INTERCOLONIAL.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 519, 16 February 1876, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL.

AUSTRALIAN NEWS,

In the course of the lively scenes incidental to the debate in the Assembly on Tuesday, Mr M‘Kean stated that a friend of his had in his possession a letter signed by Sir James M'Culloch six or seven months ago, in referencejto the Government of that day (the Kerferd Government), from which it was evident that the present Premier was then intriguing to put the Ministry out of office. Sir James M'Culloch scarcely denied the soft impeachment, and from inquiry made we believe there is foundation for the statement made by the hon member for North Gippsland, and that in the course of a few days the letter will be published, after being, in the first place, read before a public meeting to be held in Melbourne in support of the Opposition. Several political meetings were held in the country on January 31st. At Beechworth the Oddfellows’ Hall was crowded by a large and enthusiastic assemblage, by whom the “stone-wall” tactics of the Opposition were unanimously condemned. The resolutions passed at the meeting are to be transmitted by the chairman to the Premier. At Sandhurst an Opposition meeting was addressed by Mr Graham Berry, who announced his intention of not flinching from his demand for a dissolution. The meeting applauded him, and resolutions of the usual kind were passed. Mr Walker addressed his constituents at Oastlemaine, and met with a rather unfavourable reception, there being so much disorder that the chairman was not able to decide whether a vote of no confidence, moved as an amendment on a motion proposed in his favour, was carried or not. An interesting example has just been shown of the uses to which the telegraph may be put for purposes rather of conversation than of correspondence. Sir Julius Vogel intended to proceed to Sydney to settle several matters with the Government of New South Wales, which had been referred to him from New Zealand. He found, however, that he was unable to carry out his intention, and a telegraphic conference was suggested. The Government here gave him the free use of the wire as far as it extended in this colony, and on Saturday Mr Robertson, the Premier, and Mr-Eurns, the Post-master-General, of New South Wales, at one end, and Sir Julius Vogel at the other, held a four hours’ conversation, during which an understanding was come to on all the subjects under consideration. In some respects a telegraphic conversation has peculiar advantages. There is less liability to turn to side issues, and there is a disposition to come more directly to the main points. It would appear from a circumstance which occured yesterday (says the Argvs of the 2nd instant) that there is a very wide-spread dissatisfaction among the officials in the Mining department. A petition has been addressed to the Minister, requesting him to appoint a board of inquiry to consider the relations between the secretary for Mines and his subordinate officers. The petition is signed by all the heads of all the branches of the department, and by a great many others in inferior positions. It makes not only general but specific charges covering many sheets of paper, which the respective officers whose names are appended to them state that they are prepared to substantiate on oath. It is complained that Mr Smyth has been in the habit of unceasingly loading them with abuse, insults, taunts, and other offensive remarks, showing utter disregard of their feelings; that he thinks nothing of accusing them of deceit, lying, trickery, and incompetency, without allowing them the right of reply ; and gives them to understand that upon his pleasure, and not on the proper discharge of their duties, their situations are held. They state that they are fully aware that it is a most serious step which they have taken, but that their inability to bear any longer with the amount of oppression put upon them has at last goaded them to their present course of action. Some time back, when it was stated in the press that Mr Smyth was to be appointed secretary for Lands, it was rumoured that the principal officers in that department had protested to Mr Casey against such appointment, averring that if it were made they would be forced to resign. Whether this was actually done or not is not known, but the rumour only would seem to corroborate a statement made in the petition, that the tyrannical conduct of Mr Smyth towards his officers is well known throughout the service. In any case, the accusations made in it must receive very careful investigation. If they are found to have been made without sufficient cause, the sooner the disaffected officers are dismissed

the better. On the other hand, if they are proved, it will have to be taken into consideration whether the secretary for Mines is fitted to hold the position of the head of a department, who has to be in communication with the officers under him, and upon whose relations with them depends in a great measure the proper carrying out of that portion of the public service entrusted to them. We understand that is Mr M'Lellan’s present intention to appoint a board of inquiry into the affair, but nothing definite will be decided upon until he has laid the petition before his colleagues. The discovery of a rich gold bearing reef at the Caledonian diggings is reported by the Evelyn Observer of the 28th ultimo: — “ Some few months ago two nuggets weighing respectively 14oz and 270 z were found in Cobbler’s Gully, the smaller of the two falling to the share of the prospector and opener of the gully, a man named John Irwin, alias ‘ Lanky Jack.’ Last week he applied to the deputy registrar for a prospect claim on a new reef to be called the ‘Yorkshire Lass,’ and a regular stampede for Claims at once took place. A piece of quartz taken from the new reef, and weighing 4|lb, has, it is stated, only the appearance, as regards size, of a 21b stone, but a gentleman offered £SO for it. All the other specimens produced are thickly impregnated with gold. The reef, or rather leader, so far as can be at present ascertained, runs east and west with about one point of a northerly incline, and cuts the Boatswain’s Reef at an angle of probably 80.” “ The hop gardens about Bairnsdale,” the Gipps' Land Mercury says, “are looking well this season, and the crops are expected to realise from £3OOO to £4OOO, It is satisfactory to find that practical experience is enabling the growers to improve the crops every year by sorting each kind, so as to have them of uniform quality. Much difficulty has been experienced in getting sets of the early golden hops. The Tasmanian growers positively refuse to sell them at any price. They must evidently think that Qipps’ Land hops would cut them out of the Melbourne market. No doubt this district will soon make a very respectable show', as, in addition to Bairnsdale, Briagolong, Sarsfield, and Ramahyuck are also increasing the growth of the article.” The cruelty practised upon some of the children in the Randwick Destitute Children’s Asylum was brought under the attention of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly a few evenings since. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Mr Robertson, the Premier, in the course of his reply stated that all the boys in the asylum, 347 in number, had been examined by the inspector of charities since Sproule’s committal. Thirtythree showed marks of unduly severe punishment, some inflicted nearly three months ago. The boys had not only been punished by Sproule, but by other servants of the institution. The instrument called a “ cat,” used by Sproule, was in possession of the police. It was ascertained that 13 boys were away, some having absconded and some being in the hands of the police. There were also 263 girls in the asylum. More than 50 of the elder ones were spoken to; they all acknowledged being slapped on the hands occasionally, but not unless they deserved it. Some four or five said they had been beaten on the back, but only three or four strokes with a small cane. Three of the infant boys had had a most unmerciful flogging, but they said it was given to them by the girls told off to assist in the nursery, and not by the officers or servants. We regret (says the Argus), to have to record the decease of Major John Bell, of Bell-park, Geelong, who died on the 27th ult., at the age of 54. Mr Bell’s health had been failing for some time, but it was not till about a month since that serious symptoms appeared. The immediate cause cause of death was dropsy. Major Bell was born at IVfiddlebee-hall, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, in 1821, and, after having adopted the profession of surveyor, left Scotland in 1839 to join his uncle, Captain Bell, of Newtown, Tasmania, whose station the late Mr John Calvert (also a relative) was managing. Owing to the glowing accounts received in Tasmania respecting the capabilities of Victoria, both Messrs Calvert and Bell came over in 1840, and took up land near Colac, the station being known subsequently as Watch-hill. Being young men and very persevering, matters prospered so well that they in due time took up another large portion of land, known subsequently as Irrewarra. After a time, both gentlemen being wealthy, they dissolved partnership, Mr Bell retaining Watch-hill, and Mr Calvert Irrewarra. In the course of time Mr Bell purchased the wellknown Warrenbeen station, of 40,000 acres. He also had property at Inglewood, and was part proprietor of two stations in Riverina ; he has left wealth to the extent, it is estimated, of between £400,000 and £500,000. He represented South Grant for a short period some years ago. When the Geelong troop of Light Horse Volunteers was formed in Geelong, Mr Bell was appointed captain, and subsequently promoted to the rank of major, a position he held till he visited Europe, when the corps was disbanded. He was for some years chief of the Commun na Feinne Society in Geelong, and his prowess in throwing the caber, raising the heavy stone, and other athletic exercises in which strength was required, excelled, when in health, that of all other competitors. His presence was, however, missed at the last meeting of the society on New Year’s Day. He was also one of the stewards of the racing club. wa* of a generous and large-hearted disposition, t giving liberally, but unostentatiously, to every worthy cause, whether of a public or private character, and his loss will be long felt bj the general community.