The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-16

Bil-The TtchbOurne NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Of the CoIOny-The Kerosene Marlket-Snake
POisoning-The Drama.
MELBOURNE, May 80, 1868.
The one event OF the month has been the forma-
ton of a new Ministry, and the probable speedy
solution of the Lady Darling grant difficulty, and
the political problem generally known as the 'Vic-
torian deadlock.n After six weeks coquetting with
as many different politicians, the Governor at last
succeeded in finding Premier in MI. Charles
Sladen. The other members Of the new Ministry
comprise several seceders from the McCulloch party
and an attempt ID to be made to secure a
majority Of the Assembly on the basis of the COM
promise on the Darling grant question, proposed by
the Duke of Buckingham, viz, that the grant shall
be passed in the form of a separate bill and not
voted as a part of the General Appropriation bill.
II the coalition party now being organized should
succeed in accomplishing this the whole matter VIII
be at an end and question which has so long dis
turbed the temper and tried the loyalty Of Victorans
be finally laid to rest. 1t is doubtful, though,
whether such happy consummation can be
reached.
To-day the Governor, Sir Fl. Manners Sutton,
opened Parliament After the usual commonplace
his address suggested that the Appropriation bill for
1867 should be passed. and also that supplies for the
bare expenses OF the government for the first SIX.
months of 1868 should be voted. The House meets
again on the Sd OF June, when the chances of the
permanency of the new ministry and the success OF
its programme VIII probably be Indicated.
There is very little other news for this month.
Another AFFIDAVIT has been filed in the Sir Roger
Tichbourne barOnetcy claims case by a gentleman
who recognized in the Australian butcher the Guards
man OF ten years previously The freaks of Sir Roger
in New York will no doubt be remembered Here
people are generally incredulous to his being
really the simon pure baronet. They argue that 1t
entirely as the present Claimant for the TcHbonrne
baronetcy apparently has done all traces OF his
former refinement and good breeding. His accent
at any rate would remain unchanged, and he would
never forget the proper pronunciation OF words
which he must at one time have frequently used.
He certainly would not, as this man does, 'wot-
sumdever'' and ''howsumdever." And then this
man betrays the greatest ignorance Of the COM
monest forms OF politeness, and indeed the only
honest-looking face and that he undoubtedly is as
ready as most other sons OF rich men and heirs to
big estates generally are TO spend and borrow
money.
The Official report recently published of the present
condition OF the colony OF victoria shows that is
Although only onethrd the size Of its sister colony
New South Wales, and although not third as old,
1t already numbers half as many more inhabitants.
Last year 1t exported about four million pounds
sterling value OF wool. and its yield OF gold shows a
scarcely perceptibe decrease The wine interest in
Victoria is rapidly rising in importance and there
can be little doubt that the colony will be at no
remote period one Of the great wine growing
years ago there was scarcely q vineyard in the
colony there are now about four thousands OF
dred thousand gallons Of wine, besides which
large amount OF brandy was also manufactured.
curious ths and perpexng case has
great deal or interest and excitement. For some
time man named Squires, who originally came
from India, has before public audience allowed
himself to be bitten by various kinds OF poisonous
snakes. lie professed to cure the wounds and to OBJ
viate the effects Of the snake venom by sovereign
antidote the secret of which he himself alone pos.
sessed. gentleman named DrummOnd police
magistrate ncreduous as to the actually poisonous
nf fhn naln xR1in all
himself TO be bitten desired Squires to permit him
also to be bitten, and to fairly test the antdote
Squres, after good deal OF persuasion, consented,
and the experiment took place in the private room
OF a hotel. The antidote was applied but without
success, and In three days Mr.. Drummond died,
victim 10 his own temerity. Squires has been In
dicted for manslaughter, and will probably be con-
Yicted.
BY the way, a brother OF the late n. p Willis is at
present in Melbourne, and has been for a number OF
years Ne IL in business as a bootmaker, and is said
TO be very efficient workman He inherts the red
hair aud the features OF the Willis family, and Is q
good deal like the lately deceased poet. His own
story Is that he ran away from home in a whaler
when very young, and has remained away ever
since. Two or three years ago some American gen.
tlemen In Melbourne lent him 800 TO set him up IN
business, taking boots in payment OF the loan; but
he has not so FAR been very successful. lie is 1t is
alleged, undoubtedly brother OF the late poet.
Tue kerosene market Is greatly oyerstocSed and
prices have fallen TO figure which certainly in
dicates that somebody is dropping money. Every
body in the trade Is complaining, and several Amerl-
can firms in the colonies have suffered heavily.
'Spder the Gasghtn has been running during q
part6f the present month at the Duke OF Edinburgs
theatre to very fair houses, but the piece heavily
beabored by the local critics The legitimate drama
Is represented here at present by Mr.. Walter Mont
gomery, who has played number OF Shakesperian
roles. A new termination to the Merchant OF
Venice" has been written by Melbourne poet which
Ia certainly curiosity in its way Shylock in this
amended edition OF the play wins the case before the
ducal court and demoshes the fair Porta. and then
generously valves his right TO extort the forfeited
pound Of nesh This nonsense had the Fashionable
honor OF being read by Mr.. Montgomery before the
Prince and the Earl Of Belmore at Sydney.