OUR MELBOURNE LETTER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4424, 25 May 1875, Page 2

OUR MELBOURNE LETTER.

(from our own correspondent.) .. Melboukne, .May 13.

In matters political there is little change, the Ministry preserving, an imperturbable reticence on the subject of their future policy. At the quarterly civic luncheon given by the Mayor of Melbourne on the 10th inst., it was •expected that Mr. Kerferd -would have given the public , a glimpse of .his intentions, but beyond stating that the Government were prepared to justify every administrative action taken during the recess, and assuring ■ the select audience that the future policy of the Cabinet had been fully discussed and laboriously matured, he afforded no clue as to the leading feature of the new programme. In the mean time speculation is rife on the. subject, and rumors are as numerous as they are unreliable. It i 3 unquestionable, however, that the maintenance of the Education Act in ite integrity will form a prominent feature, and among the anticipations are a tax \vpou absentee landlords and a reform of the tariff in the direction of free trade.

If this latter should take the shape of I any considerable reduction in our protective duties, a severe struggle must necessarily ensue ; for although the Goverment will nieet the House with a working majority, that majority comprises both free traders and protectionists, and whilst the Ministry are for the part avowed free traders, the majority in the Assembly is protectionist. The fiscal policy of the Government will undergo a searching scrutiny, for not only have the revenue returns for the financial -, year fallen far short of the Treasurer's estimate, but public works have suspended owing to the impoverished condition of the public exchequer, and.an inordinate quantity of country and valuable suburban Crown lands have been rushed to the auction mart to meet current expenditure. Efforts are being made to resuscitate the old Loyal Liberal Association. The promoters of this organisation have in view certain political reforms, among which may be reckoned retrenchment in connection with the Civil Service, and the abolition of State pensions. An attempt will also be made to put a stop to the metropolitan aggrandisement that has been going on for years at the expense of the country districts. The chief political scandal of the day is the attempt to float mining companies in the Ovens district on the London market, by the aid of Ministers' names as provisional directors, with their full titles attached. At first it was thought that the attempt had been made in connection with only one company at Chiltern, but now it turns out that a second one was put on the London market, and the names of Messrs. Francis, Kerferd, G. V. Smith, and Cohen, and others, were duly set forth. It is also stated with confidence, that though the shares in the Beechworth Consol Company were to be sold in London at £1 each, Messrs. Frauds, and Kerferd, and Corn-

pany were to pay only ss. per share, the balance being the honorarium, or equivalent, for the use of their names. The project failed, however, as the London public coulA not understand how such apparently good things were allowed to leave the colony. In sporting matters there is little life at present. The Melbourne Hunt Club Steeplechase Meeting, fixed for the Queen's Birthday, is the only race that attracts public attention. The coursing clubs are all fully engaged, and the number of/them is surprising, considering the short time—not yet three years—since coursing has been legalised. It also speaks volumes for the climate, as regards the fecundity of the hare,, for instances are not uncommon of hares being found with litters of four and five; and it is beyond doubt that the hare, which in England only breeds annually, here breeds three or four times in the year. The sculling match between Detectiya Christie and Bell, the champion amateur sculler, took place on Saturday, the Sth inst. In. my last letter I informed you that the second match was declared "no race," in consequence of fouls on both sides, and- the eveiit had, therefore, to be rowed over again. The odda had been" heavily laid at three to one during the week on Bell, but these shortened remarkably on the evening before the race, and at the start the betting was even, or perhaps a shade in favor of Bell. After the start, five to one was freely offered on Christie, who was in splendid condition, whilst Bell had been in the doctor's hands suffering from dysentery. The result of the race is easily told; Christie won as he liked, by eight lengths, without showing the slightest distress. Bell's guernsey told the tale of his gallant effort and bad condition. As each of the competitors had won a match, it was agreed by the friends of both that a third and deciding match should be rowed oh an early day, Bell's friend* asserting that he was not beaten, and could not be beaten, on his merits. All hope of this event coming off, however, is at an end, as the police department have determined that Detective Christie shall not be allowed to row another match. The Melbourne Chess Club has invited competitors for a grand chess tournament, and the list has filled up very satisfactorily. The competitors are to elect their own handicapping committee, and if this committee can bring our players to something like equality, we shall have as good an exhibition of chess as has yet been witnessed at the antipodes. Some of the young players will come to the front in a way that will astonish their more experienced opponents.

I informed you last week of the escape of three sailors from the Carleton, who jumped overboard near the Heads. One of these has been saved, and according to his account the barbarities practised on board the Carleton were such as drove the seamen nearly mad. Three of them resolved to leave the vessel at all hazard, and for this purpose two of them availed themselves of life buoys, he (Olsen, the informant,) trusting himself to a plank. His sufferings appear to have been terrible, and in addition to the exposure during thirty hours, and the' excessive cold, he was pursued by a gigantic shark, which he kept at bay by the use of a long knife and shouting. He attended the Police Court at Sandridge, and gave a full account of his proceedings, and the reasons which prompted them. It is not believed that either of his companions has survived, as one of the life buoys has been found on the shore at Queenscliffe. It appears that although the captain of the Carleton nominally cleared out for Newcastle, the crew became' fully satisfied that his intention was to make direct for Callao.

In theatrical matters there is little change.. "lia Perichole" still continues its successful run at the Opera House, and its popularity is demonstrated by the overflowing houses it draws. The leading vocalists are encored as a matter of course, and the street boys having become familiar with the airs, amuse themselves and show their appreciation of Offenbach by whistling them in .the streets. At the Koyal "All that Glitters is not Gold" still forms the bill of fare, with Mr. Davieg and. his ventriloquial display to fill. up the evening's programme.

It is understood that Lecocq's successful opera comique, "Girofle-Girofla," is in rehersal,. and will succeed " La Perickole." *

The Hibernica at St. George's Hall, and the United States Minstrels at the Apollo, are still popular favorites. Some weeks ago a good deal of sensational writing was indulged in by a section of the Melbourne Press, to prove. that colonial beer as at present brewed and sold in hotels was simply poison, and the poor man's beverage was denounced as the agent by which our lunatic asylums were kept" supplied with patients. Dr. Youl, the city coroner, bluntly told the jury at an inquest that colonial beer was responsible not only for abundant lunacy but for a variety of other ills that flesh is heir to. This brought the brewing fraternity to their feet. They maintained . that their productions were simply; .slandered, and finally they sent a deputation'to the Chief Secretary, to request that a Royal Commission, might be appointed to examine and report upon colonial beer, or that some authorised officer in whom the public had confidence should be deputed to perforin the same duty." The Chief Secretary, who for many years was himself a brewer at Beechworth, ■ sympathised deeply with the fraternity, but would make no promise as to any action the Government might take in the matter. • Subsequently, however, and with unusual secrecy, the police visited about four hundred hotels and obtained samples of the beer retailed over the counters of city and suburban public-houses. . These samples were sealed and deUvered to the Government Analyst, Mr. Johnson, for investigation and report. Mr. Johnson obtained pel-mission to engage the services of several -well-known analytical chemists, and yesterday the result of the-inquiry was made public. The brewers have come off, with flying colors ; for not only is *the beer said to contain no deleterious drug, but.that 4i per cent, of the samples were absolutely good and wholesome; whilst, in. some instances, the chemists could not distinguish colonial from the English manufactured article. This is exhilarating news to the public who, in spite of total abstinence societies and the crusades of the Good Templars, consume some three million gallons of the condemned liquor annually. One thing, however, I can vouch for personally, viz., that since the beer: panic; set in that- pleasant beverage has steadily improved in quality in all quarters oi the city, and this feature has not been noticed by only a few, so that as far as the public is concerned the episode has not been fruitless. •

Great preparations, are being made by the | Roman Catholic body for the reception of the Bight Rev. Dr. Crane, the new Bishop of Sandhurst, who arrived via California on the 9th;inst. We have now an archbishop and two bishops of the Komau Catholic persuasion in the colony ; and Dr. Thornton, the newlyelected Church of England Bishop for Ballarat is expected to arrive by the next mail from Europe, The subject of the annexation of New Guinea by the British Crown has occupied our attention, and meetings have been held, both here and in Sydney, to urge the desirability and necessity of taking possession of New Guinea, as a measure of great political and commercial importance,, to all-, the Australian colonies, ,;■ , . • .

There has been an important meeting of the Council of the National Agricultural Society of Victoria, the object of which was to cause the Government to issue a proclamation the importation of sheep from Tasmania, it having been proved that a proportion of those ' introduced lately are affected with scab.

A meeting of gentlemen has been held, to form a committee to further an O'Counell centenary commemoration. It is proposed that the persons who are to take part in the celebration shall consist of "Irishmen and friends of freedom." It appears, however, that the movement is more likely to drift into a religious one than into anything national. There is a remarkable novelty on-view at Mr. Gaunt's, the jeweller, at present. .'''. lt, is a specimen : of Danish filigramme, made' by a Danish lady residing amongst us. The article made up is a wreath for the hair, and it is con-

• structed of the scales of the Norway codfish. With these scales flowers are constructed, the fuchsia being the most striking; the flowers appear as brilliant as frosted silver, and appear to be richly and delicately chased. We have at •present a most sensational episode in criminal law. A man named Sperrin was some short time since convicted of indecently assardting a girl, and was thereupon sentenced to ten years' hard labor and sundry floggings. He has undergone some weeks of bis term of imprisonment, and has also suffered the first instalment of the lash. It now turns out that he has possibly been the victim of a vile conspiracy, and the mother and dauglrter, upon whose evidence he was convicted, have been tried at the Police Court, and after a patient and full examination they have been committed for trial for perjury. The spectacle of a man suffering the torture of the lash and the pains of imprisonment, whilst Jhose who brought him to such, terrible doom now lie -waiting their trial for having sworn his liberty away, is sensational enough to afford ample food for gossip. Some time ago a squatter residing near the boundary Tine between Victoria and South Australia, applied to the Minister of Lands for a lease of a large tract of mallee scrub country, with a view to its reclamation and utilisation. Mr. Casey pricked up his ears at the request, and refused it until he bad satisfied himself a 3 to the nature of the soil of the mallee country. Now, the inhospitable mallee is known too well to most of our colonists and squatters, and agriculturists always carefully avoid meddling with it. In fact, no one would accept it as a gift if he were compelled to pay rates on it; and yet Mr. Casey, in his suspicious style, plays the part of the dog in the manner. Latterly, however, a Government surveyor has sent "in his report to the effect that the mallee country 13 a desert ; that the land is useless, unless in small patches, for any purpose ; that there is no water in it unless deep wells are sunk, and that even these produce water salter than the sea. Under these circumstances, Mr. Casey has taken time to consider whether it would be prudent to allow a squatter to attempt utilising the territory I A strong and stem attempt is now being made to suppress the gangs of abandoned women who have insolently thrust themselves into our best streets—Collins-street to wit—which have hitherto been kept free from the plague. A large number have been arrested, and some have been cautioned and others imprisoned. Still the evil continues, though abated. In fact, the sin of great cities flourishes banefnlly in our midst, and -is traced by many to the existence of shirt factories and other establishments where young carls lead rather independent lives. In commercial affairs the same state of depression and stagnation continues as reported in my last letter, but with it has come increased tightness in the money market, and the dread of a commercial panic. It would be idle to hide or blink the fact, that, rightly or wrongly, men are waiting anxiously to see what firm will be the first to feel the effects of the actual and prospective failures in Sydney. The news from Sydney is by no means reassuring, for it is believed here that four or five firms in that city must succumb to the blow brought on them by the disastrous failure of Messrs. Stubbs and Co. for nearly £150,000. The larger houses are doing little or no business at present, preferring to wait rather than undertake risks with up-country traders, whose position is now, and has for some time been, one of unsoundness and difficulty.