Colonial.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 614, 25 September 1858, Page 3

Colonial.

VICTORIA.

Via Hobart Town we have Victorian news to the 3rd instant. Beyond the usual number of brutal murders" we do not see much to interest the general reader. We cull, however, the following items:— We regret to have again to record the partial stoppage of the works on the Melbourne and Murray River Railway, through a strike of the labourers. From information communicated by a reliable authority, it seems that yesterday morning a number of strangers, associated with labourers employed on the Sunbury section, came down the line in the direction of Stony Creek, calling the men off from their work as they passed along. Mr. Robertson, the manager of the contractors, met the malcontents near the cutting known as No. 14. He was surrounded by them and threatened, but no assault was committed upon him. His horse, however, did not escape injury, some cowardly scoundrel having kicked the animal severely. After leaing Mr. Robertson, the mob, gradually increasing in numbers as they proceeded, left for Stony Creek. We are further informed that their demands are 10s. per yard for ballast, or 12s. a day wages, and that "there shall be no sub-contracting. Some of the hired carters also joined in the strike, and demanded 255. a day. These are all the particulars of the occurrence that have reached us, but they sufficiently show that the state of feeling among the men is anything but satisfactory as regards the prosecution of the works or the maintenance of the public peace.

Messrs. Evans and Merry, the contractors for the Geelong and Ballaavat Railway works, do not appear to be in a better position with respect, to their labourers than their fellow-contrac-tors, Messrs. Cornish and Bruce. Yesterday's 'Geelong Advertiser' reports a strike of the men employed on the works, in consequence of the contractors having had recourse to a system of payment which, if it be represented correctly, smacks very considerably of the "truck and tommy." These continued interruptions to the progress of the important public works upon which the attention of the colony is fixed and its credit staked will ultimately require, says the ' Herald,' the interposition of the Government, for it would seem as if the idea of the men was, that the contractors were bound to pay the rate of wages which was specified in their tenders, and that nothing less should be accepted. Referring to these "strikes" the 'Argus' thus admonishes:—

"Now, one word to the men themselves. If they -wish for public sympathy, there must be no compulsion and no violence on their part. The- men at Jackson's Creek say they are determined to proceed quietly, and without rioting, and we trust for their own sakes, they will do so; but it was stated publicly at the Geelong meeting, that some of the men at work on the Ballaarat line were compelled to join, in the strike against • their -will. It was also alleged that several of the men had entered into a combination to kick off the line any one accepting a lower rate of wages than they had determined to uphold. Public opinion will not tolerate any injustice towards the men employed on the railways, but neither will it tolerate any interference with the right of individuals to accept whatever rate of wages they may desire to work for. Compulsion of this kind at once places the general body of workmen beyond the pale of the law; it cuts them off from public sympathy,. and does away with their right to demand an official investigation, or full redress for their grievances. The general feeling is decidedly in favour of having the conditions of the railway contracts strictly fulfilled, and on this the workmen may safely depend so long as their cause is good."

In our intelligence columns to-day will be found the particulars of a shocking murder, committed at the Mount Mistake hotel, in the Ararat district. The proprietor of the hotel, one Jonathan Smith, whose sanguinary sobriquet has been amply justified by his horrible conduct, appears to have beaten his wife until she actually expired under his hands. A more frightful case has never come under our notice. The only provocation that the ruffian appears to have received was in the drunkenness of his wretched victim, whom he treated in such a dreadful manner, that merely to read the description of the effects of his brutal violence is realy appalling. Seven of the unhappy creature's ribs, both of her arms, and one leg, were fractured; a ghastly wound in the left thigh, evidently produced by a kick—the impression of the nails in the boot being quite distinct; and great laceration of both ears, are also included in the injuries she has received. It is gratifying to learn that the perpetrator of this frightful atrocity is in custody, and that so far as present atonement can be rendered for a crime so hideous, there is every prospect of its being assured in this instance.— Herald.

A meeting was held in the Mechanics' Institute yesterday afternoon, for the purpose of taking the initiatory steps for an exploration of the Interior. Sir W. F. Stawell presided." The proposal is to raise the sum of £2000 by subscription, so as to make the gift of £1000, offered upon that condition, avaliable. Mr. Embling stated that the Government intended to propose a vote of £4000 to the Assembty for the purpose, and that steps were being taken to introduce twenty camels immediately; a gentleman being about to start for India for that purpose. Mr. G. Coppiri is a candidate for a seat in the Legislative Council (Upper House) of Victoria. The hon. Charles Gavan Duflyvwe are happy to say, says the 'Argus,' has been in town, and, according to the report of his friends, "looks better than ever he did in his life"—a report which we should hope is now true, though it is a long time since a similar report was first made. His official convalescence, however, is definitely postponed till the first week of October, when the railway ceremony for which all the colony has been kept waiting so long, will come off.

Mr. Duffy returned to his official duties on the 2nd. People grew, impatient, and it had been sarcastically proposqd at a public meeting, that '•'thnt gentleman's speedy restoration to health should be prayed for in all-the churches." The hint was taken.