VICTORIA.

Evening Post, Volume LXXII, Issue 66, 15 September 1906, Page 9

VICTORIA.

The Pur© Foods Standard Committee (Victoria) has decided to prohibit the presence of arsenic and other foreign mineral matter in glucose and sugar ; also sugar in the case of honey. Fot some months past the Melbourne* Age has been carrying on, almost singlehanded, a. crusade for the annexation of the Riverina district by Victoria, on the plea of an early mistake in the boundaries. Mr. Bent has also talked of making a- demand for the coveted territory, but the public so far seem to have ignored the movement. A "league" has now been formed "for the purpose of proclaiming and establishing the lawful and constitutional boundary of Victoria." The Minister of Water Supply (Mr. (Swinburne) has sounded Mr. -Mead (Chief of the United States Irrigation Experimental Department) with a view to ascertain whether he will come to Victoria and take charge pi the local irrigation systems. At first Mr. Mead was disinclined to leave America, but it is understood that if he is pressed he may consent. An amendment, of the divorce law has been authorised by the Victorian Cabinet. Under the present Act a decree nisi for the dissolution of a marriage can only be made absolute upon a motion, but many persons notwithstanding thjs have married again without taking the final step. The Bill will provide that a decree nisi shall become absolute automatically after the lapse of a certain time. The Victorian Stock Inspectors' Conference concluded on the 3rd inst. Many minor matters were dealt •with, and the following were the more important recommendations : — That tho admission into the Commonwealth of cattle from the Northern Hemisphere during September. October, November, and December is not desirable, owing to the risk of introducing the warble fly." "That in view of the magnitude of the live stock interest in Australia, wiiich is threatened by the existence of rinderpest, dourine surra (a South African horse sickness), and magana, the importation of stock irom India, Africa, the Philippines, the Malay States, and the East Indian Islands' be absolutely prohibited." Mr. Bent stated on the Ist inst. that he had decided to place £5000 on the Estimates for Toadmaking by prisoners in the back country. The prisoners would ' bfe allowed so much per day . which would be paid them when they should be released, and this money would serve as something with which to make a new start in life. He remarked that he did.nob. expect the ' House to be unanimous, but it would' be a good thing to do 'something of the kind. On further consideration, he now proposes to set aside a grant of £7500, . for employment of prison labour m work of public utility, instead of £6000. A suggestion has been malde to him that he can use prisoners to drain the country near Lake Tyers, : A remarkable situation arose in the Court of General Sessions. Melbourne, on the sth mst. One Patrick Connolly was convicted of having stolen a calf, and several witnesses were called regarding his character. Ono of them — Gordon Lyon — said he gave accused the calf in question. Judge Johnston said this evidence was remarkable. Mr. Purves, K.C., who defended, said it was, and that he bSd not called these -trltneeses before because he thought the Crown had not proved its case. Judge Johnston : "I have no right to sit as a Court of Appeal on the jury's finding. On the evidence now given the man should not ' have been convicted. I will allow him out on bail, and at once report what has j happened to the Executive Council." 1 j am prepared t6 go to this length and j say that I have heard the evidence, and j that I believe the accused to be innocent." Gordon Lyon became the -surety, and the accused was liberated on bail.