Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Friday 23 October 1874, page 4


FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1874

The longer the debate on Mr WOODS'S motion continues the weaker appears the cause of its opponents. The more they talk the stronger will become the con-viction in the public mind that the step proposed is a judicious and beneficial one, and that the hostility which it pro-vokes springs from selfishness and is sustained by intolerance. It is lament-able, indeed, to witness the straits to which the Sabbatarians are reduced, owing to their utter destitution of anything presenting even a colourable resemblance to a valid argument why the Public Library and kindred institu-tions should not be opened on a Sundav. One honourable and learned member deprecated the movement be-cause it had originated with a small number of what he was pleased to call "advanced thinkers, and from them had spread outwards. But is not this the history of every important change that has taken place in the religious, poli-tical, and social condition of mankind, from the promulgation of Christianity down to the disestablishment of the Irish Church ?

Usually, however, such chances are only brought about after great agita-tion and by dint of much conflict with venerable prejudices, vested interests, conservative instincts, and stolid obstructiveness. But in the pre-sent instance public feeling has been aroused with an instantaneousness and a force which have startled even the

most sanguine of the anti-Sabbatarians All has been done without organisation

and without concerted action. Men holding the most opposite views in re-gard to religion and to the political questions of the day, have found them-selves standing shoulder to shoulder, and co-operating for the establishment of liberty of conscience, by a common impulse, under the influence of which they have subordinated all minor con-siderations to the one important end they have in view. And the disn-terestedness of those who are most active in this liberal and beneficent movement is unimpeachable. This is so obvious that their opponents are driven to the invention and imputation of the most preposterous motives. The advo-cates of a rational, sober, moral, and cheer- ful Sunday are charged with harbouring the most subtle and nefarious designs against the peace and happiness of the exemplary people who are regular in their attendance at Salem Chapel, and who are solemnly assured by their re-spective pastors that if people are allowed to read BAXTER, OWEN, or CHILLINGWORTH, in the Public Library on a Sunday, or to look at the picture of "John Bunyan in Prison," there will be a general conflagration of society. Just as the Luddites were taxed with " filling the butchers' shops with big " blow-flies," so are the supporters of Mr WOODS'S motion accused of an infamous intention to subvert methods of spending the first day of the week which only date from the time of the Covenanters, and which, as Mr DUFFY showed, derive no sanction whatever either from tho practice of the Roman Catholic or of the Reformed Church.

If it were allowed for Mr MACBAIN to speak on each evening of the debate, the success of Mr WOODS'S motion would be assured Last night he re-sembled the barrister who had got hold of the wrong brief, and was defending the prisoner whom he had been re-

tained to prosecute. Sabbatarianism, he contended, was just a question of material gain. Observe the first day of the week with suitable austerity and you would be sure to get rich. But above all things, guard against any approach to the vivacity of a continental Sunday. We are afraid the Belgians, Germans, French-men, and Italians are very much behind us in regard to the observance of that day. They cannot boast, as we can, of prize fights taking place between larri-

kins, of public-house bars being l00ted by juvenile roughs, and of two men engaging in whisky - drinking for a

wager-in which exploit one of the competitors killed himself-on the Sunday. This is no desecration 0f the day. Its profanation would con-sist in opening certain educational and humanising institutions to those classes of the people against whom they are now closed, on the one day on which they enjoy the leisure necessary for taking ad-vantage of them. This would involve the employment, as we have already stated of three policemen as caretakers. And about the spiritual welfare of these, the representatives of selfishness and intole-rance evince a painfully acute concern.

Strange to say, however, this touching anxiety extends no further. It was stated last night by Mr. BERRY that the members of the police force never have a Sunday to themselves. The state com-pels them to be "Sabbath-breakers" all the year round. Nevertheless, we cannot call to mind any demonstration of affectionate interest on their behalf by the ministers, deacons, elders and congregations of the various Little Bethels from which so many petitions have emanated during the past week. Neither have the feelings of any reverend gentlemen been lacerated by contemplating the Sunday labours of the engineers, stokers, guards porters, money-takers, and gatekeepers on the Hobson's Bay Railway, who are hard at work three Sundays out of four. But the public is not in-sensible to the cant and hypocrisy in-volved in the conduct of the Sabba-tarians, who,, as Mr. COPPIN observed, " strain at a gnat and swallow a camel," and being thoroughly alive to the transparent insincerity of the sticklers for the Puritanical observance of Sun-day, the people of this city and its suburbs resent it accordingly.

The report of the select committee appointed to inquire into and report upon the subject of the O'Ferrall frauds fully bears out the view formerly taken by us with regard to this matter. After the commissioners of audit had published their reports, we pointed out that had they instituted that investi-gation into the licensing branch of the Lands department which might fairly have been expected of them, the long series of frauds perpetrated by O'FE-RALL would have been rendered abso-lutely impossible. The select committee, like ourselves, have been obliged to come to the conclusion that there was really no check at all upon the proceed-ings of O'FERRALL. The report says: -" Mr. FLETCHER, as it appears, in " complete reliance on his subordinate " (Mr. O'FEREALL), abandoned any " attempt at intelligent supervision, " signed his name to whatever returns ' were laid before him, and practically " assumed responsibility for the correct-

" ness of documents of which he '' possessed no knowledge, except such " as was supplied to him by the subor" dinate whom he was expected to " control." Thus it will be seen that FLETCHER allowed O'FERRALL to do just as he pleased, and, in their turn, the commissioners of audit took it for granted that Mr. FLETCHER'S super-vision was all that was required, so that in fact there was no check, no supervision, no audit at all. Under such circumstances, it is almost sur-prising that O'FERRALL was so mode-rate in his peculations during the long series of years over which they ex-

tended.

It is not alone of the absence of that intelligent supervision which would either have altogether prevented or very speedily discovered the O'Ferrall frauds of which the public have to complain. Had the inspecting commissioner acted with ordinary prudence when in Octo-ber, 1873, he commenced his annual audit of the books and transactions of the Lands department, it would have been almost impossible for O'FERRALL to have escaped. The report of the commissioners of audit, dated the 12th of May last, after referring to some changes which had been recommended in the Lands department, states as fol-

lows :-" Matters were in this state " when the annual inspection of O'FER " RALL'S cash account and of the stock " account became due ; and about the

" same time we received from a re-

" spected firm, through an officer of the " Government, information that O'FER " RALL had returned their cheque be-" cause it was crossed. Having in view " BRYANT'S case, the inspecting com" missioner was advised by his col-" leagues to exercise the powers conferred " for special cases by the 40th section of " the Audit Act, and going behind all the

" vouchers and accounts of the occupa-" tion branch, to make from the cor-" respondence and the minute-book of " the Board of Land and Works such a " register (or rent-roll) as the conference " had recommended." Now, if this paragraph possesses any significance st all, it means that prior to the commence-ment of the audit, the inspecting coinmissioner had suspicions (and very justly too) that O'FERRALL'S accounts were not exactly correct. It would have been scarcely too much to expect that with the knowledge referred to in the para-graph above quoted, the commissioner should have at once communicated either with the Minister of Lands or the per-manent head of the department, and supplied one or other of these gentle-men with the information he possessed and the suspicions entertained. Or, better still, he might easily, without alarming O'FERRALL, have discovered whether the amount represented by the crossed cheque, which seems to have been paid in some other manner, had ever

been properly entered in the books, and if the usual entry did not appear, that would have been quite sufficient to have

justified the proper authorities in placing O'FERRALL under such surveillance as

would have prevented his leaving the

colony.

But, strange to say, no precautionary steps whatever were taken. The audit was commenced in the usual manner, and the branch with which O'FERRALL was connected came under review in the customary order. Indeed, O'FERRALL seems to have had every opportunity afforded him of escaping, for after the usual audit of his ordinary accounts, which he took care to have cor-rect had been finished, the commissioner kindly informed him that on the follow-ing day the special audit mentioned in the paragraph before quoted would be commenced. Of course, this hint was quite enough for O'FERRALL. He saw that the beginning of a very unpleasant end had come, and he came to the Lands Office no more. Now, it might certainly have been expected that O'FERRALL'S absence would have strengthened whatever suspicions the inspecting commissioner might have previously entertained, and that then at any rate he would have laid a full repre-sentation of the facts of the case before the Minister. He, however, did nothing of the sort. He contented himself with reporting O'FERRALL'S absence, and quietly acquiesced in the audit being suspended for some days in the expectation of the delinquent's return. In fact, nothing was ever heard of the crossed cheque until the re-port of the audit commissioners appeared, some seven months after O'FERRALL had levanted. It is proved in evidence that the Minister of Lands was in his office on the day when O'FERRALL was first absent, and might easily have been communicated with, and even if he had not been there, the commissioner of audit might have advised With Mr. HODGKINSON in the matter. Neither of these steps, however, was taken ; the principal officers of the Lands depart-ment were only aware that the audit commissioners had discovered some " serious irregularities" in O'FERRALL'S accounts between the 22nd and 24th of October, and the first information they received of the long-continued system of fraud which had been in-dulged in by that officer, was, from the report of the audit commissioners, pre-

sented to Parliament on the 4th of November last.

Of course all this may be in strict ac-cordance with official routine, but to men of ordinary business habits it cer-tainly appears slightly incomprehensible. What would the shareholders of a bank think and say about auditors entrusted with the guardianship of their interests who acted in a similar way? It is scarcely probable that their services would be required a second time. It is, however, but little use longer to comment on past omissions. What the public are interested in is the question-Has any change been made in the system of audit to render it more effective than it was during the time that the O'Ferrall frauds were being perpetrated ? If not, then it con-tinues to be a delusion and a snare, and lulls the public into a false security, which will inevitably react in an in-jurious manner upon its servants.

The members of tlio Victorian Toachers' Institute havo drawn up a report con-cerning tho salaries of tile mastors and mistresses employed in tho state schools. It was ordered to be printed by a meet-ing held on the 18th inst., for tho infor-mation of the members of the society, but, of courso, it possesses an interest for mail}' outside- its ranks. Amongst ether statements put forward aro the fol-lowing :-"Tlio department has always *' aflirmed through tho hon. tho Minister, *' ' that undor tho now regulations the *' ' greater number of teachers would ?"'rccoivo higher salaries than in 1872.' " In the ao? interim report drawn up by tlio *' secretary in April last, it is stated ' that

?" ' there woro somo half dozon incomes ?" 'undor tho old regulations which are not " ' likely tobo equalled unless by teachers ?" ' unusually successful in forming classes " ' in tho extra subjects ; but vvith these ." ' exceptions, I am confidently of opinion "" ' that tlio position of tho teachors will bo *' ' iii every way improved.' " In answer

to tliÎB the committeo of tho Teachers' Instituto affirm that whereas in 1872 the average income of tho entire numbor ?of public instructors, including pupil teachers and work mistresses, was £112 8s., the present average rate of rémunération .only amounts to £01 3s. 4d., showing a reduction all round of £21 4s. 8d. Figures aro given to show that while under the now system 421 gain £9,221 Is. 4d., C70 loso £21,281 17s. ad. Kow, it cannot bo denied that the sup-porters of tho act at prosont in force did not intend that tho ladios and goutlomon employed in our public schools should suffer pecuniarily or othenviso by the alteration in tho law. Wo do not con-sider it necessary to endeavour to recon-cile the different statements which havo been put forward by tho department on the ono hand and tho teachers on the othor. But wo certainly do think that

some effort should ho mado to romovo

tho Beiiso of injustice which the lattor imagino thoy labour undor. It is bad policy to koop a largo numbor of public servants in a stato of chronic discontent

if it is possiblo to romovo thoir griev-ances or show conclusively that thoy havenovalidgrounds for thoir complaints. It lins been suggostod that tho Assembly would do well to appoint a solect com-mittee to investigate tho matter, and wo must say that in our opinion tho proposal appears reasonable Wo would draw attention to tho fact, that while tho salaries of tho teachors havo beon in many instances materially reduced, tho compensation in tho shape of retiring

allowances has not boon sottlod. The 22nd clauso of tho Education Act only enacts that aftor fifteon years' service any officer employed undor its provisions shall bo entitled to a retiring allowance on the samo basis as may hereafter bo provided for mombors of tho public ser-vice. A now Civil Sorvice Act is as yet hi tho clouds.

Our correspondent Dr. CAMEHON is «.athe'r hypercritical in his correction of 'Dean STANLEY. For although it is per-fectly truo that tho Sunday supper took place at tho houso of JOHN KNOX, yot it is equally true that tho Duke of OIIATELIIEKAULT was one of tho reformer's guests as well as tho English ambassador. The presumption is, thoroton), that it was a supper party. And this is warranted by tho custom of tho period, Sunday boing then a day of festivity in Scotland. In 15G2, Lord JAMES STEWAIIT, afterwards tho Earl of MUHKAY, was marriod in Edinburgh on that day, JOHN KNOX preaching tho bridal sermon, and tho .ceremony was followod by a grand ban

quet and masquo at Holyiood , aftci which came dancing and fireworks, and idling at the ung lu the year preceding tho Town Council of Edmbuigh ¡,av e a banquet on Sunday to the Qui LN S Ficnch cousins Two days afteiwaids the same body impiisoned Mi SKIAI,, tdv ocate, for taking the "pnests sacia " ment at Easter, iii the contempt of the " religion and the gloiy of GOD now "established" Mi L VINO, m his Iii,

io! i/ of Scotland, shows that the Refoirned Superintendent of Argyle and Bishop of the Isles feasted tho Qi * r\ and the Ambassador of Savov on a Sunda) Toi moie than 20 )cais after the death of 1VNO\, as ia rccoided in the Bouka of the linnet "sall K11I of Scotland, Hobin Hood plaj s wero acted on Sunda) s, and the Ivinf, of May held his ka,ubols on that day noith as vvoll as south of the Tweed It v\ as on a Sund ty, as Bishop KLITII mentions m Ins lintot i/ / 'scotland, that the lcfoimcd commend ttora of Holyiood md Coldin0ham, both of thom lords of the congregation, rode at tho rnig m women s clothes And, as late as 1033, on Sunday, the 23id of June, as wo leam norn the Mernot tah of the Tioublcs m Scotland, published by the Spalding Club, " after seimon, the town of Edmbuigh " gave tho King a banquet, which in ono

dimngroom they had prepared in " sumptuous and costly mannei, whoie ' by no seimon was (pleached in the " afternoon^ through all the town " chuiches Maikets woie regularly held in Scotland on a Sunday down to the commencement of the ICth century "With respect to CALUH'S notion of the Christian Sunday, wo have it on the authority of no loss a man than ROBERT BARCLAY, that the Gonevese îe formei " once designed to translate it to " lhursday, as an instance of Christian " liberty,' and in commemoration of the ascension of CHRIST into heaven So long as the Sabbatarians confine them selves to vague declamation or inarticulate clamour, thoy are as harmless to them selv es as to their opponents, but tho moment they venture to deal with the historical aspects of the question they begin to play with sharp edged weapons, and cut their fingors aecordmgly

Some mon become famous by reason of then ability, others rendel themselves notonous by means of their folly It is perhaps superfluous to say that tho member for Williamstown is in no danger of distinguishing himself by any excess of talent or common sense When the v otes which had been agieod to on the previous ev emng in committee of supply wero reported to tho House last night, this irrepressiblo gentleman considered himself called on to object to the sums allotted to the Head quaiteis Band and the Victorian Rifle Association, theieby wasting the time of tho public and utteily disgusting all reasonable men His objection to the fonuoi mstitu tion, as far as no could understand it, was that occasionally music has boon discoursed to the oificeis of the stall and permanent force during the time these gentlemen wero at dinner We do not know w bethel this is a fact oi not, but wo certamly entertain v ory giavo doubts as to the truth of the statement Sup posing, howovcr, that tho band has been occasionally usod for the purpose of giving éclat to entertainments given by the officers of our garrison to distill

¿lushed visitois, we do not think that any one can reasonably complain Tho fact that Mr A T CLARK was not invited does not justify lum in condemning the maintenance of a body which periodically gives pleasuro to thou sands If all oui public money wore ox pended as judiciously as the £1,000 de voted to the Head quarters Band, v\o think the conn ti y would bo much bettor oil With legard to the Rifle Association, the lion member s remaiks wero equally happy and sensible He thinl s that ar tillery piactice should be cncouiagod, and the entire volunteei force bo subsidised in oidei to piomoto efficiency m nile practice W o have iiotlnn_, to say against his proposals but we certainly piotest against the couise ho tool in advocating thom It is not nccessaiy to speal slight ingly of a numboi of j_ontlomen who hav o giv en a gieat deal of timo and attention to the piomotion of nile piactice m ordor to bring about any reforms that may bo desnablo Wo wondei if vv e should hav e heard anything about their shortcomings if Mr A T CLVKK had been a man having authority amongst thom Pio bably, howevoi, the council oi committee would soonoi havo his absence than his piesence

Almost the whole of yesterday a sitting of the Legislative Assembly was devoted to the consideration of what is now known as the Sundoy question Mr Vi oods adopted the suggestion of Mr Uigmbotciam and presented his motion in the following amended form - That in the opinion of this House all libraries museums picture galleries public parks and botanical gardens which aro supported wholly or in part out of the general revenue, should be oi en to the public every day from 10 a m until a suitable hour in the ovening due provision being made with the consent and approval of the trustees or managers for securing to all persons employed in such institutions one clear day of rest at the least in every seven dajs The discussion in no instanco rose to the importance of the subject and Bhortly before midnight the debate was adjourned until tuesday next on the understanding that upon th it day a division would bo taken upon tho ques

tion

The Speaker will entertain the members of the Legislative Assembly at dinner on the 11th November the dinne which will be held ni the Parliament houses is given in honour of His I \cellency the Governor and of Mr Trancis and m view of their ap proa-ung departure from the colony

Twelvo petitions were presented to the Legislative Assembly yesterday byvauous bon members against the adoption of Mr \\ oods s proposal to open the public libi aries ^c on Sundays and one in fav our of the motion Among the petitions on the subject the most noteworthy was one presented bj Mr Langton signed by 3C5 inhabitants of Melbourne who prayed that the memorial presented from the public meeting held in tho Town hall on Tuesday evening might not bo accepted as an expression of the opinion of the citizens of Melbourne with regard to the Sunday observance question This peti tion contains several statements which coi tainlj are not true

In the Legislative Assembly yesterday Mi

A T Clark drew the attention of the Minister for Hallways to the necessity of immediately proceeding with the oitonsion of the Williamstown pier Ho said that for the carrying out of the work there was no necessity for cutting a new channel to get into the graving dock as vessels drawing 23ft of water could como alongside the pier in a direct Une with it Mr QiUies stated that a pioposal had been made to construct a new pier instead of length emng the presont pier ne was informed that a new pier could be made for up vv ards of 900ft at less cost than the present pier could be lengthened and it would also do away with the necessitj of constructing a breakwater Ile saul he had gone down to V Uhamstown on Tnday last to inquire into the matter personally but he did not stat to the House hw own opinion on the subject He said, however, that if the report of the

officers of the department was considered satisfactory the Government would much prefer to construct a new pier at less cost than to lengthen the existing one

In the Legislative Assembly yesterday in reply to questions by hon members it was elicited that it was at present impossible to malle any better arrangements with re gard to the postal communication between Melbourne and Stawell and GlenoHij aud that lithographed plans of the thud section of the Gipps Land Railway had that das been forw aided to the district stineyofhco

at Sale

Ihe desirability or otherwise of continuing the Head quarters Band was subjected to the test of a vote of the Legislative As sembly jesterdny evening Mr A T Clarl

moved that the item of £1000 the grant for this purpose should be struck out but on a division the motion was rejected by 1J votes to six tho hon member being supported by only five other members who wero among the most unmflticntial members of the

House

A meeting of the supporters of Mr Joseph Bosisto as a candidato for the representa tion of Richmond in Parliament was held last nifeht at the Stai and Garter Hotel

Bridge road Pichmond Mr Dav id Mitchell occupied the chair Messrs Vi Gleadell George Stirhug Charles Smith H Newlands M R Bla/ej and Butler wero elected the executiv o committee Large committees were appointed to cam as the various divisions of

the dis ti ict

The final meeting of the joint committee on the Marine Board and Harbour Trust was held on AAednesdaj when it was resolved a ter discussion as to what steps should be taken for further agitation in order to obtain legislative sanction to the Marine Board and Harbour Trust Bills- That aa the present committee was appointed for the special pur pose of preparing Marine Board and Harbour Trust Bills and was therefore restricted in number it is deemed expedient that the members shall report to their respective constituencies the completion of thcirlabours and recommend that a new and enlarged com nuttee bo appointed from each body respec tively and be authorised to take such steps as may appear oest with a view of obtaining speedy legislative sanction to the Harbour Trust Bill and the Manne Bourd Bill that the new committee should have power to add to its numbers and that Mr Mouritz the bon secretary of this committee be the convener of the new committee The cora mittee then passed a special vote of thanks to Mr G A. Mouritz for Ins services during the time he had held the office of honorary

secretary

The Trench war steamer Coctlogon having completed arrangements loaves the bay this morning for Kew Caledonia direct Her requirements m tho matters of provisioning coaling repans A-c have been attended to by Messrs Stewart AV hite and Co and her commandei and ofliceis have expressed themselves very much pleased with the re ception given them here

Concerning Mr Aales appointment his brother writes as follows to the Ballal al Stat - Sir -In your issue of Saturday I notice your Melbourne correspondent states that Mi AA M IC Vale has been appointed secretary to the board of advice Would you allow mo to state that Mr W M K Vale has been appointed a member of the board of advice The only emoluments appertaining to that position aie fees laid foi actual at tendance that may amount to £G0per annum -a somewhat different position to that of

secrctarj with a salary of £G00 per annum -?Voius Ac R P Vvxc

In confirmation of tho report respecting the plot to sei/o 1 IJI concocted by some of the Windward chiefs we may mention says the S/dney Emp i c of Saturday that oiders for a ton of bullets for shipment ro the group have been executed m Sydney within the last fortnight

In connexion with ti e breakdown of the Australasian and American Steamship Com 1 auj we lind the following in the Lo lo) and China Telegraph of August lJ - The acceptances of 1 aul S I orbes (who lins been of late j ears in London and PaiiB) for £10 000 havo been protested and judg ment given on them Mr Torbeswas up to June last a i artnei of Messrs Russell and Co of China but these acceptances were given by Mr Toibcs in his own name on behalf of a steam line from San 1 rancisco to Australia in which ho took a prominent part Of course the corni any has gone to smash and the unfortunate inssengers who paid their i assage money have been v ictimised It is lo be regretted that a merchant of Mr I orbes s i osition and standing should be mixed upv ith so miserable a business It is another instance of the danger of allowing a laitner to lemam in a lirm who does not confine his oj orations to business connected with the firm To hav e a i artner or partners rov ing about Euroi e entering into all kinds of si eculation is an element of danger which firms like Messrs Russell and Co should not incur On the first rumour of the affair in Lon don it was stated that the disaster would af feet his firm hut inquiries at Messrs Baimg Brothers dispelled any fears on this head and we are glad to find that Messrs Russell and Co will not ho in any way affected by it Mr 1 orbes is at present believed to bo in America but we understand his address is not 1 nown and that he has other large ha bihties both here and there

There was a largo attendance of spectators on the Sandndgo railway pier yesterday afternoon to see tho Intercolonial rifle team Btart for Sidney by the A S N Co s steamer rangatira The men were attired in the shooting costumo to bo worn during the matches and shortly beforo 2 fell in on the 11er under the command of Captain Bull in order to bo inspected by the colonel com mandant Colonel Anderson was accom panied hy Captain Stubbs Lieutenant Nichol son and Lieutenant Williams After being inspected the team went on board and the steamer having cast oil three hearty cheers weio given for their success in the comint matches and were as heartily returned from the steamer the following is the list of the team -Major Sleep 1 B 1 (cap tain of the team) Major Tijthall I CR Captain Greenfield 1 B R Captain lung TMA Captain Wardill 1 M \ Captain Swallow SA , Sergeant Astley RR OuaiterroaBtci Sergeant AA balley SKA Gunner Masson 1 M \ Gunnor nondren SKA Gunner Dunno IMA Gunnel Scotson SKA Gunner M Hutchison 1 H A Private Paterson C R Gunnor Ure S I\ \ Puvate Monsborough 1 B R Gun net Marsh S A Sa] per Bennett 1 ng San cr Di er Img Private Manchester S li Gunner AVood 1 H V Private Lacej SR Private Powell S R Private nannay 2C R Private Mann Bo R C miner Chessell

1 HA Private Meads SR und Private AA atton M R The following accompany the team as registei keepers -Captain Buchan CR Captain Blnnmn CR Sergeant Bal longer L II A and Corporal Butchei SKA Captain Bull of tho staft went as ofticer m charge By the steamer leaving on Mondaj next Coiporal Draper (Eng ) and Troopei Miles (Cavalrj) will start for Sjdnej to join the team as they wero unable to get away jesterdaj

We are informed that Mr. Gordon Thom- son-whose interesting narrative of early Victorian experiences we published a few days since—has presented to the Public Library two curious relics of Australian his- tory. One is the stone axe (referred to in his story) which was carried by Buckley for 20 years, and which was presented to Mr. Thomson by that adventurous fellow as a parting gift. The other is a nugget of gold saved from the wreck of the Royal Charter in 1859. As our readers can recall, this terrible accident resulted in the loss of three-

quarters of a million of bullion, nearly all the

390 passengers, and crew of 130 men. One of the passengers named William Ferris had a belt of gold dust and nuggets round his waist. Swimming ashore, he was dashed against the rocks, his belt burst and the nuggets were washed into the sea. Ferris was saved, however, and having picked up a nugget in the sand near the spot where he was dragged ashore, preserved it as a me-mento of his escape. Returning home he met Mr.Thomson in Ireland and pre- sented that gentleman with the fragment of gold, which with its history attached, is now deposited in the Melbourne Museum. The axe of William Buckley has also its little tale of travel. The "wild white man"

as he was called, gave it to Mr Thomson in 1836 and in 1853 he presented it to the museum at Belfast, Ireland. Upon re-turning to this colony, however, and seeing how fine an institution the colonists had created, Mr. Thomson considered that the proper place for the axe was the Public Library, and wrote to the authorities of the museum at Belfast, requesting them in con-sideration of the peculiar circumstances of the case, to break their rules and return him his donation, in order that he might place it in the Public Library of Melbourne. This request was very graciously acceded to and on the 12th of August 1874 the companion of Buckley's wanderings was formally placed in the museum of the Library. Thus the fragment of greenstone having been fashioned into an axehead in 1816, passed 20 years of its life of usefulness in Buckley's belt, 21 years in the museum of Belfast, and made two voyages of 16,000 miles each,

returns to its native land in 1874.

Au application was mado to Mr Justice Tellow s j esterday for leave to appeal to the Invy Council against the decision of the Supreme Court m the case of PacUiat 11 II e Board of Land and ttorks J he apph cation which was on behalf of the defen drillt was made absolute

A meeting of the AVarrandyte Bridge Com mittee w as held at Heidelberg on luesday last the membors present bem_-Messrs Hoare Evans and O Brien representing the Templestowe Road Board and Messrs I ord Cameron and AA ingrovo on behalf of tUe Tltbam Shire Council Mr Cameron \ as elected chairman Mi AAiugrove submitted plans of the i roposed vv ork w Inch ho st ited had been approved of by the Government m specting engineer These were adopted and Mr AAingrove unanimously appointed to carry out the work for which it was decided to invite tenders receivable on the lith

prox

A meeting of the cxecutiv e committee of the Melbourno and Gippa Land Southern Railway League was held lost evening at the office of the league It was announced that the up conntry districts were advocating the views of tho league and at Dandenong a public meeting had been held at which Colonel Hutton was appointed chairman of an executivo committee having similar v lews to those of the league The route from Oakleigh to Melbourne IG miles by the outer cnclo line when a direct south lino would be only eight miles was heartily condemned Various members of 1 arba ment and municipal bodies had been seen on the subject of the Southern line who had promised their full support The com mittee meets again on Monday next at

Spin

Av ith reference to the coachmakers strike the secretary to the Journey men s Society in a communication authorised by a meeting of the society held last nif,ht writes to say that the position of affairs was not correctly stated in tho paragraph which appeared in 1 he Aigu of yesterday The men he says re fuse to work in any shop wheie the eight houis system is not adopted He adds that the question of wages Ins not arisen

The Railway deiartmont does not recog mee its liability to maintain lights on rail

way gates at level crossings hut throws the icsi oi sibihty on tho municipal authorities Hie lootscray Council wrote to the Com missioi er of Railways asking tliat for the com enienco and safety of trallic lights should be i laced on the rail vay gates crossing some of the most important public streets of tho borough Mi Galt on bel alf of the commissioner replied to ti c eflect that the lighting of level ciossings was the function of the municipal authorities and not of the department The borough council regard the matter m a différent li¡,ht and have determined to obtain counsel s opinion on the point

The following tenders were yesterday ac cepted by the Board of Land and Works -1 lttmgs ^.c Custom IIOUBO A\ llhamstow iiJames Mair £°0¿> 4s Gd paving and othor vv orl s Oueen s wharf-J Beauland £7 U 11s id works fittings and gangway Sand lidge-R Nichol ¿°J7 9S Gd fitting up 1 ortion warders quarters Swanston street as prothonotary s office-Charles Dickson £9dG 7s supply of 18S tons (more or less) cast iron water pipes-Tulton and Co £1Î I or ton if supplied within four months and a half and £12 17s Gd if supplied

within nine months

The executors of tho will of tho late Alichael Pender in addition to a former bequest of £100 havo forwarded to tho tre tsuier of the Melbourno Benevolent Asy lum a further sum of £1°0 5s Id being the fifth i art of tho proceeds of the sale of a pioco of land in Little Lonsdale street west Tho other chanties benefited by tins transaction are the Melbourno Hospital tho Roman Catholic Orphanage at Tmorald hill St 1 rancis Church (for tho altar) and the Convent at Abbotsford The amount above named was i laced to the credit of the Bequest Tund and the names of Messrs 1 lullit s and Buckley were added to tho list of life govemois of the Benevolent Asylum

Hie first annual meeting of the Melbourno 1 ermanent Mutual Benefit Building Society was held on Wednesday evening at half past 7 o clock at tho Athen turn Collins street east Mr A L Tucker M L A presided and there was a large attendance of share 1 holders Hie chairman moved tho adoption

of ti e îeport and balance sheet of the society winch stated that during tho year ending Auaubt II an amount of £20 299 10s 2d had been advanced to borrowers which was ami ly secured by mortgages on freehold pro perty The membors had met their repay

ments moBt i unctually as was shown by the fact that the arre trs had only amounted to the sum of £ 1014s 1 ach shareholder had had i laced to his credit compound interest at the rato of ) per cent per annum The liabilities for stationery rent and office fun íture had been fully met and a stun of i^S 1 Js lid carried forward to the ciedit of the i rolit and loss account The number of shares taken up during the year had been ¿ 018 2 oil s each of which wero of the value of £120 Mr nenry I Phipps seconded tho adoption of the motion On being put to the meeting the motion was unanimously cained The election of two members of the hoaid of directors in the loomofMr 1 Bowyer Miller and Mi Thomas G Pascoe who rotired was next iroceedod with There beint three candidates for tho vacancy a ballot was taken winch resulted as follows -lor Mr Thomas A Kelly 45 for Mr William B Tox (of Cook and 1 ox)

lo and for Mr Alexander Sturrock 11 The first two were accordingly declared elected On the motion of Mr IColly seconded bj Mi

M T Bruce a cordial vote of thanks for his untiring exertions in tho sociotyB behalf waB unanimously awarded to Mr T M D Miller The meoting then terminated with a vote of thanks to the chauman

It will bo satisfactory to tho subscribers to know that the walls of the Mission Church now being built at Collingwood at the corner of Mason and Tifc streets aro several feet

above the street footways and the contrae tors, Messrs Goss and Hopkins, evidently mean to complete their contract at or before tho specified time viz , the middle of March. This contract we understand from the architects, Messrs Terry and Oakden, m eludes the larger portion of the nave, with the pillars and arches between it and the future aisle also a temporary chancel, vestry, and porch

Thelma! arrangements foi the Springrxlubitiou to take place at Brighton on Saturday next were completed yesterday Over 300 entries have already been received by the bon secretary, while a number will be made on the morning of exhibition The number of roses entered is large, not withstanding the early stage of the season and the contest for the hfteen guinea ebal lenge cup ia expected to be very close ÏÏis Excellency the Governor will be received by the president and oflice bearers of the society, accompanied bj Mr George nigmbotham, M L A , Mr T Crisp (mayoi of Brighton), the Hon J M Grant, and Mr T Bent, M L A The band of the Emerald lull Artil

lery will perfoim a selection of music during the afternoon An express train loa\ es Mel bourne for the exhibition at 120 p m , and trams will leave hourly during the remainder of the afternoon

M e aro informed that the chief harbourrrnstei has taken measures to secure a clear

course for the Civil Service rowing matches, which will take place on Saturday on the

Saltwater River

Mrs Sarah Robins, of Stoke street Sand ndge, reported to the polico on Wednesday night that about 8 o'clock on that evening, on opening her hall door, she had found de posited on the mat a male child, apparently about three weeks old The youngster was dressed m a light wincey Bkirt and had on the usual underclothing Prom the appeal

ance of the child it must have been well taken care of It was immediatelj placed in charge of a nurse and j esterday morning the mattci was brought before the magistrates at the police court, when it was decided to postpone dealing with the case for a week, to allow inquiries to be made bj the police

Jane Hamilton and Maria Murray, women well known to the police were charged at the Citj Police Court yesteidaj, by Detective Nixon the former with being an idle and disorderly person, without visible lawful means of support and the other with keep ing a house m Leichardt street, oil Little Bourke street, frequented by vagiants Evi dence was given that the women made it a practice to inveigle men into the house, lob them, and turn them out They maintained themselves with the money thus obtained A conti actor named William Huntingdon, stated that on the 12th inst, while undei the influence of some liquor which he believed to have been dragged, he was met bj the woman Hamilton, and taken to the house, wheio ho was robbed of a watch and chain a ring, and £2 or C3 The women weie sent to gaol for three months

At the District Polico Couit jcsteulaji Nicholas Lambrick was charged with cruelty to a boise, m overloading and beating it He was diiving the horse, winch was drawing a lorry loaded with oats weighing 1 tons icwt lqi In Queen street, between Hinders stieet and Flinders lane, where there is a hill the horse would not pull any fuither whereupon he beat it savagely on the head w ith the butt end of the whip A gentleman named Tnth remonstrated with defendant but he used abusiv e language to Trith and continued boating the horse no was also spoken to by others and information was fciv en to the Society foi the Prevention of Crueltj to Animals who took these proceedmgB Mr Call P M, said that ho had no doubt, from the defendant s insolence to Mr 1 nth, that ho was capable of ill treating a horse, and fined lum 20s , with 21a costs

John Bruce, ated 20 jeais was admitted to the Melbourne Hospital yesterday, having íeceived injuiies to the head by falling from the foiejardof the barque Dalmena to the deck He was a seaman on board the v essel which was ljingat Sandndge

Our Sandhurst correspondent reports that the Agricultural Show was continued jester day and was very fairly attended, the jump ing of the horses being especially admired Hie best jump was made by Mr Hadley, upon Lantern, who cleared 0ft lOin ( ) m capital style and won by a number of points ov er the other competitors There w ero only three horses entered for tho jumping pn7e, and they all distinguished themselves

The formal ceremony of turning the first sod of the Geelong and Colac Railway-the work was actually commenced moro than a week ago-w ill he performed by the mayor of Geelong at 3 o clock this aftornoon A banquet will bo held m the town hall at 1 o'clock The members of the Ministry were mv ited to attend the celebration, but important public business will keep them in

Melbourne

An important mining case," tho Stai states, "was decided at the Ballarat Court of Mines on Vi ednestlay Mi Josiah Magor, well known at the Corner, sought to bo de-clared the proprietor of 200 shares in the North Parker s Quart? mining Company (No Liability), the said shares having been for feited on account of tbo ninth call of 3d por share not having been paid The whole matter hmged on a law point as to whether the act had been complied with in respect to the advertisement in the Ga (ttc Under tho 'no liability' poition of the act, w hen a call is mado a share be comes forfeited if at the expiration of 11 days after tlio day for its payment it is unpaid ; when the sharo is forfeited the act says it shall he sold by public auction, advoitisod in the Oazi Iii It was contended by Mi Trench, who appeared for the plaintiff, that the ad vertisement should mention the particular share or shares forfeited, and which will bo sold by public auction The mattei waa orfcued by Mi linlnyson who appearod for tho company, and his Honour Judge Rogers held that the act meant that the notification of the intention to sell by auction must be adveitised m the Oa Mc and not tho paiti culnr share or shares Tho suit was dis missed with £8 is costs to tho dofon dante

" The manner in which Sir Henry Thomp son s famous proposal has been taken up m all civilised countiies, leaves llttlo room to doubt," observes tho Lancet, "that creina tion, ns a means of disposing of the dead, will soon supersede inhumation Tho Ger man Cremation Societj m No vYoik, number ing about V0 membois, have decided onorect lngaBiutable hall, with walls of iron, GOffc by -44ft, containing n rotunda supported bj oigh pillars In the centre there will be erected nu nitor for religious ceremony, and upon a largo stand in front of this will be placod the coffin The ceremonies ended, the collin would be gradually lowered by moans of screws into a furnace whero it would bo sub nutted to a hot air blast of 1 OOOdeg Talnon heit It is calculated that complete cremation would take place in au houi and a half after which the coflin would bo again returned to the altai Tho ashes w ould then bo gathored and placed m urns provided by the rolatives of the deceased Connected with the furnace there will bo an apparatus for condensing the gases and smoke '

Regarding tho cultivation of tobacco on the bordor, the Mut lay and Hume Times writes -"Owing to the low pucogivon for last season's leaf, the result of a combination amongst Melbourne manufacturers, the aroa of land undei tobacco on the Victorian border will bo less HUB seaBon than for Borne j ears past G row eis allege that the prices paid, avcrating something like Gd per lb, leave them no margin for their labour, and that it is bettor having regard to tho ex haustivo nature of the crop for thom to de

vote their land to other purposes, oi allow It

to lie idle It is to be regretted that the manufacturers should by their short sightod policy, have checked tobacco cultivation which was fast becoming an important industry m theA'ictonanborderdistnct That the manufacturers aromfaaltisopparentfrom the fact that on the New South AA »les border higher pnces have been paid for last season s leaf to bo forwarded in bond to Mel bourne and thence transmitted hy steamer to Sydney But for the obstinacy of the two Governments in declining to como to any arrangement with reference to the freo inter change of colonial produce A ictonan tobacco grow ers w ould ere this hav o beon independent of Melbourno manufacturers as a local manufactory on an extouano scale would hav c been m operation at AA odouga and tho competition thus caused would havo resultod m fair prices being given for tho leaf Should better counsels prevail and tho border duties be removed so far as colonial produce

is concerned w o have reason to boliovo that a local manufactory will at once bo cala Wished all the machinery being m readi

ness

M Blondín s agent informs us that Mi

Lockington the contractor for the erection of the frameworl of the enclosure at the site m tho Government domain near Princes Bridge broke ground yesterday Ibis framo worl is r0ft high and encloses a space of 2o0ft in length by 200ft m width and this will he surrounded at a com em ont distanco by a weatherboard fence 10ft

m height The cost of erecting this frame enclosure will be £ 00 and the contractor has undertaken to have it ready by the 2nd îvovember so as to give M Blondin s men time to cov or the inner en closure with a new suit of canvas lately made for that purpose Mr Lockington recently built tho high brick walls for the new picture gallery at the Public Library and Museum The foifeit for overtime m the present contract is wo aro infoimed £100 1 ei day The site is the best that could have

been chosen

The final appearance of the foremost living pianiste will take place as far as Melbourno is concerned to night at tho Opera house It is to Mr Lyster s enterprise that tho musical public m Molbourno owo this final treat in storo foi thom Madame Goddard had thought of îeturning to Melbourne at the beginning of next yeal to talco her final departuie at that time but hei plans have been quito recently altered on the assurances she has received that the passage from ISew Zealand to California will be o] en at the time she wishes to start on her American tour Although anxious to bid a becoming farev eil to the audience who thioughout her stay amongst them havo re ceived her so handsomely-the company at her disposal was insufficient at such short notice foi a grand performance m Melbourne but with tho help of Mr Lystei and his established musical organisation sho can mai o her adieux in a stylo befitting the occasion and the event is one which will doubtlesB enlist the wann sympa thies of all who havo pretensions to good taste or culture in the ait sho adorns Madame Goddard will be assisted by Herr AA llhelm Doohler solo violinist by tho opera orchestra and by tho following ladies and gentlemen as vocalists namely-Miss Clara Thompson Miss AAinston Mrs J H Tox Mr Beaumont Mr Bracy and Mr 1 arley The entire concert will bo under the direction of Mr lohn ndl tho conductor at the Opera house The full pro gramme appears m our advertising columns Reserved seats can be obtained at Messrs Av ill le A\ ebster and Allan s in Collins street and tickets for all parts of tho houso can bo had at Musketts booksellers in Bourke street

There was a largo attendance at the Iheatre Royal last evening when Little

Nell and tho Marchioness was again re , peated with pronounced success To night the performance will ho for tho benefit of MIBB Maggie Mooro (Mrs A\ llhamson)

who with hor husband has done so much to make this tho most successful diamatie season ev ei known in Melbourno That abo will havo a bumper houso is certain and that she should deserve it so well as she does is a matter upon which both sho and hei audience aro to be congratulated Tho performances on this occasion will bo honoured by the presence of His Excellency

the Governor

lhere was a fair attendance at tho Ken ncdys entertainment last night at the lemierance hall Another chango of pro gramme will be given this evening m lho second part of which the younger members of the family will essay foi tho first timo a selection from nandel s pa torale Acis and Calatea

lal illo do Madame Angot was played for the last time yesterday evening to a largo and adminng audience at the Opera house Hie style in which ti is attractive work has been produced and generally the manner in which it has beon performed 1 y all con cerned in the representation are alike credit able to the manager and his pooilo On Saturday night a new foi r mu itale the composition of Mr II B I armo entitled

Tldorado will be given for tho first time in Melbourne

Tlie annual gathering of tho Indopendont Sunday school children takes places m tho Collins strcot Independent Church this oven

ing

lho secretary of tho Victorian Eye and 1 ar Hospital Spring stroet reports as foi lows of the state of the institution for tho week ending October 21 -Indoor pationts -Remaining m house from last weok ¿i

admitted 2 discharged 2 loraainiug in liouBo at present 24 Outdoor patientsMales IV), females 14r now cases 53total attendances 3 !3 Operations 7