VICTORIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 132, 18 April 1862, Page 5

VICTORIA

(FIIOM.OUR OWN.CORRESPONDENT) ' ■ :.'■"' Melbourne, April 11,-1862.; Parliament has adjourned for the Easter recess. It has at last done some work. The bill popular!} known as Torrens'Aci has been carried through aIJ its stages in the Assembly, and sent to the Uppei House, where it has been read a second time, and it most likely to pass without delay, as the Council on a former occasion pass-d a similar measure and sent si* to the Assembly, where it fell through, owing to the speedy termination of the session. It provides a very cheap and simple process for the transfer of land, coupled with an indefeasible title. The Land Bill of the present Government, after suffering^ great deal of paring, amending, and transforming,' was, on Wed nesday moruing, at daylight, read a third time, and passed by a majority of twenty -two. Thus showing, that after all the battles had .been fairly fought.) a very large majority of the Assembly accepted it as the best compromise that could be made under the circumstances. The great bone of contention was the squatting tenure, which a majority of one had fixed at ten years. In the meantime, Mr. Hifrginbotham, who advocates a less tenure, was elected for Brighton, and he took his seat a few liours prior to the. third reading. This was a favorable opportunity of carryin;r an amendment, and Mr. Service took advantage of,the circumstance, and moved the omission of the words seyenty-ouo (1871, the year the tenure expires) with a view of inserting the words sixty-eight (1868) making the tenure seven years. The omission of the words was carried by a majority of one, and just. as the question wjis put that sixty-eight be inserted, the Government whip had hunted up two more minis terial votes, and negatived the proposition. Mr. Snodgrass now moved that seventy be inserted, and this was carried by a majority, of three. By this move the squatters only lost one yp"ar, and their tenure expires, if the bill pass the Council, in 18T0. Several other amendments of a less important character were disposed of, arid the bill was read a third time, ayes 45, noes 23. The opposition tried in vain to adjourn the debate, the Government had a majority, and they meant to Carry their measure, having resolved not to separate till it was finally disposed of.. This is a striking contrast to the weak manner the Heales ministry exhibited when they" met Parliament with a majority of six. Instead of boldly putting down opposition, and leading their friends to Victory, they dallied with the opposition, prolonged debates, exposed tneir weakness in debate, tired and disgusted their' friends and. supporters, and finally suffered the penalty -due to vacillation. ' .. . ' :

' Our Assembly, as you are aware, claims the, same rights and privileges as the House of Commons, and the question as to whether it really does posse&s such privileges will shortly bo brought to an issue. The member for Creswick, Mr. Fraster, is chairman of a committee appointed to inquire into the working, of our poliue system, In his place in tho House, .Ihe stated he aonsidored two members of the force were unfairly dealt with by having ah inquisitorial board illegally appointed to try them for conspiracy, and remarked that tho board was composed of friends; of the Chief Commissioner. This displeased the Aryiis. and in .ft very strongly worded leader attacking the House generally, and using Mr. Frazer's name in the previous sentence, said the Commissioner was at the mercy of any "privileged ruffian,''who might be pitchforked into parliament. -Mr. Frazer called the attention of the house to the matter, and moved that it was a gross breach of privilege, and that the printer of the Argus should be summoned to the bar of the House to answer for the libel. This was agreed to withont opposition, several members saying they had all reason 1o complain of the virulent attacks made upon them. Amongst others Mr. Ireland elicited roars of laughter by the humorous way he alluded: to the Bnllaarat Star in saying that Humffray had sunfc very low, and become a fit Qpnjpanion fti'r'She;"Attorney Ge.neral. Ijfext day tha-Argiix defied the "the Assembly,' and plainly intimated their publisher should not obey the summons of Mr. Speaker, which they considered of no more yalue than the paper on which it was written. The day for which Mr. fjill was summoned w,a,s '\Y§dn l es;day last, and when flrder p,f %\\§ (|ay- car^e on "That the printer of tfye. 1 Argus'-'dq attend' this"House,V the Sergeant at Arms'was o'rd.ered to. if h,e was in attendance. He came back with n negative. Mr. Frazer then moyed tljat th*e Speaker, issue a Warrant, aiid that the Sergeant at Anns awest Mr. Dill and bring him up in oustody. This was carried without opposition,:and on Mr. Mollison's suggestion it was agreed that the Speaker withhold the warrant until the next day the House meets, which will be the 29th ,of April, so ias not to be unnecessarily harsh, in confining ,Mr: Dill during the rece.ss. Jt is nqvK understood he will only go,an the, requisite amp.un.t of-force being used, arid the House will order him into prison for contempt. He will then apnly fo.r. a writ of- .fjn%ag anA, afterwards s;i§ th|'.' Spe^kqf pK tifiaYy damages for illegal arrpst, &c. j and whichever side loses \i will, be carried bj appeal befores £he pri.yy' Ooimeil, so tha.t a year must elapse before the master is settled, .In the meantime the lawyers will liave a decent ploking out of it. . , ......

The Council here passed the second reading of the Gold Export.Duty Reduction Bill. They did so however with a very bad grace, averring ;it was against their principles, but rather than embarrass the Government they consented to waive their objections. This understanding was arrived at \t\ thg'course op a,n interview tha (ifQvejjiment |?ad with' tlie'Cbuncil atthe (Joy^rKtaeiit^puse, the interview'being, convened by circular. ' It has been denp,\inced as \incpnstit«tianal, and so forth, but as there (s no ranjedy against any guch iiTegulafjties oau't be helped, and the_ Governli^'ent can npjw affoid to smile at any oppositioti after their object js accomplished, . The attention of the House was oalled a few days ago by Mr. Veixlap to the great falling off in the revenue —the quarterly returns showing a deficiency of upwards of a hundred thousand pounds compared to the corresponding quarter of last year. Mr. Haines did not take so gloomy a view of the matter, as the deficiency was clearly traceable to causes which would not he in operation during the remainder of the year, and he had no doubt but the customs and land" fund would in the following quarter show a more favorable return, - . . ' '

The Ballnwat Railway was formally opened to the public yesterday by HisExoellenoy the Governor..; A large train, drawn by two engines, left Spencer-street at § o'clock a.m., conveying a large number of our prineipnl citizens to liallanrat. Another train of eleven carriages, containing the Governors, Ministers, Members of Parliament, and other notabilitiesjjeil a few minutes after ten o'clock. Their reception, at Ballaarat was most'ejnthusiasric, and a'gxiiml banquet vya« jjastaken. Qpby nef|r(^ SQU gi^est's. The proceedings passed off without tlie slightest accident and the return train conveying the majority of the visitors arrived safely at ten p.m. A few remained to enjoy the ball which afterwards took place in. the hall of the Mechanics' Institute. .

Great complaint is made about the fare? to and from Ballanrat, and a monstepgetitip.n h,as tyjon got up by the residehta of that district, praying, for a reduction. The fares at present are:—From liallaarat to Melbourne, and vice versa first-elas?, 305.; return, 455. Second-class, 225.; return, 335. The only practical *olutfon of the difficulty appears to be in the hands of the coach proprietors, and they have determined to run to IJnllnaliat at nmuch lower "figure. The railway authorities dp not, however, fear the'competition, as time is a' most essential element in travelling, not to speak of the increased comforts of the rail over the road. ■•'■■'■ : ' • '. ;

The Age newspaper has consistently opposed the present Government from the very day they took office, and the various heads of departments hnve'.re"■ently taken a rather unusual step to show their displeasure by sending the ordinary Government advertisements to tre Argun nnd Herald, and withholding them from the. Age. The matter will be brought before Parliament by Mr. Service, who has given notice of a question on the subject. The crioketevs left hy''the'homeward mall, with;the exception of Wells and I^urcnce ; the latter went to Sydney, whilst Welis returns home by the Suffolk which cleared out yesterday. It is stated that reliable information has renched the colonies to the effect that Great Britain does not:intend to accept the cession of the Fiji Islands, and i great many in this colony are much surprised and mhoyed at such a course, as several have already •"migrated thither,.and others intended going in.the event of. these fertile inlands b.epqmim? subject;, to British'protection and''British, law, In a military point of view it is also considered that Downing-street has overlooked the : great advantage the Fijis would be in the. event of a war. with France or any other maritime power, and it.is not unlikely that fresh! rearesentations will be made to the home authorities, on the subject. .. ■_ ';•'":• U The Western, twp days after, leaving ypurport, on ler return passage, met with an accident tg her ma•hinery, and had to make the rest of her voyage unler canvas. This she accomplished without any <erious delay, owing to a fortunate succession; of favorable winds. As she approached our coast she fell in with the Keera, which toned her to Queens--:liffe. She has been placed on the slip, and under'one a thorough overhaul. . ' •'■' The elections for Brighton nnd Ararat .have re-: ;ulted adverse to the present Government; and when he Land Bill is disposed of in the. Upper House, it is lot unlikely the present strong Ministry will fall to pieces.' • Mr. Higginbothani is an independent memier, bnt was introducsd by Mry Service, wlip,^ Is the next coming man. '■I)r,:!GjrdJeUone obtained a majority of only^thirty-two for

Ararat: The defeated candidate was a strong GoI'eriiment supporter, whilst' the' doctor will sit mid vote with the Opposition. It is somewhat significant of the change in public opinion, that a constituency that returned a few months ago two Heales' men b> majorities'of two. hundred, should now barely elect st similar candidate at all. ~ ' '■

There is very little, if'nny, change in business! luring the last iorrniaht. arid as the mail is hourly ex-' pected there is not likely to be any change until we hear the amount of exports from England*to these colonies.

The Omeo and Aldhiga will follow the City ol Hobart in about a week at furthest.