OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 8815, 3 May 1892, Page 3

OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER.

[From Our Melbourne Correspondent.) Tuesday, April 26. THE VICTORIAN GENERAL ELECTIONS, The results of the General Elections for the Legislative Assembly of Victoria, which took place last week, were not without surprise, but the aggregate outcome of the polling in the various constituencies h?a been hailed with satisfaction, not alone in Victoria, but, as we learn through the cable, aho in England. The main issue without doubt was as to whether the Labor or Trades Hall party should have special representatives in the popular Caamber. The question on which the battle was fought was the one-man-one-vote principle, which Itself was not so much objected to as the proposals behind it, which the Labor party avowedly intended to press forward as soon as they achieved their initial victory. The abolition of the Upper House, the equalisation of electoral districts to secure the absolute rule of numerical maj jrities, the repeal of laws preserving the liberty of the individual, the imposition of a heavy and progressive income tax, the "nationalisation of the lands,” the establishment of a Statu bank, the taking without compensation of land required for railways, and the trial of Socialistic experiments of all kinds were some of the "reforms” repeatedly foreshadowed as likely to follow the introduction of "one man one vote,” and these were the dangers which men of every shade of political opinion united to resist. The National Association and the Young Victorian Patriotic League were organisations which sprang into existence to meet the emergency. The Progressive Political League, being the Trades Hall strike organisation in sheep’s clothing, nominated thirty-six candidates in districts in which it was thought they would bo likely to succeed. The result was that only eleven members were returned on what was known as the "labor” ticket, and of these only four are working men in the sense in which the term is understood. And two of them were returned by minorities. The attempt to "capture” the Legislature was, therefore, a fiasco. Practically the Labor party only number four out of ninety-five. A most significant indication of the general feeling of the electors ia to be found in the fact that Mr Hancock, one of the representatives of the Radical electorate of Collingwood, and a leading member of the Trades Hall, who has indulged in all sorts of wild and rash statements, calculated to produce a feeling of insecurity among English moneylender?, failed to secure his return to the House. The result of the elections will do much to repair the credit of tho colony in London, and the statements which have already appeared in the leading English newspapers go to show this. It was thought, owing to the unfavorable reception which Sir Graham Berry met with at Brunswick in the first instance, that he was in great danger of missing election for East Bourke Boroughs. This fear, however, proved quite groundless, for Sir Graham was returned at the tup of the poll with a record of 3 759 votes, probably tho largest number cast for a candidate in the colony on any occasion. Mr James Campbell, who was a leading champion of the "dual vote " principle which has been promulgated was returned for Benalla, although he was behindhand at a recent byelection. One of the most interesting contests was that which took place between Mr Gillies and Mr Frank Madden in the Eastern Suburbs. Mr Gillies secured a majority, but the polling was vitiated by tho erratic conduct of one of the deputy returning officers. There is little doubt now that Mr Gillies will secure his ro election. Among tho familiar faces which will be missed in the now Parliament will be those of Colonel Smith, Mr Shaokell, Mr C. Young, Mr Mountain, Mr Derham, Mr Hunt, Mr Hall, Mr Groom, Mr Gardiner, Mr Leonard, Mr Laurens, Mr Nimmo, Mr Uren, Mr Ouncan, and Mr Anderson. Parties are in a very mixed condition at present, and it ia difficult to calculate how many members the Government can rely upon for continuous support. Tho position of the Ministry is indeed a somewhat peculiar one. The announcement of the Government policy was delayed for a month or so in order that the Premier might " feel tho pulse ” of the country ,* and then in his deliverance atCastcrton he calmly "jumped” the platform of the country party bolus bolus, picked out a few of the leading points iu tho platform of the Progressive Political League, threw ia a score or so of his beat metaphors, and smilingly awaited the result. Reversing the Scriptural maxim that " ho who ia not with me is against me,” tho Premier’s friends claim that every successful candidate who has not condemned in toto the proposals of the Government may bo reckoned as a supporter of tho Government. The majority of the members returned would probably prefer to be classed as “independent.” The time for counting heads on that point will come when the new Premier submits bis schemes in blackjand white to Parliament, and the latter is called upon to say whether Mr Shiels ia the proper man to carry them out. SOME CRUEL HOAXES. A man named Jacob Dovale, with numerous aliases, appeared at the St. Kilda Police Court last week, brought up on five separate charges of having obtained money by fraudulent means. The evidence of Or S. Jacoby, licensee of the Esplanade Hotel, St. Kilda, was to the effect that about noon of the 21st ult. prisoner brought to him the news that Mr Robert Litton, Consul-General for Uruguay, had fallen down an elevator at an insurance office in Melbourne and was seriously hurt. He presented Mr Litton’s card, on the back of which was a request, signed "Dr E'liott,” that certain preparations for the reception of the patient should be made, and splints, sponges, etc., provided. Witness directed his daughter to give the bearer what money he required, and rushed off to break tho ill tidings to Mrs Litton. That lady had not yet recovered from the shock received on hearing the terrible news. Miss Adelaide C. Jacoby corroborated this evidence, and David M‘Lean, an employtS in tho hotel, deposed to having handed 30s to the prisoner according to instructions. Mr Litton gave evidence that on the 20th nit. the prisoner represented to him that he was a native of Uruguay, and asked for money. Witness directed him to bring his papers to prove this assertion, when he requested that a letter enclosing his card might be given to him, so as to induce his landlady to deliver up his papers, which wore in her possession. This request was complied with. Sergeant Griffin stated that there was no " Dr Elliott " practising in Melbourne. In a second case Mrs Lempricre deposed that on the 12th ult, she was accosted near her homo at Caulfield by the prisoner, who informed her that her husband had been run over by a tram. He produced a letter from " Dr Elliott,” asking for L 5 for expenses. This amount was given to the prisoner, and the necessary preparations wore made for tho reception of her husband, Mr John Lempriere, who, however, arrived at home later on quite well. Another similar story was related to Mrs C. Malstre, from -whom he also obtained money, the narrative having been proved to be false, The prisoner was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment, with hard labor, on each charge, cumulative. Two other cases were withdrawn. Mr Gladstone’s library contains 20,000 volumes. , . . , , . The House of Commons has just had yet another sum of L 6,000 spent upon its ventilation. The Vatican contains 208 staircases and 1,100 different rooms.