OUR MELBOURNE LETTER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 229, 29 January 1880, Page 2

OUR MELBOURNE LETTER.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Melbourne, January 19. Arrangements have been made with one of our largest millers to grind the flour which is to be used by tho Jewish,community during tho Feast of the Passover, which commences <n March 20. Every precaution has been taken to insure the greatest cleanliness throughout the mill. Over 1G tons cf flour will be required, which quantity will serve tho whole of the colonies, with the exception of a portion of New Zealand. During tho last fortnight no less than five stewards of various ships have been “pulled over the coals ” for sly-grog selling. In each case the delinquents wore fined .€25 and costs. An interesting cricket match was played last Monday, on the East Melbourne Ground,between representatives of elevens of tho Licensed Victuallers and the theat rical profession. The publicans obtained a marked victory, winning by o ernn and ten wickets to spare, A largo number of friends of the professionals and Bonifaces assembled to witness tho match. There has been a great scandal occasioned in religions circles, owing to the Church of England incumbent (F. C. Platts, M.A.) of Sand ridge refusing to resign Ids position unless his parishioners gave him L6OO, which sum was raised and given to him last week. Tho reason for wishing to got rid of the rev, gentleman was becauso ho had certain transactions with tlie schoolmaster of ids parish which did not reflect wry creditably upon him. Tho Irish li- lief Fund, which lias been started in Melbourne, lias met with liberal support. L 5,000 was sent to the Lord Mayor of Dublin on Saturday by cablegram, and the Relief Commit tee hope to be enabled to send a further sum during tho week. The Ron W, J. Clarke, with Ids itsu-d kindness and liberality, started tlio fund with tho handsome sum of £SOO. A uwl 'nelioly boat accident occurred on tho River Yarra last Tuesday afternoon, by which a young lady, 18 3’cars old, lost her life. The accident was brought about by the young laity in question shifting her seat, in doing which she put her foot too much on one side, which caused the boat to capsiz . One of the party, who is an officer of the barque Ethiopian, managed to save two of the'party —brother and sister of tho deceased. Several letters have been received by friends of tho condemned bushranger, Scott, residing in Victoria. Ho strenuously denies having killed Constable Bowen. Last Tuesday a gentlemanly man entered a Temperance Hot flat Echuca, and asked to see the proprietor, to wh m he represented himself as an Inspector of Police, and informed tho host that he wished to stay at his house fora few days. After remaining a short time, he left without any notice, indebted to the landlord to tho sum of a pound. He was arrested the following day at Sandhurst and sent on to Echuca. One of our leading banking establishments is reported to have the extremely large sum of L 1,700,000 in sovereigns deposited in its strong rooms. Discussion lias been rife as to whether this is, or is no f , a sign of good banking. Parliament meets to-morrow, a"d it is expected that very stormy seems will take place. It is generally thought that the House will dissolve in a week or two, and tho general elections take place early in March. Already several candidates for up country districts have been addressing tho free and independent electors, and promising, as is usual on such occasions, all kinds of probable and improbable things in order to secure their return. Mr Berry is in very bad odour at Geelong, and it is thought ho will choose some other constituency. The residents of that electorate have been fooled quite Jo ig enough by tho Chief Secretary, and can no\v see through his policy. Sir Bryan o‘Loghlen lias almost made up his mind to give up West Melbourne, and seek tho suffrage of the electors of Kyneton. It is expected that several gentlemen, who have during the last few years withdrawn from public life, will offer themselves for election, and in some eases have published their addresses. A series of interesting sketches are appearing in one of our leading up-country journals, entitled “ Colonial Celebrities ” The author, Mi Henry W. Mitchell, a gentleman of high reputation as a journalist, has spared neither time nor trouble to make them attractive. Besides being an author of no mean ability. Mr Mitchell is a leading herbalist physician, and enjoys an extensive practice. His residence, which is situated in the pleasant suburb of Richmond, is daily thronged by persons of all classes, who wish to avail themselves of his skill.