OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 8775, 16 March 1892, Page 4

OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER.

Fbou Oob Melbourne Correspondent.)

Tuesday, March 8. POLITICAL.

Victorian Treasury bills to the amount of L 1.000,000 have been disposed of to a London syndicate through the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. The bonds bear interest at the rate of 4J per cent., and have a currency of nineteen months from the date of issue. The purchasing firm have the option of taking up the balance of the authorised loan of L 2,000,000. Cable messages from London state that the firm of brokers who financed the operation are re-selling blocks of bonds carrying L 25,000 at LIOO ss, and that rumors are current that a syndicate is being formed to take up the second million. The terms at which the bills have been placed are not disclosed yet, but they are said to be satisfactory to the Government. The immediate effect of the sale of the bonds will be to relieve tho local banks of all apprehension that they might have to find the L 620.000 necessary to pay the interest due in London on the Ist July next. Fault is found in some quarters with the Treasurer (Mr Shiela) for departing from the usual custom of conducting negotiations through the London and Westminster Bank. The determination of the farmers and graziers of Victoria to have Protection in tho shape of an increased stock tax was evidenced by a conference held recently at the Melbourne Town Hall. The necessity for the stock tax was taken for granted, and the following propositions were affirmed : That a tax of L2 per head should be imposed on all cattle imported, Id per lb on all dead meat, 3s per head on sheep and lambs, 10s per head on pigs, L 4 per bead on horses, and that no drawbacks should be allowed. The resolutions were laid before the Premier by a deputation from tho conference, and, though Mr Shiela would not forestall his Ministerial deliverance, he indicated that, believing individually In the stock tax, the members of the Government as a whole would not be likely to exclude it from their programme. It is not unjikely that the Government proposal will be to impose the tax by weight, that method being regarded by the Chief Secretary as being the most equitable to all classes. A CHINESE BIOT. A Chinese riot took place outside the Sydney Water Police Court on Tuesday last. A case was being heard in which Gwoun Sing was charged with having accused Ah Chew of attempting to commit a criminal assault on his (Sing’s) daughter, with intent to extort a sura of L2O. Between 200 and 300 celestials' gathered aboqt the Court; and when the principals in the case appeared, after the decision had been given in favor of the accused, rioting on a large scale was commenced among them. Many of the crowd produced copper knuckle dusters, iron bars, sticks, and other weapons, which they bad had concealed about their persons, and got to work on one another amidst deafening howls and great excitement, Many of the Chinese were badly cut about, and some were knocked senseless, The few policemen present were helpless, and in attempting to quell the disturbance they were badly knocked about. Finally a large police force was sent down and quelled the riot. Twelve arrests were made, and nine of those jested were afterwards fined 40s each. In copneotjou with tho riot, it is knowo that a secret society (mown the “Loon L ee Long Society,” for promoting the interests of gambling, exists in Sydney. A meeting of this society was hsjd Jn connection with tho case, and it is stated that au agreement was come to that the society should offer Lf)o for the assassination of Mr Goldtown, a Chinese gentleman, who has become prominent for his endeavors to suppress Chinese gambling. Information having reached the police that further riots were likely to occur amongst the Chinese residents of the city, the Inspector-general had an interview with some of the leading .Chinese, and as a result the leaders of all the distriots Jn and around Sydney were called together. Mr Quong Tart, who was the principal speaker, explained tfigt Mr Fosbery had determined to adopt very ftriugept treasures if tbe feuds were continued, and urged upon thp men the necessity of settling their difficulties amicably. Thp general feeling of the meeting was that every care should ba taken to avoid a repetition of the disgraceful scene which occurred at the Water Police Court last week, and the various leaders gave promises that as far as they could prevent it no further disturbance should take place, THEATRICAL. The Australian Theatrical Management Company, with which MrG. Coppin, M.L.C., as chief, have been in possession of the Theatre Royal for some time past, have been unfortunate, Since June last losses amounting to L 5.741 have been mado'upoo the different pieces presented. The heaviest loss, L 4 000, was in connection with the Laura Villier’s combination. This failure Mr Coppin attributes to the non-success of the English Dramatic Company, the prevailing bad time?, and counter attractions. The desirability of putting the company into liquidation was mentioned at a meeting of shareholders last week, but action was postponed until this week, when a special meeting is to be held to consider the present unsatisfactory position of the company. The only change of programme in Melbourne last Saturday w4s at the Alexandra, when ‘All For Gold* was preeentpd by the Dampier Company. Amongst the passengers by the Incoming mail steamer Orient is Mrs Bernard Beere, the celebrated actress, who has been engaged by Mr George Musgrove to make a tour of the Australian colonies, accompanied by several artists specially engaged to support her, among those being Miss Urquhart, Miss Watson, Miss Ashford, Mr Herbert Standing, Mr Guy Standing, Mr Otho Stuart, and Mona. Marius, Yesterday Mr H. Musgrove, who represents his brother at the Opera House, received a telegram from M, Marias stating that Mrs Bernard Beere, whose departure for Australia was delayed owing to ill-health, has greatly improved during the sea voyage, but has not yet thoroughly recovered, Id Sydney the Italian Opera Company continue to do good business. ‘ Lucia di Lamtnermoor’ was revived on Saturday night before the largest house of the season. At the end of the present week the company go to the Garrick Theatre in consequence of previous arrangements having been made with Mr Bland Holt for a dramatic season, which will commence at the Theatre Royal on Saturday night with the production of * The Sailor’s Knot,’ recently played with great success at Drury Lane Theatre. ‘ The Solicitor ’ has been replaced by 1 The Arabian Nights’ at the Criterion. ‘Faust,’ as a drama, has been drawing such excellent houses at Her Majesty’s Theatre that the management have decided to continue the performance for another week, after which Mr William Rjgnold will give a series of farewell performances, GENERAL, George N. Taylor late manager of the Land Credit Bank, who was convicted of stealing two promissory notes, the property of the institution, has been sentenced by Mr Justice Hodges to two years' imprisonment with hard labor. The prisoner stated that he had no idea that he was doing wrong when he made the entries which had the effect of releasing the notes, but admitted that he had had a fair trial, His Honor said offences of this kind were unfortunately becoming too common, and the frequency with which such offences wore being committed, and the necessity for patting a stop to them, had to bs considered in awarding punishment. Thp disgraee would be more than the mere serving a sentence, and, considering everything, an adequate punishment would be two years’ with hard labor. No solitary confinement was imposed, His Honor not deeming that necessary either for the prisoner’s reformation or for the purpose of a special punishment. ftj the Larkin-Olbary conspiracy case the jury have failed to agree, and the prisoners have been remanded until the next criminal sessions, The j ary retired to eonsider their verdict on Wednesday, at ten minntes past twelve o’clock, and'were called into Court about fopr o’clock, when the presiding judge explained some pf the evidence to them, and Impressed upon them the necessity ol endeavorlng to arrive at a unanimous verdict. One of the jurymen then said he did not think it waa any good trying to arrive at a conclusion, because he had heard one of the

; urymen say after the Crown prosecutor had made his statement, and before any witnesses were called, that nothing wonld shake bis opinion that the men in the dook were gniity of conspiracy His Honor said it was not unusual for men to express opinions after an opening statement, but most persons would give up an opinion so formed if the evidence shook their belief. The jury again retired, and, after being looked up six hoars, were brought into Court, and the foreman stated that they oonld not agree. His Honor thereupon diecharged the jury. The rumors are consistent that the Grown was most unfortunate in its jury, and admitted one or two men who were “pledged to the hilt” not to condemn the accused men no matter what evidence might be brought against them. A three-fourths verdict wonld, it is averred, have convicted the prisoners. Bat the judge’s directions were thrown away upon the minority. However, if this case breaks down there will, it is understood, be other accusations against the prisoners in connection with the undoubted robbery of the society by some one person or another. The case of Bradley v. Bradley, in which Emily Bradley sought judicial separation from her husband, Walter Bradley, ez’-M.P. for East Sydney and ex-Mayor of Bandwick, on the ground of cruelty, waa concluded on Thursday. Mr Justice Wlndeyer granted the decree asked for, on the ground that the respondent’s conduct was of a violent character, and calculated to injure the petitioner’s health. Temporary alimony of L 4 per week was granted to petitioner, and LI per week to be allowed for each of the younger children and such other of the elder children as might choose to live with her. Both the judge and the parties to the suit were painfully affected during the delivery of the judgment. Bis Honor strongly counselled the respondent to give up his drinking habits,