LATER NEWS FROM VICTORIA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 131, 17 April 1862, Page 5

LATER NEWS FROM VICTORIA.

RUMORS ABOUT THE COLONIAL liAMv.

PASSING OF THE BANK NOTE TAX,

REFUSAL OF FIJI BY THE BRITISH

GOVERN M ENT.

PROPOSED STATUE TO PRINCE ALBERT

AT SYDNEY

ARIUVAL OF BRUTTON IN MELBOURNE.

By the Tamar, from Hobart Town, we have received files of Tasmmsiau papers to 2nd April, from which we are able to glean the following important intelligence which reached Hobart Town by telegraph :—

Melbourne, Saturday, March 2!). The Colonial Bank.—Tiie following rumors about the Colonial Bank of Australasia, nnuenr in Messrs. Bailie mid Butters' Stock and Share list:— We have very little alteration in quotations to note, except in Colonial Bank shares which have fallen considerably, and timid shareholders have become somewhat, alarmed; heavy losses have been talked of, and still further depreciation looked forward to until we miff lit almost designate it a ]>anic on a small scale. The eliect has been that the stock, contrary to the usual ciisioiu, has been falling' rapidly in the face of an approaching meeting1, and can now be had at par {without being particularly well supported. It is probable that tiie danger has been talked into its present proportions, and if shareholders would patiently wait the result of the meeting they might find the balance 'sheet not quite so bad as is generally expected ; in any lease, with the Reserve Fund of £;M),000, the Contingent Capital of £15,000, and the present half-year's business (supposing' no dividend were paid) the Bank jwould he prepared to lose something like ,€IOO.OOO without touching any of its capital, with the stock therefore at par, and a flourishing business, we know of no better investment for money at the present time than they offer. Wo trust their 'next report will be a clear and lucid one, ks we have no doubt the shareholders would prefer knowing- the worst at ouce than be keptin suspense."

Theatrical.—From private letters received from England by tiie .December mail, we learn that there is every probability of Mr. G. V. Brooke's returning- to the colony in time tor the opening of the new theatre in Bourke-street. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Poole are also en route for Australia; and Miss Achin, a leadiug actress of considerable reputation in the English provinces, also intends payin<>- us a professional visit. Mr. J. H. Wilton has entered into n n . ptip-ageracnt with Mr. Gco. Hudson, «ip popular delinealuL- of Irisb "liar-ncter. to r-.M™ i» the colonies in his entertainment of " Pat's Curiosity Shop."

An Absconding Clerk.—Bretton, the clerk in the Union Bank at Otago, who embezzled a considerable sum of money, aud then sailed for England, where he was arrested by a detective officer, only a few hours after his arrival, was brought before the City Court yesterday, and formally remanded to Otago.

Bank Note Tax.—The Tax on Bank Notes Bill was read a third time and passed.

The Renegade Members.—There is no abatement of tlieexoitenlfnt at Ballarat on the subject o Messrs. Humffray and Cathie's late votes on the 6'9tb clause of the Land Bill. In reference to this, yesterday's JBallarat Star has the following :—'' A public meeting of the electors of Ballarafc East, will be JieJd this evening at the Eastern Courthouse, to take into consideration the votes of the members for that dis trict in the Legislative Assembly. The meeting will be invited to resolve that Messrs. Humffray and Cathie have broken their pledges, that those gentlemen be called upon to resign their seats, and that the resolution be advertised in the Melbourne uud otker journals in vindication of the reputation of the electorate traduced by the votes of its representatives." A Libellous Petition.—Mr. Heales stated yesterday, that he had been asked to present a, petition iroin a public meeting of inhabitants of the colony, but as it was of a very peculiar nature, he desired to submit it to the Speaker for his ruling. The Speaker having examined the petition, stated that it .brought charges of a gross and libellous character against members of that House generally. As no petition uould be made the vehicle of such charges agviinst members, the petition was clearly out of order.

COMMERCIAL. Markets are still unchanged. Flour is in better request.