Owners of tho Eurimbla. The plaintiffs sued to recover compensation for the loss of the three-masted schooner Lismoro, which sank on the night of the Ist December off the Clarence Rivor Heads after a collision with the steamer Eurimbla. His Honor held that the collision was entirely clue to the default of those on board the Eurimbla in not keeping a proper lookout, and awarded the plaintiffs L2.E40 damages, with costs. A cross action by the defendants was dismissed.

Thomas Shelly, a young man undergoing a sentence of six months for larceny, escaped from Wagga Gaol on Friday last. He was eDgaged chopping wood in the prison yard, and under pretence of going into one of the sheds he scaled the wall. He at once made for the rivor, jumped in, and swam aoross. Warder Oliver followed to the water's edge and fired five shots at the fugitive with his revolver, but without effect. On landing Shelly divested himself of his boots and made up ihe Murrumbidgee, Sergeant Powell crossed the river in a boat, and two civilians gave chase on horseback. The latter overtook Shelly about half a mile up the river, and brought him back to the lock-up Shelly's chances of esoape were greatly reduced through wounds oaused to his feet by thistles growing along the river. Shelley has since committed suicido by drinking a quantity of carbolio acii used for disinfecting purposes. The Queensland Cabinet on Saturday considered the question of the continuance of the construction of State railways. It was agreed that, if necessary, the Government would entertain proposals for railway construction on the land grant principle. The Government has already telegraphed to the Agent-General informing him that immigration must at once be suspended, exoept as to the completion of existing contracts. The Cabinet also resolved to have no military encampment this year, owing to the necessity for the strictest economy.