AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2687, 27 September 1871, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

The Ballarat Post has the following “ A most delightful piece of scan. mag. is at present going the* rounds of a certain aristocratic neighborhood not above a hundred miles from Melbourne. It is stated that a medical gentleman rather advanced in years has lately become enamored of a young lady who was acting as governess in a family of which the gentleman was the medical’ adviser. The medico told his love ; and the damsel, thinking doubtless that she might go further and fare worse, consented, and named the happy day. The nuptial knot was duly ued, and the honeymoon completed. Upon the return of the happy pair to their house, the doctor’s friends .expressed their congratulations, and amongst the number was a rather prepossessing young fellow, who claims the doctor as his nncle.° Visit after visit was made by the nephew, and, love being blind, the newlymade Benedict did not notice that there existed a secret sympathy betweeri the visitor and his bride. But unfortunately such was the case, and the denouement came in due course of time. One morning the white dove fled from its legal custodian, and nestled in the stranger’s bosom. The medico bewailed his loss for some time ; but, doubtless thinking that such a wife was not worth the keeping, he has now ceased to ttouble himself as to her whereabouts ; and it is quite possible the matter w 11 end in a divorce case.” The Sydney fortune-tellers appear to be a long way before their brethren of the black art in Melbourne, while the “past, present, and future ” is a trade on public credulity that is so profitable in the northern metropolis that its professors can afford to give gratuitously their valuable services to those who can afford to pay for them. Competition, however, is pretty keen among the readers of the planets on the Sydney side, for one warns the public “to beware of ignorant pretenders who profess to be members of his profession, but who are only charlatans, who bring his art into disrepute.” This worthy dubs himself “the only qualified astrologist at present practising in New South Wales.” Audther “ diviner ” tack? to his advertising announcement “ consultation for the poor, free.” Business must surely be brisk and money-making easy in a city where even the poorest may, in forma pauperi. call spirits from the vasty deep at pleasure, and enjoy a pleasant half-hours chat with their mouldy relatives on tha and sorrows of futurity, Judge Cope took a firm stand for the equality of the races during the hearing of a case in which a Chinese merchant was defendant in the County Court, Melbourne, on the Bth inst. A Chinese witness having been called for the defence, a Bible was placed in his hand, and he was about to be sworn, when Mr G. P. Smith, who appeared for the plaintiff, requested that the witness might be asked in what manner he would prefer being sworn. His Honor said that such a question would not be put to a European, and he could not make any distinction. If a European objected to be sworn in the usual manner, he was allowed to use his own form, ami in the present case, if the witness objected to take an oath on the Bible, he could be swoyn qp what he would fed to be binding to his conscience ; but if the witness did not make the objection, his Honor could not allow the question sought to be. put, as it would be making a distinction that he did not approve of. “You do not ask a Jew in what manner he will be sworn,” further remarked his Honor, “ No ; but a Jew always opens the Bible at the old Testament, and kisses that portion of the book,” replied Mr G. P. Smith. “On the contrary,” observed the Judge, “ 1 have invariably noticed that Jews

take the Bible and kiss it anywhere on the outside, while the majority of Christians open it at the Old Testament upon apart, of which many have doubted and kiss that. It may be peculiar, but it is a very common thing to see. You may ask the witness if he is a Christian or not, and if he is not, an oath may be administered which he will consider binding on him.” Mr G. P. Smith satdown, make use of the words, “ Oh, he’d say anything, whether sworn or not.” Mi Newton, who appeared on the other side, characterised this as a vury ungenerous and uncalled for remark. The witness was then examined, and the case proceeded,