VICTORIA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3021, 2 March 1881, Page 3

VICTORIA.

In the Assembly on Tuesday the Railway Minister's decision to relinquish patronage was approved of by tbe Opposition, but not by the Liberals, who regarded it as a sham. Some considered it detrimental to the interests of the party. Mr Bent uttered an ejaculation, for which he was called to order, when he threatened to repeat it. The Speaker said he had authority to prevent him. Constable Walsh, of Wangatta, has been committed for trial for burglary at tbe Royal Hotel. The revenue of the Railway Department shows a steady increase. It is intended to proceed with as many new lines as possible as soon as the surveys are completed, and tenders can be called for. In consequence of cases of imposition which have been discovered in connection with the maintenance of the Lunacy Department, a thorough investigation was made, the result being the discovery of half a dozen shameful impositions upon the State by people in easy circumstances. The latest instance is a person who for ten years has shirked responsibility, and has thrice presided in the Shire Council, but who is now in arrears £180 to the State, though wealthy, i A shooting affray occurred in Spring-

street, by which Baum, described as a merchant, was wounded. Three chambers of a revolver were found discharged. Baum was taken to the hospital. The case is mysterious. It appears that Laurence, a clerk who was arrested for the offence, is uot the right man, and he will probably be discharged. The whole cost of the Exhibition building is £329,000, but, less the receipts and the sale of the annexes, will be about £252,000. This leaves £33,000 of a deficiency. Mr Service has been entertained at a farewell banquet. He spoke on a varity of topics. He showed that, while all classes of property had depreciated in value, this had not been such a fine country for the working man; still throughout there was a good future before the colony if the people insisted on a high standard of honesty and integrity in their public men. He said Victoria was not going on so fast as tbe neighboring colonies, and at the same rate as now would soon be outstripped by New South Wales, which was making very material progress, as shown by Hoyter's figures. Several cases have come before the Magistrates of persons carrying firearms in the street. In a case yesterday, Matthews, a boundary rider, had a sixchamber, because he thought himself unsafe among the larrikins. As the revolver was not much good, he was discharged.