MELBOURNE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3070, 29 April 1881, Page 3

MELBOURNE.

April 28

The Melbourne Presbytery have been sitting for the past two days in connection with the case against the Rev. Charles Strong in reference to his article on the Atonement in the Victorian Review. The Presbytery has adjourned without as yet arriving at any decision. The Victorian census returns taken on the night of thie 3rd instant give the population of Melbourne and its environs as 252,000, Sandhurst 35,000, Ballarat 43,000, and Geelong 13,000. It has transpired that at the meeting of the Melbourne Presbytery a motion by the Rev. M. Ballantine was adopted expressing regret at the character of the Rev. C. Strong's article in the Victorian Review, and recommending a closer adhesion to the standard of Presbyteriansm bn the part of that gentleman. April 29.

The captain and owner of the steamer India, alias the Ferret, which has been seized by the Customs for sailing under a false register, is missing. The crew have abandoned the vessel, and they assert that they were threatened and forced to silence by the captain. They were engaged at Cardiff for three years, went to the Brazils for a cargo of coffee, which was sold at the Cape for £15,000. Thename of the vessel was twice changed. From the Cape she proceeded to Maurituis, and from there to this port, where the captain endeavored to sell the vessel. It is proved that her papers have been forged. ;