VICTORIA. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Otago Daily Times, Issue 295, 29 November 1862, Page 6

VICTORIA. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Nov. 22

The debate on the address to the Governor was brought to a termination on Tuesday last. Dr Evans had arrived from New Zealand, and Mr Francis, a Ministerial supporter, from Sydney, and the entire force of ministers wag collected for the occasion. So far as the amendment of Mr Snodgrass was concerned—affirming that Mr Duffy's administration of the Land Act was the cause of its failure—it was quietly shelved, Mr Snodgrass himself failing to appear to support his offspring. The House was all in favor of Mr Brooke's amendment, that the Laud Act required mending, but declined to support it, because it would turn out the present Government, and the result of the division was a majority of ten in favor of Ministers, forty voting with them and thirty against.

The Government therefore, have began the session with a good working majority, and there is every prospect of their continuing in office for the greater part of this Session. It is however, asserted that at least ten of the independent members are ready when the heavy work of the Session is over, to make a coalition with the Opposition, and turn out the present Government. As a premonitory symptom of the breaking up of the present ministerial organisation, it is worth noticing that the whipper-in ha 3 resigned his situation, and that one or two supporters have given notice of their intention to secede at an early date—being dissatisfied with the action of the Government during the recess. The most important bill of the present session has been introduced by Mr O'Shanassy, providing for the extension of the present Road Board and local Government system. It is a bill of 300 clauses. It gives more enlarged powers than the present Boards possess, and . enables them to collect a greater amount of revenue. It is modelled after the present Act and the District Councils Bill, brought in but not disposed of in the last session.

Mr Ireland has introduced a bill to alter the law of partnership, which has been referred to a select committee.

The Government have also introduced a bill to enable the Board of Land and Works to lease the Government railways ; and Mr Mitchell in the Upper House has tabled a most important return, showing the present cost of the rail way s, their total cost when finished, the amount of the income, and the working expenses. He appears to be very sanguine ot success ; but from a very careful analysis of the report, it is evident that the consolidated revenue will have to bear an expenditure on the railway, account of nearly L 200,000 a year for a long time to come ; and it is a question whether the railways will pay the cost of their management, and the interest on the borrowed capital for many years to come, so long, at least, as they remain in the hands of the Government. If they are leased, however, it is not improbable that by good management, such a rent would be paid for them as would cover the interest on the outlay; and when this is done, we shall, no doubt, consider the railway a great success. Great dissatisfaction is expressed at the conclave of the Catholic Bishops from the various colonies now meeting in Melbourne. They have issued a pastoral, warning their flock against the present secular system of education, and against the Divorce Act, and advising all Catholic 3 against marrying Protestants. They go further, and advise the return to Parliament of only such men as hold opinions in accordance, with Catholic belief. This shows to what these colonies are now drifting. The Catholics are daily increasing; agencies at home are sending out shiploads to Queensland, and large numbers to Melbourne and Sydney; and as soon as they are sufficiently powerful they will throw off the mask. With a Catholic Government here, a Catholic Governor in South Australia, and a convention of Catholic Bishops urging their flock to return Catholic members to Parliament, it is high time for Protestants to be looking ahead, and stand together for their own protection. The third day's racing of the Victorian Turf Club was taking place when the Omeo took her departure. The previous day's racing was, as I have before said, an utter failure, owing to the tempestuous weather; but on Saturday the sun shone out gloriously, as though to make up for his absence on the preceding day: the course was well attended, and though the racing was not of the highest order, the day passed off very pleasantly. The favorites in every race carried off I the honors, and Archer the Sydney horse, again supplemented his laurels by carrying off the All Aged Stakes, just as he pleased. In fact we have no horse here that can compete with him, and no matter for what race he may be entered, accident alone will prevent his colors appearing in the van; and why he did not appropriate to himself the Geelong Champion ' Race is more than I can understand from his subsequent running. lie is entered for the Ballaarat Champion Race, is first favorite, and with the reservation just mentioned, will, no doubt, easily beat all t'.ie horses that can be brought against him. This is rather galling to Victorian pride, but we can do no other than swallow the unpalatable truth with the best grace possible. There were five events decided. The first was a Handicap Steeplechase for three miles, which was won easily in a canter by Mr Kelly's Donovan Brown, The All-aged Stakes was the next race, and, as has been previously said, Archer carried it off without hurrying himself in the least. Mr Keighran's Mormon was the favorite horse for the Turf Club Handicap, and amply fulfilled the expectations of his backers, coming in the winner by three lengths. The Melbourne Stakes was by far the best contested race of the day ; nine started, and from the starting to the winning-post, each horse did his best to win. Fortune, however, smiled on Mr Haffie's Modesty, and the filly won by a length and a half.

The usual Consolation Stakes wound up the meeting; and Mr Henry was consolad for his previous defeat by his Ithuriel coming in fust. After two races, the course was soon deserted, and the visitors were rapidly whirled to Melbourne without confusion or accident.

The evil consequences resulting' from drink have had a tragic illustration in a sad event that occurred last Saturday night in East Collingwood. A man of the name of Gardiner, with his wife mid children, lived in a cottage in that suburb. The wife it seems *as addicted to intemperate habits, and on the husband's coming home he :ound her drunk, his supper unprepared, and the whole place in a state of confusion. Gardiner asked her for the day's takings and while the wife was putting her hand into her pocket he struck her to the ground, and while in that position kicked her so violently that in a short space of time she expired. Appalled at the result of his violence, the unhappy husband did all in his power to resuscitate the unfortunate deceased, and finding his efforts upavaling, he proceeded to the station-house, stated what had occurred, and gave himself up to the custody of the police. On the Monday following an inquest was held, and after a lengthened inquiry the Jury returned a verdict of manslaughter against the prisoner. He stands committed to take his trial at the forthcoming Criminal Sessions.

About the middle of next month Mi- Howitt, with the mortal remains of poor Burke and Wills, is expected to arrive in Melbourne. It is intended to make the public funeral which will shortly after take place^ as solemn and imposing as possible. Advertisements have been issued requesting the various public bodies and up-country municipalities to send representatives on the occasion, and no doubt Victoria's first martyrs in the cause of exploration will be carried to their final resting place with all the honour that a grateful country can bestow upon them. But after all would it not have been better to have let them sleep on in the grave where their would-be succourers laid them ? 11!) ink so.

A discreditable affair has jusfc oozed out about poor Bnrke's watch. Just previous to his dederarture, he was presented with a valuable gold watch. This watch was found by Mr Howitt, and sent down to the Itoyal Society, who determined on sending it to his sister at home. A few day's ago, a letter appeared in the Age, stating that a watch corresponding to the number of the one presented to Burke, was in the hands of a pawnbroker, and on inquiring it turned out to be the identical watch. The explanation is, that it was abstract :d by one of the Society's servants; but what carelessness and remissness there must have been in allowing such a thing to take place, for its having been taken was accidentally discovered, it was by the merest chance that so valuable, and at the same time so tragically sad a memento was rescued from loss and destruction.

The scene of the recent fire at Sandridge presents a very dreary and melancholy appearance. Save some portion of Garton's Hotel, and the blue stone walls of the store lately occupied by Messrs Adams, Inglis, and Grcsham, there is nothing left standing, and the fire seeras only to have stayed its ravages when there was nothing else to feed on. Mr. Garton has publicly stated his losses alone as being upwards of .£4,000, some part of which, however, is coverable by insurance.

The A. S. N. Company have received an addition to their sadly diminished fleet, by vhe arrival of the Agnes Irving. She, after an overhauling, wiil be placed on the line between Sydney and Melbourne, and take the place of the ill-fated City of Sydney. Another steamer, the Coononbarra, is hourly expected, Captain Moody, late oi the City, wiil take the command of her.

The' Commissioner of Railways has just tabled a report on the cost and expenses of working of the Victorian railways ; from which it appears that our railways, up to the preront time, have cost us £8,368,000. This is independent of the extension from Sandhurst to Echuca. The revenue from the present lines is estimated at Llo,ooo per week ; and it is expected that when the Echuca line is finished a return of 3£ percent, on the total outlay will result. It is to be hoped this may be the case, for after this enormous outlay, it is time that some return was made.

Mr Crosbie Ward arrived here a few days back, and has been actively engaged in bringing the Panama Mail Scheme, before the authorities and the public. But lam afraid his labors will be unsuccessful. There are, at present, four proposals before the Government for a fortnightly mail. One is an offer from the P. and O. Company, who, for a stipulated sum, agree to carry the mails as punctually as they have hitherto done, every fourteen days. Another emanates from the Union Steam Ship Company, who propose to ruu a monthly line of steamers, via the Cape outward, and the Mauritius homeward, alternately with the Peninsular and Oriental Company. The third is the British and Australian Steam Company, but that company is, at present, in nubibus. The last is the Panama route of Mr Ward. Public opinion is decidedly in favor of accepting the Peninsular and Oriental Company's offer. The Press, too, are almost unanimous on this point. Against the Panama route it is urged that the distance is some 2,000 miles longer than the present track, and supposing an average speed of ten miles an hour were to be kept up, the journey would still take 54 days for its accomplishment, and the probability of break downs are fur more imminent than on the present course. The making Sydney the first and last port of arrival and departure is another thing that the Melbourne public would find some difficulty in tolerating. I have little doubt myself that if a fortnightly mail be established that the offer of the present contractors will be accepted. They have proved themselves well able to accomplish what they have in hand, and after the deplorable failures of other companies, there is little inducement to try another scheme, no matter how feasible it may appear.

A new gold-field has been discovered in the neighbourhood of Schnappcr Point, at a place called ttubba Rubba Oeek. The gold is easily recovered from the soil, but is low in value. I have not been able to ascertain the definite yield. To come nearer home, I may state that the Collingwood Gold Company are busily at work. A depth of 67 feet has been attained, and the indications are still good.

I regret to say that the crops are not looking so well as they were a few days back—first all but drowned, and now as nearly scorched, they have had but a poor chance—and it is to be feared that after all, the harvest will be an indifferent one. In some places oats and barley have already been cut, but the general harvesting will not commence till the end of next month. Oats are still at fabulous prices—-10s being the lowest at which sales are effected ,

The Volunteer movement still continues popular. The other night a commodious drill room was opened on the Eastern Hill, with, the usual festivities that attend the opening of any public building. To-day (Saturday) the various companies met for a grand parade, and next week it is intended to encamp the Artillery out ior a few days.

The " Hujruenot" is at present being played at the Theatre Royal, and is spoken of as being very successful. Mr Charles Dillon is figuring at the Haymarket, as Belphego**, and is attracting large .audiences. The Aldinga wrived in Hobson's Bay after a very rapid passage—only being 6 days and 15 hours on the passage. The news caused some little excitement, and it is probable that a small, though steady, stream of emigration will go on for some time to come. Next Monday being Constitution Day has been proclaimed a public holiday ; and as the Madras goes on the subsequent day, there will be little business done for the early part of next week.