John H. W. Pettit letters to his family in England, illustrated with sketches by the writer, 1852-1868 - Page 316

lish versions of "The Daughter of the Regiment," "La Sonnambula," "Lucia di Lammermoor," and "The Bohemian Girl"
A portions of the Royal Company have been transferred to

the Princess's, where the burlesque of the "Pilgrim of Love" has recently been produced.

The Prince of Wales is devoted to the domestic drama,

under the management of the Younges.

Mr. and Mrs. Heir, Mr. and Mrs. Holt, and Mr. M'Kean

Buchanan, are still in the provinces.
 

MISCELLANEOUS.

The New Zealand war appears to have fired both old and

young with a military ardour, which speaks highly for the loyalty of the colonists, and will be of the greatest possible service to the empire in the case of an European war. We stated in our last that in consequence of the unsettled state of Europe, and the disturbances in New Zealand, which had necessitated the withdrawal of all the troops from this colony, that the Government proposed to increase the number of volunteers, and they have in effect received the permission of the Legislature to enrol if necessary 10,000 men. In pursuance of this, the volunteer recruiting sergeants have recently been busy in holding meetings for enrolments, through the various districts both on the coast and in the interior, and their efforts have been attended with great success. A number of persons have joined, and from the proficiency the volunteers have hitherto attained in their drill, and the use of arms, the force will, before long, vie with similar forces in any dependency of the British Crown. Since the departure of the troops for New Zealand, the sight of a red coat is of an unusual occurrence. Our treasury, public offices, and vice-royalty itself, are now guarded by volunteers; and in the various journals, reported offers are made by volunteers to proceed to New Zealand, and assist in quelling the very unfortunate disturbance which has taken place there. However, so far as the protection of this colony is concerned, we doubt not that in the event of an invasion the Victorian Volunteers will prove so efficient in active service as they have hitherto proved themselves in their drill and garrison duty.

The Hon. John Hodgson, the Chairman of Committees of

the Legislative Council, one of the first mayors of our Melbourne Corporation, an old colonist, and a gentlemen highly respected for his philanthropic exertions died on the 3rd August. Both Houses of Parliament adjourned out of respect to the memory of the deceased, and a letter of condolence was sent to Mrs. Hodgson by the members of the Melbourne Corporation. The death of this gentleman leaves a blank in the list of our few really philanthropic men of Victoria, which it will be difficult to fill up. We regret to add that he left his widow in very straitened circumstances.

A subscription is being got up for the widows and children

of the 40th Regiment who have fallen in New Zealand. The object is a laudable one, and the call for sympathy has, we believe, been liberally responded to by the public.

The question of our colonial defences is attracting much

attention, and fortifications have been commenced both at Queenscliffe and at Sandridge. It is in contemplation to erect a battery of three guns at Point Lourdale, and one of five guns at Point Nepean. Similar works are to be commenced forthwith on Shortland's Bluff and on the Pope's Eye; while Hobson's Bay will be protected by the present earthworks at Williamstown, which are to be altered so as to afford greater shelter and protection to the artillerymen. Fortifications commanding the Bay will be erected at Point Gellibrand and Sandridge Pier Port Phillip will be protected altogether by eighty guns, so that in the event of hostile vessels entering our harbour, they will meet with a "warm reception."

Since the 3rd September, the Geelong and Melbourne

railway has been in the hands of the Government, and the public have reaped the advantage in a very large reduction in the fares, and the institution of Sunday trains. The long pending dispute between the Government and the Company has been settled by the former buying up all the shares, and paying the overdue interest.

A most extraordinary accident occurred on the 9th [??]

Melbourne is built upon two hills, and the valley between them in which Elizabeth Street is built is converted by a heavy storm into a perfect river. On the occasion in question while the waters were at their highest, a cabman, who was driving a car containing a man, two women, and two children, to the terminus of the Hobson's Bay Railway in Flinders street, contrived to get one wheel of his cab in the water course, and the other on the bank. The result was that the car was capsized by the rush of water, and the passengers were all precipitated into the channel, down which they were swiftly carried; and, had it not been for the passenger who had just arrived by the train, all of them would have perished. As it was, a child about nine months old, belonging to Mrs. Shaw, of York street, Emerald Hill, was swept away, and the body has not been recovered. The other passengers including the driver, very narrowly escaped a watery grave, they having been rescued by the bystanders forming a line over the channel and then joining hands. It is presumed that the body of the child has been carried into the river close by the Ice house, a little way below the Railway bridge, or else has got embedded in some covered gully. The cabman was taken into custody by the police on a charge of reckless driving.

The second Champion Sweepstakes, run in Sydney on the

1st instant, has been the all-absorbing topic in sporting circles. There were sixteen horses originally entered, but with forfeits and scratching, the number was reduced on the day to twelve, of which four, Deception, Waimea, Wildrake, and Strop, were from New Zealand; six, Zoe, Veno, Gratis, Don, Young Morgan, and Moss Rose, belonged to New South Wales; and two, Mainstay and Flying Buck, to Victoria. The latter was the winner of the race the previous year at Melbourne, and was a great favourite, he being backed on the ground at 6 to 4. Victoria was, however, particularly unfortunate. The horse box in which Mainstay was being brought to Sydney from Homebush, by the railway, was run into by another train, and the colt sustained such injuries that he could not start. Flying Buck was unfit - his owner asserts that he had been poisoned - and ran last; the race being won by Zoe, with Wildrake second, and Veno third.

The mystery attending the fate of the Waitemata, which left

Adelaide for Swan River some months ago, and had nevery reached her destination, has at length been cleared up, the South Australian government having sent their schooner Yatala in search. The Waitemata reached St. Peter's Island, having experienced very heavy weather, and left there on 29th May. She encountered heavy squalls off Lowndes Reef, and was found to be making water very fast. The pumps could not keep her free, and was compelled to beach her off St. Francis Islands at 5pm., at a place called Peril Bay, while it was blowing very strong from the N.E.; found two planks started. Landed all cargo and crew and passengers, who erected tents, and lived some months on the island, on the flour, eggs, etc., that formed part of cargo, till arrival of Yatala. The vessel broke up entirely about a fortnight after she stranded, and they were all overjoyed at seeing a vessel coming to their rescue.

The ticket of leave system which has so long been in force

in this colony has been abolished, and in future the sentences passed will be rigidly enforced; only in exceptional cases, where the moral character of the criminal is such as to induce a hope of his reform, will any indulgence be granted. This ticket-of-leave system has been a great [??] our prison regulations, and it is hoped that its rescision will have a salu[??]y effect.
 

THE LABOR AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

There is nothing new to report. The general tendency of

wages is downward, and a notice has been issued to the labourers in the employ of Cornish and Bruce, that for the future they will only receive 7s. per diem. A larger number of emigrants than usual have arrived within the last month, but they have been rapidly absorbed; certainly their pressure has not increased the number of men out of work.

The following is the latest market report:
There has been no improvement whatever in the market.

The principal is for persons of both sexes who can milk. Wages are ruling low, and vast numbers of unemployed are waling about, many not knowing where their next meal or bed is to come from. For skilled labour there is but little call, and artisans are becoming glad to take anything that offers, regardless of the amount of wages: the quotations are merely nominal. Females are rather in demand, but vast numbers refuse L26 per annum - the depot is reducing the wages. Married couples very plentiful but not in demand; if they have families they cannot get hired.

WITH RATIONS. –Married couples for home stations and

service, per annum, £60 to £65; for hotels, £65; for private service, £60; do, with families, £50; ploughmen, 15s. to 17s 6d per week; farm labourers, 15s.; bullock drivers, 16s. to 20s.; gardeners, from £52 to £60 per annum; shepherds, fro £30 to £33 per annum; hut-keepers, £26 per annum; blacksmiths, for stations 35s. per week; carpenters, 25s. to 30s. do; rough carpenters, 20s per week; wheelwrights, 35s. do; cooks, from 20s to 45s do; waiters, from 20s do; hay cutters and trussers, 4s to 5s per ton, or 25s per weel; lads, to drive bullocks, from 8s to 10s per week; carters, from 18s to 20s per week; lads, to milk &c., 8s to 10s per week.

WITHOUT RATIONS. –Carpenters, 10s. per day; masons,

from 14s.; plasterers, and bricklayers, 10s. to 12s.; quarrymen, 8s. to 10s. per day; blacksmiths, 10s. to 12s.; able pick and shovel men, 7s.; fencers, three rails, 2s. to 2s. 6d. per rod, according to the ground; wire fencers, with rails, 1s, 6d. to 2s. per rod; splitters fo posts and rails, 20s. to 25s. per 100, according to the timber; stone breakers, no average price can be stated, few persons will take that employ if any other is to be had, so many have been cheated. Wood cutters, 5s. per ton.

FEMALE SERVANTS. –Cooks and laundresses, £30 to

£35 per annum, for hotels, restaurants, etc., etc.; for private families, 30; housemaids, £26 to £30; thorough competent women for general housework, £30; upper-class nursemaids, £26 per annum; nurse girls, from £14 to £20; needle-women, £26 to £30; if they are dressmakers, £35 per annum.

The following rates are current at present in Melbourne, for

provisions and garden produce:

Printed for the Proprietors, at the HERALD Office, Bourke street, Melbourne.