OUR MELBOURNE LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 4096, 12 April 1876, Page 3

OUR MELBOURNE LETTER.

April 6. Galea That is the state of things here in all departments, except those of the Civil Service, for the Brough-Smythe inquiry has lulled and the lunatic board has blown itself out. But the equinoctial and Parliamentary proceedings go on with unabated violence. The country looks much the greener for the former, and exhibits equal greenness in tolerating the latter. A mere disgraceful scries of squabbles, sneers, tricks, and spiteful speeches composes the Lower House debates and discomposes every reader who wades through their reports. (I gave up that practice long ago.) The Opposition, angered at their inability to expel" the Government, put every obstacle in the way of measures that they know must pass. The Government, on the other hand, worried by the Opposition, put the “iron hand” on continually, and forced their measures through. The Upper House so often threatened with extinction looks on and laughs. Another proof in more ways than one of the wisdom of our ancestors e.p., in making the proverb that “threatened people live long/’ Just at the lost day or two of the session a little excitement is being got up on a legitimate topic. Soma time ago Mr Casey, then Minister of Lands, disposed a pastoral tenant of the Crown of several thousand acres of his run, in order to place thereon an Italian “ tho Chevalier Bruno ’’-—who was to plant it all with white mulberries, and grow silk enough to clothe creation. The “ Chevalier ” formed a comS, in whoso prospectus the grazing capass of tho land were a very inducement to take shares. Great numbers of cheep were put on, but very few mulberries, and no silkworms at all—at least, so far as i. can learn, co Mr Scut, member for Brighton, has obtained a Select Committee to investigate the affair, and take eyidence UtyVßwnuDg'

The man who does the telegraphic business at Christchurch or somewhere else may thank his stars that he cannot be kicked by telegraph. If that operation were possible, the friends of passengers in the Colima would have given him much cause for lamentation and Arnica lotion. He telegraphed hither that the Colima was lost “ten miles off Akaroa’’—without a word more. Great anxiety was expressed—several times in my hearing—at so alarming a report, and when the fuller news arrived this morning that the ship only “lost” her propolerblades was safe in Lyttelton harbor, the rejoicings were mingled with indignation. If it give pleasure to such a man to know that he caused immeasurable grief and distress to some hundreds of people, let him enjoy it, together with the contempt he has earned.

Our great case of Learmonth v. Bailey, has terminated in a disagreement among the jury. A three-fourths verdict would have settled it, but there were seven to five. A rather unusual occurrence took place before the verdict was given. One of the jurors—a highly respectable and upright man, informed the Judge in open Court that an agent of the defendant had offered him a heavy bribe to disagree, saying that “it only wanted him” to ensure that result—evidently to imply that other jurors had succumbed to similar temptation. Inquiries are being made into the matter, and it is said that some startling disclosures will result, ; The ‘ Age ’ has taken an unprecedented course ; it has published the names and addresses of all the jurors, divided into two lists-those for the plaintiff and those for the defendant. Some reparks in other columns convey (whether intentionally or not) an imputation on the whole of the latter. It is a gross mistake to let so widely-circulated a print be made the tool of either side in a law suit, as is evidently the case here, though perhaps the conductors of the paper never intended it or were aware of what was being done through them. To those who know Melbourne men, the mere mention of the names in the smaller list suffices to show that there was at least sufficient ground for honest disagreement.

I regret to say that the charges made by a dismissed servant against Messrs Stevenson and Sons of defrauding the Customs by false invoices, have assumed a serious complexion. The investigation is proceeding on oath before the Customs officials, and the proceedings are kept strictly secret. If the charges be proved it will not only be a great stain upon commercial honor, but will give a loophole to the Tory “ Liberal ” party still further to harass'^trade--of which opportunity they would eagerly take the utmost advantage.