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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 510, 3 June 1881, Page 2

Our Contributors

ECHOES OF MELBOURNE

(From ouk Own CoiuiESi'ON'DicxT)

May 10. Once a year there is always a discussion in Parliament about the Sunday question. Although at least two-thirds of the population favor more Irecdom, they are afraid to speak too openly, for it is not respectable to bo thought to favor the bugbear called the Continental Sunday, The Sabbatarians, on the contrary, are very loud-voiced and obtrusive, and so far have managed to terrorize the other portion of the people, Indeed, few countries are so tyrannised over by the "unco' quid " as Victoria, albeit it is one of the most immoral and irreligious corners of the earth. Trains run all over England on Sunday, and the public libraries, etc., are open. Here, the museums, mechanics' institutes, and libraries, etc., are strictly closed, and trains only run witlim the metropolitan districts. The people of the country districts can't see what is the difference between Melbourne and the other parts of Victoria, and fail to understand that what is not a siu in the city should be in the country. On Sunday mornings the trains from Brighton, St. Kilda, Hawthorn, Sandndge, and Williamstown pour into the city crowds of people to attend tho fashionable churches, yet the clergymen object to let the country people have the same privi - lege. In the afternoons the city population pours out to the various suburban and seaside resorts by train, omnibus, and cabs, to enjoy themselves, but the public institutions, of which many can only avail themselves on Sunday, are closely shut. The main argument of those who support the present system is that to run trains to the country on fcundays, and to open the libraries, etc,, would rob the employe's of their Sabbath rest;' but this is nonsense, as the public service is carried on by " shifts," as in mining, and there would be no interference with their seventh day rest. The strange fact is that the railways are busy on Sundays carrying goods, and sheep, and cattle, but to convey men would be a sin 1 The debate this year in the Assembly was very lively, and extended over two nights. Mr Woods, the most eccentric member of the Assembly, and who hates the " unco' quid " like poison, led the anti-Sabbatarians. He is always idiomatic, and in a moment of heat he used an expression thoroughly characteristic. " What!" he cried, " shall not the country people have trains if the engine-drivers and others are employed in order that the greasy saints may go to their superstition shops ?" At this the Sabbatarians wore in an uproar, and Mr Woods, who saw be .night lose votes, withdrew the expression. Some of the ultra -religious-mem hers were even more amusing, and quoted the Bible, until one was in doubt whether ho was in Parliament or in am' Kbenezer. Mr M'Coll waxed eloquent, and wrestbd with the sinner who represents Stawell in the spirit'of another Chadband. Turning to him with a revival air, Mr M'Coll solemnly rolled out the lines— ' As long as,life ho!d< out to burn, Tho vilest sinner may return ; whereat tlu> House roared, and invited Mr M.Coll to study his hymn-book, where he would find the lines were— For while the lamp holds on to burn, • .The greatest.sinner may return. The debate became.farcical, at the close. Nothing resulte.lj-but Mr Patterson is determined to try the experiment of Sunday trains, and it may yet be made a Ministerial question. There is a general talk about a reconstruction of the Ministry, but some of tho wary say this is a dodge to trap the House to let the Government get into recess. The idea is that Mr Vale should be got rid- of by being made AgentGeneral, while- Mr Williams will be thrown! overboard without ceremony as a rat that the bulk of the Ministerial party " cannot abide." The Conservative section of the Victorian Press make out that the deficiency of 70,000 in our population has been caused by our fiscal system, and that it has congregated the people in the towns. It is not for me to express any political opinion, but. it is only right that persons at a distance should be warned not to place any reliance in what is written for a purely political object. The Victorian Press can lie abominably when there is a purpose to serve. The full census of each colony must be before us ere we make comparisons. I think myself that the increase of the population by 124,000 in ten years is very good, considering that, in 1871 the rush to Victoria ended, and that a rush set in to ' develop New South Wales and Queensland, which up to that had lagged in the race. It was at that time that Victorians found out that there was a vast field for their enterprise in the two neighboring colonies, which were, to use a mining term, " unprospected." The argument that protection has driven the people into Melbourne cannot hold, because Sydney is free trade, and has increased at the rate of 63 per cent., rising from 136,4.83 in 1871 to 222,133' whereas the increase in Melbourne has only been 36 per cent., or 75,000, Sydney having an increase of 86,000. In making _ any comparison between the two rival cities it should always be borne in mind that L ,ew South Wales is nearly four times the size of Victoria. The aggregation of the people therefore in Sydney is much greater than in Melbourne, comparing the town and country populations, because the country in New South Wales is four times larger than in Victoria, yet the proportions the

populations of Sydney and Melbourne bear to their respective country districts is tho same. That is to say that if the same pro portions existed in New South -*Vales as in Victoria, considering the territory, the number of people in the sister colony, outside of Sydney should be about two millions. c A humorous incident occurcd in an Australasian Legislature some time vgo. A ne'er-do-weel reporter joined the gallery staff, and came on to take his turn in, to say the least, a dubious condition. He took his seat and stared sapiently at the row that was going on below. Presently he wrote on a slip of paper and handed it to his chief, _ who petaluntly threw it from him. The innocent fluttered down upon the bald head of the Premier, who was then engaged in a fight with the leader of the Opposition, and on his opening it he found these words :—" Please lend me sixpence ; I'm dying for the want of a drink." Never was the Premier so thunderstruck. The gallery knows that reporter no more. Golden browns, the hues of the Autumn leaves, -ire the fashionable colors this autumn j and very graceful our belles look when doing the blocks. There is a warmth and appropriateness in tho colors that suit the season of the year.