Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Saturday 7 February 1874, page 6


SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1874.

Sentence having been passed on ALEX-ANDER TOD, who pleaded guilty before the Court of General Sessions, at present sitting, to a charge of robbing the Union Bank of Australia, there is no reason why we should refrain any longer from commenting on his case. Let us briefly recapitulate the facts brought out in evidence. The prisoner entered the service of the bank in Adelaide in

August, 1869. He appears to have behaved himself well, for, according to the account furnished by his counsel, he was removed in 1872 without solicita-

tion on his part to Melbourne-the most important office of course in the colo-nies, and made teller in the office here at a salary of £175 per annum. At the time the transfer took place, however, the Adelaide manager wrote a private note to the inspector, in which he said, " The nature of this young man is " easily susceptible of temptation." In view of such a warning, we are naturally led to inquire whether this opinion was the result of mere guess-work, or whether anything had occurred to justify suspicion. However, we must conclude that the inspector regarded it in the former light, for TOD was at once placed in a position where, according to the manager's own admission, he might have as easily taken £4,000 or £5,000 as the £1,250 with -which ho decamped. He had £12,000 in his custody when he committed the robbery. Notwith-standing the warning given, no effort was' made to keep a check on his pro-ceedings, and consequently his promo-

tion has eventuated in his ruin.

We cannot help thinking that the bank authorities are in a great measure to blaine for what has taken place. But before we say more on this point, we would guard against misunderstanding. We are sorry to say that wo have frequently had to comment on similar cases before, but wo have always en-deavoured to render it plain that no shortcomings on the part of employers can justify the employed in departing, even to the extent of a hair's-breadth from the path of honesty. Those who accept employment do so of their own free will, and no matter whether the conditions of servitude are liberal or the reverse, they are bound to abide honestly by the terms of their agree-

ment. If a man chooses to sell his labour for a farthing a week, he is just as much bound to act honourably and honestly as though he received £10,000 a year for his services. It is all a matter pf arrangement, and each party to a compact of the sort can accept or refuse the terms offered with per-fect freedom. But when a bargain has been struck neither party can justify an infringement of its pro-visions on the ground that the terms agreed on were not sufficiently favour-able. This point cannot be too strongly impressed on young men. It appears, uniortunately, that many of them con-sider themselves absolved from guarding their employers' interests, and, in some cases, from the necessity of keeping their fingers out of their employers' till, because they choose to consider them-selves underpaid. A moro pernicious idea never entered anyone's head. No man is forced to accept work if the terms of payment are not to his liking, and no plea of inadequate remuneration can be accepted in justification or even in excuse of dishonesty.

Hat ing thus guarded ourselves against any danger of misapprehension, we may freely express our opinion concern-ing the conduct of the bank in relation to the convict. Wo certainly think it was almost cruel, after the warning re-ceived', to place this young man so " easily susceptible of temptation " in a position of trust and responsibility without exercising that constant super-vision which is absolutely necessary to keep weak natures from going astray. Surely some position might have be«n found for him, if the bank thought it desirable to retain his services, where ho would not have been subjected to the daily temptation arising from the con-stant handling of coin. For our own

part, we must confess that a bank appears to us the very last place in which any one should be employed wh» is "easily susceptible of temptation.." But certainly if there was some mys-terious necessity, which no outsider eau fathom, for keeping him on the staff, ha should hav6 been confined to merely clerical duties, -which he might have discharged without subjecting hil honesty to a trial thero was «very reason to suppose it was inca-pable of enduring. We would lik». wise draw attention to the ¡nadaquate remuneration attached to a post of such responsibility as that to which he was appointed. It may bo said that £175 per annum is a very handsome salary for a boy of 20. Yf9 do not deny the fact, but we submit that the salary should be adjusted to the office, and not to the age of its oc-cupant. No doubt the learned judgo who passed sentence was quite right when he said that " the salary waa " quite adequate for a young mau of tho " prisoner's age, and was quite sufficient " for his maintenance." But that h not the point. The question to ba de-cided may be stated thus-Is a salary of £175 a year a reasonable remunera-tion for a person-be he man or boywho has thousands of pounds continually passing through his hands, and who is entrusted with the custody of largo sums of money for days together, without check or supervision of any sort ? We think not. Once moro we say there is no excuse for dishonesty, but at the same time wo hold that it is the duty of employers to place their servant» as far as possible above the reach of temptation.

We may congratulate the community on the sound view which his Honour Judge POHLMAN has taken of the magnitude of the offence committed. The sentence of four years' imprisonment appears to meet exactly the requirements of the case. It neither errs on the aide of undue severity nor maudlin clemency. Let us hope that it may be a warning to other young men who are tottering on the brink of dishonesty, and duly im-press on their minds the disagreeable consequences which nearly always attend any deviation from the path of recti-

tude.

The valedictory address presented to the Protestant Bishop of Melbourne,

at the farewell breakfast which was given to him by the members of the Church Assembly yesterday morning,

was a document which must have been

highly gratifying to tho right reverend prelate, while we believe it gave sincere expression to the sentiments of regard and esteem entertained towards him by the subscribers. . At the closo o£ an episcopate of 27 years, it must temper the feeling of regret with which Dr. PERRY severs himself from the scene of his labours, to know that all men speak well of him, and that this is especially the case with those who have had the best opportunities of accurately judging his character and conduct. In the legislative delibera-tions of the body over which he has so long presided with dignity and modera-tion, the bishop has sustained his posi-tion in a manner which fully entitles him to the eulogy embodied in the fol-lowing sentence :- .

" We desire to thank you for the able and impartial manner in which you have ever presided over our meetings ; for the valuable information and judicious counsels you have from time to time given us ; for tlie care with which, while putting no check upon free dis. cuBsion, you have ever maintained for our

body the high tone and grave decorum which . befit an ecclesiastical assemblage ; for the example you have yourself set of fairness in argument and moderation in speech ; for the courtesy which has at all times marked your relation to individual members of both our houses ; and for your unceasing efforts lo keep at a distance from our debates the ani-

mosities of sectional division."

' The proceedings of the Church As-sembly have been . creditably distin-guished by the characteristics enume-rated above, and have presented a gratifying contrast in this respect to the acrimonious and controversial dis.cusBions which havo arisen in the repre-sentativo bodies of some other denomi-nations. It would be invidious and un-just to assume that the Nonconformist clergy in this colony are inferior to their Anglican brethren in temper and ability, self respect, and self control. IS, therefore, the' deliberations of tho Church Assembly have enjoyed au im-munity from the rancorous disputes and personal quarrels which haye occasionally brought ¡so much dis-credit upon the governing bodies of one or two of our most influ-ential sects, we may attribute that exemption to the suave firmness of tho Bishop, to the confidence reposed in his impartiality, and the respect inspired by his learning and ability.

That Dr. PURRY should feel that a

grave responsibility will rest upon Min and his three coadjutors in the selection of a bishop for thenewseeof Ballarat,and that he should express a corresponding anxiety with respect to the qualifica-tions of his own successor, is only natural in one who has always shown himself to be a conscientious prelate and a single-minded man. We trust that the future metropolitan of Melbourno or Victoria will bo a churchman distin-guished by the same breadth of view which characterised the address of LT. PURRY-as originally delivered-m tho Church Assembly somo months ago. Comprehensiveness and catholicity havo

always been the conspicuoiia^-ftributiv j of the Church of England, and Yo- Pi»j'lLon

tain and extend thom was nevei- *

essential to the preservation « " influence and the efficacy ot i» ministrations as now, when the mo

tolerant spirit of the age sanc-tions greater freedom of opinion, » wider latitude of speculative ftoujw» and a greater disregard for more dogma

than would have been permitted [for-]

merly.

We cordially concur with ?re mem-bers of the assembly in [wi]shing the Anglican Bishop of Melbourne and Mrs. PERRY a safe and pleasant voyage to the old country and in desiring a prosperous issue [in] the business which

calls Dr. PERRY to England, where, we are quite sure, he will embrace every opportunity of proving that his interest

in the church, which he has laboured to build up in this colony is incapable of diminution by absence or distance.

The R.M.S.S. Bangalore, with the Europeart mails, arrived at Adelaide at 8 o'clock yesterday morning, and left for Melbourne at 1 p.m. She may therefore bo expected to arrive in Uobson's Bay e*arly on Sunday. A summary of the mail news, received by tele-graph from Adelaide, i< puhlished elsewhere! but such of tho intelligence as is fresh is not of an important char_cter. By the submarine -¡able we have, however, an item of some " significance. The war on the Gold Coast is

at an end, the King of Ashantee having made submission to the British com-mander, and promised an indemnity of

£200,000.

An interruption occurred on the tale graphic line between Albury and Sydnoy last evening, and np to an early hour this morning communication had not been re-stored. With the exception of a report of tho cricket match, we aro without news from Sydney.

It is anticipated that tho revenue derived from the collection of duty on goods crossing the Murray will bo very small for the next six months. An immense quantity of stores has been sent over the river, and the squatters of Biveiina are supplied for months. Many Melbourne capitalists interested in. pastora1 pursuits have even sent up woolpacks for next year's shearing,

Strenuous efforts are being made to get the occupation branch of the Lands department into working order hy the middle or end of next month. Many of the officers aro working overtime two hours each week-day except Saturday, when they work four hours addi-tional. By this means two extra days a week aro gained. It is impossible to employ more raen than aro at present put on, because the old books of the department can only be con-sulted by one at a time. Even when the new board commences operations it is estimated that it will take six months longer to clear off arrears of work.

A rumour has been circulated to the effect thatMr. W. T. Doyne would probably act as Mr. T. Higinbotham's locum tenena during his abaenco in Europe. The Government have never entertained the idea of malting any guch appointment, and in fact have not yet decided who shall discharge the duties of the engineor-in-chief for railways while Mr. Higinbotham is away. Mr. A. B. Wells, resi-dent engineer, is mentioned as the officer who will probably be selected.

A deputation, consisting of representatives _f the City Council, the borough of Footscray, and the shires of Braybrook and Wynd-ham, had an interview with the Commis-sioner o£ Roads and Bridges yesterday with reference to the construction of the proposed bridge over the railway at North Melbourne. The Hon. Dr. Dobson introduced the deputation. It had already been decided that the local bodies interested in the work should guarantee a sum not exceeding £5,000 over and above the £10,000 granted by the Government for the construction of the bridge, but the deputation was desirous that the guarantee Bhould not be enforced until tho money was actually íequired. They also ob-jected that the pioposed length of the bridge, 480ft., was far moro than was required, unless the railway workshops were to he removed from Williamstown to North Melbourno, and that a roadway of 18ft. was not sufficient to meet the require-ments of the traffic. They suggested that the bridge might be curtailed in length very materially, and the roadway widened to 2oft. exclu ling the width of the footpaths. In reply to Councillor M'Pherson, of the City Council, Mr. Gillies Btated that the guarantee of the City Council to pay the £3,000 when required, would be satisfactory to the de-partment. Mr. Higinbotham, engineer-inchief, stated that if provision had not to be made for shifting the railway workshops to North Melbourne, there would bo no diffi. culty in shortening the length of the bridge materially. After some discussion, it was understood that the bridge would be dereused in length and increased in width, nn'l that the expense would be kept within

£15,000.

A. portion of the inhabitants of the shire tf Talbot have lately evinced a desire to sever themselves from the parent shire, and throw in their lot with that of the shire of Creswick. A representation to that effect was made yesterday to the Commissioner of Roads and Bridges, but he declined taking any action until the views of the petitioners had been communicated to bim in writing. It is stated by the opponents of the proposed division of the shire, that the recent im-position of a special rate in the Talbot Shire has prompted the desire for severance.

The Victoria, II.M.C.S., Staff-commander H, J. Stanley, R.N., returned to the bay yes-terday from a partial re-survey of Symonds' and the West Channels. The northern en-trance of Symonds' Channel not having altered very materially, no further time was Spent there, but attention was turned to the West Channel. The changes in this channel about the Pile light, Royal George bank, and Queenscliff, are so great and of such import-ance that Captain Stanley intends forwarding a progress report to the Government on the Subject. Captain Stanley's progress reportconcerning the West Channel will be looked for-ward to with interest, as not only have vessels made shipwreck there of late years, but those in charge of such vessels havo been rigorously dealt with, and it may bo within the bouuds of possibility that pilots and shipmasters have suffered, when their judgments and calculations, although coi root enough when'v based on previous data, have been materially interfered with by unseen and unspecified, alterations in tho physical conflagration of

the channel.

Last night's Government Gazette notifies the appointment of his Honour Judgo Pohlman' to act as judge of the Insolvent Court, Mel-bourne, and chief commissioner of insol-vency during the absence on leave of his Honour Judgo Nool. It also notifies that his Honour Judgo Cope will act as county court Judge at Melbourne, in place of Judgo Pohl-man ; that his Honour Judgo Forbes will temporarily act as county court judge, chair-man of general sessions, &c, in the Ararat, Hamilton, Stawell, and Beaufoit districts, in place of Judge Cope ; and at Dunolly, Ingle-wood, Maryborough, Amherst, Avoca, Caris-brook, St. Arnaud, and Tarnagulla, in place oí Judge Nolan, absent on leave.

Mr. J. C. H. Ogier has been appointed police magistrate, warden of the gold-fields, and coroner for Victoria, and will act as such at Wood's Point, Jamieson, Gaffnoy's Creek, and Jericho. He was yesteiday swoin in before Mr. Justice Molesworth.

Messrs. J. Nation and Co. wero yesterday

announced to be the lowest tenderers for the construction of a Roods shed and other works at Barnawartha, on theNorth-Eastern line. They offered to construct the works of »rick for £1,9G4 4s. Od., and of wood and iron for C1.880 15s. Gd. Both tenders were referred to the ongineer-in-chief for ie

port.

The Headquarters' Band will play this afternoon, from half-past 3 to half-past 5, again at the Fitzroy-gardens, on account of tho trenching operations in the Botanical-gar-dens not boing finished. The following is the programme:-1. Overture, "Bohemian Girl," .Balfe. 2. Selection, " Nabucco," Verdi. 3, Waltz, " Hesperus Klange, "Gung'l. 4. Selecw>n, "Ariele," Bach. 5. Overture, "The Magic Flute,"Mozart. 6. Selection, "Joan of Arc," Verdi. 7.Waltz, " Morning Leaves,"

The members of the Church of England Assembly entertained the bishop of Mel. «torne at breakfast yesterday morning. About 100 of tho clerical and lay members

Were present. After breakfast the valedic-tory address adopted by the assembly on Thursday was presented to his lord-ship, who made a very feeling speech in reply. Ho again alluded to tho desirableness of increased church accom-modation and a Larger staff of clergy, and he spoke in terras of high praise both of the usefulness of the Church Assembly and of the orderly character of its proceedings. He notified distinctly that it was his inten-

tion shortly to resign this episcopate, and. that, if he did return here after he bad* secured a clergyman as the first Ballarat bishop, it would only bo for a very brief

period.

The Church of England Assembly sat again yesterday afternoon, but the business was not important, being confined almost solely to passing through final stages resolu-tions debated and agreed to on previous days. The bishop of Melbourne, after closing the assembly, expressed the very great pleasure he had in leaving for tho third timo the dean of Melbourne as his vicargeneral during his absence from the colony, and said that as the members of the church all loved and esteemed the dean, they would no doubt assist him, and strengthen his hands for the work which bad devolved upon

him.

' It is with regret that wo have to record the death of another old colonist, Mr. John -Hunter Kerr, who arrived In Port Phillip in 1839, was one of the earliest settlers on the Yarra, and was afterwards connected with pastoral pursuits on the Loddon. Like many other settlers Mr. Kerr was unable to cope with bad seasons and adverse circum-stances, and has for the last nine years been in the employment of the Government as in-spector of sheep, first in Hamilton and after, wardß in the Melbourne district. The deceased gentleman was a grand nephew of Admiial nun ter, one of the early Governors of New South Wales ; and, like his uncle, he possessed considerable taste and talent as an artist as well as in a literary way. A work called Glimpses of Life in Victot ia, which was favourably reviewed both at home and in the colony, was written by him, and the illustrations were copied from draw-ing or photographs taken by him. Mr. Kerr was universally esteemed and respected by those with whom he was brought in contact, whether in business or in private life.

With íegard to the paragraph copied from th& Geelong Advertiser in yesterday's Argus, on the attempted detention of the Essex at Queenscliff on Tuesday morning, we are re-quested to state that neither the officers nor the agents of that vessel offered any obstruc-tion to Mr. Ellis, deputy-marshal of the ViceAdmiralty Court, in tho discharge of his duty. They simply declined to render him any assistance in his attempt to seize that vessel when .she was under way. We are also informed that the agents had offered to enter into a bond for the payment of any amount of damages that might be recovered from tho owners of the Essex on account of her having run foul of the barque Palace, when under charge of Pilot Leighton, on the 30th ult. For declining to accept that bond, neither the owners of the Palace nor their representatives assigned any reason to the agents of the Essex, but they took tho extreme step of sending the deputy-mar-shal of the Vice-Admiralty Court with a warrant to seize her at the last moment. As things have turned out, however, no great hardship appears to have been in-flicted on the owners of the Palace by Mr. Ellis's failuie in the execution of his duty, Had the Essex been detained by the Vice-Admiralty Court up to the find-ing of the Pilot Board, which throws all the blame of the collision on Pilot Leighton, she could hardly have been de-tained longer. In declining to become willing parties to the unnecessary detention of the Essex, the agents of that vessel did not wish to evade any real responsibility in

the case.

On the invitation of the Mayor of Mel-bourne, a number of gentlemen met in the mayor's room in the Town-hall yesterday, to take leave of Mr. W. G. Murray, of the firm of Bright Bros, and Co., who with Mrs. Murray is proceeding to England in the steamship Great Britain. The company, besides his worship and Mr, Murray, com-prised Messrs. Reginald and Samuel Bright, W. K. Thomson, Captain¡Chapman, of the Great Britain ; Mr. Hugh George, Mr. Steele of Queensland; Mr. Boanoy, Alderman Wragge, Councillors M'Pherson, Fenwick, Moubray, M'Culloch, Aarons, Richardson, and others. The Mayor proposed the health of Mr. and Mrs. Murray, an i thoir safe voyage home and return to the colony, mentioning the fact of Mr. Murray being a townsman' of his own, and having arrived in the colony about the same time. Mr. Murray returned thanks on his own and Mrs. Murray's behalf. His recollections of the success which had attended him, and the kindness which he had experienced in the 'colony, would make him an earnest advocate of it as to its climatic and other advantages. He proposed the healths of the mayor and Mrs. M'llwraith, with prosperity to the city of Melbourne, to which the mayor responded,

|and proposed the health of Captain Chap

nian, and the Great Britain. Captain Chap-man responded. The mayor then proposed the health of Messrs. Bright Bros, and Co., 'in responding to which Mr. Reginald Bright said that he was in hourly expectation of receiving a telegram intimating that his firm had arranged for a line of Great iBritains, to come one evory month, and ¡do the distance within 50 days. The diffi

iculties had been great, but he believed that they had been all overcome. Mr. W. K. .Thomson, in proposing the health of the ¡aldermen and councillors, said that he too

'had the honour of being a townsman of the 'mayor's, having como from Ayr, which appeared to he prolific of mayors, as Mr. 'Murray on reaching London would find an

{Ayr man, Mr. Lusk, lord mayor of the city, 'and in Liverpool he would find another, Mr. ¡Walker, who whilst meeting but poor success .with his brewery in tho old fort at Ayr, had 'in Liverpool succeeded in amassing a fortune

\which enabled him recently to present a sum

'of £20,000 to the town, for the establishment of an art gallery. "The Aldermen" were responded to by Alderman Wragge, and the '"Councillors" by Councillor Richardson, who 'referred to the fact that ho and another city councillor, Mr. Paterson, were, in 1853, mates ¡with Mr. Murray in the sinking of a shaft 'COft. deep at Ballarat. Other toasts fol-lowed, and .the party separated to give i Mr. Murray time ' to catch the train for

'Sandridge.

An adjourned meeting of the Liberal Election Committee was held last evening, at the Buck's Head notel, Napier-street, Fitzroy. Mr. John Hackett took the chair. Aftei some discussion, it was resolved to invite the Hon. J. Service to address a few friends on Thursday evening, so that his political views might bo made known, with a view to his candidature for Collingwood. In the course of the conversation which ensued, the names of Mr. Gresham and Mr. Everard were mentioned as probable can-

didates.

Mr. Simon Fraser publishes in our adver-tising columns au olaborate addiess to the electors of Rodney.

A shipment of greyhounds, one of the best ever landed in this colony, has arrived from London in tho ship Loch Ness, which anchored in the bay yesterday. Thoy havo come out in charge of their trainer, Mr. White, and the condition in which they

have been brought here shows that the utmost care has been taken of them during the voyage. The dogs have been imported by Mr. W. M'Culloch, and. were purchased by his brother, who went from here a few months ago with a commission to buy a

few of tho best dogs to be had in England, rcgardlesi of price! Royal AVator, who performed so well last year as a puppy in the great Waterloo Cup, is a red dog by Cauld Kail, out of Rose Water. Ile divided and ran up in several large stakes as a puppy. He only ran in pub-lic once after this at the Lockerby meeting, when he divided the St. Mungo Cup with Miss Wilson, he getting five-eighths of the stake, Miss Wilson threc-eiRhths. Isaac Pattinson is a fawn puppy hy Sam, out of Annie Laurie, and has the famous Canaradzo blood on both sides. He has only performed twice in public, In the Wig. townshire St. Leger, this season, he beat Mr. M'Haflie's slut Red Rose, who a fortnight after won five courses in the Lungan Puppy Stakes. Jennie Bell is a fawnand-wliite slut, second season; she is by Cauld Kail, out of Boscobell, and has been a good performer ; she divided the Wigtown-shire St. Leger (77 puppies) lost season with Wandering Willie, who started second favourite for the Waterloo Cup, Mr. M'Haffie allowing her owner, Mr. Graham, £15 to divide. Boscobell is the dam of some of tho best performers of the .present day. Lady Rolla is a red puppy, by Cashier out of Miss Alice by Cauld Kail, Cashier by Cardinal York out of Lady Stor-mont. Lady Holla ron .this season for the first time in the Wigtownshire St. Leger at Stranraer, and was beaten in her third course by Fugitive, who divided the stake with Lota Stair's Scamp. Th,e other is a very fine looking white slut, untried, and to be named May Queen, by Rioter by Mostor Burleigh by Ringleader out of Topsy. Rioter has won five stakes and 31 courses in public.

With a view to facilitate the conveyance of visitors to the forthcoming Launceston Race Meeting, the T.S.N. Co.'s s.S. Southern Cross will leave the Queen's Wharf this after-noon for Launceston, taking passengers and racehorses. Ilallas's Sandhurst band of instrumental performers (20 in all), who are going on a tour through Tasmania, will also go to Launceston to-day by the Southern

Cross.

The principal cricket match appointed for to-day is the one between the first elevens of the East Melbourne and Ballarat Clubs, to be played on the ground of the former. East Melbourne will be represented by Gold-smith, Elliott, Williams, Horan, Dan Wilkie, G. Wilkie, Hastings, Allee, Stewart, M'Evoy, and Wyndham. Play will com-mence at 11 o'clock sharp, and at half-past 1 o'clock Mr. F. Walsh, the vice-pre-sident of the East Melbourno club, will entertain the two teams at luncheon. On tho Carlton ground, the undermentioned eleven members of the South Melbourne club will play fifteen of Carlton :--Chantier, English, Gray, Major, Morrison, Murray, Moore, Osborne, Slight, Swift, and Tinsley. The second elevens of the same clubs will play on the South Melbourne ground. The following matches have also been arranged for to-day: - Montague v. South Rich-mond, at Emerald-hill, for the junior challenge cup ¡ Coburg v. Preston, at Coburg; Malvern v. Commercial, at Mal-vern ; St. Kilda v. Yarra Bend, at Yarra Bend ; Albert-park v. Victoria, in Albertpark ; West Melbourne v. North Sandridge, in Royal-park ; West Melbourne second eleven v. Fitzroy United, at Fitzroy ; St, George v. North Fitzroy, on the ground of the former ; Imperial United v. Studley, on the ground of the latter ; Williamstown Alliance v. Footscray, at Footscray ; National v. Britannia, on the giound of the latter; East Collingwood v. Cailton United, in Uni-versity paddock ; Albert v. Prahran, on the ground of the latter ; Sands and M'Dougall v. P. Folk and Co., in Albert-park; Adelphian v. Barthold's, in Royal-park; James M'Ewan and Co. v. M'Lean Brothers and Rigg, on University cricket ground ; Burton v. Stickland (coachbuilders), in University paddock ; W. H. Rocke and Co. v. Ivanhoe, near Heidelberg ; Atlas Company Engineers v. Fergusson and Moore, in Royal-park ; Livingstone's Foundry v. Union, in Royal-park.

The players selected by the Fitzroy Bowl- ing Club to take part in the tournament will play a two and a half hour's match this afternoon, commencing at half-past 3

o'clock.

There were 130 births, and 108 doaths registered in Melbourne and subnrbs during the week endinpc 31st January. Diarrhoea is prevalent at Brighton, Collingwood, arid North Melbourne. The other districts ara reported upon favourably.

, At the General Sessions yesterday, Frank Huxley, John II. Smith alias Ryan, and Benjamin King, were tried for breaking into ,the store of Messis. Waters and Keep, drapers, Williamstown, on the 14th January, and stealing goods to the value of £130 therefrom. They were found guilty, and remanded for sentence. The Court will sit at half-past 9 o'clock this morning, and before proceeding with other trials,' will son,tenco prisoners already convicted.

Alice M'Gibbon, who fell or jumped into 'the Yarra at 8 o'clock on the morning of Saturday, the 24th tilt, and narrowly escaped drowning, and in endeavouring to save ,whom a young man named Wado was drowned, was charged at the City Police ¡Comt yesterday, with attempting suicide.

.The purport of the evidence has already been published. Two witnesses said the prisoner ¡could not havo fallen accidentally over

¡the parapet of the bridge, on which she .was seen resting her hands just be'fore she got into the water. No one saw ¡whether she jumped or fell in. One of the ¡witnesses was a poulterer, of St. Kilda,

inamed Henry Goodier, who was the person

jwho went with Wade and Mouat into the j boat which upset. Constable Tratt said the

¡woman in the hospital told him that she had ¡been living with a gentleman in Little Col. lins-strcet, that they had some words, and sho took some drink, and remembered hardly anything till she found herself in the water. Mr. Read said the woman fell in by accident, and should be discharged. Mr. Call, P.M., said that as a human being liad perished in the attempt to save the prisoner, it was the (Bench's duty to refer the matter to a higher 'comt. The woman was committed for trial, and liberated on her finding one surety in '£25. " ' '

I William Back, a young man, appeared be'fore the City Bench yesterday, on a charge of ¡obtaining money by means of a valueless ¡cheque. Ho went to the Early Bird notel, Collingwood, and in payment for drinks ¡gave a ctíequo for £1, receiving the change. ¡The cheque was found to be valueless, and iwhen thfe prisoner was arrested threo similar 'cheques were found on him. He was sen¡tenccd to six months' imprisonment.

AjoungscampnamedGeorge Whiteside was dealtwith by the City Bench yesterday. The lad was chaiged with stealing a dog from his stepfather. The latter stated that the young man was able to eain good wages as a shoemaker, but preferred loafing and drinking, and used to steal and pawn things from wit'ness's house. He also used to ill-use his mother. The prisoner was sent to gaol for seven days. .

Bartholomew O'Neil, a carter residing at Flemington, was admitted to the Melbourno Hospital yesterday, in consequence of an ac cident which occurred to him near Prince's, bridge. He was driving a dray loaded with i oilmen's stores when the bellyband broke, 'causing the dray to tip up, and in trying to hold tho horse down it rolled over on 'him and fractured his leg. A little

boy seven years of age, named ,Daniol i Ryan, who lesides at Carlton, was climbing a j tiee yesterday morning, and a branch which

ho was on broke and let him fall to the ground, the result being that his arm was broken in two placeB. He was taken to the Melbourne Hospital, and thero Attended to.

Frederick Smith, a man 33 years «f age, who resides in Young-street, Fitzroy, was received into the Hospital last night suffering with a broken leg, caused by a kick from another man during a row which took place at the back of a house in Little Lonsdalc-street.

At the meeting of the trustees of the Friendly Societies' Gardens held last even-ing, it was decided unanimously to accept the offer made by the U. A. 0. Druids, to allow that order the sum of £100, in consi-deration of foregoing their claim to the use of the gardens on Easter Monday next. It is therefore the intention of the trustees to carry out their scheme of holding a monster gift distribution and "Brace's auction," in connexion with a great variety o£ sports on Easter Monday, with the object of reducing , the present heavy overdraft, and rendering

the gardens additionally attractive as

public promenade. It is hoped the whole of the societies, and public generally, will assist the trustees in carrying out their very lauda-

ble endeavours.

It is stated by tho Ballarat Courier that Mr. F. M. Claxton, auctioneer, is likely to be a candidate for Ballarat West at the next election. i

The Ballarat Courier 'States that Mr. Sutheiland, of the Crown Law Offices, arrived in Ballarat on Thursday, and ob-tained the [signatures of the Clunes Water Commissioners to the necessary documents in connexion with the transfer of the works. Mr. Sutherland was to proceed to Clunes on Friday to see the arrangements completed.

Mr. Benjamin Sheldon Dawson, Stawell, and Mr. James Richard, Stawell, bave been appointed to keep the peace in Victoria, with-in the StaweU general'sessions district, and Mr. Jonathan Thomas Bell, Oxley, within the Beechworth general sessions district.

The Murray and Hume Times repoits that "at the Beechworth Criminal Sessions, on Tuesday, Joseph Belcher, formerly manager of the Bank of New South Wales, Wodonga, was arraigned on three charges of embezzle-ment. The evidence was similar to that given at the preliminary examination, which has been recently published. Mr. O'Leary, for the defence, stated that his client, owing to intempeiance, had committed great blunders, but not a crime. Judge Bowman, in summing up, stated that on the first and third counts there was no evidence to go to a jury, and that it was for the jury 'to deal with the second. This count charged the prisoner with having obtained the sum of £88 18s. 8d., hy entering as a payment a fiotitious acceptance. The jury retired for about'three-quarters of an hour, and returned into court with a ver-dict of not guilty on all throe counts. Mr. Belcher was so overcome with emotion when the verdict was given that ho fainted, and had to be removod from the court. The Crown prosecutor asked that Mr. Belcher might be remanded. Mr. O'Leary said that no other information had been filed, and Mr. Belcher was at that moment, if in custody, in Ulegal custody. The Crown prosecutor thereupon signed a paper which he bad, and which was no doubt an information containing a charge of em-bezzling a sum of about £200, tho property of the Bank of Now South Wales. He declined, in answer to Mr. O'Leary, to specify the charge. The judge said that he felt loth to accede to the request of the learned Crown prosecutor, but he had no alternative. The prisoner was accordingly remanded to the next Circuit Court. Mr. O'Leary asked that bail might be allowed, which was granted ; accused in £100, and two sureties in £75 each. Bail was procured."

Tho'Seymour Express says :-" On the 15th March last the death, under somewhat sus-picious circumstances, of a married woman named Rickards, occurred at the Gravel-pits, Mangalore, and although at a subsequent inquiry held the jury returned an open verdict, foul play was generally suspected. The police it seems did not lose sight of the matter, and on Monday last at Tallarook, AlbertRickards, thehusband of deceased, was anested on the charge of wilful murder of his wife. On Tuesday '"lust prisoner was .brought up at the Seymour Polico Court, but before any evidence was tendered Seniorconstable Purcell asked for and secured a remand for a week in order to arrange for the production of evidence. At present we aro not prepared to say further on the sub-ject, fearing thereby the ends of justice may be defeated."

| The second day of the annual Geelong Race Meoting was in every way a great suc-cess. The attendance was mucb better than jon the previous day, while the racing was

the best ever witnessed on the Barwon course. The Publican's Purse was a fine ¡match between Frantic and Novice, in which

the latter proved the victor. Poodle won the Grand Stand.Stakes with ease, The Drummer was second, aud Jack Sprat third. Ten horses started for the Geelong Cup, .which was won by McCallum Mohr, [after a most exciting struggle. Lapidist .who was lather late in making his rush, was ?second. Mentor and Blue Peter were within a neck of Lapidist, and so close that the judge could not place the third horse. The 'time was given as 3m. 38s., but private watches made it 3m. 42s., and as the first milo was dono at a moderate pace the latter time is likely to be the more correct. Mr. ¡Tait was most heartily cheered on being pre'sented with the gold cup by Mrs. S. V. Buck-

land. Seven horses started for the Steeple¡chase, whioh was won by Vulcan by a fine ^ruah at the finish: Momalong was second, .'and Prodigious third. The Barwon Plate was won by Little Dick, after a capital race with 'Tho Hook. Steeltrap was a bad third. Time,

lm. 45s.

We had an opportunity yesterday of in-

specting some sample pieces of flannel made, at the Ballarat Woollen Company's mill. They were all of good quality, and, in the opinion of those most competent to pro-' nounce an opinion on the subject, well made. One piece was what would be called twilled cricketing flannel, and the rest of a lighter description! The heaviest would probably bo invoicod at 2s. per yard in Eng-land, and the lightest at Is. 3d., or at j Is. Cd. all round. These samples do not i resemble AVelch flannel, hut they are more ¡like what are known as Lancashires. The ¡company have a stock of about 10,000 yards ion hand, and they'aro anxious to find a ¡market for it in the wholesale Molbourne 'trade. They have been selling it in small 'quantities at 2s. Od. per yard at Ballarat, but

¡that is no test as to its selling price here. It

is, of couise, all mado of the best wool, and it moy theroforo bo relied upon, as it pro'fesses to be, as a most useful material. At what price the manufacturers can put it upon tho marbet with a profit Wo have not heaid, but it should not bo at a greater than the imported article, with the 10 por cent, duty and other charges added. Indeed, having regard to the piobable abolition of the 10 per cent, duty, they should be piepared to 'offer it at tho price of tho imported article

less the duty, if they hopo to secuio a per-manent and steady market for it. As yet the company havo not boen able to turn out anything Uko the quantity of goods they expected, but they have sent home for more machinery, and some of this is, wo believe, now on its way out. This looks as though the company had confidence in the stability of their business transactions, and all must wish thom suc-cess so long as they do not seek to ho allowed to build up their business at the public expense.

Amongst the recent additions to the In-dustrial and Technological Museum is a living frog, found in a clay bedsomo distance below the Burface, at Lancefield, on the

Plonty. ,AU the ordinary openings of the body are closed except the' nostrils. The eyes are closed by the union of the lids, and the mouth by the union of the lips. If the

frog^wos boni, in his present prison, it is impossible to guess how ho has grown to his present size ; and if it became accidentally imprisoned, how has ho lived, and by what curious Darwinian process havo all the openings of his body, except the noBtrils, become closed 1 This strange specimen was presented to the museum by Mr. J.

Butler.

Serious complaints are made, the Murra]/ and Hume Times states, as to the traffic rates on the North-Eastern line, and it is said that for certain classes of goods the tariff is higher than it used to bo by carriers, and considerably higher than by Bteamer. Why this should be thus it is impossible to say. Circumstances certainly favour the impres-sion that goods might be conveyed cheaper by rail than by road.

The fourth annual meeting of the Mutual Improvement Societies' Union was held on Thursday evening, at the Young Men's Christian Association Rooms, Bourke-strcet, Mr, Hodgson, the president, occupied the ? chair. The secretary (Mr. Gowdie) reported

the work of the union during the year, which was considered satisfacfactory, the union consisting o£ the following societies :--1, Col-lins-street Independent ; 2, East Melbourne ; 3, Hawthorn ; 4, North Melbourne Wesleyan ; D, Richmond, Lennox-street ; 0, Rich-mond Wesleyan ; 7 Wesley Church; 8, Rich-mond Free Church; 9, South Molbourno Literary; 10, Young Men's Christian; 11, Geelong; 12, Castlemaine; 13. Kew. The treasurer (Mr. Brain) submitted tho financial statement, which showed the amount of re-ceipts and expendituio to bo nearly equal. The secretary was instructed to communicate with the secretaries of the various societies in the union with the view of arranging for an interchange of papers during the year. It was decided to hold the next sessional meetings on the 16th of March, in Melbourne, and the Wesley Church Society was appointed to prepare an essay to be read at the session. It was de-cided to forthwith take steps to publish a magazine for circulation among the members throughout the colony. The meeting then proceeded to the election of office-bearers for the year, with the following result ¡-Presi-dent, Richard Hodgson, Esq.; vico-presidents, Messrs. M. H. Davis and Robort Pater-son ; treasurer, Mr. Robert Brain; secretary (pro tem.), Mr, T. H. Gowdie. Some formal business was then transacted, and the meet-ing adjourned. '

The annual meeting of the Sandridgo Artillery was held on Thursday evening in the drill-room, at which Captain SwaUow presided. Lieutenant EveB, the secretary, lead the report, which spoke well of the pros-perity of the corps and the attention given to drill, as evidenced by the number who passed at the last military examination The trophies, the gift of the local borough council, Mr. D. Thomas, and other gentlemen, had been won throe times by the following mem-bers:-First prize, Gunner Marsh; second do., Sergeant Walker; third do., Corporal Jackson. A spacious gun-shed had been erected, in which a traversing platform-gun had been mounted. Offices, library, &c, had been added. The band, under the leadership of Bandmaster Donovan, had made great progress. The corps' expenses had been rather heavy during the year, but a balance remained in hand of £98 Is. 7d. On tho re-port and balance-sheet being adopted, a vote of thanks was accorded to the retiring com-mittee, a new one was chosen, and the meet-ing closed.

The Sandhurst City Band gave a performance last night at Weber's Assembly-room. This band numbers 44 players on its musterroll, but thero are only 23 present in Mel-bourne. They played selections from "I Lombardi"and the "Night about ûTown,1' comic fantasia, willi precision and spirit. On Thursday night they gave an entertain-ment at the Asylum and School for the 'Blind, and aro due, after the lapse of about a fortnight, to give a publia performance in aid of that charity hore in Afelbourne. The effective strength of this section of tho Sandhurst City Band (Mr. Hallas, conductor), consists of three clarinets, one piccolo, five cornets, three sax horns, three balitónos, one tenor trombone, one bass trombone, one euphonium, three basses, and two drums.

Mrs. Cutter's benefit concert takes place to night, at the Town-hall. A reference to our advertising columns will show that an addi-tional number has been added to the pro-gramme. Mademoiselle Jenny Claus will play twice instead of once only, as was origi1 nally announced-the added piece being Bach's " Gavotte," which gave so much plea-sure to l/hose who heard it when it was first played about three months since at the Opera« houBO concerts in which Mdllo. Claus made 'her first public appearance in Molbourno, The circumstances of the bénéficiaire, her long-continued' and very serious illness, the high position she holds as a real artist, and the undoubted claims she has to the ¡goodwill of the musical public of Melbourne, 'should bring about a very emphatic expres-sion of public sympathy on this occasion, even if thore wore not such great induce-ments for the attendanco of a grand audience as are to be found in the names of Mdlle. s Claus, M. Rekel, Mr. Buddeo, Mr. David Lee, Mr. Herz, Miss Rosa Carandini, Miss ¡Christian, Mr. Armes Beaumont, Mr. Lambie, and the choir of the Metropo

jlitan Liedertafel. The one name that- is

¡wanting to complete this effective list is

j that of Mrs. Cutter herself, without which a

concert programme for the last four yoais i has scarcely heen considered complete. The ¡advertisement to winch wo refer will show 'the reader tho provision which has been jiiiade for the sale of tickets during the day,

{and the accommodation of the public in the

, evening.

- The usual People's Concert in connexion with the Melbourne Total Abstinence So'ciety, takes place this ovoning in tho Terajperance-hall, Russell-street, Mr. II. Beau,

champ presiding.

There was a good attendance at the Theatre Royal last night to witness the performance of the pantomime. Miss Clara ! Thompson's benefit is announced for Mon-

day night, when the comediotta of "The Little Rebel" will be performed.

The performance at the Opera-house con¡sistcd of the "Waterman" and "Nemesis'' > last night

The annual meeting of the Brighton Hor-ticultural and Poultry Societyis to be held at the Orderly-room, Brighton, to-night, at 7

i o'clock.

, By a printer's error, the property of Mr. W. Bates, M.L.A., announced to be sold by Messrs. Gemmell, Tuckott, and Co., next Fiiday, on account of the ownei's departure for England, was described as that of Mr. W. Bayles, M.L.A. Mr. Bayles is not goinn home, and is not offering any pioperty for

sale.

We notice by our advertising columns that the St. Kilda Artilloiy will parado this day, at 3 p.m., at tho Village Belle, to complote the work they havo boon engaged upon for some time past, viz., the construction of

their new butts.

We notice by our advertising columns that the East Molbourno Rifle and Carbine Club holds its first meeting for tho now half-year to day, when all intending mombcrs should put m an appearance, as HUB club gives moio than any otnor threo clubs in money prizes (not to speak of tho handsome trophies pre-sented to tho club by the presidont, the Hon. J. G. Francis). Shooting mon should not lot the opportunity go of entering this club.

The following aro tho statistics of the Lying-in Hospital for the month of January : -Patients romaining 31st December, 20 ; admitted duiing month, 59; discharged, 46; died. 1 ; remaining 31st January, ' 32 ; total number of out-patiqnts for month, 337. The person wlioso death is recorded was brought in in a dying state, and only lived a low

hours. ' .

IT ia'eatimatcá'that the wardrobe o£ a fashionable New York poodle costs 16dol,