Our Australian Letter.

Otago Witness, Issue 1581, 11 March 1882, Page 8

Our Australian Letter.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Melbourne, 21st.

In Victoria we" are making a show of getting out of debt as fast as we can, as a preliminary to borrowing an additional £4,000,000 for public works. Of course we are throwing a sprat to catch a mackerel, but for all that the policy is a wise one. When the "Berry blight" was at its height, the head centre of the new Ministry issued £500,000 worth of Treasury bonds, in order to wipe out a deficiency whicSh prevented him from presenting a clean balance-sheet to Parliament. I\> was a rough-and-ready sort of finance, but with a large and subservient majority a Treasurer can accomplish a little financial juggling with success, Sir Bryan O'Loghlen has succeeded # in taking up the whole of these bonds, excepting some £29,000, which he is anxious' to secure without delay. He has had to pay a premium to induce bondholders to sell, but notwithstanding this, the operation will be directly remunerative, to say nothing of the good effect it will produce upon the London Stock Exchange. The Government will be able to point to this as a tangible proof of the success of their "peace, progress, and prosperity" policy i and their opponents will find it hard to gainsay it. A remarkable speech, indicative of a change of front upon the education question, was recently delivered by Archbishop Vaughan on the occasion of the opening of the Rosebank Convent Primary School. For years he has professed to believe that the Roman Catholic grievances in connection with education would be redressed by the State consenting to grant funds for the support of the schools of the Church. He has frequently expressed the conviction that if "the faithful'] steadily pursued their present policy of establishing and maintaining schools at their own expense rather than violate their religious scruples, that the spirit of self-reliance thus exhibited would ultimately touch the generous instincts of the rest of the community, and enable justice to be done. Now his Grace expresses his belief that in the course of a few years " the colonists of New South Wales, seeing that the Catholic people— the poorest section of the community — had been able to educate their own children without expense to the State, would say to the remainder of parents, " Why cannot you do likewise, and save us the incubus of debt? You rich people of the Anglican, the Wesleyan, and the Baptist Churches, and all you who are so much better off than the Roman Catholics, why cannot you emulate their example and educate your children free of expense to the State, instead of, burdening the people for educating those who ought to educate themselves?" Dr Vaughan is a comparatively, youiig man, and will probably live to change his convictions again, upon this question. As a student of history he must surely know that* when once highly-prized concessions have been wrung from the State by the force of popular- opinion, they will not be lightly abandoned because a minority in the commu- . nity refuse to take advantage of them. Voluntary denominational education will not be a dangerous rival to the free, secular, and compulsory system, expensive' though the latter ,may be. ■ . The irrepressible little chairman of the Victorian Tariff Commission must be bitterly disappointed. According -to his views the correct method of encouraging manufactures is to pile on Protectionist duties, but experts are 'testifying that whatthey want is remission of taxation^ so as to 'enable them to produce cheaper. The cry is the same from firms engaged in the millinery", underclothing, and tailoring trade ; the tent; tarpaulin, and flagmakers; and the boot and shoe and tanning trades. They all complain- of being unfairly handicapped in being- taxed on their raw material. The Protectionist members of the Commission, are very wroth at the turn affairs are taking, and some' have not hesitated to accuse 'some of the manufacturers of having formed themselves into a • sort of Freetrade league for the purpose of assailing the established policy of the country. The New South Wales Parliament has been further prorogued until April 11th, but it is not expected to meet before the beginning of July, Dy which time Sir Henry Parkes will probably have returned from Mb triumphal progress through the United States and Great Britain. Mr Berry.gets nicely chaffed, at his want of nous in not persuading his supporters that his embassy mission necessitated a preliminary visit to the Great Republic before the hostile officials of Downing street were faced. The rumour is growing that the Parkes Ministry will next session introduce a bill to consolidate, and amend the land laws of the Colony. ■ An opinion very generally prevails that a more adequate rental should be obtained for the waste lands of the Colony, even if it became necessary to grant fixity of tenure to pastoral tenants as against free selectors, who might be confined to certain areas. Whether Sir John Robertson, the apostle of free selection, could ever bring himself to agree to Buoh a proposal is another matter, The gigantic, character of the Australian wool trade is demonstrated by R. Goldsbrough and Co. in their interesting annual review of the 'wool market. .The sales made in the Colonies are increasing every year at a very rapid rate. • This season some 272,974 bales have been thus disposed. of ,■ or 75,702 more than last year. When it is borne in. mind that this represents a money vaJue exceeding £5,000,000, the immense Importance of the business can be estimated. The largest sales were made in Melbourne, the quantity sold here and in Geelong amounting to 157,974 hales, or 35,702, in excess of last year. The sales in Sydney were also very large, amounting to 75,000 bales, and in Adelaide 40,000. The transactions with foreign buyers are rapidly extending. This season the Americans purchased oyer 11,000 bales in Melbourne and Sydney., The Russian Squadron have been viewed with considerable suspicion since their arrival in Hobson's Bay, but this has not prevented the Government and citizens according them abundant hospitality. It is not forgotten that in 1862 the Victorian Government were placed in possession of information which disclosed a premeditated naval attack upon our port, and playing upon this hint, the Age recently gave publicity to a capitally-written sketch purporting to be a dispatch from Admiral Aslanbegoff to the Russian Minister of Marine, in which he recounted with mortifying exactness the weak points in our dflfenoes, and detailed a plan of attack which he confidently expected would, enable a Russian squadron of cruisers to pounoe suddenly upon Melbourne, and make jts rich banks disgorge the £2,000,000 in gold which.is always kept in tljeir offices, An identical attack would be made at the same time in Sydney, and the Admiral is made to express the belief that both would succeed, and that the invading squadrons could be qft' .agajn before any force sufficient to menace them could be collected. The skit, I am told, considerably irritated the Russian officers, and some even went the length pi inquiring whether legal proceedings

could hot be instituted against the audacious 1 paper. It is incomprehensible to all who seriously consider our position in the event of war, that our system of defences is not completed. Instead of carrying out the scheme recom- '' mended by Sir William Jervois with despatch, trifling sums are yearly voted to continue the works, but they are not in a sufficiently advanced state to be of any real utility in case of attack. Even the Cerberus has been allowed to get into an unserviceable condition. Meanwhile Admiral Aslanbegoff gracefully assures us that he considers Melbourne the capital of Australia, and, therefore, the chief point of, attack.

What an extraordinary partiality for sports the Australian race displays. The number of race meetings each year becomes larger, and the interest in- cricket, boating, yachting, &c. more intense. During the past fortnight " cricket chatter," as the sporting papers call it, has had a complete monopoly. Even nonsportsmen have had, from motives of patriotism at least, to exhibit a deep interest in the brave doings of " our boys " in the great intercolonial match at Sydney. It was without question the meat remarkable of the 28 contests for cricketing supremacy which have ■ occurred between Victoria and New South Wales. Murdoch's splendid innings, and the extraordinary aggregate score of the Eleven he commanded will, perhaps, never be eclipsed on this side the equator. Larger individual scores have in one or two instances been obtained in the . Old Country, but rarely, if ever, against such good bowling and fielding, and I believe there is no question that 775 represents the largest score ever obtained, by a cricketing eleven. The scoring throughout the five days that the match lasted was unusually large, no less than 1412 benig obtained, or an average of 470 for each innings. The highest score ever before macto^' in an intercolonial match is credited to Lieut. Gordon in 1871, whose 121 (not out) is still remembered by Victorians with becoming pride; but during the match no less than four players achieved the coveted honour of "the century." When the New South Wales captain returned to the pavilion after his magnificent display of batting he received a perfect ovation, and it is satisfactory to say that some friends, "hitting the iron while it was hot|" ' • succeeded in collecting from the enthusiastic afowd a very handsome testimonial for the redoubtable cricketer. ' Had the presentation been made in money, he would not have received quite one golden guinea for every run he made, but each of the 321 will be worth considerably more than 10s apiece to him. The Victorians strove manfully to prevent a one-innings defeat, but were un« successful. They were beaten, but not dis« honoured, and they now seek for consolation in the remembrance that the chief author of their defeat i 8 a Victorian native — Murdoch, like Boyle, the other captain, being Sandhurstborn. It is much to be regretted that a little ebullition of temper on Murdoch's part prevented the defeated eleven from attending'the banquet given' by the New South Waleß Cricketing Association in celebration of the victory. In connection with sports, I may men- « tion that the Russian Squadron men, who carried off all the honours in the aquatic contests between the. European men-of-war in Syd- ' . ne# Harbour, have had, after two trials, to acknowledge the superior skill or luck of Vie- • 'torian sailors. ■ New South Wales, as usual, has supplied the sensational tragedy of the fortnight, and jealousy was the cause of the crime. A man named Grimley fell in lpve with a girl named Ann Pettit, and at Christmas proposed' to her, butl was refused. He_ was habitually of a sullen, saturnine disposition, and was heard to uttejr threats that the girl would be'sorry if she encpuraged anyone else. Her affections were', however, secured by a- more favoured young man, and in consequence Grimley became mad with jealousy. He purchased a double-baf* ' rellpd gun, and then retiring to his' room, deliberately cast lots whether he' should or ' should not kill his sweetheart. Two pieces of . patfer have been found on which were written, f 'KSll her? Yes," "Kill her? No." He dre.w thejfatal lot, and the- same night took steps to execute his intention. He by some means obtained access to the girl's bedroom, and on awaking about 3 a.m. she saw him there. She cried for help, but before it could come he fired at her twice with such effect that she died very , shortly. He escaped to his own house, ana there destroyed himself.

A terrible encounter occurred recently at Major's Creek, between a madman who had escaped from gaol and Mr Cobb, a storekeeper. About 1 a.m. the madman, who was a very powerful man, smashed in the panels of the front door, and, entering the house, at once engaged in a desperate struggle with Mr Cobb, whd was quickly overpowered, and would unquestionably have lost his life had he not called to his wife to hand him his revolver. She preserved sufficient presence of mind to do so, and very opportunely at this moment her husband freed one hand sufficiently to take aim. He shot the madman in the jaw,, and them effected his escape. The unfortunate lunatic: was" soon captured, but he is dangerously wounded, and may die.

Excepting in temperance circles, the attempt which is now being made to work the eystem of local option ia New South Wales has aroused but little interest. The apathy displayed by the general body of ratepayers is singular, when the keen interest exhibited by members of Parliament in favour of local option is remembered. It is, however, explained that "the Parliamentary enthusiasm was not the product and reflection of a popular enthusiasm, but was the result of the energy and systematic operation of the temperance organisations." It has been noticed that on this occasion the publicans, as a rule, sided with and assisted the teetotallers, not from any sympathy with temperance, but because they dislike additional competition. In some places the publicans showed a disposition to fight. •At Bathurst, for instance, a proposal was made to " Boycott" all temperance men, but discretion fortunately prevailed, and the foolish resolution was withdrawn.

Professor Pepper's great " scientific "^4at of " tapping the clouds by means of a gigan<TOkite and concussion " was productive of little or no rain, but of nnlimitedmirth. On the 4th inst.,' on the Brisbane racecourse, in the presence of hundreds of spectators, the 'rain-making experiment was attempted. The conditions favoured the performer, for heavy rain-clonds were floating near the earth, but the scientific preparations of the rain-compeller were defective, A few rockets were sent up, a few charges of dynamite were fired, and 10 small swivel guns of antiquated make were let off ; but no rain fell in response, though a few drops which descended subsequently were regarded as signs of success. "The gigantic kite was a gigantic failure. It could not be persuaded to go up, and I suppose that any little schoolboy could have informed the Professor that a kite of such weight could not be expected to fly. Mr Pepper consoles himself with the reflection that his experiments have developed certain truths in respect "to these captive flying* maohines." and promises that whan he hat 11 an old-fashioned light kite" prepared he will yet fulfil bis predictions, " Like Palieey, ftf

potter, I shall go on as an earnest student until I succeed." Meantime a subscription ot 50 guineas is required to enable him conthrae his experiments in " rain-making. The Orangemen of Melbourne are rebuilding their chief lodge, and on the occasion of laying the foundation-stone invited a number of politicians and clergymen to be present, lno former were as reticent as the latter were- indiscreetly talkative. Amongst the clones was an Evangelical clergyman named Macartney, a son of the Dean of Melbourne. He made ;a speech in which, after depicting the .Catholic Church as "backed up by all the subtleties of Satan and all the energies of hell/ ho urged his hearers to unite in stemming the powdr of this dangerous adversary to the true faith. His utterances have produced one of the most bitterly-conducted newspaper controversies which has ever been waged in the "silly season." The Bishop of Melbourne, on the one hand, is urged to unfrock- Mr Macartney without delay ; on the other, he is assured that Mr Macartney's "intense love for nevor-dying souls is one of the grandest traits in a character so Christlike as to be almost unmatched in the present day." Columns, I may say pages, have been written in denunciation of the religious and political intolerance and aggression of the Romish Church. Beyond easing the minds of the writers, the correspondence can be productive of no good ; and as we are a long way from a general election, its political effect will be slight. . The arrangements for a simultaneous intercolonial rifle match are nearly completed. The event will take place on some Saturday m August next, on the respective local ranges oi the Rifle Associations of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, New Zealand, Tasmania, Western and South Australia. The idea originated in the last-named Colony, and has been warmly welcomed by all the othert except Victoria, which, however, will scarcely refuse to join in the contest. Each team will consist of 15 men belonging to the defence force of the Colony represented. The range.' will be 200, 300, 500, and 600 yards, longer distances not being permissible ovying to several of the Colonies oeing armed with the Snidei rifle. It is believed that the conditions will allow the teams to meet upon terms of equality. It is thought that a contest such as this will, in a few years, lead to arrangements being concluded for a more satisfactory trial of skill on the same range. The discovery of the remains of Baxter, the overseer, of the exploring expedition with which E. J. Eyre some 41 years ago made his remarkable journey from Adelaide to King George's Sound, has created something of a sensation. The details of the treacherous murder' of the brave fellow by two of the natives attached to the expedition, have been 'recalled,- with all the horrors and sufferings endured by the brave leader and the faithful native lad Wylie before they accomplished the object upon which their hearts were.set. A marriage in high life has occurred in South Australia, Miss Lucy ,Caroline Jervois, the second daughter of his Excellency Sir William Jervois, ' having married the Rev. W. A,. Purey-Cust, the son of the Dean of York, on Valentine's Day. The event created a slight . Bocial sensation, and the bridal and travelling costiimes of the bride, and the elegant presents she .received, were, appropriately described in the society papers for the edification of th£ lady readers. The bridal pair proceed to England next month. [The Rev. W. A. Purey; Oust was a resident of Dunedin for a short time.] ■ >•' I The .unfortunate diggers who flocked to the Albert goldfield in iNew South Wales are suffering great hardships, especially^ Moun ; Browne, where water has almost failed, theri having been no, rain since May last. Theter rible 'drought extends for hundreds of miles and should the diggers desert the field and en. deayour to walk back to the settled districts! there is reason tp fear they would be subjected tb'terrible privations. The official census returns of New South, Wales place the population of that Colony, in April fast, at 751,468, the males prepondet rating to the extent of 71,000. According to the Uegistrar-general, the population has since increased 30,000, but this is doubted. ' The rumour that Sir Arthur Kennedy, the Governor of Queensland, was to be removed shortly to another sphere of duty-r^the Mau* ritius or New Zealand were both hinted at— j proves.to be incorrect ; at least the gentleman^ primarily concerned knows nothing of thq matter. He has publicly intimated that he had no anticipation of removal within the next 18 months. Sir Arthur at the same time jocularly declared that though he had been 53 years in her Majesty's service " he really thought he was yet equal to a mile race over hurdles with all the other Australian Governors." It is to be hoped that his challenge will be accepted, and that the race will be run on the Flemington, course next Melbourne Cup day. The excitement it would occasion would quite eclipse the great event of the day,