Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Monday 19 August 1861, page 4


MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 1861,

Mr. IJEALES ttt dinner, surrounded by the demooracy of Williamstown, is a I most festivous and exhilarating spec

taolo. It is in a sicno uko this that a popular Minister finds his host reward. It is the most legitimate, while it is the least expensive triumph, which can bo earned by the Buooessful politioian. And Williamstown had dono the thing handsomely on this ooeasion. Williams-town was equal to itself and its groat 'destinies, on this happy and auspi-cious day. The Opposition beer had been drunk, and tho Opposition ships had been spoiled ; and tho democracy had the double triumph of roturning Mr. VERDON and consuming the money of Mr. DJS PASS. Under the mingled in-fluence of success-and syrup, what wonder that oven themodestheartofMr.H'EATJíS should havo swelled with vanity whon -he-looked ovor that proud scene-tho threo hundred guests, the bannor with the enthusiastic legend, " Victoria and " tho "People's Ministry," tho band of music with its neat and appropriate seleotion of airs, the beaming coun-tenances of tho Postmastei-Gencral and the Commissioner of Mines, with Mr.

THOMAS MASON, J.P., calmly pre-

siding.

If over there was a firent day for Wil-liamstown, wo must believe it to havo been this ; and, wo repeat, if Mr. BEALES was vaiu of the ocoasion, tho vanity was pardonable. If Mr. BEALES was intoxicated (strictly in a figurative sense) with the tributo thus nobly paid to his genius and character, there is somo exouso for a weakness so amiable. HSfofc only on his own account, but for tho sake of tho electors of Williams-town, whoso virtuo, it appears, was se-verely tried-by Melbourne money and tho meroantilo influence, it was a matter of prido that a factious Opposition had been defeated, and that the only true friends of tho people had beon re-turned to omeo with greater power than ever. Mr. IIEALES'S view of the situa-tion is full of modesty. The Argus, Hko tho Opposition, it appears, has all aloDg mistakon its men. The ELCQICS Ministry, although plnoed in office, by the admission of tho Chief Seorotary, only " to fill a gap, and oloar tho way 11 for other persons," either fitted that gap eo well, or had so improved in their own estimation, that they dotormined to stay whero they were. Thoy discovered that " men of mind and | " of standing," like tho loaders of tho Opposition, were not the men to govern tho oountry ; and that tho very oppo-site typo of men was wanted.

To this very candid and oonvivial ex-position of tho conduot of the Hcales Ministry, wo have not inuoh to object. If we have not calculated on tho sort of mon wanted by Victoria for her governi nient, wo must confess to have beon a 1 good deal onlightcned during the pro-gress of theso elections. If we havo made the mistake of supposing that " men of mind and standing" wero necessary to our political system, wo stand under the fullest correction. Wo are sufficiently refuted by suoh instances s s Messrs. WEEKES, O'CONNOR, NIXON, T)ENOyAN,and the dozen other obsouritice whom the Beales programme has elevated into legislators. We havo boon mistaken in nothing moro than in the opinions of Mr. BEALES himself, who, twolvo months ago, being a stickler for tho rights ol property, nov? oomes out as tho cbam pion of tho occupation licenoeB-who having opposed every liberal prinoiph in the" Land Act, now finds it no liberal enough for his tastes-who se his face against payment of membere and now believes that nothing less wil

save the oountry-who was onoo a pro-tectionist, and is now neither ono thing nor the other-«who is for taxing bread-stuff*, and yet against any burden on tho necessities of life.

The mistake is not mororBignal than when the Williamstown Band struck up " Jolly red nose " to tho toast of

" Tho Ministors." In theso convivial moments, neither musicians nor minis-ters can bo brought to a rigid aooount for anything thoy may havo said or sung; and if Mr. IIEALES was moro than usually incoherent this evenI ing, the hcBpitalities of Williamstown must bear tho blame. How much causo Mr. ITEALES has to triumph will, perhaps, be boat seen in the sequel. Given certain condi-tions, no triumph was so easy to any Ministry. If tho objcot was simply to kcop in office and to turn a minority into o majority, the result is, after all, not very surprising. Wo ven-turo to predict that tbo next " pco" pie's Ministry" will oven improve

on Mcs-rs. BROOKE and HEALES. Tho only sacrifices required arc of honour, truth, and oonHistonoy. All that is wanted to aeouro a triumph even moro brilliant than that of Mr. HEALES, is to ignore ovorj consideration of justioc-to violado all political principles, and all foregone professions-to look only to tho présent hour, and to promise everythingtoeverybody. Tho cost to thooounttj if j of course not to bo spoken of, when tb'j dofeat of a " factious Opposition" ia concerned. Tho degradation of PaiiiaImontary government-tho disgrace of

universal suffrage-tho corruption of tho

office of representative-tho universal restlessness, disorder, and despair, in-duced by such a triumph, are, of oourso. not to bo seti~nr<tho soale «gainst the BuBnoiö ¿.ippincss of seeing Mr. HEALES' as Chief Secretary, ruliDg a salaried Parliament through a majority of bar-bers, porters, and nightmen.

Speaking of the rival commercial systems whioh aro now contending in the world's favour and practice, like the good and evil influences in the cosmogony of ZOROASTER, a thinker of acknow-ledged eminence, has made this compari-son :-" Protection oonoentratcs on a "given point the good which it effects, " and disbibules through the mass the " evil whioh it inflicta ; whilo tho " case is precisely tho contrary with " regard to free trade." In othor words, ilo establish by the former system a par-ticular class of producers, the consumers, who aro not limited to a class, aro oompolled to bear the burden. Suah ar-rangement manifestly is unequal and unjust;,' and to render it otherwise you

should e/stend the protective shield over

all olasseb'-over tho agriculturist as wall as the ar razan, and over the worker with tho braiiï as well as tho worker with the hand. But to thus place all scotions of tho ptsblio on tho samo footing of favour wou'd need a very comprehensivo tariff indeed',- and as tbo writer we havo already quoted observes -" Customs duties ought not1 to bo in " tho hands of producers an insdvument " of reciprocal rapine." Protection, if it is to bo justice, should not bo confined to a robbing ofPETEittopay PAUL-; but should likewise include a return of the compliment on the part of PAUL to PETER, and so havo atleast the merit of a balanoo of spoliation. But, say tho ad-vocates of a chango in our tariff, you must not look at tho subject in this abstract and general way: you must give it looal application ; and if by protective duties on certain articles you create industries not hore at present, the public at largo will bo benefited, not merely a particular class. Now, we presumo the common weal is the into-rest of everybody who constitutes a unit of the pubho, and is just as much tho interest of the man who argues for free trade ns of him who pleads for pro-tection. Wo aro OÊL in tho samo boat ; wo aro all desirous of an industrial aotivity and a national prosperity, in which, as residents, each would havo his share. Tho difference between us is as to tho means, not the end; and for our part, wo must bo par-doned for believing the dictates and op-portunities of natural circumstances far safer and moro reliablo means than any to bo found in tho popularity-hunting schemes of tho Government of tho hour,

or in the desires of particular sections of oraftsmen who don't happen to find scope in a new country for their re-spective trades, or in the crude suggestions of theorists who, as scioccc won't support them, must fall back on precedent, and would havo us agree that aq the world was addicted to a narrow trade policy onco, tho thing should bo similarly acceptable in a Bri-tish colony in tho nineteenth century. Wo would liko to know ia tho theorist astride on his hobby, the Minister solioitous to gratify tho cry of tho moment, or the tradesman anxious to see his par-ticular occupation uppermost, a very trustworthy, not [to say infallible guide, on tho subject of changes which would touch tho interests of all of us.

Which of thom, for example, is wiso enough to be able to say that tho particular industries ho asks us to pay for sotting up would take root after all, or guiranteo that af'-er over so much bolstering the special trades ho proposes to favour would not bo found to fado instead of flourish? I As ADAM SMITH has said in effect

protection doolaros to tho producer in what particular channel ho shall pro-duce, while it is wiser to leavo suoh 1 ohoico to the suggestion of natural cir-cumstances, for every man is anxious enough to find the right path and most profitable occupation for his labour. And M. BASTIAT remarks on tho samo topic-" Every man is " practically a good politioal economist " -produoing or exchanging as ho may " find it most advantageous to produce " or exchange." And when by " pro" teotion"' you interfere with this privi-lege, ho continues, " you conceive and " invent modes of noting whioh aro not " sanctioned by tho practico of any " living man. You. arc obliged to havo " recourse to power, beoauso, wishing " mon to produce that whioh they oould " buy moro advantageously, you make " thom give up an advantage." To liston to our protectionist agitators, one would imagino that publio prosperity if

a thing to be arranged of a forenoon, Uko tho details of a picnic, and to bo presented to tho country out and dry, like thoir own spooohos. But, unhappily, | tho secrets of magic aro unknown to

the nioàorn world, and new industries must bo oponed, not by Iho devico of empirics, or tho formal dooreo of Parlia-ment, but by individual bngacity and entorprizo. The attempt to subaidizo labour by a tariff would soon bo found as much of a mistako ai tho well-meant but short-lived schemo, after the French Revolution of 1848, of employing all spare hands in public ateliers. Suoh unscientific arrangements rest on an artificial basis, and, therefore, at the same timo that thoy are a burdon on tho taxpajer,' thoy oannot be depended on as pormanent by tho employes.

Horo at least, in a new oountry, we aro all worker?, all producers j and it is by production that any oountry, old or

now, flourishes. And, while it is our ' interest to really and wisoly encourage it in every possiblo way, it is aW our interest to allow no particular section of. producers to lay their fellows trader con-tribution for their own narrow and special behoofj for tluro is always a natural tendency to attempts of this kind. Bodies of men aro even moro selß3h in their policy than individuals ; and, as M. BASTIAT puts it, " tho pro" duccr, as such, only wishes for public " difhoulUos, wants, and obstacles, which " may inoreaso tho price of his com" tnoJity." And again: "In tho chp.-, " raotfr of producers, it must bo »lloved, [V each of us hasanti-sooial wi&Jiep. Are

wo wine-growers? Should Wo bo grieved if there were a frost affeot « ingall tho vines in tho w3

.exceptours?; Aro "wo' p-JgL

tors of «on-works ? Wo should <Je« fire that there was no other iron in «the market than that winch W0 "brought there, however much tho " publio might bo in want of it . aB¿ " precisely because this want was so "urgently felt, and so imperfectly " satisfied, wo should receive a hieh "price for our own iron. Aro wo " husbandmen ? Wo say lot bread bo "dear* that is to say, scarce, and " the agriculturist will flourish. Do " wo manufacture cotton goods ? Wo " desire to sell them at the prioo " most advantageous for us. Wo " would willingly' oonscnt that all rival " manufactures were prohibited ; and if " wo dare not express publicly this " wish, or pursuo the complote realiza« " lion of it with any chance of sucoesa " we would arrive at it in a certain "degreo by indirect means. For " example, by excluding foreign tissues, '.' in order to diminish the quantity in the " market, and to produce thulby tho em« "ploymcntofpower,andforourownbcne fit.thescaroityof clothing." Thowritor continues : " It follows thenoo that if " tho seoret wishes of each producer " wero realized, tho world would rapidly " rotrograde towards barbarism. Tho "sail would proscribo steam, rho oar " would proscribo tho sail, and so OD." On tho other hand, " when tlio buyer' "presents himself in the market, ho

I " desires to find it abundantly provided; I " that the seasons may be propitious to " the gathering in of the various pro" duoe ; that inventions more and moro " admirable may place within bia reaoh " a greater number of articles- of ne" oessity and of oomfort ; that bar" liers of every kind may fall."' In a word, " a radical antagonism " exists between the Boiler and the " buyer. Tho ono desires that tho " article in question may bo scarco-a " short supply at a high price; tho " other wishes it to abound-a largo " supply at a low prico." And why is any partioular section of producers to be allowed to fulfil tho natural stlûsh ten-dency M. BASTIAT speaks of, and to override by a protective system tho pub-lic interest ? " Is it to prove to us that " wo, as consumers, aio your property;, " that wo bolong to you body and soul; " that you havo an exolusivo right over " our Btomaohs and limbs j that you "may feed or olotho us at your own "-prices, whatever may be your unhkil" fulness or your rapacity ?" Wc com-mend these arguments of the great Frenoh economist to the attention of our

readers.

We learn with regret that another attempt to overturn a train on the Murray River Railway was made at an early hour yesterday morning, near Woodend, though fortunately it did not succeed. In this instance tho points near the Quarries (about a milo from Woodend) were tam-pered with during the night, tho screw of the connecting rod having been forced off with a chisel and hammer. The effect of this was, that when the pointsman shifted the points, one would remain open while the other closed, and that any engine crossing them towards Melbourne must be thrown off before a couple of yards of the line were travelled. The first train to pass toward Melbourne after this had been done was the four o'clock train from Woodend, and it must have been evident to tho perpetrators of the villany that in the darkness of the morning the engineer would not observe that the points were wrong, and that an accident would in-evitably occur. The pointsman was at his place as the train approached, and held tho points right, as he thought, but be had not exa-mined the connecting-rod and screw, and in a second or two more the engineer felt his engine jump, and knew that something was wrong. Luckily the train had been travelling slowly, and he was able to pull, up, almost at once, when it was found that the engine had jumped across tho siding rails onto those of the main lino, and that one or two of the carriages were off the rails. Matters were soon put to rights, and tho train reached its destination with- out further mishap. Bad as this attempt was, it was exceeded in villanous ingenuity by that made a few nights ago, and for the discovery of the authors of which a reward of £200 has been offered. In that instance the out-side portions of seven chairs were destroyed and thus a rail, was left in such a condition that the pressure from within by a passing engine or train would throw it out of its place, and, of course, endanger the safety of the whole train. It is highly creditable to tho police by whom tho line is patrolled, that the attempt was discovered, because the ordinary practice is to walk between the rails, so that both may be in-spected at once, and thus an injury to a chair on the outside is less likely to be observed than if it were on tho inside, while the engineer of a train, seeing the road clear before him, and therefore unsuspicious, would drive over the treacherous rail without exercising more than the ordinary caution, and possibly at a high rate of speed. But the more reckless and violent among the turn-outs have not confined themselves to at-tempts against tho lives of passengers and the

destruction of public property. On Friday afternoon a band of them, armed with sticks set upon the repairers near tho big cutting on tho Bolinda section, and before tho police could interfere, several of tho men were injured, and one of them-a foreigner named Cornelius was very severely beaten about the head and

face. Four of tho rioters were apprehended im-mediately afterwards by tho police, and sent to Melbourne. One of them, an Irishman named Patrick Tierney, has been identified by the in-jured man as tho person who assaulted him. On Saturday tlio prisoners wtae'orought up before the magislratos, and rcmaxd'ed for soven doys, bail being rofused. On th-ï*s*>*mo morning, tho wounded man was brought to îtT.oïbourno, and carried to the hospital, M boro be, voma*n" ¡n a yery critica| 6-ato> On Friday, noatj 'tl1B quarries, stones wcro thrown at two poHcerno-n, who wore on an ongino iinssing along the lin»*,, ono of whom waa struck on Iho head nnd 'knocked down. Theso overt nctB, coupled w\th the lato attempts to fire the stables bolongtrjR to Mr. Duxbury, show that tbero are somo desporato ruflians amongst tho turn-outs, Mi'L that thoy must bo dealt with in a determined spirit. It is not now a matter resting between tho contractors and theirjlabourers, but between the public and a mob, led by a few fellows who aro utterly reckless as lo what thoy do or incite others to do, and as to*what may bo tho conse-quences of their nots. Wo may add, that as soon as tho attempt to throw the train off tho lino yesterday was known in Woodend, a number of labourers, who bad been willing to work, but wero deterred by fear of thoir follows, proceeded .down tho linf*. and effected tho necessary repairs.

Tho offertory at St. Piter's Church yesterday was ia'aid of tho Itofugo, an institution tho clniir.e of whioh upon charity, although not fre* qu.on'tly brought beforo Iho publio, aro very great. Tlio Dormon was preached by tho Bev. IÍ. P. Ilandfkld, who stated that, more success had attended the efforts of tho friends to the Befuge than was generally supposed. A new

building is now in course of erection near the Melbourne Cemetery, tho house at present oc-cupied being jnadeguato to the requirements of ¿he institution,, ^ , ^, "

There was no pre-arranged foot-báll match in the Biohmond Paddock on Saturday,» but .owing to the fineness of tho afternoon, a sufficipnt number was entioed to tho reserve to make a .good scratch game. Tho fine woather during the last few days has bad a most beneficial effect upon tho now grasB on the Mclbourno and Rich-mond Cricket Grounds, and no fear oxiBts but that the turf will bo in' cicellont condition for tho summer campaign.

Mr. A. H. WoÖb dolivorod his second lee'uro on " The Ancient Philosophies and Bougions," in tbo Kow Athcnasum, on last Thursday even ins;. Tho weather being fine, a very fair audience was in attendance. , » <

In the course of the present week, tho sup-porters of Messrs. Graham Berry, Don, and Edwards, the newly-elected representatives for -Collingwood, will entertain thoso gentlemen, at a banquet to bo given in the National Hall. On Saturday evening a mooting was held at the National Hotel, at which a sub-committeo was oppointod to carry out tho nocessary arrange-ments. It ¡3 expected that about 300 persons will bo present, and wo UTO informed that some -members of tho Ministry will ho included in that

number.

At the usual ueckly meeting of the Committee of tho Immigrants' Aid Society, held on Satur -day, the superintendent reported tho state of the Homo to bo as follows :-Number of inmates, as -reported last week, 401; admitted sinco, OS; discharged, 63 ; total now in tho Home, 410 consisting of Benovolont Asylum cases, 25 ; children chargeablo to tho Government, 224; cases chargeable to the society, 107.

Tho North Melbourno Rifles will parado this -evening, at seven o'clock, in tho ordcrly-ioom.

It lins been reported for soino days that it is tho intontion of Ministers to place a cortnin -amount of railway debentures on the local market. Such a resolution has boen anived at, but tbo amount, tlio terms, and the manner in -which tbo proposition will bo carried out, aro elill undecided.

Tlio regulations under which unsold or unop propriatcd Ciown lands may bo taken up to an extent to form farms, at a low annual rent, will bo issued from tho Board of Land and Works .within the next few days.

Captain Tulloch, of tho Mercury, from Hobart Town, which arrived late on Saturday night, has favoured us with the following particulars of tho election of a Speaker for the Tasmanian Legisla-ture :-" House of Assombly, Tasmania, August 15, 18(51, First division for Speaker. Gregson, 13; Kermode, 13; Officer, 3. Second division, Mr. Kormodo retired. Officer, 15 ; Gregson, 11 ; majority for Officer, 4.

The usual sombro proceedings of tho Criminal Sessionb of tho Supremo Court wero on Saturday last somewhat varied by n prosecution for por jury, which to a great extent contained the elements of a capital farco. Tho prisoner tried was ono Michael Enright, nnd tho case amounted to this :-Enright was a bullock .driver at Kyneton, in which agricultural com-munity one Sheehan wns a lnbonror. Shee-han owed Enright X8, no3-n reasonable con-tingency-was unabloto pay. Shcehnn, more-over, had four bullocks and Enright two, whore -upon, to maka matters square, a bargain was entered into, whereby-according to one version of tho caso-Enright was to givo his two bullocks, and forgive tho debt of £S, in exchange for Sheelian's four bullocks. During tho examination of tho witnesses for the Crown, it vi as elicited that Enright had, over and above the afore-mentioncd "consideration," pro-mised to give Sheehan £12 for the four bullocks, and n witness was produced who profcEscd to remember that Enright actually offerod at the timo to givo an I O U for that amount. As if this was not enough to mako n jury dospair of deciding upon tho caso in tho ordinary fashion, two receipts wero produced in court, which it appeared wero signed whon tho abovo bargain was made. By theso it was declared that Sheohan hnd sold his four bullocks for £20, mid Enright his two bullocks for £10. Sheehan, however, had claimed" his ila at tho Kyneton Police Court, and En-right, in denying such a claim, was committed to take his trial for perjury. Mr. Birnio, in de-fending the prisoner, urged upon the jury that, considering bow excessively improbablo it was that any mau would havo rnado so bad a bargain lor his own interest, it was equally improlablo that Enright had really donoso, cr£io that somo misunderstanding had alisen, and Enright had not committed wilful and corrupt perjury. , Mr* Adamson, who replied for tho Crown, argued that, in consenting to KO bad a bargain, Enright had morely attempted to get somothing- no matter how little-for a bad debt. Tho receipts ho sub-mitted were explained by tho desire of both parties to pivo such a value to tho articles vended as would facilítalo tboir futuro sale. Tho

learned judge (Sir Redmond Barry) told the jury that if they could find tha prisoner guilty of wilful and corrupt perjury, they must havo clearer heads than ho had ; and tho jury so far accorded with his Honour's opinion as to acquit tho prisoner.

At tho Williamstown Polico Court on Saturday, Lioutenant Crawford and J. K. Froyer, Esq., J.P., presiding, Captain Bragg, of the ship Em-press of the Seas, was charged with breaches of the 24tb, 73rd, and 35th sections of tho Passengers Act, in so far as sufficient (ginee had not bcon allotted for an hospital, nor for all tho inter mediato and steerage passengers, whilo thoro had also been a deficient supply of fresh water during tho voyago. Mr. Macfarlane, immigration officer, prosecuted, and Mr, Read, solicitor, appeared for Captain Bragg. As re-gards the first ckargo, the magistrates, affor hearing the ovideneo of several witnesses, held it proved, and inflicted a fino of £5 nnd costs. Tho merits of the second charge wore theso :-A man named Jeremiah Collins was a steerage passenger by the ship, and on going on board at Liverpool ho had taken possession of a berth for himself. Tho berthing-master, however, deprived him of that berth, which had boen previously allotted to another passenger, and CollinB was provided with accommodation in tho hospital of tho ship. During tho passago, the hospital having been required for the sick, Collins was deprived of his berth there, without, as ho alloged, boing provided with or offered another, and for some timo he wns compelled to sloop on forms, on Iho deck, or in short any whoro ho could. On tho other hand it was contended that proper accommodation had been provided for him, of which ho refused to avail himself, saying " ho would not he shifted about in that way." A num-ber of witnesses wero examined.-?«) mid con., and . eventually tho Bench hold tho charge proved, and

awarded tho complainant £3 damages-tho da fondant to pay the costs of court. Tho third

charge-that of an'inadcquato supply of wator -was also gono into at somo length. Tho witnesses supporting tho complain did not entirely ogreo in their estimates of tho quantity of wnter Borved out individually during tho voyago j but all wero of opinion that it fell considerably short of tho quauli'y to which each passenger waa ontilled under tho Passongers Act. For tho defonco, tho evidence of tho fourth officer of tho ship, who served out the water for tho proatcr part of tho voyage, and the books which ho kept, showing tho quantity nllowed each day, wont to provo that the threo quarts of water for each individual pro-vided for under the'act, or nearly so, had been served out during Ino passage Tho caso then resolved itself into a question as to whether theso three quarts per day wero inclusive or exclusivo of tho hot water supplied to tho passengers in the shape of tea, &o,-Mr. Read, for tho defend-ant, holding tho former, and Lieutenant Craw-ford tho latter viow of the caso. Tho magistrates reserved thoir decision, in order that they might

more fully consider the point. A charge of im-proper conduct during the passage was then brought ngainst Mr. John Anderson, tho second "officer of tho ship, but there was no evidence whatever to support it, and consequently the charge fell to the ground. ' '

Tho three men-Carroll, Lewis, and Taylor charged with ft murderous assault at Nuggety Qully, near Redbank, on the night of tho 5th instant (an nccountof which has already appeared in 57ic Argus), havo been committed by Mr. Alley, Police Magistrate, for trial at tho Circuit Court to bo held at Ararat in September next.

A supplement to the Government Oazctto of Friday, published on Saturday, contains a lengthy address from the Wool Supply Association of tho Bradford and Halifax Ohamber of Commerce to " all persons interested in the growth of wools." Tho object of the address, which wo print olse nhero, is to increase the amount of attention given to tho cultivation of wools suitable for the English market, for which there is a growing and

unlimited demand.

The captain's parade and inspection of tho Melbourne division of artillery took placo, ac-cording to aunouncomont, on Saturday, preli-minary to a general inspection of the various companies of tbo regiment by Lieutenant Colonel Anderson, commanding. After a minute inspec-tion of tbo amis, accoutrements, and ololhing, Captain »Scott complimented tho members gene-rally on thoir very creditable appearance; anil, with reference to their rifles, pointed out. the oxtromo impoitanco of these being kept tho-roughly clean and in a serviceable condition. Tho honour of ovory member in tho company was in-volved in this, as without t ho strictest regard to this matter but iittlo reliance could bo placed in them should the coi ps ever bo called on for aotnal sorvico in war. Tho inspection concluded, tho company wore put through a variety of company movements, which wcro performed \cty credit-ably.

On Wodnesday evening last Mr. George Kirk met the electors of East Bourke, at the Bridge Inn, Upper Plenty ; and on Thursday evening, at Forbes's Whittlesea Inn. At both places he was well received, and votes of confidence were unani-mously accorded him.

Tho farmers of Ripon nnd Hampden ore about to entertain Mr. Sorvico at a publio dinner, as a mark of respect for their member, and, ns tho Ballarat Star remarks, " in commemoration of thoi'r triumph in tho recent election."

A meeting of railivoy labourers was hold, at the Criterion Hotel, Castlemaine, on Friday last, when resolutions wore agreed to condemnatory of tho reduction in wages on tho railway workB, and a petition to Government adopted, prajing tho intorferenco of the Executive to onforco the completion of tho works within the time spe-cified in the contract. One of tho speakers boldly declared that ho " would rather steal than work for B3, a day." Anothor remarked that, though ho ti wild not steal, ho would do " many desperate things" beforo ho would accept the wages offered ; and a thii d expressed his belief that, in standing out for 81. a day, "the working mea of tlio colony had it now in their power to crush tho monopoly that employers of labour had hitherto enjoyed,"

About half-past four o'clock on Saturday morn-ing a fire broke out in a wooden slablo, situated at tlio back of tim houso No. 200 Napicr-stroet, Collingwood, tho property of Mr. John Cook, Tho Fitzroy Municipal Brigade woro soon on the spo1, and laboured hard to subduo tbo flames, Thoy wcro followed soon afterwards by tbo Mci, bourne Brigade, and the fire was extinguished, The stablo was tho only building destroyed. Ii contained eleven horses. Bight of Iho animah woro got out by tho firomon, but tbreo were

burned to death.

Thoro were 20S prisoners in tbo Contrai Gao on Saturday-205 moll's and 3 females, classifiec nts follows :-Awaiting trial at Supreme Court 28; under remaud by magisttatcs, 9; belonging to other stations, 2. Under sentence-death ro corded, 1 ; rotd-gang, 22 ; haid labour, 115 ; imprisonmont only, 20. Detained-Lunatics, 7 in default of sureties, 5 ; debtors, 7 ; oontompl of court, 2,

Tbo following is iho weekly roport of tin Benevolent Asylum :- Inmates, 250 males, C( females ; at Immigrants' Home, waiting foi vacancies, 24; applications for admission durinf tho woek, 0 ; of these-admitted, 1 ; sent to homo 2 ; refused for want of room, 3, Total at the ox' pense of the asylum, 337. Of this number then aro 102 males and 35 females under medica

treatment,

The first examination of tho corps of Victor» Volunteer Engineers for the rank of non-com missioned officers took placo on Saturday last at tho orderly room, and lasted from ten o'olocl a m. till nearly six in the ovenint». The exnmi nation, conducted by Captain Scrntchloy, R.E was under the immediate superintendence of ont of tbo corporals of the dotnohmont of Roja Engineers. The candidates wore twelve in num-ber-one of thiitcen, the original number, havinf retired- and wero placed at separate tables, mud in the manner of a collegiate examination. TI« questions wero answored in writing, and no com-munication was allowed between tho several can didates ; nor was tbo uso of any book of refer enco conceded, except in Hie caso of tablos ol logarithms. Tho subjects of examination com-prised arithmetic, algobra, field and pormanonl fortification, artillery, mechanics,'piano trígono metry, tho uso and strength of materials prao'ical geometry, logarithms, and drawing Marks according to proficicnoy will bo giver to onoh candidate, upon tlio cxaminatior of his' papers hy the officer commandinf tho Royal Engineers, and the total number 0! mnrka possible to bo obtained for all the subjoeti is 610. Tho papers will bo examined in tho coursi of this week, and a board, consisting of tbreo 01 more mombois of tho corps, will bo appointed ti check tbo number of marks awarded to each com potitor. Tho names of tho successful candidate! will thon bo made known.

Tho volunteer sergeants' rihV match, whicl has bson a topic of some interest among th< volunteers for tho last few weeks, was sho on Saturday forenoon and aftornoon, at tin Sandridge butts. Tho «eather was delightful but tho shooting was not first-class. Tin first prizo was gained by Sergeant Russell Williamstown rifles ; tho second by Sorgoant Wil Uinson, of tho Pentridge company ; and the third after shooting off lies, by Sergeant Lompriore, 0 tho West Melbourne company. Tho Booro wil be found in another column.

Tho Prahran and South Yarra Volunteer Rifl Company will nssotnblo at tho comer of tho St Kilda and Gardiner's Creek roads HUB evening,» half-past eight o'clock, to march to night parad at Prince's Bridge Reserve

In anothor column aro published the Post-offic regulations as lo the transmission of packots b

post.

Alderman Bennett addressed tho electors c East Bourko at tho under-mentioned place during the past week, viz, :-Epping Hotel, 0 Monday; Abbot's Hotel, Yan Yean, on Tuesday Forbes' Hotel, Whittlesea, on Wednesday ; Moi man's notel, Wallan Wallan, on Thursday Happy Homo Hotel, Donnybrook, on Friday ; an on Saturday at tho Roso, Tiiiatlo, and Shamroc Hotel, Preston. Tho mcotings were all well a tended, and of tho most orderly character. TI: USURI vote of confidence was unanimously carrie at each mooting in favour of tho candidate, wi,l tho exception of two hands'held up against him tho Plenty, and two more at Wallan Wallan.

The ontries for tho Grand Handicap Stcopl chaso at Woodend talco place 'this evening, tho B} duey Hotel, at Woodend, or thoy may made, where it may t-uit tbo cop.venienco^ owners of steoplechafo nngs, with >ir. F. Parki at Henderson's Horse Bazao'., Bdurkc-strt weet, dotrn to five o'clock ¡a «.no afternoon. 1 Tinilway department have announced their inti lion of allowing horses engaged at this mectii

and that are convoyed cn the line to tho scone of action, to return freo on any day during the week. It has also boon conceded"' that excursionists by tho nine a.m. train on Wednesday can return free Iho same evening or on'the .next afternoon. Cobb and Co.'a coaches will convey passengers to and from the township to tho running ground at very trifling charges. The course is over a fine hunting country, but tho ground is heavy, and therefore favourable to horses of good bottom, but who may lack speed to compete with fust horses ovor an artificial or racecourse chase,

Tho great insurance caso of Miller and olhtri v. Kerr, cltairman, &c ', in tho Supreme Court, promises to occupy another day or two. The evidence on the charges of arson seems to be exhausted, but a stream of further ovidonco on tho issue of tho fraudulent over-valuation of tho goods is said to be still forthcoming. It would appear, also, that tho plaintiffs will offer ovidonoe on a rebutting case.

' We havo had tho pleasure of being present at a privato concert, or rehearsal, given by MM. Horaco Poussard and RODÓ Douay, two musical oelobrities recently arrived in this colony, who will shortly moko their appearance in public, Ht Horaco Poussardis a violinist, and at tho early ago of sixteen carried off tho first prizeatthe Conserva-toire, Paris. Ho mado his first appearance in London at the Saturday Concerts in the Crystal Palace, and is spoken of very highly by tho English and French press. M. llenó Douay likewise obtained tho first prizo at tho Conser-vatoire, as a violoncello performer, and is a per-fect master of that difficult instrument. Indeod, the effects ho produces-tho richness, delicacy, and variety of tho tones ho elicits-tho velocity with which ho executes tho chromatic scales -tho unerring precision which characterizes overy movement of Iho bow, aB well as his rapid fingering, aro very remarkable ; and in tho Carnival do Paris-a composition from his own pen-tho violoncello exhibits re-sources which, we aro confident, will be as unex-pected as thoy aro delightful to tho majority of M. Douay's auditors. The stylo of M. Poussard, tho violinist, is unusually pure, and he so puls his heart into his work that every noto seems instinct with feeling. Thoro is nothing mechanical in his execution, and the most difficult and elaborate passages are oxeouted with an apparent ease and cer-tainly which greatly enhance tho effect. From a miniatura violin ho educes a vqlunfo of sound which astonishes by its magnitude, and tho softer and moro delicate tones which ho elicits aro at-tenuated to tho verge of silenco, without that poverty of quality which often accompanies tenuity. Both these artistes oro clever buffo vocalists, and aro versatile performers as instru-mentalists, although their spocialty is tho violin and violoncello respectively.

Tho story of *' Tho Thrco Musketoors" is too well known to require narrating when speaking of tho drama bearing the samo title and includ-ing tho prineipnl incidents contained in tho romance. Tho foundation is very slight for so largo a superstructure of dramatic action, nnd tho spectators must often find themselvos ox claiming, " Why ali this fuss about a set of dia-mond studs?" Apart from this apparent incon-gruity between causo and effect, thoro is enough bustle and variety about tho play, as produced at tho Theatre Uoynl on Saturday evening, to excite the interest and sustain the attention of an audience which was liberal of its npplauso, and called Mr. Holt twice before the curtain to ro ceivo it. Tho character of D'Artaanan is ono oi thoso in whioh ho excels. A careless, morry amorous, and high-spirited swash-buckler, erjnn.ll«, ntbomo at a foast or in a fray, with an ardent love of adventure and an utter indifferonco to consc quences. Mr. Holt throws himself into such i part with great heartiness, and pourtrays it nitl consistency and vigour. ITo socures tho syinpa thies of the audience, which evinces a Btronj personal interest in the vicissitudes of his career hopes ho will overcome tho opponents with whon ho fights, and rejoices when ho escapes uosoathoi from somo imminent danger. In fact, carnostnos upon the stage resembles forco of character ii the world, enroroing tho same attention, com manding tho samo respect, and, whon fortifioi by a moderato amount of ability, and con trolled by a sound judgement, bentiuj down the sarria obstacles to success. Tin small part of Athos was bolotv Mr. Edwards' rule, and ho is to ho complimented on appearing in it, Mr. Chapman fell into the common mis take of malting tho Cardinal too old. Richoliei was only fifty-seven whon hojdicd, and tho activi part ho took in tho military operations which hi dovisod proved tho strength of his framo am tho vigour of his habits. Anno of Austria am Lady do Winter found feoblo oxponents in th ladies who undertook theso characters, and it i to bo hoped that Messrs. Holt and Hoskins wil loso no limo in filling up a very obvious hiilu in tlio company, Thisovening Mr, J. 0. Lamber will re-appear, and will no doubt reçoive tho wol come duo to so finished an actor and gonoral

favourite.

" Aladdin" improves as it proceeds, and now that the principals are well up in their parts, its performance at the Princess's passes off with the utmost briskness. The " Wonderful Scamp" has become the leading character of the burlesque and the Chinese song is nightly encored. It is said that Mr. Byron is to be commissioned to write an extravaganza for one of the Melbourne theatres at Christmas next-an act which would be creditable to the liberality of the mana gers, who have benefited so largely by that gentleman's productions without his receiving any equivalent. The disinclination shown by the Melbourne public to recognise local ability, as evinced by the limited attendance at the Theatre Royal while the " Gentleman in Black" was being performed, naturally impels the conductors of our theatres to look abroad for the means of entertaining their patrons, and there can be little question that an extravaganza by Mr. Byron or Mr. Talfourd, written expressly for the colonial stage, would prove extremely attractive and enjoy

a lengthened run.