OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 8810, 27 April 1892, Page 4

OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER.

fFrom OaR Melbourne Correspondent.]

Wednesday, April 30,

THE VICTORIAN GENERAL ELECTION. The polls in connection with the General Election of representatives to tho Victorian Legislative Assembly are being held to-day, and a great amount of interest is being manifested in regard to most of the contests. The nominations were lodged on tne 12ch insL, thirteen members being reelected without opposition. These were Mr W. M‘Lellan (Ararat), Mr S. T. Staughton (Bourke West), Mr A. J. Peacock, Minister of Education (Clunes and Allanuale), Mr J. H. Wheeler, Minister of Railways (Dayleaford), MrW. J. Taverner (Donald and Swan Hill), Mr E. H. Cameron (Evelyn),_ Mr A, M'Lean, Chief Secretary and Minister of Lands (Gippsland North), Mr H. Foster (Gippsland East), Mr G. D. Carter (Melbourne, Mr G. Graham, Minister of Public Works and Water Supply (Numurkah and Nathaiia); Sir Henry Wrixon (Portland), Mr E. Murphy (Warrenheip), aud Mr J. Murray (Warrnambool). For the remaining eighty-two seats there are 197 candidates, of whom thirty-five are put forward by the Trades Hall Labor party. The two most cleaWy defined issues before tha electors aro in regard to the franchise and railway questions. There are ninetyfive candidates in favor of the “ one-maa-one-vote ” principle, and 102 against it. In regard to Hie suspension of the Railway Commissioners, there are eighty-nine candidates who support the Government in their action, and thirty-eight oppose them ; whHc iwenty-cight refuse to pass any judgment in the matter until all the facts are placed before them. For tha Eastern Suburbs Mr Frank Madden haa come out as an opponent of Mr Gillies, the ex-Premier and Treasurer and the Leader of tho Opposition, and has a good chance of beating the veteran politician, who is in bad odor just now owing to his foolish financing during the boom period.

ANOTHER FINANCIAL FAILURE-

The Tasmaqian Permanent Building Society, an institution of thirty-six years’ branding, has suspended payment. The «jciely had arrived at what was believed to i, - a position of permanent prosperity, in-zing had the confidence of the public in .we around Hobart, and a large business in j. parts of the colony. The last yearly ~:itcmcnt of accounts presented in February .mowed that there was a reserve fund of L‘3,000, fixed deposits to the amount of L-50,806, and contributing shareholders to ti»o amount of L18,17L Against this there were mortgages amounting to L 66.617, and ?,a overdraft of L 5.551. The report stated uiat during the year there was not as large an issue of investing shares as ia the preceding year, and that in consequence of several shares maturing, aud ethers being withdrawn, the share-list was lean than that appearing in the last report. The share register showed 137 members, who held 1,351 shares. The directors had been very careful in considering applications for new loans. The sum of L 21,887 10s was applied for, but only L 1,962 was granted. Loans to the extent of L4,00l 3s lOd were redeemed during the year, and the present value of the existing loans was 1*66,617 oi. In aommon with other institutions, the society had felt the general financial depression, and, as might have been expected,_ the year’s operations had not been as satisfactory as the directors could have wished, but from indications they had every season to hope that the current year would produce a much more gratifying result. At the end of the year the manager, Mr M'Millan, reigned, Mr F. B. Battle being appointed manager. No bonus was paid last year. The new manager, after making ofi inspection of the society’s securities on the Northwest Coast, reported that a number of them, though good value for the sums advanced, were not productive of interest. Since the beginning of the year depositors had been gradually withdrawing their money as ir matured, owing to the failure of the Van Diemen’s Land Bank, A number of shares had also matured, adding to the strain on the society.

TUB SHEPPABTON JICBUER, John Molamphy has been committed for trial for the murder of his son-in-law, Thomas Meany. The inquest which was held last week brought circumstances to light which created much sympathy for the accused. According to the evidence of Meany, the wife of the deceased and daughter of the accused, she had been subjected to brutal treatment by her husband and was in fear « her life. On one

occasion, when her child was only nine days old she had to fall on her bare knees to induce him to spare her. On the day of the murder he came home drunk, and taking her by the throat said that ho would do for her “as Williams (tho Windsor murderer) had done." She struggled with him until her father came to her assistance. She did not see what was dons, but noticed that her husband relaxed his hold and blood was flowing from him. Sho really thought she would have been killed it her lather had not interfered, Molamphy, who had given himself up to the police, admitted that he stabbed the deceased in 'the throat with a penknife. He had expected that at any moment Meany might kill his wife and children. The police described tho deceased as a man of drunken habits, and the prisoner as a quiet and inoffensive man. The coroner explained to the jury that they could not bring in a verdict of manslaughter. Any distinction of the kind would have to be made in the higher court. TWO SYDNEY TRAGEDIES, A sensational tragedy was enacted at Surrey Hills on Friday afternoon, Alex. M‘Wiliiams shooting and _ dangerously wounding Catherine M‘Williams or Carruthers, hia alleged wife, and afterwards shooting and killing himself. The woman arrived from Melbourne on the sth inst., and took a room in a lodging-house, 427 Yilcy street, occupied by Mrs Meekiu. M‘Williams, who is described as a bookmaker, followed on the I2nh, and went to reside with Ilia alleged wife. He showed himself very jealous, and the couple were continually quarrelling. On Friday, about 1 Sdp.m., while in bed, both being intoxicated, a quarrel arose, M‘Williams accusing tho woman of unfaithfulness, she replied that she hated him, Ho thereupon drew a revolver, and shot her in the ueuk, tho bullet passing out at the right shoulderblade. She was removed to the Prince Alfred Hospital, where she lies in a critical condition, her wounds being dangerous. Aa inquest was hold on Saturday, when a verdict of suicide was returned. It is stated that M‘ Williams was well known to the Melbourne police as an expert bnrglar. A fatal quarrel between two brothers— Aclolpua Giles Dixon (aged 28) and James Dixon (48), laborers—took place on Friday afternoon in Burrell lane, where the men resided. The younger brother had been drinking all the morning, and was taken home by hia wife. The elder brother, who ‘ lived next door, and who also was under the influence of liquor, went in and commenced to chaff Adolphus, A quarrel then ensued, when Adolphus secured a tomahawk and his brother an old-service bayonet. Some struggling took place, during which Adolphus received a thrust in the left eye, the point penetrating the brain, and death resulted in a few minutes. The survivor says he only used the bayonet in selfdefence, as his brother was trying to strike him with the tomahawk. Ho was on his way tti give himself up when arrested by the police. He has had more thaa one sunstroke, and it is stated that when drunk he is mad, THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL. Madame Bernard Beere is now appearipg in ‘ Fedora’ at the Opera-house. The play is one in which she, like Madame Bernhardt shines, and it is much to be regretted that on tho opening night of the piece she appeared under great difficulties, which ulti mately brought the performance to an abrupt termination. These difficulties were caused through the imperfect acquaintance of M. Marius and Mr Herbert Standing with their parts. In the fourth act Mr Standing utterly failed to pick up his “ cues,” and Madame Beere was compelled to advance to the footlights and explain that she could not proceed under the circumstances.

Mr William Elton, who for aoma years haa been the most popular comedian in Melbourne, took his farewell of us at tha Princess’s on Thursday evening, when ha appeared in ‘The Old Guard.’ The performance was for his benefit, and there was a bumper house. During one of tho intervals Mr Elton made the following characteristic speech : “ Ladies and gentlemen, ‘ Warm, very warm.’ A few months back 1 The boy stood on the burning deck,’ I mean to say that yours truly stood somewhere about the same spot on which he now stands, wishing you ‘goodbye,’ That, as I told you, was my ‘fust offence.’ However, 1 got six months for it, which accounts for my being here now. In other words, I’m ’ad up again, your worship?. My counsel, my good counseller, Mr Williamson, who always has me the very best advice, tells mo to plead guilty. He says, if I do, I shall probably get off with twelve mefntha’ transportation to England, and be bound over, like Mr Ko Ko, ’on my own recognisances,’ to show up within that time. And when Ido oome back I’m told that a company, to be called the Duke of Plaza—Billie Eltorro Limited—is in course of formation to work me. If that’s so ‘Mother will be pleased.’ But joking apart, ladies and gentlemen, I have coma to speak perhaps the two most difficult words in the English language to pronounce, that is, good-bye, but not, I hops, for ‘ keeps.’ I have been so long now in Australia, and have been made to feel so much as if I belonged to here, that I can scarcely realise the fact that I am what they call really going Homo. lam like the little boy who has had his pants put on back to the front—l feel as if I don’t know which way I am going. But this I do know, that on Saturday I leave Australia for England, and for various reasons I shall be very, very sorry. There are a great many things I shall miss when I leave here, for I know from a somewhat extensive globe-trotting experience that in no part of the world is a favorite actor received with tho same warmth r.s in Australia, In fact, if it wasn’t for that very warmth of encouragement from the pubsc and generous consideration from the Press it would be almost impossible to get through the very hard work. But as Shakespeare says: ‘ The labor we delight iu physios pain.’ On the other hand, there is an old saying that ‘ All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,’ and it occurs to mo that a little rest just now will do mo a world of good. And I fancy it is better for a man to carry out his bat after a good hard innings than remain at the wicket to be caught, bowled, or stumped on account of stateness. Daring my term at tho wickets I have done my best to keep the stumps up, and playing a straight bat, and all that sort of thing, and though at times I have been compelled to fall back on a little stonewalling now and then, when I have had the chance to slog I think I’ve slogged. And now, ladies and gentlemen, I’m going to retire to the pavilion for the interval of rest, and when 1 put on my pads for the next innings I hope to corno in on as good a wicket as I now leave, 1 cannot take my departure without first thanking you, ladies and gentlemen, for the many indulgences I have received from you, I also wish to thank my brother and sister artists for the good fellowship they have always extended towards me daring the very long period I have been associated with them, and last, but not least, my manager, Mr Williamson, for his generous advice in business matters, and the good feeling always displayed tpwards me ae a fellow-actor and a friend. And now, ladies and gentlemen, good-bye.” ‘Carmen’la being produced at the Princess’s with Miss Marie Halton in tho title role, Mr W. Walahe in the tenor part, Mr Ryley as the baritone, and Miss Flora Graupner, Miss Florence Young, and Miss Violet Varley in subsidiary characters. The opera is well placed on the stage, and Miss Halton makes an admirable Carmen.

On Good Friday night the Melbourne Philharmonic Society performed Dvorak’s ' Stabat Mater ’ and Beethoven’s ‘ Engedi,’ At St. Paul’s Cathedral Dr Stainer’s * Crucifixion ’ was sung.

GENERAL, At the Sydney Criminal Court last week William Jones Smith and George Alfred Buck were brought forward for sentence, having been convicted on charges of fraud in connection with their positions of manager and auditor of the Australian Mercantile Loan and Guarantee Company, Limited. Smith was sentenced to three yeais and six months’, and Buck, who had been recommended to mercy by the jury, to two years and six months’ imprisonment. A strange murder is reported fronj) Bendigo, Michael Geacon, a miner fiftyone years of age, was found in his bed yesterday evening with his head battered in. He hsd been drinking during day, and when his wife and family were away from the house he must have returned and

gone to bed, At present the affair la Wrapped in myetery. A sad fatality occurred on Monday night, at Bats Ridges, four miles from Portland, A man named William Kempton had been in Portland during the day and talking with a citizen about a gun which the latter wished to sell him. On returning home in the evening he was tolling his brother about the gun, and took down his own to explain the points of difference between it and the other. He cocked the gun and pulled the trigger, not knowing that the weapon was loaded, when the gun went off and the full charge entered the leg of his wife, who was passing a yard or two off. The charge entered the left leg about the calf, completely shattering it. Kempton and his brother immediately set about staunching the blood, for which purpose they used flour, bandaging the limb up as well as they could; but by the time medical assistance arrived the unfortunate woman was exhausted from loss of blood. The doctor decided to amputate the limb; but before this could be accomplished she died,