OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2358, 4 May 1899, Page 11

OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER.

A VETERAN POLITICIAN. The death of Mr James Service removes a man who bulks very largely in the history of Victoria. He fought a great fightin the troublous period of the seventies until he entered into the coalition with his notable opponent Sir Graham Berry which brought political peace. His principal work was really in pushing forward federation. In the later years ot his political career he set federation in the -van on every possible opportunity, and though his name now has nearly been forgotten in connection with the movement he really did a great deal towards shaping public sentiment on the question. His last prominent work was in the banking crisis of »1893. He had been one of the founders of the Commercial Bank, but had long ceased to take any part in the management of its affairs, though he was a large shareholder. There was a strong demand from both shareholders and depositors that he should again assume the position of chairman -of directors. . Though reluctant to "undertake a task which would' involve so much laboiir and responsibility, he consented to do so, and the announcement of this fact went far to restore confidence, and had much influence in enabling the bank to make satisfactory terms, and reconstruct upon an. acceptable basis. For the last two or three years Mr Service had been very frail. He only made his apnearance at his business (he was head of the well-known firm of James Service and -Co.) occasionally, and latterly he had given up coming to town at all. There was a notable gathering of public men at his funeral. Sir Graham Berry, - his old opponent and colleague, is growing very frail also, and is apparently not long for this world. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. It appears that the Presbyterian Church of Victoria is considering the advisability of shortening the Confession of Faith. The subject was first brought publicly under notice at the Federal Assembly which has been sitting in Sydney. The' question of union was being debated, and teveral references were made to the possible secession of a small section if the church in the event of any shortening of the Confession being made. Member after member of the assembly, mostly Victorian delegates, made allusion to the shortening of the creed, and as it became quite a feature of the discussion and created some uneasiness, Principal Kinross, of St. Andrew's College, Sydney, asked whether there was any* movement"in tlie Victorian Church- in; the-clirection of shortening the creed. Professor Harper supplied the answer. He snid that in the second or third year after the" ■consummation of the union it was almost certain that a proposal for shortening the creed would be brought forward by some of the ministers of Victoria. In relation to this matter Dr, Rentoul has explained to a Melbourne paper what the movement is. He says :— " For years we have been aiming at a simpler and more modern restatement of the church's creed. The Presbyterian Church of England has already drawn out much briefer articles of religion , a.s they are called it. The Confession of Faith is allowed to stand just as an historic landmark, but these new articles of religion are now the accepted symbol of the church's faith. Undoubtedly a few years will pee the drawing up of a symbol of the church's faith more modern in language, much briefer, and much simpler in its expression than the ! Confession of Faith. Besides, the trend of feeling and of opinion is now to emphasise just those truths that are known to i all the Christian churches, and to set much less ' store by specialties of tenet marking some individual church. But observe, that when a new and simpler restatement is made, those very truths that have been disputed and will always be disputed by the rationalists or the semi-sceptics, are just the truths that will be thrown into greater prominence. Amonp them are the unity of love to Eternal God the Father ; tho great truth that saves us from individualism in God — viz.. the doctrine of the Trinity ; the great historic fact of our Lord's Tesinrection and ascension, and the I bestowment of His Holy Spirit upon His I people." ! TxiE HERESY CASE. | There was a wild and excited meeting of I the Presbytery of Melbourne North yesterday to investigate the heresy charge against the Rev. Hector Ferguson. So excited was the meeting that the Rev. Dr Marshall had to complain that an assembly of "highly respectable divines" had been turned into "a bear garden." Mr Ferguson was present, accompanied by a bevy of sympathisers, principally ladies, from his Northcote congregation. He has been defying the presbytery by holding separate service in the local town hall. The excitement began when Mr Ferguson got to personalities in regard to Dr Rentoul (who was also present), and the moderator lost all command of his reverend brethren, who were all on their feet and speaking (or rather screaming) at once. Eventually i Mr Ferguson made a dramatic exit, accompanied by his lady sympathisers. Dr Rentoul indulged in a stirring speech, declaring that he would make Mr Ferguson prove his words that he was a liar ; and evu^+nnlly a formal " libel " or charge was adopted, to which Mr Ferguson is invited to respond on May 11. THE DREDGING" BOOM. The mining community is inclined to " go off its head " on dredging. But the boom has been nippad in the bud by a cruel 'Minister, who has shut down sternly on the granting of leases. Apparently the Minister confuses dredging with hydraulic sluicing, or if he doesn't the agricultural coroimmity does. Anyhow the applications ! fo->* leases which were legion produced a J plentiful crop of objections, on the ground that the huge deposits of tailings would ruin the river fiats for the farmer ; and the Minister has set his face against the granting of leases. The newspapers have taken ths matter up, and are urging the appointment of a Royal Commission — though what is to be committed to the commissiou is

not very clear. Apparently it would inquire whether the sludge evil accompanies dredging — a question one would think easily decided without so much fuss.

The Chamber of Mines has had an evening's consideration of the question, when some of the men actually engaged in dredging at presents cleared away some of the cobwebs. They showed that the sludge evil as regarded dredging was a delusion. Perhaps the Minister, who has been touring some of the districts where leases are applied for, will have sense enough to do without the Royal Commission.

A MILITARY SENSATION.

A pretty little disturbance has arisen in the Sydney military forces. Lieutenantcolonei Neild has been amusing' himself by writing letters to the papers ci'iticising the arrangements made by his superior officer, Lieutenant-colonel Bayly, at the Easter training encampment. What was fun to Mr Neild was not taken in that spirit by Mr Bayly, who placed the letter writer under " open, arrest," in which cheerful position he remains pending a court-martial or some other sort of inquiry. According to his superior- officer '-he ' has- be'en guilty of insubordination. Mr , Neild.. has the honour of being a' member of Parliament as Avell as of commanding a regiment, and he pleads that he' wrote his letters as a legislator and not as a soldier, while he also uses many braggadocio remarks about " curtailing parliamentary privileges," and so forth. No matter what the Military Board does with Lieuenant-colonel Neild, Mr Neild, M.L.A.,will let Parliament hear a great deal about " iniquity " and the rest of it. " Jawbone Neild," the Bulletin calls him, so that it may be imagined how he will storm. The rumpus in Victoria over which Sir Charles Holled Smith was summoned post haste from New Zealand seems to have died off. There has been never a word about it since the Geneial came back. The facfc was that the General to get over a precedence difficulty (one officer refusing to serve under another, who was the General's locum tenens) gave the objecting officer leave of absence while he was absent. The leave of absence expired; the objecting officer still refused to serve ; the . locum tenens reported him ; and the Minister for Defence- made a fool of himself by cabling for the General.

THE NEW SOPRANO,

Melbourne has given way to intense enthusiasm over Miss Amy Castles, the Ben'digo girl of 17 whose voice is better, the critics.all declare, than Madame Melba's was at the same age. She has filled the Town Hall twice to overflowing — first on Saturday and again so soon as Tuesday ; ahd~6ooo people rushed to a bazaar at theexhibition the same week when she was n'nnounced to sing ; while the following' Sunday morning they had to shut the door at St.* Francis's Church to keep "the people out who wanted to hear her sing at mass. Now it is announced that she is to sing no more except at benefit concerts, which are to help to send her to Europe to study. She has a great future before her unquestionably. She has a pretty, sympathetic face, and so girlish, with beautiful, expressive eyes; a petite but sufficiently sturdy figure; and her soul is in her song, which she produces even now without apparent effort. It Avas interesting to see the famous singers at her concerts — Signora Coy, Mrs Palmer, Madame Boema, Signorina Guidotti, Signorina R-ebottaro — all come to hear and to criticise, and all full of nothing but praise. Miss Castles is the daughter of a compositor, and is a Roman Catholic.

MR GEORGE COPPIN. -

Mr George Coppin, the actor-politician, was 80 a few 'days ago, and the Old Colonists' Association are to celebrate the anniversary for him shortly. Among the congratulatory cards which reached him on his birthday was one addressed to " The Hon. George Coppin, Fast-Grand Master of Freemasons, Founder of Sorrento, Builder of the Theatre Royal, Introducer to Melbourne of all the Theatrical Talent of the World for the Last Fifty Years, Founder of the Cremorne Gardens, the Old Colonists' Home, and Dramatic and Musical Institute for the Aged; the General and Best Benefactor of the Colony of Victoria and Australia Generally, and Father of the Coppin Family." Mr Coppin, who was the famous low comedian of Australia in the forties and fifties, is properly proud of the fact that he held a seat for years in the Victorian Legislative Council. He is in capital health for all his fourscore years, and fills up his time as director of several public companies.

A CODDLED INDUSTRY.

The beet sugar industry at Maffra, in Victoria, gives further promise of proving a failure in spite of the tremendous assistance the Government has lavished upon it One source of great trouble is that the beet cultivation does not pay. The present season's crop is a very poor one, the average tonnage per acre being three and aquarter tons, which Trill only about pay. the rent of the land. This is the result as regards the area held by the Cultivation Company, which has about 300 acres, and up to the present has lost about £1000. It has been" found that the only way to make beet-growing pay is for families to undertake the work, and so save expense. LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES. Long distance telephones are proving a success in Victoria from- the point of view of profit to the department and convenience to the public. Geelong, Werribee, and Ballarat (74 miles) are now connected with Melbourne, and the lines are worked at a profit. Bendigo will probably be connected soon.- The distance to there is 100 miles. THE FLINDERS STREET FIRE. Almobo all ,the buildings burnt down by the big fire of November, 1897, in Flinders street and Flinders lane have now been rebuilt. Sargood, Butler, Nichol, and Ewen's is just finishing. The building is a very large one, extending from Flinders street to Flinders lane, and the floor space covers about two acres and three-quarters. Hence the urgent necessity for studying fire precautions. The roof is therefore constructed

without sljyligb.fr--, aw 3 has a thick bed ot concrete; the fire-proof doors are of the latest -model ; and sprinklers are installed tlironghout. To guard against an ordinary danger, the iron joists are so placed that in the event of fire they would simply fall out of their places, and thus cause no injury to the walls. The rink of " exposure "is dealt with by an extensive and yet very simple system of window drenches, by the use of ■which a great sheet of water can be instantaneously made, to envelop % the walls. Altogether, the provisions made againsi fire are of an admirable and noteworthj description. Craig, Williamson, and Thomas's— another large building devoted to the retail drapery trade — has been open some months. Ifc is on the Elizabeth street frontage. Except for one va<-int spot still in Flinden street the actual locality. of the fire can now scarcely be distinguished. The insurance companies are standing out for higher rates over the block, and there is a good deal of ill-feeling -in consequence. THE CYANIDE PATENT. The litigation reflating to the MacarthuTForrest cyanide patent has just come to "4 close so far as Victoria is concerned. Tlu holders hi the patent were suing for Jjeave to amend their patent so as to claim specifically the use of dilute solutions, and their claim was opposed by, Mr W. B. Gray ' and by Messrs George, and James Duncan (formerly of Dunedin) — though Messrs Duncan subsequently withdrew, leaving Mr Gray alone to fight the question. There have been various decision sr^First the commissioner of patents decided against the Macarthur-Forrest claim. Then the Attorney-general supported his decision. Next . Mr Justice Holroyd confirmed these two decisions. And now the Full Court (by two to one) has allowed the claim. Thus up to the present two Supreme Court judges have decided one way and two another. The case is certain to go to the Privy Council. THE QUEENSCLIFF TRAGEDY. 1 Gunner Pollock, who-deliberately shot t. comrade in the Artillery at Queenscliff, has been, let .off by a jury with a verdict oi manslaughter instead of murder. On the night of the occurrence several of the men were chatting together while in the act of undressing".' Pollock had just returned to barracks, and had had several drinks, and some mild chaffing xms indulged in at his expense. He thereupon went to a rack, and, taking down his carbine, said to Gunner Hamilton, • •" Now, you dare me to shoot?" To which the latter replied. " No, Poll, old man, I know you would." At this - juncture Briner, referring to Pollock, said, "Oh, he's only a big bluff." • Pollock then.faced^ abouj^, an<l_said, "-Do yoti dare me?" Briner's reply was, ''Yes, "I do," and-jso say-ing he .stood up.- Thus challenged Pollock put a cartridge into the breech oi his "weapofi, raised it to his shoulder,' took aim, and fired, inflicting a fatal wound. He then threw down his carbine, observing, " There, that settles it." The Chief Justice who tried the case told Pollock he was a very fortunate man, for the jury had taken a very merciful view of his case. A case of manslaughter more nearly allied to murder he had never met He gave Pollock 10 years' liard labour. THE " MAN IN PRELL'S BUILDINGS." Mr Charles Seymour Pratt, who got tho j reward in the Boot Trunk murder case, has disappeared from Melbourne. The girl Dubberke, who withdrew her claim to the rewai'd in Pratt's favour, has also not been heard of since. The fact about Pratt's disappearance came out at the hearing of a court case, in whicli he was sued civilly. The solicitor explained that from information received from the Melbourne police it appeared that as soon as Mr Pratt got the £550 reward money he disappeared, and had left the colony. He had not been at his office since, and the police were unable to trace him, while Mr Jamieson, Pratt's solicitor, would not give any information as to his client's movements. It has been rumoured that he is in Tasmania,