VICTORIA.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 22, 10 December 1874, Page 6

VICTORIA.

We have dates from Melbourne to the 27th ult. : The Mining on Private Property Bill passed through the Assembly last night, after a slight discussion ; and the vote for charities, amounting to L 120,000, was agreed to. This completes the Estimates. A radical defect is lound in the Education Act, rendering the compulsory clauses inoperative. A full court decided that the onus lies with the Crown to prove the age of children not attending the schools. An amending Act will, therefore, be necessary. Mr Forrest, the explorer, visited several of the public places of the city, and baa been entertained by the citizens. The Sandhurst Races commenced on November 25th, and resulted as follows : — Hurdle Rece — Gunter 1, "Welshman 2, W.F. 3. Maiden Plate— Polidori 1, Maid of Hawthorn 2. Sandhurst Cup— lmperial, 6st- lOlbs, 1 ; Stockbridge, 7st, 2 • The Hook, 6st 3lbs, 3. Imperial made all the running, and won comfortably from Stock - bridge by about four lengths. On the second day the results were as follows : — Hurdle Race — Inquisitive 1, Lantern 2. Flying Handicap — Polidori 1, Stockbridge 2. Time, 1 mm. 20 sees. Only three started. Bendigo Handicap — imperial 1 King Tom 2, Fugleman 3. Time, 3 mm. 13£ sees. A protest against the winner was dismissed. Steeplechase — Duffer 1.

The members of the Council are discussing the Flogging Bill. The Assembly are considering the Estimates and the Local Government Bill.

The Government promised a deputation from the Trades and Labor Council that a measure providing for the establishing of Courts of arbitration between employer and employed would be introduced.

At a trial of reapers and mowers, under the auspices of the National Agricultural Society, Joseph Nicholson took first and second prizes in both classes.

L 31,000 of the Western Australian loan has been subscribed at from par to 2s 6d premium. The remaining nineteen thousand is likely to be taken at par.

Tenders have been received for forty miles of the Gipps Land railway, between Thorwell and Sale. The lowest was from Messsr Miller and James, L 127.500.

There have been very considerable sales of Hennessy's brandy at 7s 9d ; 5000 boxes of Brandon's candles for export, 8d in bond ; 5000 tons of West India sugar ; large sales of Mauritius at 15s advance, owing to a Mauritius telegram, which stated there were no enquiries for the Colonies; large business for Europe and Bombay. The market very firm. Ship ments of new crop to Colonies, 5000 tons as against 14,000 last year. Constance quoted at 7.76d015 ; No. 14, 6.50d015; Labourdonnais, 7.75d015.

According to a Parliamentary return it appears that there was only one run in the colony in which scab is visible.

The Government do not intend to take any steps this session towards assisted immigration.

Notice has been given by Mr M'Lellan, in the Legislative Assembly, as to the necessity of the Government introducing an Amending Land Bill this session. The Premier expressed himself in favor of a Labour Bureau, if it could be shown that it would he self-supporting.