THE EUROPEAN MAIL SERVICE. (FROM THE ARGUS.)

Evening Post, Issue 158, 10 August 1865, Page 2

THE EUROPEAN MAIL SERVICE. (FROM THE ARGUS.)

Tn the Legislative Assembly, Melbourne, on the 26th July, Mr. Levey asked the Chief Secretary what steps the Government intended to take in reference to the mail contract ? Mr. M'Culloch said that the Imperial Government had accepted the monthly service unconditionally. They had accepted it on their own behalf, and on behalf of the Governments of Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania. With regard to a fortnightly or twice a month service, the Victorian Government were not in a position to accept either of those services. They were very anxious to have a fortnightly mail service, but, considering the manner in which the service had been conducted during the past six or eight months, they did not feel justified in entering into any further arrangement with tlie Peninsular and Oriental Company until they had an assurance that the service would be carried out more satisfactorily in future. Moreover, unless experience proved that a better class of boats were employed iv the conveyance of the mails than had hitherto been employed, and unless the service was altogether conducted in a more regular and better way in the future than it had been in the past, the Victorian Government would give notice to the Imperial Government that at the expiration of two years the present contract should cease, as far as this colony was concerned. He regretted that the home Government did not insist upon the Peninsular and Oriental Company calling at Kangaroo Island. It was a great hardship to the colony of South Australia that the mail steamers should not be permitted to call there, as experience had shown that no inconveniense would result from the adoption of that course.

At the valedictory service, on the occasion of the Rev. William Taylor's departure from Sydney, two thousand persons were present. A purse containing one hundred sovereigns was presented to Mr. Taylor by members of the Wesleyan Church. |

MELBOURNE— A DEAD-fiG££. The greatest political crisis ever.«nowQ here has occurred. The Assembly sometime sinze passed a new Tariff Act, but, understanding that the Upper House was opposed to it, determined to send it with the Appropriation Bill. The two bills were brought in combined, but on the second reading" 'the Speaker declined to put the question. The bills were then separated ; but in committee a resolution was passed by an enormous mnjority, that the bills be taoked before bung sent up to the Council. The third reading of the tacked Bill was passed by a mnjority of two to one The Council, on receiving it, pas-ed the first reading j but, on the second, Mr Fellows moved that the Bill contained three disiinot incongruous matters, and that the House decline to deal with it until they were separated. This was carried by 20 to 5. The Assembly passed a resolution declining to do tins, and determined not to proceed with any further appropriation until the Upper Douse ncknowledge the sole right of the Assembly to deal with taxation. </ii the following day a supplement appeared in the Gazette stating that the Appropriation Bill not having passed, no salaries, wages, or other disbursements would be made. A rumour is current that a conference of both Houses will be held to release the Bill from its state of dead-lock. Meantime meetings of protectionists are being held to support ministers. Hervey has resigned his seat in the Couucil and Ministry. Hatnes is a candidate. It is since rumolired Hervey's affairs being settled he will ttand again.