A DUNEDINITE IN VICTORIA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 249, 7 November 1872, Page 6

A DUNEDINITE IN VICTORIA.

{From the Evening Star.)

I was nearly six years resident in Otago, in comparatively public positions, both as a journalist and teacher. lam tolerably well known in your admirable Province, and, apart from any superior excuses, many will be glad to read a public letter from me, more especially in your columns, which have ever been open to anything tending to inform your numerous readers. I arrived in Melbourne last May. I have consequently been in Victoria about six months. lam now engaged as English master at the Grammar School, Castlemaine.

Havvng said so much egotistically, I -will now speak about Melbourne. Everything in it has extended. The Argus is a good index of Melbourne, especially its advertisements ; but I assure you one's own eyes are a far better receptacle of knowledge. The Melbourne of 1572 is not the Melbourne of 1862, still less the Melbourne of 1852. Melbourne now has all the employments (almost) of Glasgow, Manchester, or Liverpool. Factories are very numerous. Railway engines and other railway plant are constructed by Melbourne engineers. Theatres are worked almost solely by actors who have never been out of Victoria. Melbourne paragraphing for the papers is now a distinct branch of journalism. Churches have increased too. The best clerical elocutionist is the notf famous Charles Clark, of the Baptist Church, formerly tenanted by the Rev. Isaac New. Mr Clark wears no gown, but he does wear many finger rings. In the street he would never be mistaken for a preacher. He is ill — rather than good — looking. But Nature has given him a silvery voice, and he knows it. He gives many secular readings. Ho is a. " drti-w" where ho goes. He is also a good preacher from a literary point of view ; DUt owing to his having an excellent voice, it has become a habit with some superficial people to state that he is " all voice," and nothing more. It is also said he would make a good actor. Let people not b« too sure about that. What seems very excellent in an. rmateur — especially a clerical amateur — might be only a shade above mediocrity in a theatre. The Rev. Auketell M. Henderson, of the amphithcatrical Independent Church, in Collins street east, is, as a literary man, very good indeed ; his association of ideas and flow of thought and memory being wonderful, a* he never once looks at a note, but quotes " innumerable" verses and chap* ters entirely from Like all the preachers here, he useß little or no gesture, but unlike the preachers of other places, he speaks in a familiar, yet highly literary tone, which carries with it immontio force, notwithstanding the fact — more patent every day — that physically he is growing weaker and -weaker. It is most difficult to catch many of his "wordfl, especially at opening and conclusion of his discourses. Looked at from a literary point of view, he musth'ave been a splendid preacher when in his prime. You yourself must havo heard Mr tarl, of a sect here called the Christian Disciples ; their place is iii Lygou street, Carlton. Mr Earl was, until lately, in South Australia, but a Mr Serber, lm predecessor in Lygon street, went to the United States, Mr Earl has taken his place in Lygon street, which is every Sunday night packed with a very attentive audience, chi?fly composed of the respectable working classes. No money is asked for in this church, the rule of the sect prohibiting collections of an indiscriminate character. Mr Earl has emphatic utterances, a solid voice, and a- fine, manly, and at the sa-.no time aimable physique. He has great influence. His sect, compared with others, is apt large, but it is increasing. Their chief aim is to add nothing to, and subtract nothing from the New Testament, which is almost the only part of Scripture they are guided by, and where reason does not condemn, they accept even the minutest parto of the Nev.' Testament almost literally. On baptism they place great reliance. Mr Charles Bright is a layman. He was formerly a Bhining light on the Argus. He is now I tlumlc in. some ne-w lite-rajry employment. He is a Unitarian and Spiritualist, Kifj style, secularly considered, is most attractive. He reads his addresses. His locality is sometimes the Hall of the Progressive Spiritualists in Latrobe street, sometimes the Unitarian Church on Easter Hill. He has a terrible "down" on priests and parsons, as have all free thinkers, and he comes out decidedly strong, making our flHsh creep with his heterodox utterances. I fancy that the free-thinkers think far more freely than they say, Bocial reasons preventing the pure outflow of their thoughts. You know Mr James Smith. He was editor of the Australasian, but ho got notice to quit because he defended Spiritism in the Arqvx. He is still, however, a contributor to numorous journals. He has broken loose from the Spiritists, and now paddles his own canoe. He says he never was a Spiritist [what will Mr Stout think of this ?], and that Spiritism enfeebles the brain. He preaches that he it inspired by God alone, and that a magnetic wave will soon pass over the earth and wash away all who are disobedient to his teachings. He says he will not be at all sorry when he himself gives up the ghost. His friends think he has taken leave of his wits. Mr Martin, a Presbyterian, is a learned and homely preacher. It is not often that you see erudition and homeliness meet, but they do meet in him. Either superior to, or full v equal— but I really think superior— to M"r Henderson, is the Itev. JPeter -Menzies, JPresl>yteri»n, now ah ihe Temperance ffaU, Russell street, while his new church is bcin r ' built, which will be, I • believe, a credit t" our city. Mr Menzies is not an elocutionist — nay, he is .not an ordinarily good speaker. He has most awkward gestures, but he h;i3 intellectual fire, vast flow of language, apparently inexhaustible flow of thought as v'cU as of words, and evidently indomitable z^ il and energy. His mind is an ever active volcano. I really think he is the greatest Victorian preacher, fie is niosb catholic in Ins creed, and he , believes that there is an element of good in even the -most "discordant creeds.

Now as to politics. Mr O'Shanassy is now only known by being the' leading obstruction . to all good popular measures which are aeiit rip to .the Upper by the Lower House. Mr Duffy has doubtless many faults, which I believe spring more from the head than fronV the heart, but. the', treatment which he got and is still getting from jbbe 4rrjm is and ' was in. the most unprecedented bad, .taste:. Bat I 'that journal has the>'maih tdftl of the best class of advertisers," and consequently ' may say.Waok^ to-day and white to-morrow-. T' hM* a|n! interview : ,witli Mr JJuffy, and! I ' got two letters^from *fm. lie has the highest opinion of Mr Vogelj which I fully share, i haye given immense attention to ■ -both New Zealand, English, and Australian Slitics ; I ha"c studied the purtonnA of our ouses of Parliament, and I have come to the calm .conclusion that Messrs Yogel and Macandrew, as Colonial statesmen, are unequalled on this aide of the equator. They have breadth of view, a comprehensive mastery of details, which contrasts most favorably with the Little Peddlington politics of either Sydney or Melbourne. Both Mr Macandrew and Mr Yogel, now that their powers are mature, could not help rising to very high political positions in this Colony.

I cannot speak too strongly of the bad common school system which prevails here. Iti distinct reputation ie-^ouB« etropy