OUR MELBOURNE LETTER.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 348, 19 December 1879, Page 11

OUR MELBOURNE LETTER.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Melbourne, 10th December 1879. The great Tteform Bill has been Bnuffed out. The Government were defeated on tbe measure last Thmsday night, as they failed to obtain the statutory majority in accordance with the Constitution Act. lhere was intense excitement during the evening. The discussion was not on the motion for the third reading of the Bill, but on Mr. Munros amendment to substitute an elective chamber, based on a £10 ratepayer franchise, for the nominee Upper House proposed by the Government. Mr. Munro spoke with authority, as he had just tested the popularity of the question (Mr. Berry's ©nly standard of ntness m legislation). Some three weeks since, at a noisy meeting at Canton, called by Mr. Munro for the discussion of the Reform Bill, he did not get a fair hearing though in his own constituency. The meeting was packed by Government supporters. Next day he resigned his seat, offered himself for re-election and was Teturned by a eweeping majority. Mr. Munro argued that his return was a condemnation of nomineeism, and advised tbe Ministry to expunge it from their measure. The Premier, who is wont to talk of " the great heart of the people," " their grand intelligence," etc., took a new rUe on this occasion. He admitted that if the electors were asked " are yoainfav«nrufnominecism!" they would say "no"; "but this," added Mr. Berry •< is the foolish prejudices of the masses." " Politicians should not yield to prejudice but, should instruct the masses." Just before the division an extraordinary scene took place. Mr. lytnerleigb, member for Normandy, who was perfectly intoxicated, made his appearance surrounded by a contingent of Government supporters led by Major Smith. As Mr TytherJeigh had proclaimed ius intention of voting for the Opposition Messrs. Bent and Gaunson went to claim him, but were resisted by brute force ty Sir Bryan v°3r and tbe Ma J° r - At this half-a-dozen Opposition members lushed across to assist Messrs. Bent and Gaunson. Matters began to look very serious indeed and a free fight appeared imminent over the prostrate body of Mr. Tytherleigh when Mr. Bent and his followers retreated from the combat, and Mr. Tytherleigh was literally carried across the floor of the House and propped up on the Government benches, where he sat with his fingers to his nose' making what the boys call a "lunar" at his former friends. In spite of Mr. Tytherleigh s abduction, and the fact that Mr. Lyell and Mr. Purvey Oppositionists were absent from the colony the Government had only a majority of five. This defeat placed the Government in an awkward position, and various were the rumours next day as to what they were going to do. Resignation was talked of, but our present rulers are not the men to resign. I think they will rather act like the man wno was found by the guard travelling without a ticket in the train, and was kicked out. At the next station the guard found the man w another carriage and again forcibly ejected him. Station after station this game was carried on until the guard grew angry and » X £n T ' "' I Say ' my man ' how lon S is this S ame £° in S to last ? " inithe end cf my journey, Sir, if I can stand kicking so lone." lhere is nothing sacred to a Victorian Liberal, particularly if he be a Minister of the Crown. The other evening Mr. Longmore made a scandalous attack on the late Mr. Justice Fellows. " The foulest things ever done in the colony, said the Minister of Lands " were perpetrated by the late judge." '■ In the gold stealing case and the sueep stealing case heard at Sandhurst he gave the most dishonest sentences ever passed." The late Mr. Fellows was the most distinguished jurist ever known in Australia, and in private life he was an upright and honourable gentleman. In politics he was not a "Liberal." r The_ Council of the Victorian branch of the British Medical Association has published its progress reDort on the Kew Lunatic Asylum. It tells a melancholy story. The building itself, which cost immense sums of money, is one of the most imposing edifices in or around Melbourne, and is beautifully situated in an extensive park; yet, according to this report, "the internal appearance and arrangements would do little credit to a woikhouse." Tbe overcrowding has been to such a fearful extent that patients are actually obliged to sleep in the earth closets. Ugly, ill-ventilated, bare, and repulsive ! _ It would be a startling picture of an overciowded gaol, and into this prison the insane are huddled without any occupation for their hands, or any distraction for their sick fancies. The report may well say that, "in its present state the Kew Asylum is a disgrace to the community." Dr. Paley, the Medical Superintendent, is exonerated from blame, as he has frequently urged on the Government the necessity of increased accommodation, but no attention was paid to his statements. (Continuation next week.)

The Pall Mall Gazette says :- The agitation against the present land laws to which Mr. Grant Duff has been trusted to give the first impetus is a remarkable proof of the barrenness of idi as which characterizes the leaders of the Liberal party. It is grossly and palpably plagiarized from the movement which Mr. Gladstone began in 1368, and which carried bis party back to power. The agricultural distress which has been gradually accumulating is taken" to correspond to the uneasiness about the state of Ireland which the Fenian disturbances had produced. The concession by the Government of a Royal Commission of Inquiry is supposed to answer to Lord Mayo's unsuccessful attempt to satisfy the moderate portion of the Irish Roman Catholics. Just as Mr. Gladstone then announced that more drastic measures were required, and carried the great bulk of the country with him, so the Liberal leaders are now declaring that mere investigation of the causes of distress is not needed and will lead to nothing, and that which is required is a sweeping reform of the law of land. With this watchword it is expected that tne Liberal party will march triumphantly back to office, and there give effect to as many as the country will suffer of Mr. Gladstone's thirty and odd measures of revolution, until they have legislated themselves back into opposition.