MELBOURNE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XII, Issue 898, 5 February 1856, Page 3

MELBOURNE.

The following address to Lady Ilotham was passed by the Legislative Council of Victoria :—: — TO THE HONOUIIIBLE L\DY JIOTHVM. "We, the Members of the Legislative Council of Victoria, offer to your Ladyship the expiesiion of our deep concern at the loss which it has pleased Divine Providence to inflict upon jou by the death of his Excellency Sir Charles Hothani. We desire to assuie your Ladysl ip of our most sincere sympathy with you in this severe bereave nent, — a sympathy shared with us by the whole community. It is our prayer that Alnrghty God may comfoit you in this affliction." Numeious addiesses of a similar character had been presented. The 'Herald' states tliat Lady Hotham has taken a passage per the Anglesea about to sail for England. Mr Nicholson had abandoned the task of constiucting a Ministry, and Mr. Haines and his colleagues had returned to office. The latter, by the way, may be looked upon as the "old officials" of Victoria — Mr. Nicholsons attempt having been the first under Responsible Government. Gas, says the correspondent of the ' Herald,' is not yet very extensively adopted in Melbourne. This, I think, 7nay be ascribed to the very high price which is charged for it. Besides the first expense of the fittings, the expense of the supply will be much greater than that of other means of illumination. New Sooth Wales v. Victoria. — We hear, o;i good authoiity, that we may shortly expect to witness a contest of no ordinary interest to the lovers of cricket in Australia — no less a one than between the colonies of Victoria and New South Wales. — Aigtii. Mr. Charles Sladen, 'he Colonial Tieasurer, is about tolc.np the colony foi England, and it is rumoured that considerable difficulty is experienced in rinding a suitable smcussoi. The' appointment has been offeiod to Mr. O'Shanassy, and declined. The following is a copy of an address of condolence about to bp pn seated to Lady llothain from the ladi.es of Melbourne :—: — " To the Honorable Lmlv ITotham. "Madame, — We cannot see your Lidyship depart frcn these shores without venturing to express to you oui dej?p and sincere sympathy with your affliction, and our u lfeigned respect f or^vour pei son. "We trust you will not think that we intrude on the secrpdness of your sorrow if we give expression to the universal sentiment of giief for the untimely removal of our late Go\einor, and of lespect for the zeal which made him wear out his life in the endeavour to serve his Sovereign, and to benefit the colony over which she had placed him ; and acknowledge with gutitude the beautiful example you have set us as a Chiisthn matron, whether in the fulfilment of the duties of your exalted station or in the endurance of sudden and o\eiwhelming calamity— illustrating the piinciples of our holy faith, which are at once a q lide m the sunshine of life, and a refuge in the d ukn«ss of affliction. "In the piayerthat the God of the -widow may be your portion and guide,; we beg lespectfully to subscribe oursehes, Madame, " Your Ladyship's faithful servants." The case of Captain Forbes, of the Schombeig, has been partially heai d at the Distiict Police Com t, but stands Adjourned. Bail was allowed— the defendant himself in £-500 and two sureties in £250 each. At a speei il meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, on the 14th instant, Williim Ilunmill, Esq., president, in the chair, it was lesohed — " 1. Thai in the opinion of this Chamber, a searching inquiry should be instituted into the circumstances attending the stranding or total loss of e\ery vessel wrecked or lost on the shores of this colony, and also into the conduct of the officers in charge of any such essel ; and that such inquiry shall be held in open couit, and evidence taken on oath, and that the court or board appointed shall in every c.ise pionounce a voidi<t, and in case of wreck or loss being caused wilfully or through neglect, to have power to commit offenders for tiial. " 2. That the matter be referred to a select committee, to consist of Messrs. Hammill, Poiter, Westgaith, Moore, A'Bsekett, and Thomas." The directors of the Colonial Bank have, after sc\eral sittings, appointed Mr. T. E. Boyd their Melbourne Manager. Mr. Boyd was for some years manager of the Union Bank. Two fires have lately taken place in Melbourne— one at 21, Elizabeth-street (formerly the 'Age' Office,) the damage estimated at £1200 ; the other, of less extent, in Little Bourkc- street. The Monster Meeting advertised to tnke place at Astley's Amphitheati e, Melbourne, on the 1 4th, in older to consider the propriety of " Electing our own Governor," was postponed on account of the period betwixt the announcement of the meeting and the time it was to have been held, not being considered by the requisitionists sufficient to give the demonstration that publicity its importance demands. The sudden and unexpected adjournment ot the meeting, however, has given vpiv general dissatisfaction. We ('Age') have received several letters of complaint on the subject, and we must say that we think the business was very sadly mismanaged. One correspondent writes as follows :— * I have no doubt that from 2000 to 3000 persons were, from first to last, outside the place of meeting ; and their expressions of dissatisfaction were neither few nor small. I make no doubt a meeting would have boon held in the Amphitheatre, but for the fact that Mons. Floury demanded a payment of £20. The consequence was that no person would under'ake the ri-k of raising that sum. However, the following motion was put to the meeting, proposed by Mr. Vale and seconded by Mr. Dash, "That this meeting views with indignation the conduct of the gentlemen who have convened this meeting." This motion was unanimously carried, as might have been expected.