MELBOURNE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2200, 23 February 1869, Page 3

MELBOURNE.

(FKOM OUK OWlf COBBBSPOJTOJENT.)

February 15th.

The Bccond session of the sixth Parliament of Victoria was opened by His ExcoUency Sir John Henry Thomas MannersButton on Thursday afternoon, the llth inst., with the usual forma. As is always the caso upon such occasions, tho galleries of tho Legislative Council Chamber sw&rmrxL with tho fomalo exquisites of tho capital and its suburbs, who contributed vastly to the attractiveness of tho scene. Like most -opening speeches, whether vico-royal or royal, the <sovernor** address said very littlo of a definite character with regard to tlio future action Of Ministers, whUe it dwelt, in highly congratulatory terms upon what they had dono_.ift,«tJj^'-past: was generally expected, tho foremost item "'in tho Uat of Ministerial good intentions was tho re-modification of tho Land Law, respecting which subject His Excellency briefly said, "A measure wUI be laid before you for tho purpose of extending the-beneficial operation of the existing laws, in so far as thoy relate to agricultural settlement, and for determining the conditions of pastoral occupation." If anything definite is to bo gathered from so short j,nd vague a statement upon this, important subject, it is perhaps that Ministers intend to make just as few radical changes in the principle of the present law as they possibly can ; but aa nine out of every• 10 members of eitherHouse of Parliament may bo expected each to advocate somo peculiar crotchet of his own while the new BUI is under discussion, it is not unlikely that before tbo question is finally settled, tho alterations made in the present system may turn out to be much more extensive than they aro at present intended to bo. Under any circumstances, there is sure to be a great deal of discussion beforo the Bill becomes law; and it is not at all improbable that tho passing of tho measure will form almost tho sole Legislative buaineaa of the session. Another important subject referred to in tho Governor's speech is that of tho long-talkod-of postal and passenger service between England and this colony, via the Capo of Good Hopo, and which tho Assembly wUI be invited to consider in connection with certain immigration resolutions about to be laid before it. We are also promised amendmenta in tho Mining laws—a new Insolvent Act—a BUI, for imposing a probato and succession duty, and several other measures of minor importance. A few days ago the Government succeeded in borrowing L 300,000 on debentures in tho Melbourne money market, on terms considered highly favourable, the interest being only five per cent., and the whole amount offered being taken np at and abovo par. Thia financial operation was alluded to in the vice-regal speech, as " highly satisfactory,", and as furnishing " a proof" of confidence in the resources 'and credit of tho country.

Tho mention of our resources thus mado, naturally leads ono to speak about another proof of their healthy condition in tho shape of tho most magniGcent mass of gold ever yet found in Australia or else -vhere, and which waa dug up three or four days ago, at a place called Moliagul, in tho neighbourhood of DunoUy. This "Welcome Stranger," as it was called, was taken from a depth below the surface variously reported at " two inches," and " two feet !'* The gross weight of tho lump was 2101b troy, and tho net value of tbe gold which it contained was L9COO. For that sum, indeed, or thereabouts, the " Welcome Stranger" was sold to tbo lecal manager of tho London Chartered Bank, who, in the first instance, offered L9OOO for tho nugget in its primitive atate. The lucky finders—two poor men—preferred • having the lump melted, in order to teat its actual valuo, and thus gained somo LGOO over the first tempting 1 offer of the Bank.; It ia a 'matter of great regret to many persons here that so great a curiosity as the greatest nugget in the world was allowed to be melted down almost iniraied iately on its discovery instead of being exhibited. ; *

" That eccentric apecimen of humanity,? Schafer, whosie recent adventures amongst the Maoris in New. Zealand have created somo amusement, has lately, returned to Melbourne, and has, been, creating some excitement by an attempt, or a pretended, attempt, at self-destruction. Ho waa staying apparently in a state of complote destitution, witb a countryman of his named Mtfller, anhotelrkeeperinthiacity, where, one morning, a report of firo-arms waahcard in Ms bed-room, and it was found that he had shot himself in tho cheat. He wa* I conveyed to the Hospital at once, but it

"was thero ascertained tliat his body merely bore the marks of being burnt with powder, no baU having touched him, and the very natural conclusion being that tho pistol of which ho had mado uso, had contained a charge of gunpowder only. Tha miserable littlo fellow was taken beforo tho Police Bench, charged with attempting to commit suicide, and the case was remanded for. further investigation. Tho notabUities acem to be in favour of tho opinion tliat tho poor man is a little " cracked."

To the disappointment, doubtless, of many of our representative men hero, no mention whatever has been mado in tho Ministerial programme of "Payment of Members." But it is weU known thr.t tho members of the cabinet are divided in opinion as to the expediency of adopting tho system, and thus tho omission may bo readily accounted fort Tho commission appointed to inquire into tho customs of other countries with respect to remunerating members of the Legislature, and tho amountofsuchromuneration, have brought up their report, but that document was unaccompanied by any recommendations applicable to our own case. It is not unlikely, however, that in the courso of the session a BUI for "payment of members" may again be introduced by some independent member, and carried through the Assembly. It is notorious, however, that tho majority of tho membora of tho Legislative Council aro opposed to tho principle, and that thero is thcroforo little or no chance of tho Bill being passed by that Houso, while constituted as it ia at present. H.M. s. troop Bhip Himalaya arrived in Hobson's Bay unexpectedly on Saturday afternoon, bringing English papers to 18th December, being nine days later than thoso received two or three days previously by the ship Somersetshire. Tho Himalaya is on her way to Now Zealand vi& Sydney and Brisbane, for tho purpose, it is reported, of taking on board and conveying to England the regular troops remaining in your colony. An official inquiry which has taken placo hero respecting tho loss of tho Formosa, a small steamer which waa totally wrecked outside Port PhiUip Heads a short timo .since, has resulted in tho suspension of tho Captain's certificate for 12 months, and the censuring of tho pilot, who ought to have been on the look-out when tho vessel arrived, but who failed in his duty in tliat respect. Fortunately, no lives were lost by tho stranding of tho steamer, but the ship herself became a total wreck, and tho Crew, consisting of 11 men, together with one passongor, barely escaped with their lives.

I re-open my letter to communicato to your readers tho gratifying intelligence of the safo arrival of tho Duke's ship at Adelaide, which news has just reached us by telegram from that city. Tho wires tell us thus much and no moro ; but it is to bo hoped that His Royal Highness is on board safe and well. A number of our loyal citizens havo already hoisted their flags, and although thero havo been no preparations here for a public reception of the Princo, there is every reason to believe that on his appearance in our streets, tho well-known loyalty of tho Victorian population will mako itself suflicientlyevident. His Royal Highriesa's sojourn, both at Adelaide and at Melbourne, will be limited to a very few days.