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SATURDAY, JULY 13, 1872.
The revenue returns for the colony of Victoria for the quarter and year ending the 30th June last were published in last night's Government Gazette, and it is pleasing to find that, with a few exceptions, they are of a gratifying character. They speak well for the producing interests of the country, although with regard to the commercial and manufac- turing interests the returns are not so satisfactory. The gross revenue received on account of the year which has just closed amounts to £3,766,184 12s. 10d., and for the three months terminating on the 30th June last to £990,722 3s. 7d., showing an increase on the income for the year as compared with the pre- ceding twelve months of £453,025 6s. 11d., and on the quarter as compared with the like period of last year of £172,993 13s. 2d.
The principal increases have taken place in the Customs and territorial revenue, and in that derived from public works and fees. An analysis of the various items on which the several increases have taken place is, how- ever, scarcely as reassuring as the gross results at first sight - appear, Thus, the net increase in the Cus- toms revenue amounts to £210,788. This would appear to indicate great prosperity on the part of the people, and a large increase in the purchasing power of the general community. A very different aspect, however, Is given to the whole affair when it is found that during last year the Customs revenue was benefited by the Increased taxation Imposed by Messrs. DUFFY, BERRY, and Co,, to the amount of no less than £212,522 16s. Gd. In the year ending the 30th June, 1871, the revenue derived from dried and preserved fruits and vegetables, articles subject to ad valorem duties, and what are termed " all other articles," amounted to only £362,102 12s. lid., but In consequence of the enormously Increased tariff in- troduced by the late Administration,
the income derived from these same
sources during the year ending the 30th of June last amounted to £574,625 9s. 5d., the difference between the two sets of figures showing the sum which has been wrung out of the pockets of the working men of Victoria under the special pretence of protection to native industry. All those items of customs revenue which, when the great bulk of the people are really prosperous, show an increase, exhibit a decrease. Thus, on tea there is a falling off for the year of £18,791 1s. 8d., on sugar and molasses a falling off of £24,222 19s. 1d, and on coffee of £11,723 3s. 4d. There Is also a decrease in the income from opium of £8,526 19s. 10d. Perhaps this is not very much to be regretted, looking at it from a moral point of view ; but at the same time it must be remembered that it shows the Chinese portion of the community are not in a position to indulge in luxuries to the extent they formerly did, for there is no reason to believe they are less enamoured of their favourite drug than at any former period. There is an increase on spirits, wine, and beer, but not to such an amount as to compensate for the decrease on what are now considered to be the necessaries of life. I
The returns from tonnage and wharfage rates both show a falling-off
in the trade and commerce of the
colony. The wharfage rates for the year ending the 30th of last month exhibit a decrease of £1,390 18s. 8d.
as compared with the preceding twelve months; and on tonnage'there is 'a com- parative deficiency of £590 178.' Both these deficiencies are principally caused not by the increase ia home manufac- tures but by the Impediments which an obstructive fiscal policy has thrown in the way of our intercolonial trade. With regard to the territorial revenue, that can scarcely be considered in the light of an annual income. To a great extent it is money received for a portion of the national property which has been alienated from the state for ever. Thus, Crown lands were sold during the year just closed to the amount of £307,170, showing an increase of £56,523 upon tbe^sales of the preceding twelve months. There is not much cause for congratula- tion in this, as it only shows that so much additional capital stock of the colony has been parted with. There is a large increase in the railway returns, but this is principally due to the rush which took place to Sandhurst and to the recent magnificent seasons, which have tended immensely to increase the wool traffic on the Victorian lines. We are thus com- pelled to arrive at the conviction that none of the increases in the revenue ne- cessarily indicate the Increased prosperity of the great mass of the people. This will plainly appear from a recapitulation of the items to which the increase in the annual income is principally due : Increased taxation, £212,522; terri- torial revenue, £137,291 ; Income from public works, £75,082 ; duties on estates of deceased persons, £20,446 ; and fees, £17,780 ; making a total of £463,121, as against the net increase of £453,025.
Comparing the revenue for the year, as estimated by the late Treasurer, Mr. BERKY, with the actual income, very
much the same result is arrived at. The estimated revenue was £3,538,750, the amount received £3,766,184, showing a comparative increase of £227,434. But how was this Increase obtained 1 The Customs duties are really £14,212 4s. 9d. below the estimate, but the late Go- vernment only took authority from Par- liament to sell by auction £220,000 worth of land. They exceeded this amount by no less a sum than £87,170, and by this and other means the total increase on the territorial revenue, as compared with the estimate, was £146,826. Then the increase in the returns from public works-princi- pally railways-was £33,117 ; the Increase on postage, £12,000 ; on fees, £16,000; and on Interest on the publie account about £20,000; making a total of £229,943. Coming to the Important item of wharfage rates and tonnage, we find, as com- pared with the estimate, a serious failing off. £92,000 was expected to accrue from the former, and only £86,579 was received; and it waB calculated that £19,000 would be obtained from the last-mentioned Item, but the actual re- turns amounted to only £15,758,
Taking the returns as a whole they show the immense natural wealth of the country,the great advantages which thoso colonists possess who earnestly set to work to develope Its material resources, and at the same time they demonstrate in a marked manner the almost un-
paralleled absurdity of the fiscal policy which has lately been adopted.
Old customs, and the habits, feelings, or opinions which have grown out of them, die very hard. Up to the twelfth or thirteenth century, when the modem university replaced to a certain extent the schools which had previously been attached to the cathedrals and monas- teries of Christendom, education was under the almost exclusive control of
the priesthood. It was the only literate class, the sole depository of the arts and sciences, or of what passed for such; and it made the most of its opportuni- ties for the acquisition of political power, social influence, and material wealth. It did not disseminate intel- lectual light with a lavish hand, but it took exceedingly good care to make the secular instruction it imparted sub- ordinate to the one great object of maintaining its spiritual ascendancy over the minds of the people, and of Impressing them with the duty of "submitting themselves"
as the Church Catechism has It-" to
" all their governors, teachers, spiritual " pastors, and masters." This condi- tion of affairs virtually terminated, in English speaking countries, with the invention of printing, the rise of Pro- testantism, and the decline of feudalism, Nevertheless, the clerical mind is still haunted with the traditional notion the mediceval idea, that it Is entitled to Intermeddle with the education of the people-that that education, in fact, cannot be properly conducted unless the ministers of religion prescribe the method, and supervise the wielding of the ferule. Thus, whenever the ques- tion of popular instruction rises to the surface, we have the clergy of all denominations getting into a flutter of excitement, holding meet- ings, assembling in conference, pot- tering over resolutions and amend- ments, and talking and acting as If the subject in debate concerned them as nearly as a new version of the Gospels
or a revision of the Nicene Creed.
Chronologically speakiDg, the re- verend gentlemen who have been speechifying on the education question belong to the nineteenth century, but in their conception of the sacerdotal function in relation to the spread of knowledge, they belong-with a few honourable exceptions-to the tenth or the eleventh. What, in the name of common sense, have they to do with the secular instruction of the people? Theirs is the cure of souls, The educing and cultivation of the mental faculties is the school- master's province. It is for him to break up the ground, to plant tho tree, and to watch over and promote Its vigorous growth. When hia work^ is done, or while, in its later stager,," J ' being performed, the minister of re
ligion may opportunely step in, and graft upon the healthy stock the scion of spiritual truth which he desires to see bearing fruit for time and for eternity. And the more robust, hardy, and natural the original plant, the more hopeful will be the prospects of the
graft.
It is only repeating a truism to assert that Ignorance is the parent of super
«tition as well as of vice and crime ; and it may be affirmed with equal truth that atheism, and the revolt of so many minds against the religious systems
and doctrines of our own times, are traceable, in nine cases out of ten, to the injudicious admixture of an excessive dose of theology with the early education of the atheist or the " free-thinker." Let the schoolmaster perform his part thoroughly and well, and the labours of the teacher of religion will be facilitated and assisted. Unless it is assumed that the unlettered savage is more amenable to spiritual Instruction than the child who ' haB been instructed in the rudiments of
knowledge-whose faculties of percep- tion, comparison, calculation, memory, and reasoning have been awakened and .exercised-the lay instructor must be a most desirable forerunner to the Chris- tian minister ; just as the ploughman is the necessary precursor of the sower.
One would imagine, to hear some of our reverend platform-orators talk, that there was something antagonistic be- tween mental cultivation, though ever so rudimentary in character, aud religious belief and practice-that the rules of syntax veiled impious doctrines-that
one of the seven deadly sins lurked in the multiplication table-that to spell correctly was a device of the Evil One and to write a legible hand was equi- valent to exhibiting " the mark of the " beast." On no other hypothesis is it possible to explain the strange annexa- tion of the epithet "godless" to a secular education, unless, indeed, we take refuge in the assumption that there is no Bincerity in the allegation, and that the whole opposition to non-clerical in- struction is based upon what Mr, HIGINBOTHAM designates " the un " founded ecclesiastical pretensions" of »ministers of religion of all denomina- tions. If so, they cannot be too earnestly or too often reminded that if they wish to preserve their legitimate influence, they must rigorously confine themselves within their legitimate spheres. These present the widest scope for the exercise i of all the industry, the activity, and the
zeal which they can concentrate upon the discharge of their spiritual functions. Let them leave the schoolmaster alone, and content themselves with completing the work which he has begun, with building up on the foundations which he has laid. At present, they seem disposed either to Intrude upon his domain or to instruct or dictate to the state how he should perform his duties and what they should consist of. Even in priest-ridden Europe, German; Spanish, and Italian statesmanship warns the ecclesiastics to " stand aside ;" and in a country like this, where there is no state religion, and where the laity entertains a well founded re- pugnance to clerical interference in mattera which do not concern mini- sters of religion, we trust the Govern- ment will take up a very decided posi- tion on this question, and will disregard and discountenance every attempt of the sacerdotal body to travel outside of It proper sphere, and to prescribe what
shall be the character of the instruction
imparted, or How it shall be communi-
cated. |
= !
All experience shows that it is not safe to rely for success on the abstract justice of a cause, however good and however reasonable it may be. We would therefore recommend the oppor nents of the Permissive Bill to be up «nd'doing. Petitions in its favour are pouriDg in from every quarter, and how- ever valueless a scrutiny might prove them to be, their number is imposing and likely to lead the thoughtless io imagine that the feeling of the country is really in favour of this liberty-destroy- ing measure. Of course it is easy «enough to account for this abundant ?crop of prayer. In every town- ship of any size there will always be found a knot of busybodies, who, in '"virtue of their Inability to drink with1 out being drunken, conceive themselves to he charged with the regeneration of ianankind. They band themselves toge- ther In "tents" and "lodges," assume1 quaint and mystic badges, and call themj -selves "Rechabites," "Sons of Temj
" perance," "Bands of Hope/',and -other fancy names. They sign pledges -to abßtaln from intoxicating liquorj
'They elect officers to rule over them, and j 'these gentlemen, acknowledging the1 necessity of doing something to justify their selection, "roundup" their flock' to the signing-table whenever it is thought advisable to petition Parlia7 ment to allow a bigoted minority to prescribe the mode of Ufe whioh shall be adopted by the bulk of the people.1 It 1B from these meddling, peddling] -societies that most of these impertinent; ¡.requests emanate which are now being
.addressed to Parliament lu such super-; .abundance. We are aware that it is no
tose arguing with a set of narrow-minded fanatics; the only way to deal with ?them is to " put them aside," as Tliè . Times phrases it, in the quietest but
'firmest manner possible. But there arej t «, few, doubtless, who have signed these i petitions on whom a word of reason may ^ not'be thrown away. Let them ask themselves these questions :-Can the «tate logically or fairly interfere in any J*>ne matter which concerns a man in his, individual, cápaolty, unless it is propare.d¡ to. regulate his entire life? Are we justified In interfering with the personal liberty of our neighbours Î Is it right to legislate in such a way as to make -one law for the rich and another for the! poor? If they can answer these ques- tion in the affirmative, then they are( 'justified in supporting the Permissive
Bill, but not otherwise.
( Mr. CASEY has considerately post- poned the second reading of his bill «until next Friday, If the discussion asreally comes on on that evening,'
.doubtless a great deal will be made' .of the petitions to which we have, been alluding. The supporters of the bill will instance "them as showing the] ^'inieieat taken'in the enactment'of the j-jne-Biire by the couutry at1 large, Now,1
-.it behoves all those whose IntefeBts are'
(threatened by the proposed sumptuary! :law, or, who objeot to all Buch legis- lation on the higher and broader grounds; "of ita incompatibility with individual freedom, and its tendency to destroy the mental and moral virility of the people -it behoves all these to take the
necessary steps', within the neit ¡
few days, to let Parliament know that
a majority 1B decidedly adverse to any *\ such unwarrantable encroachment on per- sonal liberty/ Let all remember that this bill is the thin end of the wedge which, if driven home, would rob our lives of half their charmB. We should no longer be free men, but simply slaves to tile whims of our neighbours. * ,
A rumour waa current in town yesterday to the effect that the Government of New South Wales bad discontinued the collection of the Border duties, and a telegram stating as much was received in town by a mercantile firm. The Government immediately tele- graphed to their officers on the Murray to know if such was the fact, and in reply were informed that no intimation of anything of the sort had been received. '
We understand that at the forthcoming election Mr. Geo. Kirk, formerly a member of the Legislative Assembly, will contest with Dr. Dobson the seat which as a member for the Southern Province ho will tvacate by efDuxion of time. j
The board appointed some weeks ago to inquire into and report upon certain alleged irregularities in connexion with the manage- ment of the Yarra Bend Lunatic Asylum, consisting of Mr. Joseph Jones, M.L.A. (chairman), Captain Standish (chief commis- sioner of police), and Mr. A. J. Agg (one of the commissioners of audit), has presented its report to the Chief Secretary. The*"irregu larities brought under the notice of the board were not of a very grave character. The principal complaint was that the pur of scales -sod for weighing the food of tho inmates was inaccurate, and that a patient was allowed to serve out rations. The board recommends that a new set ot weights should be purchased, and that a proper person should be appointed to serve out the rations. These recommenda- tions will be acted upon. j
The members of the Gipps Land Railway Association waited on the Minister of Rail- ways yesterday, to urge upon tho Government the necessity of bringing Gipps Land into communication with Melbourne, in accord- ance with promises already made. The Hon. R. Turnbull, M.L C, the chairman of ttio association, pointed to the isolated position of important towns, and the difficulties placed in the way of producers from the want of good roads. Mr. Gillies said he quite admitted tho claims of Gipps Land to railway communica- tion, and he had already spoken about tho matter to the engineer-in-chief. The Government had pat a sum on the Estimates to enable them to make the necessary surveys for new liaos. According to the estimate of the engineer-in cbief, it would be nearly 12 months before they were in a position to determine which would be the best route. A portion of the country-between 60 and 70 miles-was so rongh and so thickly timbered that scarcolt anybody know what sort of a road could bl
made over it The Government were anxious to push forward the surveys, and as soon as the money was available they would com- mence them. On the completion of the surveys, they would be in a position to submit the question to Parliament for ita considera- tion, j
The Treasurer yesterday informed tho secretary of the International Exhibition Commission, with roference to the application made for a sam of £6,000 to erect an exhi- bition building on the ground held by tho trustees of the Public Library, that he would place a sam of £3,000 on this year's Estimates for that purpose, and endoavour to provide the additional amount required next year, j
The Government Gazette last night an- nounced the appointment of the following additional members of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Commission :-The Hon. Niel Black, M.L.C.; the Hon. W. H. F. Mitchell, M.L.C.; Mr. William John Lobb, M.L.A.; Dr. M'Crea, Mr. R. Morton, Mr. Josiah Mitchell, and Mr. Robert Cherry.
Mr. W. H. Handfield has been gazetted a i acting secretary of the Board of Education, during tho absence on leave of Mr, B. F
Kane.
Western Anstralia has established a marino survey, and Lieut. Archdeacon, R.N., wh< recently arrived from Natal, will proceed b; the next mail steamer to assume charge,
Messrs, Á, J. Macqueen, Carlton, and J P. Murray, have been registered as legally qualified medical practitioners. Mr. Murray'd is a re-registration. !
From last night's Government Gazette wa learn that Mr. W. Witt has resigned the! commission of the peace, and that Mr. James Fowler, of Talbot, has declined to accept the commission of the peaco, Mr. Fowler is
manager of a bank at Talbot, and was api
pointed without his knowledge or concurrence by the Duffy Government.
There is nothing new of importance fcd report as to small-pox. The chief medical officer yesterday received a telegram from* Sandhurst, intimating that everything was going on well, and no fresh cases had booa' reported. Dr. Plummer, medical officer of the Kelson' and the reformatory ship Sir Harry1 Smith, has stopped the shore liberty of the , boys of the former, and all visiting from th¿
shore to both ships. This notice may prevent intending visitors being disappointed at the1 last momont. It is stated that a draft of a1 bye-law requiring persons in the city to deodoiise offensive matter in cellars before pumping it into the stroot hats been under consideration for some time by tho City Council, and the necessity of such a regula- tion is demonstrated by the shocking smalls which are noticeable in the principal thoroughfares after 11 o'clock at night! The Bendigo Advertiser, writing yester* day, says:-"The small-pox outbreak -r thanks to the vigorous measures adopted for stamping out the diseaso-appears to be dying1 away, and with it is subsiding the excitomont and alarm so prevalent during the past week! No new case has been reported, and at the
sanatorium'the old ones are all doing woll.j
Mrs. Robertson continues to improve, and tbe other patients, including the man Cloraos at Eaglehawk, are progressing favourably towards recovery. Vory great improve« ments have been made at the' sanatorium.'
The place has been made warm anal comfortable, the stau* is a most efficiont one; and tho health officer (Dr. Murray) considera it, taking everything into consideration, oj 1 credit to the district. A new tent will bd
erected in an angle of tho enclosure, about 27 yards from the building, for the accommo- dation of the hospital staff, and a substantial zinc fence will surround the institution.") We may add, in reply to a correspondent who inquires whether, having survived an attack; of small-pox, it is nocessary for him to be vaccinated to guard against a second attack,' that people have been known to dio from second attacks of small-pox in many instances. It is > not advisable there- fore, for persons to omit vaccination on account of having had the diseaso previously.1 If they are protected the vaccination will not take, and x10 inconvenience will be suffered i if, on tho other band, the vaccination takes,' it will clearly show that the individuals operated on were liable to small-pox, and the vaccination will protoot them. 1 Wé publish in another column some verse by Mr. Alfred Power, chief, commissioner of poor-low in Ireland, entitled "Precautionary' Hints on the Threatened Approach of Small J pox," By a slight alteration we hare made these "bints" apply to tho loathsomo disease which has recently gained a footing in SandJ hurst, but the verses were originally written and published for circulation among the Irish peasantry, on an occasion when an outbreak! of cholera was believed' to be impending.'
The "hints" are full of valnable andprac tical information on tho treatment and func- tions of the skin and blood, simply expressed
and gracefully versiGed, and we would suggest to our readers that they should oither commit them to memory or cat them out of tho paper and paste them over the mantelpiece for easy reference. '
We learn that a writ has been issued by Mr. Clegg, colleotor of the Benevolent Asylam, against Mr. J. M.' Bryant, for libel and slander. Damages aro laid at £1,000. The action arises out of the state- ments made by Mr. Bryant at the meetirfg of the Benevolent Asylum Committee on Thursday last, respecting his having paid Mr, Clegg two subscriptions of £2 2a. each in September 1871, when, as it appeared from the records of the collector, he had only paid ono such subscription. ;
The public discussion of spiritualism by Mr. Blair, who does not believe in it, and Mr. Tyerman, who believes in it considerably, was commenced last evening in tho sapper room at the Town hall; 40O or 500 ladies and gentlemen were presont. Mr. Call, P.M., presided. The debate was not animated, and but for the occasional use of some strong expressions by Mr, Blair, would not have been interesting. In Mr. Blair's language spiritualism was a " mare's nest," the gospel of the deadened' brain had been "prigged" apparently from the "infernal dictionary," and the communications were like tho ravings of a savage. The fact was, that although Mr. Blair opened the debate, and tho speakers had each two half hoar turns, they did not got beyond the threshold of the subject. At one moment it seemed as if the com- batants meant to be done with the spat ring, and begin to hit in earnest, but Mr. Blair's "Now I shall commence,1" was really no commencement of tho sort the audience expected. There are to be three meet- ings, and Mr. Tyerman is to begin on the next occasion, and open the case for tho spiritual ists. Last evening he seemed simply to hWo come to meet tho facts of his opponent, bat Mr. Blair bad dooided in his own mind that the onus of proof rested upon Mr, Tyerman. The audience cheered both, and only once ventured to disapprove. Mr. Tyerman stated
that spiritualists did not believe in eternal punishment, upon which there wore lona exclamations of dissent. The speaker hopea that the persons who liked tho doctrino would never become illustrations of it ; and he thus turned hisses into laughter. The debate is to bo resumed on Monday week.
The third annual competitive examination of the various classes of tho Artisans' School of Design was held at the Trades-hall lost evening. The examination papers were all of uniform size, and in the ornamental class
had an ornament printed upon each paper!,
which the pupils were required to copy on an enlarged scale. There were 180 pupils presenil.
The following problems in practical geometery
were set on the blackboard :-1. Show with the compasses and rule how angles are
measured. 2. Construct a regular pentagon^
and inscribe an equilateral triangle. 3. Divide a circlo into five equal parts, having the same area, 4. Divide a line into seven equal parts, 5. Draw a Gothic trefoil. In the mechanical, architectural, and landscape classes large copies were set before the pupils, who were required to copy on a roduoed scalei The awards will be made and the prizes distributed at a public meeting to be held at the Trades-hall on Friday ovening next. Wé understand that the drawings of the pupils are to be exhibited at the Trades-hall on Friday next, before the meeting.
The Navigation Board held an inquiry yes* terday into the causes of tho collision between
the schooner Pioneer and tho barque Sylphidej
which ocenrred near the Heads on the lOtn inst. Both vessels entered the Heads on that date about the same time, the Pioneer a little ahead. After being passed by the healtu
officerjtheschçoner continued hor coarse, steer[
¡og for the black buoy eastward of the Swan Spit. The barque was then to westward ot the other vessel, going between the buoy and the Swan Spit, and the Pioneer approaching the buoy followed in heT woko. The captain of the Pioneer seeing that a collision was probable, put her helm down and hailed the barque, the captain of winch also ordered the helm to be put down, but his vessel struck the schooner amidships, doing conl
siderable damage. About 10 minutes elapsed before tbe vessels could be cleared. After considering the evidence, the board décidée that the collision was occasioned by an erro: of judgment on the part of the master of thi Sylphide (Captain Garnock), bat they ac quitted him of any wilful neglect.
A preliminary meeting of the property holders in Carlton was held at the Lygoi Hotel yesterday evening, for the purpose of op posing the application and protesting agains tbe granting of the reserve fronting M 'Kenzie street, or any portion of it, for use as a situ for a Children's Hospital. The meeting wa: largely attended, and a committee was ap pointed, and other steps wore taken to carr] out the object thereof.
The monthly meeting of the council of thi National Agricultural Society took plaw yesterday, at its offices, Bourke-street west The Hon. Robert Simson, "president of thi society, took the chair. There was a ful attendance of members. The chief businesi
of the meeting arose out of the resignation bj' Mr.1- Munro of the office of secretary. His resignation was accepted, and a month's salary was voted him. The council proceeded to consider what steps should be taken to fil the vacancy, and it was resolved that applied, tiona bo received up to the 25th inst. At adjournment of the council then took plací to Friday next.
We learn that Mr. Robert M'Dougall, thi well-known shorthorn brooder, has sold through Messrs, Powers, Butherford. and Co, of this city, his famous prize bull, Robb Hood, to Mr. M. H. Devlin, of Oak-hill, Waggi Wagga, New South Wales, for tho sum o¡ 1,000 guineas, the highest figure, we believe
ever poid for bull or cow in the Southerij Hemisphere. Hobin Hood's career has been (j
series of successes. As a calf he was first shown
at Oxford in 1870, and also at the Yorkshire
show, at Wakefield, tho two best shows foi shorthorn cattle in the world. In Victoria] in 1871, ho took first prizo os a two-year-old al Geelong, Kyneton, and Melbourne ; he was also the champion bull at the show of the National Agricultural Society last Novembor,1 so that he has never boon beaton. -Mr. Devlin may be congratulated on his spirited pur chase. Robin Hood will noxt week stand foi a few days at Kirk's Bazaar, to allow the publia an opportunity of inspecting his pro portions.
Art, in relation to the ornamentation of
buildings, was the subject of a lecturo de] livered at the Technological Museum yosteri day evening, by Mr. D. O'Donovau. HeJ
commenced by referring, as an example of correct art, to the wonderful buildings
which adorned Venice, and which still at]
trncted tho admiration of the world. After describing the appearance of the renowned
Church of St. Mark, the Ducal Palace, ancj
other magnificent structures in which tho
beauties of architecture, heightened by tastej ful ornamentation, were 'oxhibited, he asked bis audience to look, at the picture of Mel-i bourne, with its pretentiously ugly build-j
ings, its rows of staring shops and Haunt- ing signboards. ' Ornamentation, he pointed out, did not constat in the richness of the material used, ,but in, its right and proper application. It should bo earned out in accordance with the general design of the buildipg ; nothing should be the resutt of hazard, and nothing should be out of place.1 Lavish ornamentation was an enoumbrance,1 and nothing expressed more clearly tho1 de-
clino of art than the excess of embellishment^ Ornamentation was of two kinds, natural and ccnrentional, but in both the necessity was recognised of taking nature as the pattern,1 the difference lying in the treatment. He dwelt at some length upon the importance of a proper appreciation of this truth, and instanced many ways in which nature might
act as a guide to art. Ile urged the desira- bility of a strict attention to truth in art, and condemned the many de- ceits in architecture and ornamentation, which he said were in no place more common than in the British empire. He admitted that there might be a legitimate use of stucco, plaster, and painting, when there was no attempt at deception, but the practice of in- troducing mock substances into architecture he strongly reprobated. He alluded to the
dictum that no beauty of form or ornamenta-
tion was perfect that did not contain the
element of repose, and concluded an interest-
ing lecture by describing briefly the uses of colouring in decorative art. The attendance was not numerous. '
A case showing the difficulties which dis- charged prisoners willing to lead an honest life may encounter was brought under the notice of the City Bench yesterday. A strong, intelligent youth, named Henry Allen, was charged with embezzling the money of his employer, James Bussell, a marketgardener at East Brighton. Bussell stated that be engaged the boy at Gs. a week, and sent hitit to sell loads of produce in town. The lad was in his employ from the 13th May to thp 6th July, and kept Ms. which he had received for a load of produce. He also kept Gs., which, he bad received for another load. Russell knew that the young man had been in gaol once before, and had known him before that. Hb met the prisoner at the market one morning and engaged him, as the prisoner said he was starving and wanted to get something tb do. The lad was a good tnarketgardenor, and worked very well. No evidence was called to support the prosecutor's testimony as tb the money having been embezzled. The boy made a statement to the effect that he went to the prosecutor's place, intending to be honest, though the prosecutor had confessed to him that no servant was able to stop long with him. He (prisoner) had to sleep in a most comfortless place, and never received a penny of his wages though 'ho asked for money several times. He had stopped out late with tho cart to induce the prosecutor to discharge him, but he could neither get his discbarge nor his pay. If he had got his pay he would have served the mau well, bnt could not do without at least a little money. The Bench said that tho manner in which his master had behaved did not justify the lad in embezzling the money. The prisoner was sent to gaol for one month. As the boy was seven weeks in the employment of Bussell, 42s. would be due to him. If hi embezzled 20s. as stated, his master, paying no wages, still gained 22s., unless that amount was made up by the cost of some tobacco and things which he said the lad got and had put
down to the master's account.
A meeting of gentlemen desirous of esto« Jriishing a Soa-bathing Company, for the ^erection of baths at Emerald hill, was held lost night, at the local Council Chamber, the mayor (Dr. Sturt) in the chair. It was stated that the proposal was to have a capital of £2,600, in shares of £1 each, colls not to ex- ceed 10 par cent, per month. A provisional committee was appointed, consisting of Dr Sturt, Messrs. Stead, Gillespie, Watson, Jen kins, Shaw, Ford, Mulcahy, Krone, Foote Arnold, lilla, Ford, Ferguson, Parry, J. Eller ker, W. Ellerker, Haim, Hull, Cox, Crooke Bayson, Fordyce, and Druse, with in?
structions to alter and perfect a draft pro]
spectus submitted. It having been stated
that the 'strip of beach on which it was pro]
posed to establish the baths was proclaimed a reserve, and vested in the local borough council, an understanding was arrived at
that the council should bo communicated^
witb, in order that it might bo ascertained whether the company and the council could
work amicably together. j
We are informed that Mr. W. H. Treen, of Melbourne, has been elected an honorary
member of the California Horticultural So]
ciety, and also a corresponding member of the society. The Parisian gold medal has been awarded to Mr. Treen for his researches, into and essay upon the diseases affecting the apple. j
A young woman named Elizabeth Grossing] ham was charged at the City Court Ias<{
Tuesday with "insulting behaviour," and it was stated that she was believed to be insaneJ It was explained that she had spoken to soma one in the street complaining that poison had!
been given to her in tea. She was taken to the hospital, where she was declared not to
be suffering from the effects of any poisonJ After that she was taken to the watch! house, and it was found that she had been: stopping in Stephen-street. The person of the house stated that she had been stopping at his place three days, and had complained of being poisoned. The woman Btated that she had
come from Tasmania, where her family word very well off, and that she had been staying two or three weeks at the house of n baker named Sim, at Brighton. The police magistrate directed inquiries td
bo made at Brighton, and remanded
her till yesterday. Yesterday she was| again brought up, and a certificate from Drj
M'Crea declaring her tobe insane was handed,
to the Bench, A second doctor then examined her, and also declared her to be insane. The Bench sent the woman to tho Yarra Bend Lunatic Asylum. Nothing was said as to the result of the inquiries at Brighton, though the time should have been sufficient to enable the police to lind a person whose name waa given. As the young woman appeared to bave boen well brought up and educated, it would be well that further inquiries should be made, as she may have friends looking foi her. An advertisement whioh appears under the head of Public Notices, iu our issue oi to-day, probably refers to her.
The funds in the poor box at the City Cour! aro at present at so low au ebb that Mr, Sturt, P.M., has requested us to intimate that donations will be thankfully received, Mr. Sturt has opportunities which are no1 available to everyone for deciding between deserving and undeserving cases. ' '
The boys attending the Young Traders' Night School in Latrobe-street east were entertained by Mr. EL Beauchamp at hie rooms in Collins street last evening. The school was established some time ago for the purpose of affording somo instruction to the boys engaged in earning a livelihood by the sale of 'matches and the vending of news- papers, &c and it has prospered very well. The average attendance is between 70 and 80, and the boys are taught reading, writing, arithmetic, drill, and singing, by Mr. G, W. Williamson, the head'master of 'the Nelson, who is assisted every evening bj one member of the committee. Mr. Beau champ has been in the habit of givinf the children occasional treats similar to th< one last night, as an oncouragement to thou to persevero in a course of' 'good behaviour and to show tbem that there are persons wh< take an interest in their welfare and happi ness. Upwards of 1120 boys sat down to toa and after the repast,' Mr. Lloyd exhibited, t< their intense gratification, a'numbúr of fini dissolving views, illustrative of incidents tua occurred at Paris during tho late wor. Durini the evening the boys sang several tunes to th
harmonium.
A roan named John Shenfield, 50 years o age, and a brickmaker by trade, three year since disappeared from a hut among th Stoney Bises between Stoneyford and Lab Corangamite. He had gone to the hut witl the view of snaking off the effects of a drunkei spree, and after a restless night, got up an' left the hut in a state of nudity, and was no again heard of, although a search was mad by Constable Kulan and some residents fo several days. The remains lately found in th ranges, and on which on inquiry was hold few days ORO, are now confidently believed t
be those of this man.
Ths metropolitan football ground will be occupied this afternoon by a match between the Richmond and East Melbourne Clubs for the Junior Cup. The following matches are also
arranged :-South Yarra v. Carlton, at South Yarra ; Balaclava v. East St. Kilda, at St. Kilda ; Collingwood v. Southern, for Junior
Cup, in Fawkner-park ; Montague v. Rich-
mond, in Richmond-paddock ; Imperial v. St. Vincent, ground behind the barracks ; Studley,
park v. Williamstown, in Studley-park ; Clyde v Star of Collingwood, in University paddock;
and employés of Messrs. Mason, Firth, and Co-
v. Clarson and Massina, in the Richmond-
paddock.
The aquatic sports at the Albert-park Lagoon will be moro attractive than usual this afternoon. Three events have beon pror vided. First there is to be a skiff race, thoa tbe yacht race, and thirdly a dingy racel
The first event is to be started at 2 o'clock. '
As an instance of the rapidity with which rabbits have increased and multiplied in the
colony, Mr. Barker, who contracted for dis- posing of those at Barwon-park, Winchelsea! has, with assistance, killed 22,700, and sent them to market, since the 14th March last. '
Another case showing the dosirability of a compulsory system of education is instanced by tho correspondent of a common school near Geelong, who has written a statoinont of facts to a local journal. Within half a mile of
the school with which he is identified, d j
family of seven sons wore brought up without the slightest pains being taken by the parents, even to teach them the alphabet. Several times he went to thom, but they pleaded poverty, and he thereupon met their objec- tions by offering to place their ohildren on the free list. The parents became indig- nant at the suggestion of having their children treated as paupers, and disclosed their true motives-they found it more
profitable to occupy the time that would be)
do voted to school dutios by sending their sons to Geelong with firewood, for which 15s. to 20s, per load could be obtained. The children grew up to be young men, ignorant of even the rudiments of an English education. Ashamed of their condition, they betook thomselves recently to a night-school, where
they have been able to make only slight pro[
gress, as their dutios id various parts of the district interfere with their regular1 attend- ance. Another family residing close alongside the school is described to be in an almost similar position. f
A proof of the increased value of property in Geelong has been afforded within the last fews days. Mr. Wm. Down has been offered £100 per foot for 40ft. frontage to Moorabool street, with the buildings thereon, and has also received ' an offer to lease the same upon favourable terms. The owner of another property in 'tho same neighbourhood, pur- chased 12 months since, for £2,000, has been
offered £3,000, but declined. v ' j
The ordinary half yearly meeting of the shareholders in the Victorian Woollen and Cloth Manufacturing Company (limited) was
held at the town-hall, Geelong, last evening.
Mr. W. F. Ducker, mayor of the town, occu- pied the chair. The directors' report and balance-sheet, as already published, were read by Mr. J. Anderson, secretary. The chairman, in congratulating the shareholders upon the
satisfactory results of the last half-year's
proceedings, and the success which had attended the operations of the company from its commencement, moved that the report and balance-sheet be received and adopted. This was seconded by Mr. Cakebread, and
carried. In accordance with the recommenda-
tion of the directors, it was moved by Mr.
Heath, seconded by Mr. Goodwin, and carried, that a dividend at the rate of 7 per cent, be declared. Mr. Cakebread moved, also, in accordance with the report, that £1,000 be transferred to wear and-tear account
for the purpose of purchasing a new engine. This was seconded by Mr.Cowan, and carried. Messrs. W. F. Ducker (chairman) and Robert Stratford were unanimously re-elected as
directors.
" It will be a grievous disappointment toj
our dairy farmers and others in this district,"! sn;B the Kyneton Guardian, " to learn that tho experiment made by the Kyneton AgriJ cultural Association some six months ago, to|
encourage the preparation of butter for OXH port, has resulted most discouragingly. In spite of the care taken in preparing and pack- ing the butter, it arrived home in such bad, condition that the gentlemen to whoso critical
judgment it was submitted declined to1 attempt anything like a classification of quality, asserting that they had known 'Aus- tralian butter on which no pains in packing was bestowed come to hand in much botter condition and quality.' The butter was sold by auction on May 17, the highest price realised being 40s. 9d. per cwt. The other lots realised from 39s. 9d. to 40s. Cd. It is due to Messrs. Bright Brothers, of Mel- bourne, through whom the shipment was made, and their Liverpool and London representativos, to say that tboy all appeared to have entered very heartily into the spirit in which the experiment was m ado, and to have exerted themselves to insure its suc- cess."
A very edifying scene took place at the last meeting of the Echuca* Borough Council. A discussion \yas proceeding as to tho proprioty of doing somothing to celebrate the establish, ment of telegraphic communication with Europe, when, according to the Riverine Herald, the following occurred :-" Councillor Shackell said he would forfeit his seat if action was not taken by some publia body. Councillor Taylor at this stage called Coun- cillor Shackell an ass, and Councillor Shao kell, after returning the compliment, and the interchange waxing very warm, Councillor Shackell said that they wanted a better mayor to keep order, and referred moro particularly to Councillor Taylor's state of inebriety. The mayor said that if the council wonld instruct him he would undoubtedly proceed against Councillor Taylor in the police court. That was tho proper conrse to pursuo, and he (the mayor) bad advised it before. Councillor Taylor.-'I beg to move, Mr. Mayor, that you be instructed to summon mo to the police court* (Roars of laughter.) The mayor. ' There is no doubt about it, drunken men should not be allowed to ait at this tablo. Councillor Taylor.-'Anyone who says se states what is not true.' Tho council then broke up," >
Nothing definite appears to have been yoi decided with regard to the Launceston,and Western Railway, which recently stopped running in consoquonco of the inability of the company to meet their engagements. Thi Government proposes to taka over the lino but the shareholders wish to attach oonditioni to the bargain which it ishardly likely willbi
accepted. At a meeting held on the(8th just. we iearn from tbejLaunceston^Examiner,*i resolution was passed in which, the share holders deolared their readiness to hand ovoi the railway to the Government " on conditioi that tho shareholders were1 refunded thi amount subscribed by thom ; that all salario. of officials now due and other liabilities of th< company were paid, and a full release givei to tbe shareholders and ratepayers in tho Tail way district for any arrears of interest! sup posed to be payable by thom on the railwa:
bondB."
In a despatch to Mr, Du Cane on th subject of the act to redu> a the salary1 o future Governors of Tasmania! tho Earl o Kimberley says :-" Taking into considers tion all the circumstances of the colony,
shall be prepared to advise Her1 Mojosty t assent to this act on' Icarninfj' that tho Tas maniaii Legislature will adopt the reasonabl arrangement now established in many colo nies' 'of furnishing and equipping the Go -vernment-house throughout, and bhargin the Govornor (if the Parliament think fit t do so) a moderate annual sum, calculate with reforence to the cost of the furniture an other articles supplied to the Governor, wh would be expected to surrender every thin as received by him', a reasonable allowam I being made for such depreciation in conditio 1 as with ordinary caro is unavoidable. TI
Governor's payment on this account might perhaps 'be fixed 'at £100 per annum; and possibly the Parliament > would not think it worth while "'to demand it. The cost and 'inconvenience to which an in* coming Governor is subjected by having to provide furniture, plate, &c, for a house wbioh he is to occupy for a very limited period, and the further loss to which he is subjected in removing or selling the same articles on his departure, constitute a heavy charge upon a Governor's means ; and if the salary of the Governors of Tasmania is considerably re- duced as proposed, it would seem only reason- able that he should be relieved from all contingent outlay. I assume that the colonial 'Legislature has fully considered the fact that a future Governor on a reduced salary will be unable to expend as much as his predecessors in maintaining the diguity and hospitalities of his position, and will bo satisfied that he should live in a style propor- tioned to his income."
Amongst the items of intelligence contained in the recent Tasmanian papers aro the following:--"Rogerson, messenger to their Honours the Judges, committed suicide at Hobart Town on Monday morning. He threw himself into the Derwent between 9 and 10 o'clock, and was taken out of the river by the overseer of the prison gang, Rogerson was not then quite dead, but he soon afterwards expired. He left a letter on one of the judge's tables intimating that he was going to poison himself. A razor was found in his pocket Deceased has left a widow and two children. At Longford, the same morning, the boiler of the Emerald Mill-Mr. H. B. Nickolls's burst,1 seriously injuring three persons, Mr. Ronald Saltmarsh, Joseph Richards, and Samuel Carnow. The damage done was extensive, the engine-house being a complete
wreck.
Regarding the Tasmanian main line of railway the Hobart Town Mercury has the following :-" There are now two engineers and 35 men engaged in surveying the route for the main line, and the survey has ben all completed with the exception of about 20 miles, on which the surveying parties are now occupied. The rails and other material will, on their arrival, be at once used in laying down a third rail on the Launceston and Deloraine railway, from Launceston to Evandale, so as to adapt it for the locomotives and rolling stock, which will be constructed in conformity with the narrow gauge of the main line, and as soon as the third rail has been laid down, the two locomotives will be brought into use. Five hundred skilled labourers have been sent for to come out direct to Hobart Town, and they are expected to arrive here about the middle or end of October. These are to be followed as soon as convenient by 1,000 others, a portion of whom will be skilled labourers from Germany.
With reference to the theory advanced by certain medical men that vaccination is not only a preventive but a cure for small-pox,
the British Medical Journal of May 4
publishes a report which goes to show that vaccination after the disease of small-pox has been contracted is of little avail. Out of six
patients suffering from small-pox who had been vaccinated in the Hampstead Hospital three died, one had a very severe attack, and in two instances the disease "aborted," i e. the eruption did not proceed beyond the vesicular stage, and the constitutional symptoms disappeared. With regard to these two instances, however, similarly favourable results were noticed in the case of patients admitted about
the same time, and who were not
vaccinated.
The Natal Colonist writes:--"A race meeting is advertised to take place at the Diamond fields, and from all accounts will be the richest in stakes that has ever been held in South Africa. From a private letter we leam that £920 was paid for the monopoly of
the site for a grand stand, and that on the day following the purchase no less than 3,000 tickets at a guinea apiece were sold."
A shocking tale of sufferings at sea is told by the Louisville Ledger, which says ¡-" The Holland arrived at Now York on the 24th of March (from what port is not stated) after a long and boisterous trip, with 550 passengers on board, being at least 200 more than she bad accommodations for. The vessel had been at sea but a few days when it was dis- covered the I stock of provisions was very light. ~In less than a weok all the flour, potatoes, and other vegetables wero exhausted' and the passongers were reduced to a diet of ship biscuit ¿nd horse beef,1 and this of the poorest quality, and doled out in the smallest portions. Starvation began to stare the wretched emigrants in the face, although the ship's officers and crow seemed to havo plonty of good' and hoalthy food. To all appeals for a fair division of this food among the emigrants,-the -officers and crew only an. swered with curses and blows. Sickness broke out among the emigrants, and in their despe- ration some of thom made an effort to socure more food, hut were knockod down and kicked and beaten by the crew. Many of these miserablo poople-men, women, and children-were exposed on dook to the cold, and were badly frozen. To such a dogroo of starvation were these emigrants reduced, that when thoir scanty allowance of food was issued to thom, they had to fight for its posses- sion, the desperation of tho half-starved passengers, under the impulse of self-preserva- tion, leading them to try to take by force from the weakest their share of the wretched food. ' Tho horso beef was absolutely half rotten, and its stench almost stifling, yet the emigrants were forced to oat it to save thom from the horrible death by starvation. The limbs of many women and children, as woll as those of a number of mon) wero so soveroly frozen that in many cases amputation will be necessary. A roport of the sufferings ol these emigrants was made to the authorities in New York." '
Tho beautiful comedy of " School " was performèaat'St. George's Hall yeatordaj evening, fpr the last time, after a mostsuc' cessful-run of five weeks. Tho hall wat densely crowded. This ovening n non comedy, called "Margery Daw," will be per formed; in which both Miss Hattio Sheppard«: and Miss Carey will appear. I '
The "Octoroon" was performed last night al the Polytechnic hall for the last time. There was a very good attendance ' This evening e new piece will bo performod, called "The Watch-dog of the Walalnghams."
The Independent and Presbyterian conara gations att St. Kilda hold 'a United Bible Society service to-morrow evening, at half-past C, at the Presbyterian Church.
_A lecture was delivered on Thursday oven, ing in tho Methodist Free Church, Richmond, hy the Rev. A M. Henderson, of Collins-strool -Congregational Church, on "Naturo and Man," the Rev. S. U. Rothwell occupying th< chair. , '
~We aro requested to draw attention to the second list of donations to the Perry Scholar Bhip, Which will be found in our advertisinj columns this morning. . '
Tho Collingwood police require au ownoi for some carpenter's tools found in the posses sion of two young men named William Fitz gerald and William Smith; i apprehended or suspicion of stealing them» ¡.Tho tools, whiol are nearly new, comprise a -jack plane, tw< smooth planes, a handsaw, and an oilstono.
Tho second I annual exhibition of th< Canary.*ondnPigeon Sociotyiwill bo held oi the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of next month, inthi news Ter_poranco»balI| RuBaoll-atToet It i confidently anticipated by < tho society tha thiswiii'be tho best exhibition of > the kim yet'held hero, and every effortiwill be madi to render it asi attractive as possible i
? The eighth monthly meeting of thoStandari Building and Investment Society was held a the society's offices on ? Wednesday evening Mr. J. Noone in the «hair. The receipts fo tho month wero reported to havo been £502 Fourteen sharos wore sold at'an avorag premium of <£510s. tid. per share. .?
The seventy-second monthly meeting o the Freemasons' Building and Investmori fociety was bold on Tuesday evening. Mi
ames Smith, president of the society, oc cupiod the chair. A few shares wero dispose
oí at nominal premiums, and Iß shares were balloted. Messrs. R. Windridge and D.
Elder were appointed to audit the society's accounts for the past year, and office-bearer« for tho ensuing year were nominated, A requisition for a new rule was road by tho chairman, which is to be taken into con« sideration at a special meeting to be held on tbo 13th prox.
The members of the Williamstown branch of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers celebrated their tenth anniversary last even- ing at Mr. Rowland's Pier Hotel, by a dinner. There wero between 00 and 70 members present, and a very enjoyable evening waar spent. 'The secretary (Mr. Cooke) read the last annual report of the parent society, by which it appeared tliat'a sum of £109,809 16J. lid. had been paid away for benefits last yoar, and that the society was cloaring over £1000 per week.
In tho paragraph in yesterday's issue re- ferring to the Medical Board resignations, the word vacated" was inadvertently substituted for "resented." Tho second and third sentences should have run thus :--All the members of the Medical Board of Victoria, with the exception of the Government repre- sentative, Dr. M'Croa, havo resigned oflico ia consequence of the appointments mado by Mr. Duffy to supply the vacancy occasioned by the death of Dr. Stewart. And these appoint- ments thus resented by the five representatives of the profession were gazetted on the 0th of Juno, tho Ministry having tendered their resignation three days previously.
The usual monthly meeting of the com- mittee of management of the Melbourne Sailors' Home was hold at the institution on Wednesday, the 10th inst., when the follow- ing members wero present : - Mr. James Lorimor (in tho chair), Messrs. Pigott and Siddeley. The superintendent reported that 120 seamon had entered and 124 left tho insti- tution during the month. The daily avoroge had been 63. On the 8th and 9th the whole of tbo accommodation was taken up, Seamea had doposited £45011s. for safe keeping, and had withdrawn £389 14s. Od. A harmonium had been purchased, to be used in the services held at the institution. The monthly accounts were passod for payment.
Tho usual weekly meeting of the com- mittee of management of the Immigrants' Aid Society was hold yesterday. Present Messrs. Griffiths, Oliphant,>. 'Dickson, 'and Sayce, who took the chair. Tbe state of the home was reported as follows ¡-Number remaining lost week, 4C2 ; admitted since, 192 ; discharged, 177 : died., 1 (William 'Fnlconor, aged C2 years, native of Nairn ; causo of death, debility and age); remaining, 470, comprising 202 men, 07 women, and 117 children. At tbe same time last year there were 268 men, 95 women, and 84 children. Of tho mon, 94 are sick or infirm, 20 stone-breaking, 139 oakum picking, &a, and 9 working outside. Of the womon, 14 are sick'or infirm, 9 in the laundry, 2 at needlework, 70 hair-teasing, &c, and 2 working out. Outdoor relief has been given to 24 families, or 95 individuals, on presenting tho reliof cards of the society.
An event of an interesting nature occurred on Thursday afternoon, in connexion with tbn Richmond branch of the Hornbrook Ragged Schools. This was the presentation of a handsome clock to the toachor who has presided over the Cromóme school for upwards of three years. This teacher has boon so Constantin visiting the poor, attending to the sick, and so assiduous in her efforts to promote the cause of this dosorving charity, that the local committee de- cided upon giving her somo substantial mark of their appreciation prior to'kor de- parture for New Zoalaud. During Mrs. Tapson's term of office, tho averago daily atttondance of children has boen between about 40 and CO, all of whom havo boen educated without any exponse connected with the state. This charity has proved itself, before now, to bo of most excellont value to til oso parents who cannot afford other means of paying the oxpenso of even tbo rudiments of oitlior roligious procopts or education of any sort >? Ino local treasurer, Mrs.'Alfred Woolley, in a few appropriate romarks, made the presentation, which bore the following inscription :-" Presented to Mrs. Tapson, by the ladies of the committee of the Free Scripture School, Cremorne-street, Richmond, July, 1872.