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On this Page 27
TOWN NEWS.
The members of the Ministry held a very
long consultation on April 23 with His Excel
lency the Governor and the commanding
officers of the Defence forces upon several
matters, of importance connected frith the
defence of the colony, A variety of proposals
for adding to the effectiveness of both the
naval and military forces were discussed and
dealt with, and it was decided to direct
special attention to poshing, oq what were
regarded as works of the most pressing
urgency. Amongst other things, it was con-;
sidered that the work of extending the ditch
on the western side of the battery at Queens-!
cliff round the fort should be proceeded
with forthwith, and that arrangements
for the use of the electric lights
provided for the batteries at the Heads
should be completed without further delay.
A shelter-trench for riflemen is to be con
structed along the neck between Queens
cliff and Point Lonsdale, and arrangements
will also be made for placing two or three
guns in protected positions. Some scarping
work, which will. materially strengthen the
Nepean battery, is to be carried oat at pace. I
A new work, of considerable importance oon
nected with the defence of the South Channel
was also resolved upon. A battery for the re- j
ception of three 80-pounder guns is to be con
structed at Point Franklin, between Sorrento
and Bye, the object being to command a por
tion of the South Channel which cannot be
covered by the guns at the South Channel
fort. The station at the South Channel fort
from which the torpedoes and .mints in the
channel ace to befiredwili becompleted with
all possible despatch.. Colonel Sargood
states that the arrangements for firing the
mines may be perfected within 24 hours. At
the Swan Island battery ditchingandembank
ment work will be performed, and several
other small matters are to receive immediate
attention.
It has been stated in a cable message
that the P. and O. Ca's royal mail
steamer Masai lia was to be equipped as an
aimed cruiser in Australian waters. Mr.
Withers, the Melbourne agent of the com
pany, states that the. vessel has been taken
up by the British Government* and will
cruise in Australian waters for the protection
of colonial interests. The Mossilia was to
have taken the English mails from Mel
bourne on the 6th May, but will now remain
in Australian waters, and the Thames, the
incoming mail steamer, due in Melbourne
on the 29th April, will be turned round, and
will proceed to England with those mails.
It is possible that her departure may be de
layed for 48 hours. Mr. Withers Bays that
he has heard nothing as to the Valettahaving
been engaged by the home Government.
She is the sister ship to the Massilia, and he
thinks it probable that she may also have
been taken up.
His Excellency the Governor has received
from Lord Derby a despatch relative to the
offers of Victoria, South Australia, and
Queensland to send Australian troops to the
Soudan. The despatch, which expresses the
satisfaction and gratitude with which Her
Majesty the Queen received the announce
ment of the generous and patriotic desire of
the colony to furnish a contingent to the
army, is similar to that received by the
Governor of South Australia. His Excel
lency has forwarded the despatch to Mr.
Service.
The Premier promised the deputation from
the Wesleyan Conference which waited on
him about two months ago, in reference to
the running of trains on the railways on
Sundays, that he would have a return pre
pared -showing the actual number of hours
during which the railway employes had to
work and the nature of the duties with
which they were occupied. The Itailway
Commissioners report that the return, the
compilation of which involves a great deal of
clerical work, is making good progress, and
that the statistics relating to three of the six
divisions of the Railway department have
been prepared. As soon as the particulars
are ready Mr. Service will furnish them to
the Wesleyan Conference and make them
generally public.
. The Public Service Board have nnder con
sideration the appointment of an officer to
the position of chief clerk in the registrar
general's office, rendered vacant by the ap
pointment of Mr. H. T, Gpmm as secretary
of the Public Service Board, and a recom
mendation will be made in a few days. It
has been found necessary to consult the
Central Board of Health with regard to the
appointment of a secretary to the board, and
the commissioners have forwarded the presi
dent, Mr. A. P. Akehurst, a list of the officers
who are eligible for the position.
The Postmaster-General has resolved that
in order to save expense to applicants for al
lowances in respect of duty stamps inad
vertently spoiled, a statutory declaration,
i which may be made before any justice of the
peace, free of charge, shall be accepted
'in lieu of the affidavit now required
to be mtde before a commissioner.
The rule under the Stamp Statute 1869, which
directs beads of departments in which fees
payable by stamps are collected, to cause an
exact account to be kept oi the number and
denomination of all stamps cancelled by
their officers, and the dates of such cancella
tion, has been found unworkable, and a
cause oi needless expense, and it is therefore
to be abrogated.
A meeting of the Exhibition trustees was
held on the I7th inst., at the Town-hall,
when there were present-Mr. L. L. Smith
(in the chair), Messrs. B. L. Zox, J. Woods,
G. R Fincham, M.L.A.'s, and Alderman
O'Grady. A report from (be building com
mittee, intimating that various improve
ments had been made in connexion with the
aquarium, atld that the tender ofMessrs. Ander
son, Campbell, and Sloes for supplying a
second air receiver bad been accepted, was
received and adopted. A suggestion that the
large room adjoining the aquarium should be
need for the display ot ethnographical speci
mens was agreed to. The appointment of an
architect to the trustees was then proceeded
with. There were a number of applies'
tions, and a ballot was taken, with the
result that Messes. Thoe. Watts and
Son were elected. An extension of time
for another week was granted to the
committee of the Gipsy Encampment on the
usual terms. A letter was received from Mr.
M. Simonsen deairinp to obtain terms for the
use of die main hall for the purpose of giving
promenade concerts during Hay, and it was
decided to grant the use of the hall on the
usual terms. The question of having popular
lectures given on economic subjects having
arisen, the matter was referred to a sub
committee for report, and the meeting ad
journed.
At Friday's meeting of the Trades-hall
Council, Mr. W. E. Murphy, the secretary,
stated that the Attorney-General had promised
a deputation from the Amalgamated Miners'
Association and Executive Committee of the
Council, which had waited upon him during
the week, that he would introduce a measure
into Parliament next session, the object of
which would be to render wages due for a
month's labour the first charge upon the
employer's plant, machinery. &c., whether it
had been previously mortgaged or not, in the
event of the employer becoming insolvent.
A new regulation as to countermanding
telegrams has been issued by the postal
authorities. It provides that" the sender of
any telegram lodged at any telegraph office in
Victoria, for delivery in the colony, may have
his telegram cancelled on making written
application to that effect to the postmaster
or officer in charge of the office at which such
telegram may be lodged, and if it be can
celled before the commencement of trans
mission, the sum paid shall be refunded on
application to the Postmaster-General at any
time within three calendar months; but if
transmission has commenced, the sum shall
not be returned. If transmission has been
completed, an official telegram, which must
be prepaid by the sender, shall be Bent to the
postmaster or officer in charge at the terminal
office. Should the official telegram arrive too
late at the terminal office, the sender shall be
informed that the attempt to cancel his tele
gram has failed, but the sum paid shall not
be refunded."
We learn from a private source that the
trustees of the National Art Gallery of New
South Wales have just purchased from Mr.
WalliB, for the sum of £1,000, a very fine
picture by Carl Heffner, of whose pencil
there is agoodexample in our ownart gallery.
Another acquisition made by our neighbours
is that of Les Enervis de Jumieges, by
Vital-Evariste Lammais, an historical
painter whose works always attract consider
able attention in the Paris Salon, where his
pictures, illustrative of the Merovingian
period of French history, are noted for their
power and accuracy. A third picture, bought
from Mr. Wallis, is fresh from the easel of
Mr. T. F. Dicksee.
Lord Carrington's appointment to the
Governorship of New South Wales is stated
by our London correspondent to be almost
unanimously regarded at home as a good one.
He is considered to possess all the «ocial
qualifications required to win popularity in
sucha position, and, although without much
official political experience, is regarded as
likely to prove "a good common-sense
Governor, as well as a genial and courteous
one." Had the Colonial Office desired it,
Lord Carrington would have been prepared
to proceed to New South Wales without
delay, but it is understood that he will not
leave until October, aa Lord Augustus Loftus's
term is extended until November. Lady
Carrington is described as a charming lady,
and she is credited with an earnest intention
to do all in her power to render her husband's
regime a great social success. Her three
daughters are quite young children. Sir
Saul Samuel and Lord Carrington have ex
changed visits, and his lordship exhibits con
siderable eagerness to make himself ac
quainted with colonial men and things, so
far as he can on thiB side of the
world. He will shortly be entertained
by the agent-general, and Australians
in London also propose to invite Lord
Carrington to a public banquet. "Atlas," in
the JForW, says:-" Lord Carrington will be
greatly missed in society, in the hunting
field, and as a landlord. But he ought to
make an ideal Governor for an Australian
colony. He has a fine frank manner; he has
a charming wife, whose health I wish were
more assured; he has no want of capacity,
and ample tact to recognise that the less a
colonial Governor concerns himself in local
politics the happier is his lot. A Governor
who can show the way on horseback will be
a grateful novelty to the Australians, and if
Lord Carrington cares to follow in the lines
of Sir Hercules Robinson, and keep some
horses in training, the measure of bis popu
larity will be fill."
An extraordinary will, made by the Rev.
W. Wight, oj Chialehurst, has just been
set aside by Mf. Justice Chittr in favour of
aa Australian resident whose name has not
been disclosed (reports our 'London corre
spondent). The testator proposed that his
property should accumulate until sufficient
to found and endow a college of social and
domestic soienoe for ladles. .He. was of
opinion that "a world of discomfort and
misery " was attributable to the " incompe
tency o£ the ladies of England" to properly
discharge their domestic and social duties,
and that unless a remedy were applied the
whole framework of societr would be sapped.
The law of mortmain enabled the heir-at-law
to upset the will, and Mr. Justice Chltty,
amidst some laughter, remarked that he
most leave it to his goodness to found such
an institution as the testator desired.
Mr. Withers, the superintendent in
Melbourne for the I". and O. Company,
informs us that the following ebeam
sh'ips of the company have now been
chartered by the Imperial Government:
As war cruisers, the Itassilia for the Aus
tralian station, the Rosetta for the China
Station; as mail boat between Suez and
Suakin, the Geslong; as hospital ship at
Soakin, the Ganges; &b transports, the Aus
tralia, Bangalore, Deccan, Poonah, Zambesi,
and Kashgar.
At the meeting ot the Executive Council
on Monday, His Excellency the Governor
passed orders for the appointment of Mr. T.
W. Smith as sub-lieutenant of the Naval
Reserve, and of Mr. F. Cheetham as surgeon
of the same body. He directed that the fol
lowing officers should be placed on the un
attached list of the naval forcesEngineers,
Messrs. P. M. Slimott, HI Jones, J. D.
Hulson, W. Rockliff, and J. Greenfield; stir- |
geon, Mr. H. E. Williams; assistant surgeons,
Messes. C. F. Lane and B. O. Deck. The
appointments of Lieutenant Umphelby as a
lieutenant of the Permanent Artillery, and
the addition of Messrs. A. G. Black, M.B.,
J. C. M'Kee, and J. B. Backhouse, M.D., to
the snrgeons on the unattached list of the
militia force was approved. Orders were
issued for the establishment of cadet corps
at State Schools 583, South Yarra; 1,188,
Belfast; 33, Ballarat Central; 34, Ballarat
East; and 1,743, Warrnambool; and at the
Carlton Grammar School; and for the for
mation of half-troops of cavalry at Sand
hurst and Bulla Bulla. Assistant-surgeon F.
Cole was struck off the unattached list of
the naval forces at his own request.
Representatives of the Amalgamated
Miners' Association and the Parliamentary
Committee of the Intercolonial Trades Con
gress waited on the Chief Secretary
on Monday with reference to several
measures which it was desired should
be passed during the coming session
of Parliament. The delegates of the
Miners' Association asked that the Govern
ment should heartily support the Mining
Boards Elections Bill, which Mr. Uren,
M.L.A., proposes to bring forward, and the
Employers' Liability Bill, which Mr. Wrixon,
M.L.A., intends to introduce. The Trades
Congress representatives asked that
the Trades' Unions Act Amendment
Bill and the Factories and Work
shops Amendment Bill should be
introduced as early as possible. Mr. Berry
promised that no unnecessary delay would be
incurred in introducing the measures which
the Government had taken up, and that he
would lay the wishes of the Miners' Associa-
tion relative to the other bills before his col-
leagues.
A deputation, consisting of Messrs. W.
H'Lean and W. G. Sprigg, introduced by
Mr. Jenner, M.L.C., waited on the Minister
of Lands on Monday, in reference to the new
building conditions to be imposed upon the
lessees of the low land between the
Sandridge-road and the Military barracks,
in South Melbourne. The leases provide
that the buildings to be placed upon
the land shall be erected subject to
the requirements of the Building Act
which applies to the city of Melbourne. It
was represented that, owing to the nature of
the ground, it will be impossible to find a
good foundation for substantial structures of
brick and Btone except at a great depth, and
the desire was that the lessees should be
allowed to erect buildings of corrugated iron
and other light materials. Mr. Tucker said
he did not wish to inflict hardship upon any
of the lessees, and if it could be shown to
the satisfaction of the surveyor-general that
a good foundation could not be secured at a
reasonable depth, he would allow of the erec
tion of iron buildings.
The secretary for Public Works received
the following telegram from the resident
inspector at the Yan Yean reservoir on Mon
day :-" The depth of water in the reservoir
is 14ft 6in. The total rainfall last week was
215 points, the intake 18,000,000gal., and the
output 12,000,OOOgaL" The depth of water
in the reservoir on Thursday last was
only 13ft 6in., so that the late rains have
furnished an appreciable addition to the
supply. The heavy downpour of last week
afforded a good opportunity of illustrating
the advantages gained by the construction
of the clear-water channel or stone aqueduct
recently constructed from Nimmo's falls, on
the Wallaby Creek, to the reservoir. The
water, instead of becoming very thick and
muddy on its way to the reservoir, is now
discharged into the Yan Yean in a perfectly
clear condition, and the whole of the water
can be availed of now, whereas it was
formerly found necessary on occasions to
divert the stream, owing to the water being
so highly charged with soil.
The Royal Commission on Water Supply
will proceed on a tour of inspection of the
waterworks in the north-eastern division of
the colony, on Monday next, leaving the
Spencer-street station by the afternoon train
for Shepparton.
The Council of Trinity College has up
pointed the 7th and 8th of next July as the
date of examination for the Bromby Prise,
The subjects for the present year are as fol
lows 1. The first six chapters of Genesis In
Hebrew; 2. Perowae's " Introduction to the
Psalms;" & Geaenius* Hebrew Gnnntaar.
translated from Itoediger's edition, by B.
Davies, to end of conjugation* of nrln. The
Kev. Canon Bromby and the Kev. J. Carlisle,
of JCchaca, have been appointed to conduct
the examination. The prize is of tiie-Annual
^ftlne of £20, and is open to all graduates of
«ie University of Melbourne who shall have
residedforsix terms in Trinity College, and
who shall still retain their names on the col
lege books.
A meeting of the Victorian Engineers'
Association was held on Monday evening
at the Melbourne Exchange. Mr. R. H.
Shakespear, the president, occupied the
chair, Messrs. W. Nicholas, D. Munro,
J. Danks, C. W. McLean, A. C. Wannon,
R. Warnock, W. Edgerton, R. H. Stone,
J. Buncle, and J. H. Knipe being also pre-
sent. It was decided to hold a dinner to
celebrate the inauguration of the society on
July 29. Mr. J. T. Bragge was elected a
member of the association. A circular rela
tive to the Colonial and Indi&n Exhibition
having been received from Mr. James Thorn
son, secretary to the Victorian
aion, great dissatisfaction was expressed at
the Government net having included
names of any prominent members of the etigi
neering trades and profession^ on the commis
sion. A discussion was initiated on Mr. W.
Nicholas's paper on a new system of wind
ing in deep mining shafts, which provides
for an endless tope passing over drams at
the top and bottom of a shaft The various
points of the system were discussed, the
general opinion being that any improvement
on the present modewould tend to increased
safety and economy. The discussion was ad
journed to enable Mr. Nicholas to prepare
drawings showing the working of his pro
posed system.
On Monday afternoon some vety fine sped*
mens of English tront caught with the fly in
Riddell's Creek were exhibited at Scott's
Hotel, and at Messrs. Adamson -andjGo.*s
shop in Collins-street west They "were
caught in the morning, and forwarded by
Mr. Hamilton, of Riddell's Creek, to Mr. J.
S. Batters. This creek is becoming s
favourite resort of sportsmen, for fiwhinC
and shooting.
With reference to the apposed loss of the
Eastern and Australian Cable Company's
new cable repairing steamer Magneta, which
left Portland, near Weymouth, on the 10th
March, in order to take up her station at
Singapore, very little hopes are now en
tertained of her safety. The follow
ing information has been received through
the company's superintendent at Singa
pore:-"News reached Trieste on the
19th inst that the captain of the
Canard steamer Palmyra reports passing a
lifeboat belonging to the steamer Magneta in
the Bay of Biscay, 200 miles north of Cape
Finisterre, on the 24th March. The boat
was in fairly good condition, and contained »
mast and oars, bat no sail, and no evidence
of having been occupied." Our London cor
respondent telegraphs that Mr. J. S. Shapley,
the superintendent of the New Zealand cable
station at Wakapaka, near Nelson, was on
board the Magneta, returning to the colon]
after 12 months' leave of absence.
A French war-steamer, Le Seorf, from
Madagascar via Bourbon, is on her way to Mel
bourne. She left Bourbon two days before the
M.M.S.S. Salazie, which arrived here on
Sunday last Captain Iuioff is in command
of the war-steamer.
M. Pesoli, who has fulfilled the duties o1
consul for France in Melbourne since the de>
parture of M. Belcour, between three and
four years ago, is to leave for San Francisco,
by the City of Sydney, on May 2L He
to Victoria with M. Belcour in the winter oi
1880 as vice-consul. M. Pesoli was desirous
of visiting France before going to a new post,
having had 19 years' continuous service
abroad, but a cable message was received on
Monday from Paris stating that urgent busi
ness was awaiting attention in San Francisco.
Before coming to Melbourne M. Pesoli per
formed consular duty in the United States for
15 years. His successor in Melbonme, M. C.
Dillon, arrived some time ago. It is not
improbable that M. Pesoli may return in th,*
course of a few years to Australia. In Mel
bourne he has made many friends.
It is the intention of a number of the
members of the senate of the Melbourne
University to nominate Mr. H. B. Biggin a for
one of the two vacancies which have occurred
in the council. The warden of the senate is
required by the standing orders to issue a
circular to the members informing them of
the vacancies, and prescribing the date bj
which nominations must be sent into the
registrar.
The foundation-stone of a new Baptist
Church, to be erected at the corner of Can
ning and Macpherson streets, North Carlton,
was laid on Tuesday afternoon by Mr. C. J.
Ham, M.L.C. When completed, the church
will accommodate 650 persons. The portion
to be built at present will be finished within
three months, and will seat 250. This part
will cost £700, but the outlay required to
complete the structure according to the
plans is estimated at £2,800. The new church
is tastefully designed, and will be built of
brick, pointed with freestone. Mr. Peter
Matthews is the architect, and Mr. Rankin
the contractor.
The Premier received a telegram from the
agent-general on Tuesday evening, to the
effect that " peace prospects are still very
precarious."
Major-General Scratehley, Colonel Disney,
inspector-general of Pub
Hc Works, returned to town on Wednesday
afternoon, after their visit to the fortifications
at Port Phillip Heads. Among other matters
for the| improvement of the defences, the
most suitable Bite for the electric light
at Point Nepean waH considered. A
report, containing several recommendations
which are at present.regarded as of aooufi
dential character, will shortly be made to thfe"
Minister of Defence. In view of the pbsiUf
bflity of a hostile force landing at Western
Port, the likely spots on the coast ifttJnt
^direction were, prior to the Easter enoaibDt fi

ment, carefully inspected by Colonel Disney |
and Lieutenant-Colonel Brownrigg, who also
noted in detail the roads by which a defence
force could be Bent down to oppose an|

enemy. . , ., i

We understand that it is intended to pro-1
pose the re-election of thte Chief Justice, Sir
William Stowell, for the seat at the Uni
versity council rendered vacant by his
Honour's abBence in England. For the other
forfeited seat, vacated through the non
attendance of Dr. Motherwell, Dr. James
Robertson will be proposed as a candidate.

The pressure of business in the Supreme
Court is so great that the Law department
have made arrangements for relieving the
judges of that court of the work connected
with the holding of criminal sittings m the
country courts during the month of May.
Their places will be taken by the County
Court judges. Judge Casey will preside at
the sittings to be held at Beechworth,
Benalla, and Shepparton, in the Northern
bailiwick; Judge Quinlan will conduct the
business of the court at Echuca, in the Mid
land bailiwick ; Judge Trench will preside
over the sittings at Horsham and Stawell;
and Judjre Nolan over those at Warrnambool,

in the Western bailiwick.

The Railway Commissioners intend to tra
verse the proposed route of the Great
Southern Railway in South Gipps Land
during next week. They will probably be
away from Melbourne for three or four
daThe Public Works department has accepted
the tender of Messrs. Forman and Co., of
the Yarra-bank, Melbourne, for the supply of
an iron twin-screw hopper dredge, for em
ployment upon harbour improvement works
at Geelong. The amount of the tender is

£47,700. . ,

The secretary for Water Supply has received
a telegram from the inspector of works at the
Eastern Moorabool weir, in connexion with
the Geelong water supply, to the effect that
the water was turned into the pipe track re
cently repaired on Sunday last, and that a
good stream of water is going into the Stony

Creek reservoir.

It has been intimated by the Public Works
department that the thirty-ninth examination
of candidates for certificates of "com
petency," " qualification," or " service, under
the Local Government Act, will be held on
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thurday, the 26th,
27th, and 28th of May. Candidates must
give notice not later than the 11th of that
month of their intention to appear at the

examination.

Mr. H. H. Hayter, the honorary corres

ponding secretary in this colony of the Royal
Colonial Institute, has issued among the
fellows of that institute in Victoria a circular
relative to the resolution passed by the coun
cil of that body with a view to stimulating
interest in the Colonial and Indian Exhibi
tion of 1886. The council, it may be re
membered, resolved to request its honorary
corresponding secretaries to make public the

institute's anxious desire to promote, by,
every rupflna in its power, the objects of the j
exhibition, and to further the wishes of Her J
Majesty's colonies and colonial subjects in
relation to it, eo as to contribute to the
success of this great national undertaking.
Mr. Hayter has, as far as possible, carried
out this request among the Victorian
fellows, and has at the same time brought
under their notice the special intimation
made by Mr. F. Young, the hon. secretary of
the institute in London, that any of them
who may visit London will meet with ^ a
iordial welcome at the offices of the Colonial
Institute, and that every endeavour will be
nade to afford information to them as well

is to colonists generally.

The Victorian Commissioners for the
Colonial and Indian Exhibition, to be held
next year in London, are meeting with
cordial support in their efforts to insure the
creditable representation of the colony.
Several of the leading artists of Melbourne
are preparing special pictures for the art
section, and promises of exhibits represent
ing almost every branch of the producing and
manufacturing industries have been received.
The Victorian Chamber of Manufactures is
joining in the movement in a particularly
enthusiastic manner, and the honorary secre
tary of that body, Mr. W. H. C. Darvall. is

now issuing a special circular to members I
urging them to assist in demonstrating the |
great advancement which this colony has
recently made. The president of the
commission, Mr. J. Bosisto, M.L.A.,
had an interview wfth the Chief
Secretary yesterday morning, and reported
that excellent progress had been made with
the preliminary work, there being every
proBpect of having a thoroughly representa-1
tive Victorian Court Two committees met
in the afternoon, at which circulars having
special reference to the educational, scientific,
and artistic sections of the exhibition, and
also to the mining and machinery depart
ments, were adopted. Mr. W. K. Thomson
was elected chairman of the committee on
education, science, and fine arts, and Mr.
John Woods, M.L.A., to the chairmanship of
the committee on mining and machinery.

*The Professorial Board of the University

^jD? Melbourne held a meeting on Wednesday

.the University, to consider the charges
preferred against six of the under
graduates of disorderly conduct at the
nwnnai commencement, held in the Wilson
ball on Saturday, the 11th inst After
a careful inquiry the board decided to dis
charge four of them, and the remaining two
were ordered to prepare their defence, and to
be in attendance at a meeting of the Profes
sorial Board to be held at the University on

Wednesday next

A ofthe General Committee of the
Domestic Servants' Immigration Society was
held at theTown-hallonWedneday afternoon,
to consider (he basis upon which the society
should be established. Mr. George Coppin

occupied the chair, and about
05 ladies and gentlemen were present
The chairman stated that Blnce the public
nutting which was held last week, he
*ad written to a number of todies

and gentlemen, and many of them had
asked to be enrolled as members of the
society. Among the latter were Sir William
and Lady Clarke, Sir Arthur and Lady Nicot
Bon, Mr. Justice Williams, Mr. Justice
Holroyd, Major-General Downes, Colonel
Templeton, and other prominent citizens, all
of whom were elected members of the society.
After a discussion, it was decided, on the
motion of Mr. VV. Smitliers Gadd, to ap
point the following gentlemen as a com
mittee to obtain additional subscribers,
and to draw up rules and regulations, which

will be submitted to a future meeting:
Messrs. H. JL Hayter, Geo. Coppin, Theyre
Weigall, Geo. Guillaume, and C. E. Good
(hon. secretary). Mr. Coppin was appointed
treasurer pro tern, to receive subscriptiona

Sir William Clarke, D. and P.G.M. of the
District Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Vic
toria, has forwarded a cheque for £10 to
Superintendent Sadleir to be distributed
among the constables who were engaged
regulating the traffic during the procession
on the occasion of laying the foundation
stone of the new Masonic-hall, Collins-street
east He stated that he was well pleased
with the police arrangements on that day,
and the manner in which they were carried
out Mr. Sadleir has forwarded Sir William
Clarke's letter and cheque to Inspector
Pewtress, who was the organiser of the police
supervision on the occasion referred to, to
distribute among the men who did special
duty in connexion with the Freemasons' pro
cession, and who numbered about 30.

I The adjourned conference between the

officers of the Salvatfon Army and the mayor
and several ratepayers of Richmond relative
to the proposed Lock hospital was held on
Wednesday at the local town-halL The mayor
(Councillor Winn) occupied the chair, and
the " army " was again represented by Majors
Howard and Barker and the Rev. J. F.
Horsley. The previous meeting was ad
journed in order that the " army " might con
sider the propriety of selling their premises
in the Punt-road, in view of the opposition
raised by the residents to the establishment
of the hospital. It was stated that the army
were quite willing to select another site, but
the difficulty was to find a purchaser for
the premises? they had already secured.
Mr. Horsley explained that the building was
not to be used as a lock hospital, but simply
as a receiving-house for girls. Pending
advices from Marshal Booth, the representa
tives of the army were not in a position to
give any pledge in regard to the selection of
other premises. It was urged upon them that
it would be better to dispose of the property
at a loss and gain the practical sympathy of
those now opposed to it than to risk an oppo
sition which would be carried into Parlia
ment, jeopardising the £1,000 subsidy pro
mised by Mr. Service. It was eventually
arranged that the building should not be
used for the purpose described until the
army officers had again communicated with
the council.

The BaUarat Courier states that on Tues
day afternoon Dr. Whitcombe, the president
of the Ballarat Fish Acclimatisation Society,
and several members of the committee, in
cluding the mayor of the city, and Messrs. F.
M. Claxton and Geo. Perry, attended at the
Botanic-gardens to remove the trout fry of
last year's hatching into Lake Wendouree.
Over 5,000 active and healthy young fish were
counted out and conveyed to their permanent
home in the lake, and in the future will pro
vide anglers with good sport Five thou
sand English trout have been placed in the
lake-a very 6uccesaful effect of pisci
culture, and a gift to the people of
Ballarat

On Wednesday a public ball was given in the
Town-hall in aid of the Women's Hospital,
Madeline-street, Carlton. His Excellency the
Governor and Lady Loch were present, and
the company numbered about 600 ladies and
gentlemen. As this was the first public ball
of the Beason, and given in aid of a charity,
a larger attendance was anticipated. The
company, however, had a very enjoyable
evening, and the floor was never incon
veniently crowded. The following couples
danced in the opening setSir Henry Loch and
Mrs. Testar, Sir A. Nicolson and Lady Loch,
Sir W. Clarke and Mrs. Levien, the Mayor of
Melbourne and Lady Clarke, Mr. W. Temple
ton and the Mayoress of Melbourne, Mr. W.
E. King and Mrs. Moloney, Dr. Balls Headley
and Mrs. G. Teague, Dr. Fetherston and Mrs.
Shields. The proceeds of the ball are likely
to be considerable, inasmuch as the use of
the Town-hall was given without charge, the
decorations cost nothing, the refreshments
were contributed by some merchants,andHerr
Plock, in consideration of the object of the
i entertainment, supplied the bind at a nomi
nal figure.

On Wednesday afternoon Lady Stawell
opened a bazaar in the Barkly-hall, Box-hill,
the object of which is to clear off the debt on
St Peter's Church (Church of England) in that
neighbourhood.

The Government are awaiting a favourable
opportunity for'floating a redemption loan of
£4,000,000, bat up to the present time no de
finite arrangements have heen made. So
long as the present unsettled state of affairs
in England continues, nothing can be done.
The rate of interest to be offered has not
been fixed. It has been thought that if the
money market could be entered under suffi
ciently favourable conditions, only 3J per
cent should be offered, but the probability is
that the loan will be issued at 4 per cent

Theresults which have followed the reduc

tion fa^lhe' charge for telegrams from this
colony- to places in New South Wales from
2s. to 1b. for the first ten words are reviewed
in a return which has been furnished to the
Postmaster-General by Mr. Win. Morkham,
accountant to the Post and Telegraph depart
ment. During the quarter ending March 31,
1684, the number of telegrams transmitted
from Victoria to New South Wales was
29,851; nnder the reduced rates in force
during the corresponding quarter of this year,
the number waa 89,255, an increase at the
rate of 81 i per cent The revenue from the

telegrams despatched in the first quarter of
last year was £4,234 lis. 9d., while the re
ceipts for the corresponding quarter of this
year were £4,017 lis. 9<L, a falling-off to the
extent of about 5 per cent On the whole, the
result is considered very satisfactory. It may
be added that an expense of £6,950 was in
curred in constructing a new line of tele
graph poles and a telegraph wire between
Melbourne and AVodonga, and that the
salaries of the extra operators required for
the intercolonial business will amount to
£800 for the first year. Some time ago the
telegraph authorities of Queensland and

New Zealand were asked to agree to a pro

portionate reduction in the rates for brief
telegrams between those colonies and Vic
toria; but the Queensland Government de
clines to do bo for the present, preferring to
see the outcome of the arrangement between
New South Wales and this colony. No
reply has yet been received from New Zea

land.

The Chief Secretary has directed the atten

| tion of the police authorities to the ruling of

His Honour Mr. Justice Williams in the
recent case of Bam v. Symes, in which it was
held that Mr. Joseph Symes could not
legally make a charge for admission to Sun
day lectures at the Hall of Science. The
police will probably take proceedings against
Mr. Symes if he persists in levying Buch a
charge.

The Central Board of Health has been re
quested by the parents of the little girl,
Lilian Priscilla Richards, who was reported
by the local health authorities at Hotham to
be suffering from small-pox, to hold a special
inquiry as to her case. Dr. Shields and Dr.
Tweeddale, who sought the assistance of Dr.
Girdlestone, investigated the case, and on
hearing their report the board came to the
conclusion that, if the statements of the
medical attendant of the family and the
mother of the child could be relied upon, the
case was not one of small-pox.

The practice of throwing stones, &c., at
railway trains in the neighbourhood of Mel
bourne appears to be on the increase
Within the past month no fewer than four
flagrant cases have been reported to the
Railway Commissioners, who have offered
rewards for the discovery of the miscreants.
In three out of the four instances, the fire
man or driver of a train was struck, and one
received a serious cut on his head. So far,
only one of the offenders, a lad who threw a
Etone at a train near the South Yarra
station, has been convicted, but even he
escaped punishment, unless it was after
wards administered by his parents, who were
called upon to pay a small line and costs.

Messrs. Gibbs, Bright, and Co., the Mel
bourne agents of the Orient Steam Naviga
tion Company Limited have arranged, in con
sequence of the Lusitania having been
chartered by the Imperial Government, to
despatch the John Elder on the date on
which the former vessel was to sail-the 15th
of May-so as to adhere to the time-table.
Other steamers will follow fortnightly as
usuaL j

The annual election of office-bearers ot the!
Melbourne Young Men's Christian Associa
tion for the ensuing year was held at the
Association-hall on April 23. There was a
moderate attendance of members, and the
following gentlemen were elected to the
various offices:-President, Mr. W. M'Lean,
J.P.; senior vice-president, Mr. Jas. Balfour,
M.L.CL; vice-presidents, the Rev. A. Yule,
Messrs. C. J. Ham and F. E. Beaver,
M.L.C.'s, D. Beath, and J. M. Bruce. The

board of management, as elected, comprises j

the Revs. W. Allen, H. A. Langley, and A.
W. Webb, and Messrs. W. Anderson, W, W.
Billing, H. Cornell, J. H. Davies, W. Inglis,
A. B. G. Johnston, J. H. Maddock, EL S.
Pegg, A- J. Smith, W. Willmott, and J.
Wilton. Messrs. M'Gillivray and Darroch
were appointed as auditors.

A meeting of the Eight-hours Anniversary
Committee was held in the council-chamber
of the Trades-hall on April 22, Mr. R. Miller
presiding. Amongst those present were Mr.
Thos. Caddy, the president of the Sydney
Trades and Labour Council, and Mr. B.
Douglass, the late president of the Trades
hall OounciL The secretary, Mr. J. ManB
field, announced that the takings at the gates
of the Friendly Societies' Gardens on Tues
day last were £534, and that, in addition to
this, 30,026 tickets had been sold up to
Monday night in the metropolis and
suburbs; so that the receipts for admis
sion to the grounds amounted to £2,035,
while the sale of booths came to £310.
Mr. F. H. Bromley proposed a vote of thanks
to Mr. Caddy for his attendance at the de
monstration, and to the Trades and Labour
Council for sending him as its delegate. In
doing so, he remarked that snch visits were
conducive to a large amount of good, inas
much as they helped to establish a friendly
feeling between the members of the
various trades in the colonies, and would
tend to bring about a federation of
the labour organisations of Australia.
The motbn was carried by acclamation.
In acknowledging the compliment, Mr.
Caddy expressed the pleasure and gratifi
cation it afforded him to be present at the
demonstration. He was greatly surprised at
the magnitude of the procession and the
large mass of orderly people who witnessed
it. In his opinion, the spectacle excelled
that of the recent departure of the New
South Wales contingent from Sydney.
He admitted that a similar demonstration,
which took place in Sydney was very much
behind that of Tuesday last, but thought the
artisans of New South Wales would be able
to make a better display in future. He
pointed oat that the working classes of Vic
toria had an tclat given to their annual
gathering by the presence of His Excellency
the Governor and the Ministry, which it was
impossible to obtain in the colony he came
from. He looked forward to the time when the
labour of the colonies would be united in one
common bond of fellowship. He was
astonished to find such a spUndid building
aa the Trades-hall belonging to the working.

men of Melbourne, and to Bee the well
appointed chamber in which they deliberated.
In conclusion, he expressed a hope that their
fellow-labourers in Sydney would be able in
October next to lay the foundation o£ a
Bimilar structure. A vote of thanks was
unanimously passed to the police for their
excellent arrangements during the demonstra
tion, and a simitar compliment was paid to

the various committees.

The half-yearly general meeting of share
holders in R. Goldsbrough and Company
Limited was held yesterday, Mr. A. W.
llobertaon presiding. The net profits for the
past year were Bhown to have been £31,440
18s. 9d., ot which the sum of £10,000 was
transferred to the reserve fund, a dividend at
the rate of 10 per cent per annum was de
clared, and £11,616 was carried forward to
the ensuing year. The appointment of Mr.
D. M. Parker as a director, in the room of
Sir Charles Sladen, deceased, was con
firmed.

The Railway Commissioners, accompanied
by Mr. Darbyshire, assistant engineer of new
line^ will leave Melbourne on Wednesday
next for Dandenong on a tour of inspection
over the proposed route of the Great Southern
line in South Gipps Land. On Thursday
morning the party will start for Poowong,
whence they are to proceed to Jeetho. They
propose to return to town on Saturday.

In the Supreme Court yesterday, before his
Honour Mr. Justice Williams and a jury ot
six, an action of MarreU v. Osmond was
partly heard. The plaintiffs were owners of
the yacht Rory O'More, and the defendant
owned the steam yacht Cushie Doo. On the
19th April of last year the Cushie Doo ran
into the Rory O'More in Hobson's Bay, and
caused BO much damage that the Rory O'More
was found to be useless, and was sold. The
defence was that the collision was caused,
not by the Cushie Doo, but by the Rory
O'More. After the evidence had been partly
taken, the trial was adjourned till Monday.

As no judge of the Supreme Court will go
on circuit in May, the civil causes Bet down
tor the various circuit courts will stand post
poned. The Full Court will sit in May, com
mencing on Friday, the 1st May.

The divorce suit of Malpas v. Malpas was
concluded in the Supreme Court yesterday.
The petition was brought by Mr. W. J.
Malpas to obtain a divorce from his wife on
the ground of adultery with Mr. A. F.
Sullivan, and with Jamea Edwards, a groom.
The misconduct with Mr. Sullivan was said
to have been committed in the year 1871, at
the Ternapatha station, in New South Wales,
and that with Edwards at the Mount
Ridley farm, near Craigieburn, in the
year 1883. Edwards did not. appear,
as he had not been property served with a
copy of the petition and citation. Mr. Sul
livan and Mrs. Malpas denied the charges
against them. Mrs. Malpas also made a
counter charge against her huBband of having
treated her with cruelty. The jary, by a
majority of 10 to 2, found that the charge as
against Mrs. Malpas and Mr. Sullivan had
been proved, and as to the two other issues
they were unanimously of opinion that
Mrs. Malpas had misconducted herself with
Edwards, and that her husband had not
treated her with cruelty. Mr. Justice Higin
botham said that he accepted the findings of
the jury, and he concurred with their finding
as regarded the cruelty charge. Acting on
their findings he would make a decree iiiei
for the dissolution of the marriage between
Mr. Malpas and Mrs. Malpas, and with costs
as regarded Mr. Sullivan so far as the issue
relating to him was concerned. Dr. Madden,
for the respondent, asked that she shonld be
allowed her costs of the trial, and his Hononr
said she was entitled to be paid her costs by
the petitioner. Mr. Webb, for Mr. Sullivan,
asked that he shonld be allowed to move for
a new trial on the ground that certain evi
dence taken on commission had been impro
perly received, and his Hononr said that the
application could be made afterwards.

Another long consultation on the subject
of the defences of the colony took place yes
terday between the members of the Ministry,
His Excellency the Governor, and the com
mandants of the naval and military forces.
At a meeting of the Cabinet held subse
quently, the same subject was discussed, and
several important decisions were arrived at
In the first place it was determined to in
crease the strength of the militia by enrolling
1,600 additional men, that the new men
should only be engaged for one year instead
ot the five years provided for under the pre
sent regulations, and that the pay of all
the members of the force should be
calculated at the rate of £12 per aunum
instead of £10, as at present The
pay of the officers will, of course, be increased
in the same proportion, namely one-fifth.
It was decided that if it should be found
necessary to call out the members of the
militia, the privates should receive pay at the
rate of 7s. a day, and have rations provided
lor them, while the officers, both commis
sioned and non-commissioned, shonld be
paid at the same rates as are allowed at
present Steps are being taken to ascertain
how many of the mounted and foot
constables will volunteer for service with
the militia, while having reserved to them
their privileges as members of the police
force. The Government also decided to avail
themselves of the numerous offers-some of
a very liberal character-which have been
made to them to form mounted rifle corps in
different parts of the colony, and a special
officer will be detailed for the duty of
generally supervising the arrangements for1
organising the bodies of men offering flieir
services. It is also proposed to raise a strong
volunteer force, which will form a second'
line of defence. No maximum has been'
fixed for the volunteer force, but

will be offered for enrolling men and
forming companies in all towns through
out the colony within convenient reach
of railway stations, A Bpecial officer will be
entrusted with the arrangements for the en*
rolment and drilling of the volunteers. The
two officers who will have to be appointed in

connexion with the volunteers and the
mounted rifle corps have not yet been ue
lected. The reportof Captain Thomas relal
tive to the effectiveness of the naval branch
of the defences was highly satisfactory, bat
on his recommendation the Harbour Trust
has been requested to allow.their employ^
to the number of 120 or 180, who recently
joined the Naval Reserve, a week's leave in
order that they may be put through
a steady course of drill both ashore and
afloat It iB probable, also, that the trust will
be asked to allow the men who were recently
enrolled as a battery of garrison artillery the
time necessary to enable1 them to receive

effective drill at one of the forts.

The Premier received the following tele,
gram from the agent-general yesterday

" War inevitable, but not immediate." No
further information reached the Government
during the day relative to the difficulty be*
between England and Russia. ,

Amongst the passengers to-day by the
Messageries steamer Sydney, for Marseilles,
is Miss Bell, the artist, who has just left
Sydney, where she has been engaged
in painting the portrait of Sir James
Martin, at the request of the members
of the bar. Some of the admirers of
Miss Bell's work are anxious to retain a
specimen of her style as a souvenir of her
residence in Melbourne. A picture has been
accordingly selected, which will be on view
at Fletcher's Gallery after to-day, and which,
if acquired, will no doubt be presented to the
Public Gallery.

The elections for Mandurang and Avoca
were held yesterday. From neither had
complete returns been received at the time of
our going topress,butthe resblt in each case is
al ready pretty clear. Mr. John MooreHighett.of
Mitiamo, has gained a substantial victory
over Mr. H. R. Williams, who but for the
Eaglehawk vote would be nowhere. At
this place, where he resides, Mr. Wil
liamB polled 660 votes to Mr. Bighett's 180,
and at Nerring he had a majority of 12, but
in every other part of the district of Mandu
rang, which reaches from the Maldon
boundary to the Murray (excluding Sand
hurst), and the River Campaspe to the River
Loddon, Mr. Highett polled heavily at the
expense of Mr. Williams. Thirty-eight
returns give Mr. Highett a majority of 403,
the respective totals being 1,783 to 1,380. In
Avoca, the contest has lain between
Mr.. George E. Bourchier, of Charl
ton, and Mr. W. F. TatcheU, of Dnnolly.
At the time our list closed, Mr. Bourchier
was leading by fully 250, all the large returns
being in ; consequently his election seems
almost certain. Mr. Barrett and Mr. Daly,
each about 350 behind Mr. TatcheU, were
running a close race for third place, while
Mr. William Gaunson appeared to be sure of
nothing but losing his deposit money.

To morrow afternoon at 3 o'clock Arch
bishop Goold will lay the fonndation-stone
for the completion of St. Ignatius' Church,
Richmond, and the Rev. Thos.. Cahill, S.J.,
will preach. The incomplete church,
which is a conspicuous object on Rich
mond-hill, was begun by the Jesuit Fathers
in 1867 from designs submitted by Mr.
W. W. WardelL It was opened for public
worship on March 13, 1870, the total
cost up to that time being £9,000, of
which there only remained £1,100 to be paid
when the church was opened. The Catnolic
population of Richmond has increased so
much since that time, that the completion of
the church has become a necessity; as the
1,500 children attending the adjacent schools
are more than sufficient to fill it. Mr. War
den has made some changes in the original
design, and he will cany ont the completion
of the church for the Jesuit Fathers.

$