Intercolonial News.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 221, 4 December 1875, Page 8

Intercolonial News.

One very unexpected and still more welcome occurrence marked the recent elections in Victoria. The Popish party practically disfrauchished themselves. The priests ordered that none should vote for any candidate who would not pledge himself to an upset of the present education system. No candidate would so pledge himself, so no priest-ruled voters went to the poll. Would that they would always act in like manner. Of course it is done with an ulterior motive. When the time comes wo shall have a terrible howl that they are taxed against their consciences by a body in which they are not represented ; but I do not think the constituencies will bother themselves much about such a cry. Suicides secures scant sympathy. Inflicting ridiculously harsh sentences is an eccentricity not confined to magistrates in England. Lately, says an Australian exchange, the West Maitland Bench sentenced a boy to fourteen days’ imprisonment, without the option of paying a fine, for pumtneling another lad. The case seems to have been simply one of juvenile ill-blood, and not premeditated ruffianism, and there is a good deal of virtuous indignation about it. The magistracy nuisance is one of the worst in New South Wales, as the appointments have been made in too many instances for party purposes, and without any regard to the fitness of the recipient of the much prized title of J.P., which list needs revision very badly, especially in the large towns, and notably Sydney, where ignorance and malignity too often struggle for mastery in the breasts of the justices. In some of the undefended cases the greatest illegalities are committed, while any scoundrel, defended by a clever lawyer, is sure to escape scatheless. The Melbourne Telegraph says:—“ By the mail Mr. Brough Smyth has received from England copies of articles, published in the Popular Science Review, of Professor McCoy’s ‘ Second Decade of the Paleontology of Victoria, or Figures and Descriptions of Victorian Organic Remains, ’ published in connection with the geological survey of Victoria, under the supervision of the Secretary of Mines. The work is spoken of in the most favorable terms, as being not only of importance to the colony, but also to European and American geologists, enabling them to observe the resemblance or difference of fossils in strata of a presumed similar geological age in the northern hemisphere. As representing also the importance attached to the labors of our Mining Department in other colonies, copies of the Hansard report of the House of Representatives in New Zealand have been received, in which mention is made of the Hon. C. O’Neill having laid before his House a copy of Mr. Brough Smyth’s report, as Chief Mining Inspector, oil the ‘ Mines of Victoria,’ which was highly spoken of in the course of the remarks that were made on its presentation, extracts from the report being read and published in the Parliamentary proceedings of that colony.” We have seen at the office of the New Zealand Insurance Company two pieces of stuff resembling slag, which, it appears, is really wool which has been burned, and which was taken from the inside of a bale on board the barque Corinth at Brisbane. During the stli, says the Telegraph, a smell of tire was prevalent on board the ship and around the wharf, and the smell increasing in the evening, one or two of the bales in the hold were tried, and being found considerably heated, were sent ashore again. Next morning, on being opened, they were found to have been overheated and smouldering, and a quantity of wool in the bales was completely destroyed. About twenty more bales were then sent ashore, ripped open, and found to he very damp ; and in all probability, had it not been discovered in time, the flames would have burst out before the Corinth had been long at sea, when the consequences would have been most serious. It is necessary to state that the combustion occurred in scoured wool. The Sydney Morning Hera hi, of the 18th, says :—“There was on view at the Exchange to-day a sample of a black-looking substance closely resembling slag. Had it not been for the label attached no person could have guessed that it was a portion of the burned wool discovered on board the Corinth at Brisbane. If the fire broke out when the ship was any distance at sea we should probably have heard of another missing vessel through the negligence of persons shipping wool ill a damp state. Something which occurred here two years ago, when fortunately the discovery was made before the wool went on hoard the ship, ought to have led to the careful examination of washed and scoured wools prior to stowage. We now learn that during the past month more than twenty' bales had to be removed out of a ship at the

Circular-quay, in consequence of being packed damp and heating. This is so serious a matter both to insurers and to the crews and passengers whose lives are jeopardised by the carelessness or cupidity of others, that active measures should lie taken to prevent its recurrence.”

JUDICIAL WIT. (From the Echo, Sydney.) The gibes and flashes of merriment by which magistrates are wont to “ set the table in a roar,” are usually invested with humor only from the exigencies of the occasion. Who would act so unseemly as not to laugh at a joke from the Bench ? When Mr. Nupkins, the Mayor of Ipswich, remarked that l’iekwick was “ a very good name for the Newgate calendar”—“ this was a joke ;so Mr. Jinks, Mr. (Juiiiiner, and all the specials went into convulsions.” The town of Musselburgh, Scotland, however, is favored with a singular genial magistrate of a dry humor that it is impossible not to appreciate ; and his fortnightly sittings are quite pleasant little reunions. On one occasion recently be was in a perfect flow of spirits, and delighted everyone except perhaps the offenders. A woman named Sliiels, who is a notorious scold, being charged with annoying her neighbors, Bailie Brown inquired if her husband were alive. When answered in the affirmative, he held up his hands and ejaculated, “ Weel, I pity him !” In imposing a small tine on another old offender, the bailie remarked apologetically, “ The prisoner is ower auld for me to try admonition wi.” A young man was charged with creating a disturbance, having urged on his behalf that lie had himself been “ pitched out of a publichouse,” the bailie retorted, “Yes, and then got yoursel’ pitched into the police-office. Weel, just pitch doon 7s. fid.” A. big hulking fellow was next charged with being disorderly. “ Are ye a stranger, man ?” inquired the bailie. “Na, bailie,” replied the prisoner. “Weel, observed the bailie, “Ye mitch hae been better bred than stall’ there wi’ her hawns in yer pooches ; talc’ them oot, ye lazy fellow.” This homely style of dispensing justice was, it is stated, evidently appreciated by a large and admiring audience. It must be quite refreshing to get through the Police Court duty in this way, and we recommend the bailie’s example to some of our own justices.

THE BLTND MAN AND THE PIPER (From the Bonier Post.)

In the year 1866, John Macdonald, then one of the finest specimens of the Australian digger in the colonies, was rendered blind by the sudden explosion of a charge of powder, whilst employed at the Black Hill, Ballarat. Since then his life has been pregnant of vicissitudes, but he managed to get along until in an evil hour he entered into partnership with a piper. It seems that Macdonald was staying at the Highland Chief Hotel, Melbourne, and advertised for a lad to guide him through the interior of the country. Norman Bateman saw the advertisement, and in glowing terms pointed out to the blind mail what a “ pile” they could make if both travelled aud gave entertainments in the country. This ended in Macdonald, who had spared a little money, purchasing a set of pipes for Norman. Both set out from Melbourne bound for Riverina. There was an understanding that no music should be played at public houses, but on reaching the Goulburn this stipulation was violated. Norman struck up some favorite reels and strathspeys, and was surrounded by an admiring audience. Cash flowed in freely, and the piper knocked it down like a prince, getting blind drunk in the bargain. Poor Macdonald had no inclination for merriment, and reminded the piper of the terms of the partnership. But Norman drunk and Norman sober were two different persons. Norman drunk, was roysterous, insolent, and abusive. However, partnership was dissolved, but after Norman had seen the folly of quarrelling with his friend,and expressed the loudest contrition, he was forgiven and both proceeded to the Lachlan, when the piper again misconducted himself, and repeated the idiosyncrasies of the Goulburn. The blind man again forgave his erring guide, and matters, though not all that could be desired, stood well enough until reaching the Piney Range last week. The piper got drunk again, blackguarded the blind man, and took the pipes with him, making towards Walla Walla. The police interfered. Norman was arrested on a charge of stealing the pipes, and brought before Captain Brownrigg, R.M., at Albury, where lie was discharged. The pipes were given to the blind man, and the poor fellow was taken to Wodouga in one of the ’busses, from whence lie went to Melbourne, with the firm determination of never entering into partnership with a piper, as he believed all the fraternity have a bee in their bonnets. The piper was very sorry, but Macdonald was too well acquainted with that tune as to become inexorable. THE MOUNT GAM BIER MUR- _ DERER. “ One very curious feature in Page’s case is worth noting,” writes the Border Watch. “Up till the time he made his confession he had scarcely any perception of the gravity of the crime he had committed. On the night of the murder, and after he had carried the body to the hole where it was ultimately buried, lie did not feel the slightest fear, nor did it strike him that he had done anything out of the way. When the unfortunate man Jung shot Garroway, lie told us that no sooner had he done so than he thought all the trees shouted ‘Murder.’ But Page walked home after getting a nobbier at Krull’s in as happy a state of mind as if lie had been to church, and thoroughly enjoyed his supper and the chat with Mrs. Mitchell’s servants previous to going to bed. He went out at midnight and buried the girl without the slightest fear, except that some of Mrs. Buchan’s family might drop upon him before he finished. After going home and getting to bed he fell asleep in a few minutes and never as much as

dreamed of anything terrible. If lie had got clear away the fact that he had committed murder would never have disturbed his conscience. After his confession the gravity of his crime began to dawn upon his mind, but it is questionable if it ever gave him any great pain. That moral obtuseness that led him practically to regard ‘killing no murder’ evidently waited upon him to the last; and though he was no doubt much changed and benefited by the religious instruction he received, the constitutional defect in his nature still largely existed, and his moral sensibilities were far from keen. This was well illustrated on the night proceeding his execution. He was engaged in conversation with the Rev. Mr. Caldwell up till half-past nine o’clock. He retired to rest at ten aud slept soundly till called next morning. In fact, he frequently stated that his crime never caused him any uneasiness. We incline to the opinion that Page was a great moral maniac, and that it is hard to say liow far he was capable of deceiving himself and those who came in contact with him. In the interests of science, Dr. Jackson is anxious that a cast of his skull should be obtained. He is inclined to the view that such would help to illustrate a phase in human character to which scientific medical men have recently been giving a good deal of attention. The doctor is fully satisfied that Page was a moral maniac; and almost as little responsible for his actions as one of the lower animals.” It is stated in the Bonier Watch, that “some days ago a telegram was received at the Mount Gambier Gaol, addressed to William Page, making inquiries about a girl named Lucy Schiller, who was reported to have mysteriously disappeared from Mount Gambier some months back, and was last seen in the company of Page. Page denied ever having seen the girl at Mount Gambier, and stated that he believed she was with her father at Mount Remarkable. It would be satisfactory to the public here if the whereabouts of this girl was properly accounted for. If at Mount Remarkable with her father there should be no difficulty in getting to know this for certain.”

COMPETITIVE TRIAL OF ENGINES (From the Age.)

An interesting experiment has just been completed on the Victorian Government lines between a bogie engine belonging to the Hobson’s Bay Railway Company and three engines of the same calibre on the Victorian railways. The advantages claimed for the bogie belonging to the Hobson's Bay Company are that it sweeps round curves and over crossing-points very smoothly, while the weight is distributed over eight wheels instead of six ; that is, there are three tons on a wheel instead of four. In this latter respect there can be no doubt about the advantages of the eight-wheeled engines for light lines. Mr. Woods ordered a competitive trial to be made between the two engines, having first obtained the concurrence of the Melbourne and Hobson’s Bay United Railway Company’s directors. The bogie was cramped over on rails from Flinders-street to Spencer-street, the cost of removal being £SO. It should be here stated that the Hobson’s Bay engine is a single bogie not a double bogie, like Fairlie’s engine. The four lateral wheels oil which the pistons act are coupled and work on a rigid base. The four anterior wheels work on a bogie. The company kept their own driver, fireman, and cleaner on the engine during the trial. The ground chosen for the trial was between Melbourne and Woodend, where the gradients vary from level ground to 1 in 50. The first competitor pitted against the bogie was No. 100, built at Williamstown, a 27-ton engine, with four coupled and two leading wheels. This engine has been running on the North-Eastern line, and when taken to that road it was said she would not do the heavy work required of her, but she lias been doing the haulage ever since in a most satisfactory manner. No. 100 has cylinders one inch greater in diameter than the Hobson’s Bay bogie, and on this account had a penalty imposed by her load being increased 14 per cent. When the trial came off, No. 100 beat the bogie in tractive power, in speed, and economy of fuel. It was then suggested that a fairer trial would be between the bogie and an engine 'with outside cylinders. No. 100 was then sent back to her own road, and No. 111, driven by Crabtree, was brought down to Maryborough, and it was on the return of that engine from her trial that she met with the ill-fated accident on Friday week. The trial between No. 114 and the bogie resulted, as far as can be ascertained, in a tie. A third trial was made between the bogie and a saddle-backed tank engine on the Williamstown line. This experiment showed a saving of fuel to the credit of the Government engine—the saddle-back tank locomotive. THE MELBOURNE HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN. (From the Daily Telegraph.) One of the most unpretentious, and yet one of the most useful public charitable institutions in Melbourne, is the Hospital for Sick Children, in Spring-street. Very little is heard of it, yet the Children’s Hospital does as much good iu its way as do the better known and larger institutions, such as the Melbourne and Alfred Hospitals and the Benevolent Asylum, and its sphere of usefulness would be greatly enlarged were the public a little more liberal in their subscriptions. A. more worthy medium for the exercise of charity could not be found than this hospital for sick children, and our object in writing about it is to draw tlie attention of the public to the fact of its existence. The facts we shall mentiou will prove the value of the institution, and the necessity of its being well supported by those who are possessed of means, aud who take an interest in the welfare of children. The hospital for sick children was first opened on the 11th September, 1870, in a building in Stejihen-street, and so great were the demands made upon it that about two years ago it was found necessary to obtain a more commodious structure. Hence

the present premises in Spring-street, between Flinders-street and Flinders-lane were secured. These premises are large and well situated, but they are not sufficient for the requirements of the hospital. They are rented, aud the committee are desirous of securing a piece of land from the Government on which to erect their own buildings. There is a difficulty, however, in the way in regard to a site. The only available free site, it seems, is some distance from the centre of the city, and it cannot he accepted because of the distance. A piece of land near the Royal Park, on the Sydney-road, was offered to the committee, and it would be admirably suited to indoor patients, but the principal benefit conferred by the institution is the treatment of outdoor patients, and it would be cruel to drag a poor woman with a sick child all the way from the city to the Royal Park for treatment day after day. In consequence of this difficulty the committee are compelled to carry on their operations in a building utterly inadequate to the requirements of the charity. Wliat is wanted is that some of our wealthy colonists should come forward with liberal subscriptions towards a fund for the purchase of an allotment of land in the city, and the erection thereon of a suitable building. Sir S. Wilson gave £30,000 for the building of an assembly ball in connection with our University ; could not a few of our wealthy colonists join together and subscribe a third of that sum for the purchase of a site, and the erection of a children’s hospital. Their money would not be thrown away, but, on the contrary, would be the means of doing good to the poorer classes of the community. In the present building there is only room for twenty children. This has hitherto proved quite sufficient for the inmates, as there has never been more than that number of in-patients, but there is a woeful want of accommodation for out-patients. As an illustration of this it is sufficient to mention that besides the kitchen and kindred surroundings, there are only six rooms in the house. Four of these are used as wards for the children ; of the remaining two, one is utilised as consulting-room, operating-room, and committee-room, while the other is the general dining-room for the children, and is also used as a waiting-room for out-patients. It is this that shows the necessity for more accommodation. Children suffering from contagious diseases are not admitted as in-patients, but children suffering from any diseases whatever are treated as out-patients, and they and their parents or guardians have to wait in the dining-room until their turn comes to see the medical man in attendance. It happens thus that children suffering from scarlet fever, measles, croop, whooping-cough, and other zymotic diseases are daily congregated in the dining-room of the hospital, and are likely to leave the germs of their diseases behind them to take hold of the in-patients. Fortunately only one case of fever has occurred in the institution during the present epidemic, but this is attributable to the good management of, and the precautions taken by, Mrs. Bishop, the matron. So soon as it was known that scarlet fever was raging in the city the matron caused the building to be thoroughly fumigated, and since then disinfectants have been largely used. The result was that the fever did not spread, and the child who suffered from it is now quite recovered. The institution is under the management of a committee of ladies, who deserve great credit for the admirable manner in which it is conducted. Since the hospital was first established over 10,000 children have been treated, the averages of cases being more than 200 a-year. The in-patients are limited by the regulations to children between the ages of two and thirteen years, but in the case of a pressing necessity children under that age are received. There is no limit in the age of out-patients under thirteen years. At the present time there are only seven inpatients, the remainder suffering from chronic diseases having been sent to their homes on the outbreak of the fever. There are three medical gentlemen who voluntarily attend the hospital regularly on alternate days, viz., Dr. Wiggs, Dr. Rees, and Dr. A. Beckett, while Drs. Neild, Motherwell, and James, and Professor Halford constitute the honorary consulting staff. It is gratifying to note that the in-patients of this institution find a real home. Those who have the management of it do not content themselves with simply treating the children from a medical point of view, but they endeavor, as far as lies iu their power, to make them happy and comfortable, so far as their affliction will enable them to be. Toys of every kind are supplied to the children suitable to their sex, and a board is attached to each little cot, forming a table, which is fixed in such a manner that whether they are able to sit up or not the children can while away their time with their toys. It is perhaps, almost needless to mention that toys of any description are thankfully received by the committee, and suitable books also for children who have reached an age to be able to read and understand them. The charitably inclined, who have not hitherto contributed towards the support of this hospital, would not waste a half hour in visiting and inspecting it. Last year 2076 cases were treated, and the attendance numbered 7381, while of the in-patients, no less than forty-four were sent away cured, a far greater number of chronic cases being considerably relieved. It may perhaps be well worth while to mention that in connection with the hospital for sick children it is not only subscribers of £1 and upwards who are entitled to issue tickets to those requiring the benefits of the institution. Those persons who contribute less than £1 annually have the privilege of one out-door ticket for every ss. they subscribe. Of course, the privilege of admitting in-patients is only granted to subscribers of £1 and upwards. There is now a sum of £5564 to the credit of the building fund, and it is sincerely to be hoped that this amount will be supplemented to such an extent that the committee will very soon he in a position to purchase a site of land in a healthy part of the city, and erect thereon a structure equal to the requirements of so admirable an institution.

THE POPULATION QUESTION.

The Sydney Echo says At the Newtown banquet, the hon. Minister for Mines made his native land express her wants in the following eloquent peroration “ All I want is population to extend my pastoral pursuits, to operate upon my agricultural capabilities, to extract my mineral wealth, to extend my railways and other works, so that the produce which I am capable of yielding can be gathered into my warehouses and workshops to be converted into thousands of shapes and forms—thus giving employment to labor, investment to capital, and opening up a large field of enterprise so much wanted for the rising generation of Australia.” . Without going so far as Mr. Lucas, and saying that population is 1 all ’ the country wants, we admit that the want of a much larger population is one of the greatest drawbacks to its more rapid progress and to its greatest prosperity. Its natural increase is not at all equal to its requirements ; and it surely must have been an oversight that in the list of measures enumerated as likely to be brought forward next session by the Government, no mention was made of any plan to promote immigration. At present contractors have great difficulty in obtaining anything approaching to the number of men they desire to carry on railway works with a vigor equal to their will; and it is admitted almost everywhere that the domestic labor difficulty has become most irritating. We observe that the contractor for the line from Yass to Wagga Wagga is advertising for men at reduced hours, and at wages for pick and shovel men which would attract thousands of brawny laboi’ers from other countries but for the distance. It is not too much to expect— seeing how largely the Government by its contracts influences the labor market, and how much, by its extensive borrowing, it influences the money market—that it should take some steps to provide a more rapid supply of that requisite, for the want of which, in the opinion of the hon. Minister of Mines, the colony is languishing. The following incident will illustrate one phase of the domestic labor difficulty. A few days ago a lady advertised for a servant. The family consisted of three adults—the house was small —the duties were light. An applicant presented herself. She could not, however, think of favoring the family with her services for less than fourteen shillings per week, alleging that she could not buy a dress fit to go out in for less than two pounds, at that it would take at least a week’s wages to get it made properly ! Could she not make her own dresses ? Oh dear, no ; she might, perhaps, manage a morning robe, but as to her making her good dresses, that was out of the question ! Where are the pick-and-shovel men, and mechanics to look for wives ? Are they to take them from among domestics who spend all their money in dress, or from among sewing-machine Misses, who know nothing of domestic service ; or are they to be debarred altogether from matrimonial felicity ? In any case, what is to be done to satisfy the most pressing want of Mr. Lucas’s native country ?