OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10098, 6 April 1896, Page 5

OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER.

[SPECIAL CABLE MESSAGE—FEB PRESS ASSOCIATION]. THE SYDNEY CARNIVAL. Sydnev, April 4. The Sydney carnival of the year commenced on Wednesday with the opening oF the Agricultural Show. Country people are (locking into the town for their annual holiday-making, combined with the object) of picking up wrinkles in tho latest developments of agricultural implements which the show affords. So far magnificent weathor has been experienced. The show this year is upon a scale greater than has hitherto been attempted. Lord and Lady Brassey sailed round from Victoria in the Sunbeam, while Sir Thomas Buxton and his daughter came overland from Adolaido to attend tho festival. With fourtcon British warships and one French vessel in port, together with the entourage of the visiting Governors, society has ample opportunity of bestowing hospitality. Lovers of tho horse havo ft splendid collection of old - time favourites to eazo upon. In the blood stallion boxes wero to be seen Correzo, who secured first prize, Manton, by Musket, who gained second honours, Saint Blaize, Matador, Sir William Dunlop, and many others who havo shed lustre on tho Australian turf. Now Zealanders will probably be interested to know that for heavy draughts tho first prize and championship were awarded to Sc. Lawrence by young Clyde, and bred in your colony. Gladstone, to whom tho red riband was awarded was also a product of Maoriland. He is by Lord Salisbury from Banker's Blossom. A FORTUNE FOR A BOUNDARY RIDER. By tho [death of a relative in England Geo. Gibson has been transformed from a boundary rider to the fortunate possessor of £-10,000. Gibson has boon for many years roughing it about the country. For the last year or two he has been occupied as

a boundary rider on tho Burrowa station. The solicitors who havo the administration of the property have been extonsively advertising for him for eighteen months. His whereabouts wero discovered through the station owner's attention being culled to tho advertisement. THE BKUNNER DISASTER. Tho sad calamity at Brunner has called forth a number of efforts to raise relief funds. Entertainments are being held in various parts of the colony, and many churches havo do voted tho Easter offerings in wholo or part to the fund. Some doubts were at first, felt as to whether outside aid was required, but now that an assuranco on this ho,id has been received, Australia will no doubt contribute a respectable sum. The South Bulli miners have taken up a subscription, but tho amount is not yet known. At Perth a relief fund has boon started. In tho Wollongong district many of tho lost minors had acquaintances. THEATRICAL COPYRIGHT CASE.

Tho Equity Court has boon culled upon to decide a question of copyright between parties theatrical. Bland Holt sought to restrain the lessees of Her Majesty's from producing a play called "To Arms," on the ground that io was similar to a play, "For England," the rights of which Holt had purchased. Judge Owen granted an injunction as the play was identical. He further said it was not tueroly an ordinary infringement, but ono of a very barefaced kind, that was assuming tho plaintiff was able to establish his rights at tho hearing.

THE JUSTICE SCANDAL IN VICTORIA. As the outcome of the lengthy consideration of the Lorimer Board's report, the Cabinet has issued a ukase that in future magistrates shall not sit in any cases whero they themselves, thoir relatives, or intimate friends or business connections aro interested; also making it cloarly understood that migration from Court to Court must bo discontinued. The Premier has received protests from Rtppiport and Baxter against the Board's roport being acted upon, on tho ground that no legal eridonce was taken. The Bendigo magistrates are wroth over '.he reflection cast on tho honorary magistrates by the Board's report. In meeting assembled they carried a resolution strongly resenting what they termed the gratuitous assault made upon them. Anderson, Chairman of tho Bench, said tho charge against the Bendigo Bench was a dirty insinuation, an undeserved insult, and a deliberate wicked lio.

A PROMISING YOUTH. Abey Poons, the sixteen-year-old son of A well-known diamond merchant; in London and Belgium, eec out from his ancestral home to seo tho world some two years ago. He ha? spent moot of his time in Victoria, but'inside different gaols. After landing, lie Boon run through his liberal supplies of cash, and resorted to tho practice of taking the cash of others with tho inevitable result. After his last gaol experience his father sent him a tickob to bring him home, but Poons raised money on his ticket, and continued his riotous living until finding himself short, he appropriated a few pounds, and now finds himself eont) up for six months. WOMEN FRANCHISE. At tho annual mooting of tho Women Franchise League, in Melbourne, Mr. Ramsay, seconding a motion in favour of giving women equal rights to men, said the marriage rate in Victoria was decreasing. Tho last census showed that 40 per cent, of tho women of the colony had no husbands. Twenty-nine per cent, of those were women of 20 years and upwards, who were earning their living, 114,000 boing returned as bread-winners, all taking part in the industrial lifo of the community, adding to the wealth, yet denied political rights. Mr. Flynn movod an amendment that the suffrage should not be granted to women, as it would not tend to the national wolfare. In medical experts' opinion tho franchise would induce physical degeneration among women. The ultimate appeal was to physical force, and as a woman is not constituted to take part in physical strife she should not be granted political power. Dr. Bevan said tho appeal was not to bruto force or the sword, but to intolligenco and reason. The physical argument provod too much, as many of the men wore physically incapablo of bearing arms, yot wore not disfranchised. Thev could only secure the full development of national lifo whon thoy granted tho womon tho franchise.

THE ASSOCIATED BANKS. The action of fcho Union Bank in withdrawing from the associated banks brings to a conclusion an arrangement which has existed for nearly 24 years. PERSONAL. At a farewell performanco in Molbourne to-night Mr. Boucicaulb was presonted with a liandaomo address and a purse of 250 sovereigns us a mark of appreciation of his artistic services. Death has removed a well-known figure in Victoria in the person of Sir George Baillio, Barb. Tho deceased was colonial born, and succeeded to the title in 1890, His brother Robort Baillio succeeds him. CITY OP MELBOURNE BANK. The examination of witnesses in the City of Melbourne Bank inquiry has concluded. William Robortjon, lata acting-manager, stated that for a considerable period before tho closing of the bank a numbor of accounts woro kept under tho heading special accounts. This business was kept apart from tho general business of the bank. It seemed to be a fad of Longniuir's. He Baid thab accounts of that kind which wore not paying interest should bo kept in a special book, which the clerks of the bank could not see, There were 32 of these accounts, and wore selected on tho ground that they were inoperative, or nearly so. Fink £50,000, Standard Quarry £84,000, and Blair £39,000, were among these accounts. Tho manager's account of £75,000 was not there, as that amount never stood opposite his name. BIBLE-READING IN SCHOOLS. Tho general elections in South Australia will be availed of to arrive at some definite decision on the vexed question of Biblo* reading in schools. The returning officers will be required to tako a poll on the following questionsDo you favour tho con* tinuance of the present system of education in tho State schools ? Do you favour tho introduction of Scriptural instruction during sohool hours? Do you favour the payment of a capitation grant to denominational schools for secular results?