VICTORIA.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XX, 7 September 1861, Page 3

VICTORIA.

[From the Melbourne Weekly Age.~]

Mr. Ireland has withdrawn from the Ministry. The cause which led to his taking this step, we understand, was a dispute with hit. colleagues about the granting of his own pension.

We are told that in the lowest i.'epths ther? is a lower still, and this seems to be the point at which the Exploration Committee hns now arrived. Having procrastinated, to an extent which might reasonably excite the envy of the Court of Chancery, they have determined upon procrastinating a little longer. We ma\ now expect that, on Tuesday next, this question of life aud death wi.l be considered with a view to its reconsideration in a week or a fortnight from that time. The pretext for all this delay seems to be that the Victoria could not be placed in fit condition for a cruise to the North coast in less than three week?, and, of course, Mr. Burke and his companions may starve or perish by any lingering approach of death until the carpenters of Williamstown have completed their work. In the meanwhile the community at large has something to say on this head. The Chief Secretary of the colony gave expression to the views of his Cabinet upon this matter, in an interview which he accorded to the deputation of the Exploration Committee on Saturday ; and, we think, any reasonable person who reads the reports of the proceedings on that occasion will agree with us in believing that, in this instance, Mr. Heales evinced precisely that amount of common sense which might have been looked for in any individual unconnected with the Exploration Commitlee. From various sources, however, an impression has arisen in the public mind, and one which, we fear, is but too well founded, to the effect that Mr. Walker's proposed expedition was originally intended as a private enterprise for a personal purpose. This was nothing more than might have been anticipated from the fact of a gentleman, of whom scarcely a member of the committee had any personal knowledge, coming forward to recommend Mr. Walker for this purpose. It is, at least, a strange coincidence that Mr. Morris is a large stockholder in New South Wales, and that he is at present believed to be looking out for new country in the Moreton Bay district.

The addresses of the Chief Secretary and the President of the Board of Land and Works have at length been published. Although, perhaps, not definitely stated, the future policy of the Ministry is pretty clearly indicated. With regard to the Land Act, the Chief Secretary says that, constituted as the Legislative Council is at present, itjs perfectly hopeless to expect that a really liberal land law would pass that branch of the Legislature ; and, therefore, instead of bringing in an amended Act, the Government intends to do all that lies in its power to settle the people on the soil under the provisions of the present Act. We presume this is intended to be done by increasing the area, and liberalising the conditions, of the occupation licenses recently issued. Amongst the other items of the Ministerial policy, as set forth in these addresses, may be mentioned a reform of the Constitution, so that measures, having passed the Assembly, may not be rejected with impunity by the Council ; a revision of the tariff, by which, whilst the necessary revenue is raised, relief and encouragement shall be afforded to our industrial pursuits ; payment of members by a sum placed on the estimates; the reduction of the export duty on gold ; one uniform system of education ; a further reform and reduction of the Civil Service ; the establishment of a comprehensive system of local self-government ; and the continuance of the system of assisted immigration, as established during last session.

By the City Council notice paper we learn that the total amount of the rate for 1859 was 2640,425 145., of which sum there was collected £38,255 165.; exemptions, £1,842; balance, £327 18s. The return of rates collected and balances for the year 1860 show that the total amount of rate was £37,668 55. ; the sum collected, £33,754 7s. lid; and the amount outstanding, £3,913 17s. Id. The return for the half year just expired, shows the total amount of rate to be £32,633 16s; the amount collected £525 75. ; and the amount outstanding, £32,108 9s.

Putting out of consideration for a moment the credit of the colony as the reputed home of rational beings, we submit that, in the common interest of humanity, it is high time that the control of the searching parties about being despached after Mr. Burke and his companions was taken out of the hands of the incompetent and frivolous gentlemen by whom this most responsible trust has been, and continues to be, so shamefully abused. We refer with pain and humiliation to our report of the proceedings of the Exploration Committee on Tuesday, in corroboratiou of this statement. From that shameful record it would indeed seem questionable whether some of these aavans are capable of understanding as intelligible a statement as the English language is capable of expressing. The gentlemen we refer to, and of whom we are bound to name Dr. Wilkie as the foremost, profess to be unable to gather from the statement of Mr. Heales what the intentions of the Government are in respect to providing funds for the pro secution of the search after the missing explorers ; and yet we undertake to assert that nothing could be more distinct than the declaration of the Chief Secretary on this point. It amounted to a positive refusal to supply the means of forwarding a party by sea to the north coast for the purpose of sending an expedition overland from that quarter, unless some strong reasons were advanced in support of such a proposal in addition to the feeble arguments urged in its support up to Saturday last. We need scarcely say that no such reasons have as yet been brought forward, and yet this would appear to be the pet project of the committee now.

Some valuable additions have been made to our pure stock by the Moravian, which arrived in Hobson's Bay on Tuesday morning, after an exceedingly good passage of seventy days. By the Moravian, Messrs. Strachan aud Co. have received three pure Hereford cows in calf, and Messrs. Wilson, Buchanan, and Co. have received three ramg from the Imperial

stock at Paris. The Moravian also brings a number of canaiies, thrushes, blackbirds,iro Id finches, and Spanish and Dorking fowls. Both the animals and birds are in remarkably a;o(xl condition. They have been well attended, toaud have stood the voyage remarkably well.

The sixth annual report of the Central Board of Health has just been published. As one of the principal features of the health returns for the present year, the report calls attention to the fact that, whilst for many previous years the Board have had to notice the continued immunity enjoyed by the inhabitants of the colony from serious epidemic or endemic diseases, that immunity no longer exists, but that, on the contrary, such diseases, producing considerable mortality, have been prevalent to a serious extent. Amongst these, influenza and malignant sore throat are specially mentioned, and also measles and "scarlatina tnaligna." During the year 1860 there were 343 fatal cases of scarlatina, and 244 cases of measles. It will thus, says the report, "be seen that during this year 589 lives have been sacrificed to diseases which, for many years previously, held but a very insignificant place in the mortuary registers of the colony. A great proportion of this disease is attributed by the Board to the want of proper sanitary precautions, and t'.ie report affirms that a large proportion of the sickness and mortality from which the inhabitants of towns and other popolous places suffer is preventible.

The amount of personation at elections which is carried on in some of the up-country districts is 'commented upon by the Monut Alexander ±\lail of Friday. That journal alludes to a case in which ten men voted three times each, for the same candidate. The following was the modus operandi adopted: — "The men voted, first of all with their beards and moustache in full luxuriance. They were then taken to a dressing room, their clothes slightly varied, and the amount of hair on their faces so much shaved, as to render recognition difficult, if not impossible, in the ballot room. The trick was repeated a third time, with clean faces." The same journal also asserts, as a well known fact, that, at the last Castlemaine election, in which- Dr. Macadam was beaten by Lieutenant Smith, some men voted as many as three times for one candidate.

If an extensive immigration is an indication of our prosperity, and the immigration returns for the month of May last are any criterion, then we are in a deplorable condition indeed, for the departures were actually in excess of the arrivals during that month.

Mr. O'Shannassy has at length announced himself a candidate for Kjlmore. His address, which appeared in the advertising columns of a contemporary yesterday, and dated Sunday, is quite a gem in its way. It is an ill-tempered, illogical, ungrammatical, and absurdly bombastical document throughout, and an insult to the constituency to which it is addressed. We are glad to hear that the electors of Kilmore will have an opportunity of voting for another candidate at the forthcoming election. Mr. O'Shannassy, we understand, will be opposed. The belief that pleuro-pneumonia is not infectious is gradually gaining ground, and, by many experienced persons who are well qualified to form an opinion, it is positively asserted that the large expenditure now going on for the purpose of arresting the spread of the disease, is just so much money thrown away. One of the Pleuro-pneumonia Commissioners, Mr. Ogilvy, holding this opinion, has resigned his appointment, feeling that he could no longer continue to conscientiously fill the situation.

In pursuance of a resolution of the committee of management, the first half-yearly sale of surplus produce, stock, and implements at the Model Farm, took place on Saturday, under the auspices of Mr. M'Caw. The place and the occasion together sufficed to secure rather a large attendance, but, excepting for the maize and a few unimportant items, the prices realized were low.

As one of the "signs of the times," it is worthy of note, that a soup kitchen has been established at Geelong.

A meeting of the Exploration Committee was held on Monday, at the Royal Society's Hall, at a quarter past four, p.m. A telegram was read from the Commissioner of Police in South Australia, requesting instructions with regard to the two camels which had been secured near Adelaide. The committee agreed to place these animals at the disposal ot the South Australian Government, for their proposed expedition in search of Mr. Burkes party. The committee then proceeded to consider and revise the draft of a letter, to be addressed to the leader of the party which is being now organised at Brisbane by the Queensland Government, for the purpose of searching the Northern interior ; also, the draft of a letter to. Commander Norman, expressing the views of the committee with regard to the work to be assigned to each of the land parties, and appointing him Com-mander-in-Chief of the expedition. The drafts were prepared by Dr. Wilkie, and with a few alterations, were adopted. Dr. Wilkie placed before the committee the views of Dr. Mueller, with respect to these documents. Some alterations and additions proposed by Dr. Mueller were adopted, and regret was expressed that he was unable to be present. It is expected that the s.s. Victoria will be ready to start on Thursday. * A highway robbery, under arms, was committed on Monday evening, at Long* Gully, situate between Ballan and Blackwood, on one Frederick Reynolds. A purse containing £6 10s. was taken from him. The perpetrators of the robbery are not yet known, but suspicion falls upon a discharged ticket-of-leave man who was known to have been in the neighbourhood at that time.

August 9. The elections of Friday terminated, all but unanimously, in favour of the Ministry. In one district alone, that of Brighton, was an anti-ministerial candidate returned. Out of sixteen members of the new Parliament, the number as yet elected, the Government may claim thirteen as staunch supporters.

A silver cup, of the value of £5, was competed for at the West Melbourne buttf, on

Saturday last, by thirty members of the Melbourne and Suburban Rifle Companies, and was won by Sergeant Douglas, of the Carletou Rifles, who scored 17 points out of 10 shots, at 200 and 300 yards.

The elections of Monday again resulted in favour of the Ministry. Eight fresh members were returned, and of these five are for and three are opposed to the present Administration.

The screw steamer Victoria sailed from this port on Sunday afternoon on her voyage to the Gulf of Carpentaria, to assist in the search for Mr. Burke and his companions. In connection with this subject, we may state that the Adelaide authorities have communicated with the Government here requesting the loan ol any camels that might be available, for the expedition about to be despatched from Adelaide in search of the remnant of the Victorian Exploration party. In accordance with this request, the four camels that were left behind in the Royal Park will be sent to Adelaide, by the Oscar aud placed at the disposal of the South Australian Government.

The polling for South Bourke on Tuesday resulted in the election of Mr. L. L. Smith and Mr. O'Grady.