OUR MELBOURNE LETTER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 243, 16 March 1880, Page 2

OUR MELBOURNE LETTER.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Melbourne, March 3,

The electiooa are now over, and (to use tiio words of TXio.ige) 11 Bprry Ministry have received a severe defeat. I am happy to say that the greatest l order .prevailed throughout the whole colony. Mr Berry and ln's colleagues h.ive determined to re sign immediately. Now that tho Berry reign is over business will assume a brighter hue, and now that the Liberuk no longer have the colony under control capitalists will unlock their money and invest. The Ago has now turned upon the Hand that has fed it for tho lust three yeara and instead of doing its best for Mr Berry it turns upon him and accuses him of want of judgment. / 1 am happy /to nay that now that Mr Berry has lost {the battle, the Conservative Press refrains from abusing him. Although 1 cannot agree \with tho late Premier's policy, I do think lie has done hia utmost for his party. Tho\most unwise step he ever took was in going Homo : tho Embassy proved a most unsuccessful undertaking, and put the country to great expense*, without returning the slightest benefit but rather harm. Capitalists would natnraUy say,."lf we cannot settle our own affairs, we are not to bo trusted with theirs."

Payment of members is now a thing of the past, and a very good thing it is : the country will save over LIOO,OOO per year, which will enable the Government to take off a certain amount of taxes.

Messrs Maclean Brothers and Bigg, one of our leading ironmongery firms, kindly lent a telephone on Saturday, which is used by them between their Elizabeth and Spencer streets establishments. The telephone was placed between the Argus Office and an establishment in Swanston street. As soon as tiio election returns were made known to-tho Argus the result* were telephoned to Swanston street,where they appeared onan illuminated disc. Tho above firm deserve the greatest thanks, as they put themselves to no small amount of inconvenience by lending the telephone. The directors of the defunct Provincial nnd Suburban Bank havo got off wi'h a paltry fine of LSO each. Now, if these men are guilty it is certain that they deserved imprisonment, and it is a disgrace to the colony to think that they should have had such a clemency shown them. Mr Willis, the manager, did not get off so well, being fined L 250. A firm have started in the Eastern Arcade, undo the style of Smith and Co.,their object being to supply all American (.üblications at a rate far below w! at has been charged in the colonies. have received liberal support in Victoria, and ther* is no doubt that their business will ere long reach, toother colonies. Au intei eating work is advertised to appear shortly, entitled *' The Sea Serpent," Mr D. Kiunear Brown, Market street, is the publisher, and there isnot tho slightest doubt that it will meofc with an extensive sale. Our Juvenile Exhibition continues in public favor, aud it is deserving of all tho psai.se which lias been bestowed upon it Last Saturday over 1500 persons visited i during the course of the 'lay. George L.avkins, proprietor of the Firebrand (an indeceut publication) iins been sent to gaol forj o» e month without the option of u tine. It is to be hoped do him good.