OUR MELBOURNE LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 4207, 21 August 1876, Page 2

OUR MELBOURNE LETTER.

__ . August 14. You have heard no doubt per telegraph of the loss of the Queensland, a Bplendid steamer, almost new, belonging to an English Company. She brought the new teas down from China—a quantity so large that it sounds fabulous when mentioned—for consumers in New Zealand as well as in Victoria, so probably Borne of your readers have already solaced their fatigues with part of her cargo. She was discharged with the utmost haste, and despatched at electric speed—to her ruin. Her men were shamefully overworked in order to get her away quickly. I have heard it stated that one man was kept "tallying" for thirty-six hours without sleep, and was only permitted to cease labor then because he protested his inability to continue the task. The vessel was in a channel between Wilson's Promontory and some rocks lying off it, when she met the Barrabool, a collier trading regularly between here and Sydney, and the property of Mr W. H. Smith. The night was fine, the vessels steering courses that wouldhave taken them clear of one another, but for some mysterious reason the Barrabool suddenly turned almost at right angles, struck the other ship, and in forty-five minutes the Queensland was at the bottom of the sea with 240 ft of water over her. But for that cruel driving of her crew to get away, the Barrabool would have passed the Queensland ' in open water a few hours later where the accident hardly could have happened. It were almost to be wished that such speedy and thorough retribution always fell uponpeople who, for mere selfishness, overwork their servants. The Barrabool has been convicted as the sole cause of the accident, and will have, it is said, to pay about L 3.000, which, however, will fall on the underwriters. About Bft of her stem appears r to have been utterly demolished, though she is immensely strong. She has lately had additional boilers* put in, and the great steaming power she possesses drove her immease weight (being fully laden with coal) ata / high speed. No wonder that she cut half-way through the Queensland. It is doubtful whether any life was lost. The second stewaid, a youth of eighteen, is missing, but there are rumors that he was left behind in Melbburne, having had a quarrel with the cook (a Chinese), and fearing attack by him ♦ others suggest foul play, but without; sofar as I can hear, any good reason. The Queensland's crew were mostly Chinese, and they followed out their instincts the moment that ati emergency served to relax discipline?* While the English part of the ere* (very few) and the officers were getting the passengers safely into the boats the Chinese were robbing both officers and men, slipping on suit after suit of clothes till some of them had three complete European sets of attire oyer their own outfit. Suspicions are enter- * tiined that more was stolen than apparel,* "and one of the "heathen" was seen to drop ajpacket from the tug's paddle-box oh coming alongside the wharf. To find that packet a; diver was employed for some time, but without success.' One -passenger—a Mr Trickett, lately of the Mining Department —presents a very good example of how people "lose their heads" in a moment of excitement. A bag of sovereigns and some valuable instruments in his travelling box. He put the box into a boat—which never lowered—got into another, and lost all. The second mate of the Barrabool, was in charce ol her at the time of the accident, and gave the order which caused it; He is out on bail, bound to- appear at the Police Court on a charge of causing the mischief. His certifieate has already been forfeited by the Steam Naviga- : tion Board. -o

The disgraceful Stevenson case is in atatu quo. The Government do not proceed with their prosecutions—one has already lapsed by effluxion of time for appeal, another will soon do so, and the Stevensons will not prosecute till the Government game is played out. Meantime the confiscated goods are held in the Queen's warehouse without shadow of reason, and the notices promised to be served on other firms to put them in the same position as the Stevenßons in regard to invoices are withheld. Probably one reason of this grievance is that Parliament is sitting, and instant disgrace would ; fall on the Government if further steps, shonld be taken by them and fail, during a session.

'The still more disgraceful Parliamentary : squabble goes on. AMr James—a private member of the Opposition—has moved: a vote of want of confidence, merely to waste time. The rank and file avow that they are not amenable to discipline, and refuse to abide by arrangements made by the leaders. An understanding was come to that the di- - vision should take place to-morrow (Tuesday), but at the last moment on Thursday one or two declared that they would break through it. I don't wish any harm to Sir Chas. MacMahon, but if he could have a stock ot blindness at hand it might be very convenient to draw thereupon as soon as one of those nuisances arises.

The weather is very beautiful but unseasonable, though there have been heavy and general rains up the country.