The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-28
THE FENIAN ANTIPODES.
A Big Filibuster Scare i'm
Australia.
A Sham Fight at tho Mouth of the Harbor-
Murders-Political Affairs-The Fiji
Islands-Naval Regulations.

4slands-Naval Regulations.
SYDNEY, New South Wales, March 81. 1871
the Secretary OF state, who. In "Downing street
London" acts as the presiding genius OF the more
distant sections of the British empire Is responsible
for having c0ncocted the most absurd scare that
ever disturbed community caused thousands Of
pounds to be uselessy expended or excited the mar
tial ardor OF youag Australia TO something more
than fever heat gave few facts about 1t In my
last letter, but something further Is needed for
full explanation. Absurd as 1t may seem, 1t Is not
she less true that by the mail steamer which
arrived on the 14th instant the governors Of
all the colonies received duplicate kilograms. dated
London, February 49, stating that sthe Secretary OF
State Tor the Colonies mad received ntimatlon that
nnDustering expedition was being fitted out In
America for a raid on Australia, and intended at
lacking the cities Of Dunedin, Sydney and Mel.
bourne I" Sir James Martini the present Premier
OF this colony, Is truly fortunate man. Three
years ago his Ministry was in position known in
colonial parlance as ''shaky" when some good fairy
came TO his aid and whispered Fenians. The effect
was magical; political dissensions forgotten;
the estimates were passed; moneys scandalously
expended were voted without murmur, and for a
time the ship of state sailed upon unrufiled seas
Again Martin Is in power, again in difficulties and
again the recipient OF extraneous and unooked-for
aid. What Fenians were In the past Hlibusters are
at present. and Martin Is the Bismarck OF Australia
He has availed himself Of the position to cOndone
for past errors OF extravaganza and useless expend
ture. The possibilities OF war with Russia which
were rumored o few months ago, warranted the
outlay VI few thousand dollars In placing the har.
Dor forts IN q state of efficiency. Political jobbery
demanded tfat something more should be done;
the government acquiesced and The money was
spent. How TO obtain the sanction OF Parlia-
ment Tor these proceedings and save expulsion
from office was beyond executive comprehension,
MicawDer never waited more anxiously for some
thing to turn up, and turn up it did in the shape Of
the aforesaid telegram. A jublate was chanted,
and Richard-himself again-was not more particu
lar In giving instructions preparatory TO Bosworth
Field than lawyer Martin In calling forth his trusy
warriors TO resist the fltbustcrs stranger enter
ing Sydney Head on last Saturday afternoon would
have been puzzled to account for what he saw and
heard; very probably would have asked when the
war broke out, or whether the people had all gone
mad. 1t was by viceregal proclamation a public
holiday specially devoted to manning forts anu
other harbor defences. From gray Of dawn till
high noon companies OF volunteers were seen
vending their way to the wharves, from whence
pied miniature steam transports, by winch they
were conveyed to their asst posts either side
OF the narDOr Excursion steamers, laden with
thousands OF spectators, followed two special
cruisers designed to represent the il1bustering
vaders. The Governor ana party occupied one;
members OF Parliament and friends filled the other.
Both were amply stocked with provisions, Wines
&C. provided from the public funds. and the attacks
OF the Knights OF the KNIFE fork and corkscrew car
rleu on the hon0rS OF making the only irresistible
attacks Of the day. The lQrs Initiated proceedings
py nrlnH eighteen rounds OF bah cartridge at an
Imaginary enemy. aiterward4 represented by a boat
m0Ored over torpedo. containing 800 pounds OF
gnnpowa,er, finger Is placed on the handle Of
OF water are disturbed, aud column rising 10 the
height OF $50 feet surmounteo by FRAGMENTS Of the
boat gives occular demonstration that the daring
invader has pad the penalty OF his temerity.
The closing scene or this costly farce opened with
the appearance or the steamers between the Heads.
The batteries are manned again, to be again envel-
oped IN smoke Of burned powder; 1000 ri1emen,
up continuous fusilade at phantom boat expedi-
lions, and, the steamers proceed up the harbor,
the city batteries Join In sustaining the ain here
was one feature OF the affair which VIII tend to make
IL remembered by the government astronomer, If by
no one else. The leaders OF our brave defenders
with betting ignorance placed two Armstrong guns
In the vicinity Of the observatory, anj the concus
sions which followed their discharge either damaged
or irrctrievaDy ruined scientific Instruments which
cannot be repaired ana replaced at less cost than
$4,000 To $4,000. The exact amount viii be
tanned prior TO the termination OF the niihuster war;
and form item OF the btu OF indemnity. Since
then the citizens Of sydney have siunbered securely
either walt under the iorts to get slaughtered or
place themselves over torpedo TO be sent out OF the
world In a lOItler manner.
THE NEW TAEIFF.
matter OF much more importance 10 many OF
your readers Is alteration In the fiscal policy Of
New South Wales TO which Parliament mas aSscnted.
The Ministry were unsuccessful IN the proposal to
impose ten per cent al udiorem duties, but have
succe ded in raising most OF the fixed duues ana
adding several new items to the schedule. The du-
ties now Deing collected on American imports are
as oliow-Axes spades, shovcls, picks, forty-eight
cents per dozen; doors windows, sashes, shutters,
twonty-four cents each; drugs and medicines, five
cents ad rdiorea fish (saiu, pressed or dried, two
cents per h.; hops, six cents per h. iron castings
lrough iron pipes, chains and steel! ST. 80 per ton;
kerosene. twelve cents per gallon; crude petroleum
eight cents; do, nn6resscd, twenty-iour cents;
laths, per 1000, twenty-lour cents; maizena, and
corn flour, two cents per ID; nails screws paints,
- 60 per ton; oats and other grain except wheat,
ten cents per cwL; spirits periumed OK plain and
biters, 81 40 per gallon methylated, do, forty
eight cents per gallon; tobacco, manufactured,
forty cents per h.; do unnanufactured,
twenty-iOur cents per h.. cigars, 81 20; turpen-
tine, twenty-four cents per galion varnish, fory-
eight cents per aallon; buggies buggy materials,
0r0oms boots and leather wares, carriages, coaches,
do. materials, hardware, plaster OF Paris, rubber
goods, sewing machines, tubs wooden ware On.
GLIDING furniturel weighing machines i've per cent
al Udiorem. There Is also duty OF Sl4 40 per ton
on rice hut as none now comes from California IL
can make no difference 10 American exporters.
The termination Of the Franco-Prrssian war has
given great satisfaction to all classes of colonists-
not that they cared much about the immediate
interests Involved as they did regarding subsequent
effects upon themselves. Apart IRON the Delliger-
ents, none have suffered more heavily than Austria
lians, 10 whom fall OF at least four cents per pound
Al the value OF wool represents an immense loss
(Sl6,6SO, 000l annually. aud france was one of our
best customers. Though latest English advlces do
not warrant anicipations OF an immediate recovery
OF former prices, they have gwen more buoyant
tone to the Market removed much OF tue depression
previously existing in trade Circles and disspated
fears OF commercial panic.
Two mysterious murders, recently perpctrated In
the western part OF this colony, have caused much
excitement as they bear evidences Of being perpe-
trated by the same person or persons. The first was
that OF a hawker named Davis, whose remains were
found In the early part OF the month. His skull was
frightfuy smashed, hts wagon partially burned,
and there were traces OF attempt 10 burn the body
also. fortnight later two lads searching Tor horses
discovered another partially consumed body, from
which the lower portions had been severed by some
sharp instrument The head ana face were so mu-
tilated that identification was impossible. Among
the extIngusncd cmbers by which It was surrounded
the police found portions OF saddle and some metal
articles, which may eventually aid In solving the
afalr. Bushrangng was bad enough, but the
1.dead Tell no tales" theory IL still lower deep.