MELBOURNE GOSSIP.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2802, 28 June 1890, Page 6 (Supplement)

MELBOURNE GOSSIP.

(b'ROM OUR OWN COUUKSI'ONDBNT.) Melv.ouknk, May 2. TllK schoolmaster, or ihe Rohoolmi.-ticss, as the <!ii. 3 o inny bo, and as represented by ccrtitiii State school teachers, appears til (in somewhat. "at sen" in Victoria. I suppose there are very few rc:idiTs of newspapers in the Australasian colonies who haw not heard, or read, of the case of " Miss Stark." Miss Stark is u State school teacher, the representative of a certain number of other school teachers, whom the Government attompted towel 1 ; 1 will say cheat nor swindle: — but whoso serviced the Government, attempted to obtniu, or extort, for less money than thoy wore entitled to reooive. Of course, tho action of the Education Department —which is presided over by that heaven-born Minister, Mr Pearsonwas highly coruinendablo, for, if it did not tend to raiso tho standard of morality, it at least savod money. Miss tSlark, however, did not quite see it iu that light. So she went to law. The J udgos of tho Supreme Court did not see it either, and they decided in Miss Stark's favour. Now, "at this stage, had tho (Jovornment been composed of men picked up here and there, aud thrust into oilico without rojravd to gratifications of any sort, they would have accepted the dictum of the Chief Court in Victoria, and have given in. But, being hcaveuborn Ministers, and, in that respect, only being otio degreo lower than Chinamen — who are tho decendants of " The Sun"— they appealed to the Privy Council. The Privy Council has expressed its contempt of thoir conduct, in the only manner open to that distinguished body, by dkm'mimj their appeal. Consequently Miss Stark gained her case.

While theso proceedings were going on a numbei , of teachers in Miss Stark's grade, made a compromise with the department. Tboy made themselves "safe" by an act of "composition," 1 eaving Miss Stark and the rest to " sink or swim." Now that the battio has been won they want to " bark back"—they want to share iu the good things roonred by Miss Stark's success. The prize would be £11,000 to be divided |amongst them, but Mr John Pearson means to hold them to their bargain, and so say I. Their plea is that thoy did not understand what they were signing. More fhame to them. What right have such ignorant people to be State school teachers ? It is more likely that during the coming summer there will be a new excitement for tourists in this part of the world. The opening of the railway from Korang to Swan Hill has given us a free run to the banks of the Murray, and whatever the good people of Echuca may do iu the matter of freights by the now line, it is to be hoped they will not handicap passengers in the way of fares. This is hardly likely, as it cannot be expected that what practically would amount to a tol on this more direct line would be levied for the benefit of Echuca. In such a case, why then Albury or rather Joddiga, might just as well put in a claim.

To meet the new traffia a fast stoamer is to be put upon the Murray ia a couple of months' timu, and those who have seen the new boat speak in enthusiastic terms of her appointments. She is to draw only 18 inches of water when laden; and to carry 100 passengers, besides cargo, and steams at a high rate of speed. The trip down the river, between the picturesque banks of the Murray, from Swan Hill to Mildura, will be the feature of the journey. For those who love Australian scenery cannot find anything more attractive anywhere. Then upon reaching the settlement, everything is new, and, I imagine that everyone there will be only too proud to do tho honours of what, for many years to come, will be tho " show place " of the colony. I quite expect that wo shall have a series of excursions to Mildura planned during tho coming summer, and, if those who manage those things can see their way to fix the expenses of a trip within the compass of an ordinary man's means, it is quite certain that the journey will become popular. So far, and for some time to come, good shooting and fishing will draw lovers of sport, whilo more practical people will go for the purpose of fleeing a district which is being made independent of rain and of rain-clouds.