Australian Notes.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 15, 27 January 1893, Page 5

Australian Notes.

Gbeat expectations are based on a Land Bill which the Minister f.if Lands of New South Wales is about to introduce into Parliament. It is said to make provision for co-operative and communal settlements in a manner that can leave, even to the most clamorous of Socialists, nothing to be desired. The Sydney Bulletin gives an inviting picture of the scenery among which the expedition, led by Mr Lane of Queensland, proposes to form its New Australia or New Eden in the Argentine Republic* "The Promised Land," Bays the Bulletin, "was the ancient sea« bottom of the Atlantic before the Argentine was heaved ap out of the waters, and the sand and gravel and shingle that formed the floor of the old ocean are still there in boundless profusion. It is mostly a rainless region, even Australia can present no such record bs that of the Western provinces for cast-iron drought. . . Also, there are saline swamps here and there, alleged to be the last remains of the vanished ocean, and at intervals there are miles of glaring salt, and the climate ranges from many degrees below freezing limit to an unknown quantity in the Bhade." The Bulletin suggests tbat the destination of the expedition should be changed to more fertile

quarters, among the rest, pointing to New Zsaland. But it most be admitted that Communism, which is the guiding principle of the undertaking, will be put more fully to the proof, like the cheerfulness of Mark Tapley , among un propitious surroundings The country described, we should say, is the very place for the settlement in question, since the settlers will all the sooner recognise their folly and betake themselves to more useful pursuits.

But, though Queensland Socialists have set on foot a project for the establishment abroad of a new Australia, it is not to be concluded that they are going to neglect at home the interests of old Australia. A very advanced programme has been drawn up for the action of the party in Parliament. What it does not include it would, perhaps, be difficult to say, bnt its principal point may be taken as the creation of an Australian Republic. Perhaps, indeed, the rest is superfluous, for, if that could once be carried, it might be understood to include everything, however impossible.

The Bey Father McKillop, 8.J., Superior of the mission to the blacks of the Northern Territory, has lately visited Sydney. The rev missionary has issued an appeal for the protection of the Aborigines from evil influences, from the white man and, a fortiori, from the Chinaman. "In fine," he concludes, "a born Australian myself, and tht present leader of a forlorn hope, I ask of my country men, whether by birth or by adoption, such sympathy as will enable us at no very distant date to app'y without presumption for that larger measure of justice which alone can insure success— a native territory. What, by the grace of God, was once effected in America, can be brought about also in the little corner of Australia mentioned above. But the natives must long be treated as children, and protected by the secnlar arm. If not for them, the State must necessarily be against them. This also was proved in Paraguay, when, after a hundred years of happy prosperity, the nourishing commonwealth went down before the greed of the Portuguese and the terrible hate of Carvalbo, Marquis of Pombal."

Mr Thomas Curran senior, of Sydney, who had been elected M.P. for south Sligo, took hia departure the other day for England, baring been entertained, on the eve of setting out, at a complimentary picnic by a number of his friends. In responding to the toast, "Our guest," proposed by the Mayor of Sydney, who wbb chairman > on the occasion, Mr Curran promised that it would be his endeavour to aid in bringing back the necessary unity among the Irish partj-. Mr Curran's son, Mi Thomas Curran junior, is the present Member for Kilkenny, for which he was chosen when he was a student at the ' University of Oxford. The Very Key Vincent Grogan, C,P.. who replaces the Very Rev j Father Alphoneu« O'Neill, C.P., as superior of the Order, that of the Passionists, in Australia, returned to Sydney from Europe by the Orient Company's boat on December 31 — receiving on hi? arrival a hearty welcome :—" Father Vincent Grogan," says the Freeman's Journal, " has brought the first copy ot Charles Santley's book, ' Student and Singer,' to Australia. Father Vincent received the distingtit'itrd singer into the Church, and the written inscription on the title-page of the presentation copy of the ' reminiscences ' indicates the feelings of affection entertained by Mr Bantley towards his old friend. We learu that the book, although published at an unusually high price, has already run through two editions in London. F ahir Vincent ways that it is not at all improbable that Me Santley will pay Ibe colonies another vißit within a year or bo." Mr W. H. Poole, the English manager who was recently in these colonies, is about to introduce to the public of the United King lorn a concert company of Australians. The object is not only to delight the music-loving world but to show the progress art is making in the colom s. Mr Poole has, no doubt, been encouraged in his design by the opr iuns of the distinguished artnts— Santlcy, Sir Chnrlcs *n<l Lady Hu 16, Madame Patey, and Foli, whom he Wus lostrumtntal iv bringing out here. The B>dney Freeman s Journal contradicts a repoit to the effect that the Cardinal Archbiehop was about to leave immediately for

Rome. "As already stated in the Freeman" says onr contemporary, " his Emjnenc* has been invited to Rome for a meeting of the Cardinals which is to be be held during the Holy Father's Jubilee celebrations. His Eminence will in all probability go to Borne, bnt of this we are assured, that he will rot leave Sydney before Easter,"

The late Chief Justice Higinbotbam, of Victoria, whose sadden death has been a cause of deep regret, leaves a memory that goes to perpetuate in the coluny the reputation of Irish intellect. The deceased was highly esteemed throughout Australia for his brilliant talents and other admirable qualities. Ha is succeeded in the chief justiceship by Dr Madden.

In reference to a letter, over the signature, " An old Digger," which was recently published in the Melbourne Argus, describing the Eureka Stockade as the outcome of a " popish plot," and dealing with it generally in a highly excited Orange strain, the Australasian has the following:— "The xUing was a mad one and we have no intention of praising it, bat there was excuse for it. It occurred .during times when we were undsr a form of government that the people were disgusted with, and the ruling authorities were quite incapable of dealing with a state of things, and a time of universal excitement which was past understanding, which took them by surprise and came together against their will • • * No men in these days would stand the exasperating trials the diggers were subjected to for their suppossd good."

Dean M'Cartney of Melbourne, who has attained to the venerable age of 93, was recently asked what was the secret of his vigorous longevity. His reply is reported as follows :— " A regular life, abstemiousness in food and drink, and a constant round of duties." Neat and precise as we see, but hardly full enough. Many men, who, barring the age, might have truly said the same, have not attained to one half, nay, not to one third, of the years. Regular living and a tough constitution would perhspß come nearer to the point. But indeed, the cause of long life seems still to remain a mystery.

A 6cent and experimental farm that has been recently established near Bairnsdale in Gippsland is favourably reported of, as proving what may be done by means of small holdings, even on inferior land, A fruitgrowing firm at Brandy Creek, Gippsland, are going in extensively for the eaport of apples to London. Last year they sold 500 cases there at from lls to 12s a case. This year they intend to send 1000 cases. A farmer's letter to the Melbourne Argus gives a case in which ensilage was found go id after an interval of four years. The conclusion drawn is that the silo might be utilised for storing the surplus fodder of exceptionally good seasons.