MELBOURNE TOWN TALK.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 273, 14 March 1889, Page 4

MELBOURNE TOWN TALK.

fnOK OCR OM CORRESPONDENT.] ViCToxtAas, like Knglisnmen, are proud of the liberty they possess, and what is known M freedom of speech; but the coalition Government under which we live, and which seeks to follow at a respect ful distance something of the style of Lord Salisbury and his government at Home, is resolved to penalise anything that may appear derogatory to the dignity of the State. A gentleman named Eicke, with more eloquence than discretion, made some very disparaging remarks the the other day at a public meeting of licensed victuallers against Judge Molesworth. '■'his young judge has a peculiar mode of smiling sweetly when he is about to do something extremely harsh—at least harsh in tne opinion of Mr Eicke and his friends. For instance, a publican who had infringed the law to an extent beyond statutory forbear* anee, was, according to his brothers-in-arms, or rather in liquor, mulcted in a fine of £7,ooo—the forfeiture of nig license, conse* quent upon a third conviction for violating the Licensing Act, being set down as equal to that amount, and of which he would therefore be to that extent a loser. Mr Eicke, on the publican's behalf, made a very eloquent declaration, and insinuated amongst other things that in his decision the Judge was prompted by a desire to placate the Government, and thereby possibly obtain the vacancy on the Supreme Court bench rather than by a wish to dispense justice to those who came before him. The matter has been under the consideration of the Cabinet, and the question has arisen whether Mr Eicke should not be brought to hie bearings far indulgence in such freedom of speech. Judge Molesworth was communicated with in the first instance, informed of his powers, and asked whether it were not advisable that he should issue an attachment against the truculent Mr Eicke, and deal with him as he thought proper. ’The youthful Judge, however, who her from contempt for the Individual, or fearing the construction which the public might place upon the matter, declined to take any notice of the libellous remarks. Not so the Cabinet: and it has now been decided that a preseutmeut obeli be made out by the Attorney-General, charging Mr Eicke with criminal libel, and rendering him liable to the consequences of his rather frank avowal of his opmioue. bo much for the freedom of speech in Victoria.

Mr Derham, the Postmaster-General, is in appearance one of the most dapper gentlemen in Melbourne, and personally he cmriders himself the moat spotless official in the State. Me, however, baa been rudely disabused of his notion of things by the pubiicatioa of a aeries of charges against his department, from which it would appear that ho has boon nothing more than a humble Instrument in the hands of those immediately surrounding him. It has now beoomo a recognised fact that the Post Office is a purely family affair, and that none but those connected with a particular gentleman or gentlemen have any say in ths matter of ap. pointmeut or promotion within the sacred circle over which Mr Derham presidio. Un mindful of the divinity that doth hedge a mfa. fat er. no lose than a king, some of the daily papers have been taking Mr Derham to task about his proceedings in the department, and have broadly stated certain facts which be has failed altogether to explain. They have also made many inriuuedons which, if substantiated, will prove that the young gentleman is wholly unsuited to the poritio, ahe fills. He has endeavored by making the elections a Cabinet question, to avoid bis responsibility, but this can only be regarded as one of the many difficulties with which Mr Gillies has had to contend in placating his colleagues.

Prior to the publication of the opinions referred to in the papers taking exception to Mr Derham s proceedings, a nice little arrangement had been made by which a number of changes would have been effected in the promotion of those who were of the right way of thinking with the powers that be in this department of the service. Nothing therefore could have been more unfortunate. A list of promotions had been made out very carefully and everyone who deserved the prizes in the opinion of a certain individual was to get something. But alas for the . vanity of human wishes, it was determined at the last moment that iu the face of the serious changes made against the management of thia important department the contemplated changes could not be made. In thia respect therefore a very pleasant little plan for a few favored persona has been nipped in the bud just on the eve of its consummation.