VICTORIA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 203, 2 August 1862, Page 5

VICTORIA.

(FROM OUU OWX OORRESPONDKKT.) July 25th, 1862. A most startling discovery has been made iv reference to the Land Ilill, aud if it is correct it will at ouce smother any little fame tliat may attach to Mr. Duffy for lil, ability and statesmanship in "settling the land question." It is now f«ared that the Act is a "settler" as tar as the inti-rests ofthe people are coucerncl, and that the land-jobbers have yet a "jrood time coming," for which they are now anxiously "waiting a little longer." Mr. Henry Miller, better known as "Mouey .Miller," has started a company, who expect, with a capital of half a millinn, to actually buy up tho four millions of acres of the l«sl lands in the colony the moment they are proclaimed ! The Age goes iuto the details of the matter, and shows that the company can do so with impunity, and iv defiance of any of the restrictive clauses in the new Act. Time will show whether it is a failure or not; one thing is certain, the appearance of this new projeci, has .startled Mr. Duffy, an I he is bu.-y cogitating whether it can really take so formidable an advautage of his " masterly production." f The Victoria steam sloop hxs been round to Capo Patterson with a select party of tbe heads of several departments and the Govi-rninent geologist, t3 inspect the oal fUds in that locality. It appears tbat. as much as S»KJ tons of coal have been broughttothe surface, and a very fair pruspect is adbrded of this proJuct becoming nu important item in our native industry. It is intended to lay down some mooring*, and otherwise render tho harbor safe ; when this is done, the company expect they will U: in a position to send a large quantity of coal Ui the Melbourne market.

J'lk1 induct oa the body ofthe man Turner, who is supp .sed to bave died from bad treatment whilst a lunatic in tlieWestern Gaol, has lasted ten days, and the jury bein^ unable to agree, it has been adjourned to the Supreme Court to get the opinion and advice of one ofthe Judge* in the matter. It apjjears that nine of the jury were agreed to a verdict that Turner's death was accelerated by, i notoadngto, the treatment ho had leooiveu at the hands of Dr. M'Crae, the chief medical officer. Be that as it may, it is not likely we shall have a deeibion on the matter that \wli lead uj any practical result, as the evidence has Iwen sufficiently glaring to drive the authorities into at once taking precautionary measures to prevent any such gross abuses for tho future. The obstinacy of some jurymen in "holdingout," would lead us often to wish we bad the Scotch system of a majority rutin" or at least, that a verdict of three-fourths or fivesixths should be taken. In the present case, the jury were locked up twenty four hours without food of any kind, and at the expiration thereof were allowed s little refreshment under medical advice, which was perhaps given to prevent another inquest on some of thorn who might have given in for waut of " sufficient nourishment.''

A telegram appeared a few days ago in the Ballarat Star, to the effect that Gardiner had been captured near Kilmore. It turned out not to have been true, and was apparently a hoax. It appeared a telegram reached town to the effect that Gardiner was captured, and tho purporl of it was to ascertain whether the clerks and employees of the telegraph office divulged secrets or not. The party to whom it was addressed, was very much surprised to find the telegram, v/ord for word, duly printed in the Star next morning, and that all the detective offices had been apprised of the successful exploits of the Victorian constabulary! Singular enough, scarcely four days had elapsed when a bona fide telegram arrived from Kilmore. to Ihe effect that three bushrangers had been really caught after amo.stdesperatestruggle, in which one of them was shot, and a stockrider who assisted in the capture, bally wounded in the temple. Seven horses aa I some gold were also captured. This contrasts very favorably with the New South Wales poiice, who appear altogether unable to cope with the bushrangers, whilst our force are equal to them any day, man for man. It was at first thought one of the prisoners was Gardiner, but this turns out to I>e incorrect. TheCollingwood Gold Mining Company does not seem to lie getting aloug very briskly. The affair is looked upon as almost a wild goose chase; still, as a few cling to the bare possibility of something being turned up, it Ls not unlikely a sufficient sum may be raised to sive tbe flat a fair trial. At the worst, it can but he eaominated " the flats" gold field." Several insurance companies are tliis year rather unsaccesiiful. The Victoria Life held their aanual meeting, when it was discovered the losses and management exceeded the income by nearly three thousand pounds, and that a nominal dividend had to be declared out of the reserve fand. The Melbourne Fire Insurance Company liave also held their annual meeting, when its present condition and future prospects were such as to induce the shareholders present to agree to wind up the concern. It is expected the assets will >ield about 12s. a share. At the Supreme Court, yesterday, the estate of Mr. Nash, the late Secretary of tlie Victorian Railways, was sequestrated on the application of Messrs. Wm, Clarke and Sons. It is expected that Lieutenant Aiusinck, formerly member for West Bourke, wdl be the new Secretary of Railways, but rumor says the Ministiy are divided on the merits of this and other candidates. We have lately had very severe weather. On Monday last we had a perfeot hurricane, which did considerable damage along the line of the Geelong and Ballarat Railway. The rain has been very abundant, aud it b believed to liave been heavier this season than even the oldest inhabitant remembers. The Yarra, below the Falls, and the Saltwater River, have been overflowing their banks, and Batman's Swamp is very high. Mr. Barry Sullivan, the eminent actor, has_arrived, and will be one of the stars to open the new Haymrnket, which is rapidly approaching completion, and when finished will be one of the finest theatre* ia the Australian Colonies. The Concert Hall is » great resort, and it will be kept open after the theatre is finished, in the same manner as some of the Loudon establishments. The charge of perjury against Mr. Simmonds has been, I am told, withdrawn, as the evidence would not be sufficient to support so grave a charge. The escorts last week were 50,000 ounies, and this week 34,4Q ounces. The amount of gold passed ' at the Customs for export, per the Bombay, is 20,339 ounces, but a larger amount may yet be passed before she finally clears out. The total amount of gold exjwrted from Melbourne during the half-year, ending June 30, 1862, was i);<3,287 ounces; of this 195,104 ounces was New Zealand gold, or, more particularly, i Otago gold. Mr. Perry, the well known auctioneer, has applied for hia certificate, and has had to undergo anexL ami nation, which is not yet completed, before h« I obtains the coveted d<y»nm«»nt.ffi "p*-^-**