OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5949, 5 March 1881, Page 1 (Supplement)

OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER.

(FROMOTJB OWN CORRESPONDENT,) Melbotjrnh, February 22nd. THE VICTOBIAK REFOKM BILL.

The Victorian Parliament reassembled on the 16 h inst., and the Government have avowed their determination to reserve the session for, constitutional reform alone. So far the popular Chamber has been self-willed, aa out of three sitting nights more than two have been utterly wasted, from s Ministerial standpoint, in discussing objectionable administrative aots of the powers that be. Mr Berry Is evidently tired of flogging a dead horse, and he finds it even diffioult to keep up the game of make be'ieve with his acoustomed jauntiness. He cannot disguise his predilection for his first Soform Bill, and although he recently told a political meeting atEiglehawk that his present measure would oarry oat all that the Radicals had contended for, he foun'l it impossible to keep to this text, and very shortly made the admission that less danger would arise under his original scheme than under his lost, as the latter would ■ elevate the Ccuncil almost side by side with the Assembly. The speooh of the Chief Secretary, in moving the second reading of the bill, was good-humoured and conciliatory in tone, but Mr Berry always enters into a confliot " with a light heart." Even when introducing his favounto measure "to cut off the head of the Council and stick it on a pole," he talked of nothing but moderation and conce'Bion. Car-didly admitting that his own schemes have failed, Mr Berry yet setks consolation in the fact that the constitutional proposals fared [no better. In utter disregard of the speeches he made at Gealong in Janutry, 1878, he did not hesitate to assert that it was sound democracy to widen the basis of the electoral franchise of the Council to the extent of the ratepay era' roll. : Three years ago he wag arguing . that it was a fatal mistake to increase the strength of the Council by widening its representative character, as to do so would only increase its arrogance and render it more likely than ever to say, " I represent the oountry." Later still, when speaking on the Service Bill, Mr Berry argued that the Liberal party had always objected to the Council being popularised

until a definition was obtained of the relative of the two Chambers. No one who was,, truei ;to ,-the "Asserdbly would, undar such oircuastanceg^ think of increasing the strength and power ipf the'other Chamber. r He, even ;.made,. the.'admissipn; that .Mr Service's bill went far enough, if noti too far", in the way; of reduction of the franchise; but still, in the face of all these arguments he does riot hesitate to now 'propose that the constituency of the Council should consist of 2(J0,000 oat of the' 230,000 male adults qualified .to vote. Half an hour sufficed to present all the points upon which the. Chief Secretary Relied, and after admitting that the Radicals' were quite tired'of reform,' and that the question was 'of :no ;furth'eruse.' to ' them, he concluded: -by urging the adoption of the compromise whioh the Government offered. He l was replied to by Mr Murray Striltb, on whom' Mr, mantle ['\. has; falkhV : gentleman Is, .without^question, the .most pblishi^ speaker' in the House, and I his. able address' was listened to, ,with. much more respect: than is usually -'to an oration ;about'refbrm;'whldh; iß.,no j w 'about'^the, best-detested Liqueßtaon': ourrent in the political "world. / Of courad he' twitted the"Radical! pairty'for the:ihconsls-' tepcy of their, leaders, and charged'them' with, abandoning' all the principles, which Induoed them to preaoh a.* Reform crusadeJ In a'; 'spirit ..of ''good'rh'nniourad ' raillery i he accused them of, stealing the poliby"of .their opponents and marring it in the actr he first read the 'Government scheme; Mr' .Smith,, jestingly], observed' 'his feelings resembled those of Martin' Chuzzlewit, 'the' younger, when he discovered how the astute' Mr Pecksniff, had improved his architectural" designs.' t Proceeding to ihore sober criticism, the Opposition leader .expressed his convicy tion;/that.:the 'immediate adoption of :the' ratepayers' roll was too much of a leap in the dark; it would be highly dangerous, in' his opinion, to establish" two;; powerfurand: coordinate' Chambers',.'which would be certain , to 4 ooirie. into. .'collision ; over questions of privilege, without first providing .some way of escape .-'from;, the Inevitable' deadlook:" With regard to, the"prbppsal:to '' abolish" plural yptiog, Mr " Smith \ 'explained that'; "the ;;,Opn?ervatlves' 'could' " only abandon^.thatC'on,;vcondition Jthat'.'• proportional, representation; was ~ established. The Con'«erv*tlvesrheasaerted^werei/'willing: to aooept a compromise on the Reform issue; but the" onlywaytt6;obsain*that would bei to ,treat_the Opunollwith'respebt,' and recognise their Interest In the dispute by inviting them .to confer with a. Cpmtnittee^pf ,the Assembly, with? a'; view ■ di]' arriving; at , settlement.'.ln* the other 'oontributibny to' the, debate.the 'til: quqque argument was painfully prominent. party can claim to, be;absolutely tionsistent,Wnd' the . oburitry will. riot.'care very much;.which was the more so.so long as a reasonable solution is found; forV difficulty which retards all useful legislation; and only iritedsifiea Iclajss . bitternegs and heartburning.'. It is Big-s nificant that Professor Pearson, a member „of , ,the : Goyornment", and "the one educated member:" of the T Radical party of whose adhesion Mr; Berry was recently so; prond, felt constrained to admit that there was reason to suppose that a Council elected on a ratepayersr Bu'flfrage; and consisting of unpaid members, might obtain 'almost paramount power in the State;; but he consoled himself for this, diiigreeable reflection with the' remark that even should "suoh a catastrophe occur,-'and the" balance of power be transferred;'.'t6., the Upper House, it would still be possessed by a repreßentatiye .and not a" class Chamber, and this taxpayers would Btill be, supreme. "This;philosophic view, of the' matter was obyioußly unsatißfadtory both, to the' hpn; members. Miniai terial colleagues and the Radical party. It is too early to hazard an opipion as to the outoome of the debate, I believe that a genuine efFort will be made to arrive at a compromise, but parties, are so equally divided that neither o»n' expect to tea its viewaadoptedin their.entirety. Of the.two sections, the .Constitutionalists are probably the stronger. Numerically they are not very much inferior to their opponents in the Assembly. They are abler debaters and more united,- and besides that they have an almost impregnable stronghold ia the1 Council. If, then, Mr Barry's " compromise " is to be adopted, it is pretty evident he will have to agree to important ooncessions in a Conservative'direction. A proposal will probably ba made to remit the bill to a Parliamentary Committee of the two Chambers. The Government wUI make a •how of opposing this, but will most likely consent at last. The Radical Press condemn the Idea, but just at present the Aflaembly is more than usually independent of criticism, and is moreover* so heartily slbk'.of; Reform than almost any proposal likely to aecure a settlement on a reasonable basis wiir receive a trial.;. The Council quietly await the course of events, experience having shown how much time fights in their favour, i

The election of Mr P. Walsh tot1 East Melbourne war a decided .viotory for the ' Conservatives. Notwithstanding . the ill-feeling created in their. ranks > by? the retirement of Mr G. S. Ooppin (who gradefully obeyed the decision of; the Opposition" Parliamentary Committee)! the Constitution-' alists ousted the Ministerial candidate, Mr N. Levi, by more than two to one. Another difficulty is likely to arise at Maldon, when Mr Service retires at the end of this month. It is a oompaot little constituency-—almost a pocket borough, and wonld be a pretty safe seat for > Liberal Conservative j but unfortunately two good men and ex-members—-Mr W.:F. Walker, the late member for Riohmond, . and Mr M'lntyre, the late member for Sandhurst—-are both in the field. If one would consent to retire the seat would be won; if both stand, it will be lost to a certainty. ' - • . the political situation in south :at7s- ■■' - ■'■■■-■■? :•;■'- ■■ ■ . tRALia. :;': ''~'-. ' - , Matters politioal are beginning to attract attention in South Australia. The country is not only on the eve of a general election, but the seats of the following six members of the Legislative Council .have also become vao»nt:—Sir W. Milne,' Sir H. Ayers, the Hons. P. Santo, A. Hay, R. A. Tarlton, and J. Fisher.- Nominations .will be received up to March 28th, and should there. be a con-' test, which at present seems uncertain, the polling will take place on April 20th. Political feeling runs very sluggishly in this quiet ■ going,, prosperous' community, and though there are several important questions awaiting a settlement, and a readjustment of the fiscal system is immiDent, there, is no stir amongßt the electors, excepting that the agriculturists ; have in, several instances formed associations, whioh they hope will secure the return of members pledged to legislate in their particular favour. Some of the Ministerial onanges indicated in previous letters have now occurred. Mr Bundey, the Attorney-general, has resigned his seat in' the Cabinet; owing to ill health, and will not stand again for Parliament. Mr King, the Minister of Education, has also resigned, and intends to visit Americaf arid England. Judge Gwynne has apparently changed his mind, ani does not intend to immediately resign his seat on the Supreme Court bench; and so for the presect MryMann, the Treasurer, will.. not obtain the ":l>g*l, preferment kindly-allotted him by his friends. A reconstruction of the Ministry, ia. however, inevitable. M> Morgan, the Chief Secretary, has takea advantage : ot, tbe opportunity offered, by a banqutt given to one of bi3 colleagues to disclose the Ministerial polloy, of the future, and his broad anl statesmanlike views are. refreshing to contemplate, and have in the main apparently received a very large measure of public approval* I can but very briefly ghnce at a progrimme to explain whioh the hen. gentleman required nearly b!x columns of the Register. H». gives a prominent plaoe to oonstitutiocal .reform, but he. does not appro^oh the suVg ofc in the aggressive spirit that Mr Barry wonlil. He cordially recognises the utility of a second Chamber, and the eood it1 has frequently achieved 5 bu"y speaking as a member of that branch of tho Legislature, he does not hes't»*.e to aver that it i i as at present constituted too irrtcponsible a body. Like a wis.i st=t smap, he does not th:nk it well to delay a settlement of a future difficulty until a constitutional dispute occurs, and the public mind becomes heated; but he thinks the present time peculiarly fitted for oonstitutiocal reform, because all sections ova. approach the consideration of the question in a calm and deliberate spirit. The keystone of Mr Morgan's Reform polioy is to give the Governor power to dissolve part of the Council—half of the reformed House (which is to consist of 24 instead of 18 members; to. be returned by four districts instead of jby the Colony as a whole) whenever that body rejects in two successive sessions iany bill whioh has been twice passed by tbe Assembly It is not : desired ,to.. curtail the' powers

of the Council.. over money bills,: thoiigh Mr Morgan quettlonß if they have h«en always wisely. exercised. An Electoral Bistrices Bill, dividing the Colony itto twentysix districts, each returniog two memberj to the Assembly, will also be introduced. On the fiscal question* of the 4ay the Oiief

Secretary spoke without reserve, avowing himself an ardent Freetrader. "If I could carry ont the dream of my life, there should be noouatomhouae in the world,".was a candid avowal which, coming after Sir Henry 'Patkes' equally emphatic utterances in favour of Free Trade, should make the Victorian apostle of Protection ponder seriously whethor he is on the right track. The simplification of the tariff, not its abolition, is .allthat is intended. The farmer, the;artisan, and the labourer are to be relieved of some of their burdens, and a small property tax is to be imposed, which is expected to repoup the revenue to the extent of L 60.000 a year. On the subject of the Customs Convention concluded with New South Wales the Premier, does not speak very hopefully, but he nevertheless indicated most decidedly his desire to draw closer the bonds of union with that Colony with which South Australia .had so ;muoh sympathy, and so.many commercial -interests '■■ in - common. Briefly touching on the ■ public works policy of the future; Mr- Morgan* expressed^his desire: to see a transcontinental railway built from the preß'eht ; termination of the Northern line of South-Australia to Port Darwin, biit he 'stated unhesitatinglythat the:Colonyxould hot afford to Inbur the cpstr-some £1,000,000, and that If■ the line were' constructed it; mußt- be' by English capitalists on the landgrant system. It was very> significant to observe the:cool, not to say indifferent, spirit In whioh the proposal to unite the, South ■ Australia: Eastern railway systerii with that of Victoria was alluded to. Mr-Morgan - evidently .- thinks- that I" the Colony should pash' on toi the Darling, In the-hope that New South, Wales will extend her linea beyond Wentworth; to the South Australian border' Other topics of importance were touched upon, but sufficierit has been written to indicate a progressive polioy, and one likely to command a considerable measure, of support at the approaching general election.

MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IN NEW SOUTH ■I" ;'"'.- WALES. ■"■•' :'

7.'« In > bill of «ome 500 clatises, the Government have explained the' steps by which they propbse to extaiid the principles of local self-goyernment to the entire Colony.: .The importance of, the measure cannot be overestimated; At present the greater part.of the Colony is governed' ■ from Sydney, and centralisation is >apping ifche self-reliance of ,the people in r theprovinoesi The object of .'ft? t biU if>' to create machinery which will enable the people to govern themselves. For this priviiege the people are expee'ei to pay.of, in other words, no incorporate district;.will get a";: Government" endowment .unless Its inhabitanta pay at least 9'd in the pound, and hot more than Is 6d. Existing municipalitiea are not to be abolished ; they are only to' be > abolished when them. My** ' agreeable. A ■ ■■■ oeutral body or Council to ,be created in Sydney, and to congist of' "the: Colonial" Secretary,! the i Minister f6r;'L»ndß, and the Colonial Treasurer, willhave a meaaure of authority over the whole of the corporations. For the first B^yea yearsaf ter the passing of the measure the central Government will contribute towards an endowment fund at the rate of Llfor, every Ll raised in the district, and fora second term p! similar duration at the rate of 10a tothe £1; Upba the central body will devolve the duty of seeing that the moneyis properly expended. It will also have to constitute looal government districts which are riot to exceed^4oo Bquare miles in extent. These district oounoils will have charge of 'sewerage and water-supply, high. way«, bridges,-fences; lighting, prevention of fire, public libraries, &c, markets, and the pubkc ; health.;- If Sir Henry Parkes passes this measure the sasaion of 1881 will be memorable,: " ■ •■ • " ; -; ■: ' LAND ADMINISTRATION ik NKW SOUTH v; '..;.:- _-'.•■ ' .''.": '". walks." r '"'■ ■■"-•■ ■ ■ : ■ Sir John Robertson ia popularly supposed to lay the flattering unotlon to his soul that the Land Act he passed some 20 years ago settled the principleii of land legislation for New Bouth Wales for all time. The doughty knight may.have once entertained such a delusion, but his lateat administrative act as I Minister for Education would seem to indicate » deßire.to move with the times. The Church .and school eßtate whioh" the State took over last aesßibn is now a natural en dbwment; r bf education, arid Sir John Robertson offera some 200,000 acre 3of it for lease for 21 years at an upset rprioe ranging from 2s to 6s per acre. The.atea is classified as pastoral and farming land. The former is divided into 95 holdings of from 1000 to 2000 acres each, the upset rent for pastoral leases being from Id to 2d per acre. The "farms" are 76 in number, and measure from 40 acres to 270 ; while the rente, while ayer.ging about 2a, In Borne caaes run as high as 5a or 63. It is proppßed to deal with other areaß on the same conditions.. The bulk of the public estate is held under what ia praotically a weekly •tenure, and iaasaeased at frorii Id to 2d an acre. ~lt ;ia^ hoped that the good reaults which are certain to follow the granting to., both grazi er an ci oultivator saoure tenure will,, oonvince the! Legislature ° vii advisa bility of administering the public estate on a more economical system.; The experience of the last 20 years certainlydemonstrateß that the alienation of land doeß npj nebeßswily lead to its settlement. ; -. -,;. ;,', ■'. ;■ : ; ; "' ■ :

NB\V SOUTH WALES *INAtfCE,

The doleful piotures of additional taxation whioh the' Treasurer .painted In snoh. gloomy colours nine months ago have disappeared, and Mr Watson can now smilingly aature the Assembly that he expects a Burpluß of £200,000 at the dose of the current year, without resorting to additional taxation at aIL Under these favourable ciroumstaucas, it ia evident that his budget would be in the main approved, except by the few finanoial oritic», whom no measure of means could placate. The Treasurer expects to derive his Income from three principal sources—taxation, land, ■" and ■services, chiefly publio works, about an equal amount from eabh. It is not proposed to raise a fresh loan in the English market, at any rate at present, but the Treasurer may consent to absorb a few hundred thousands of the floating oapital now.in the Colony, should subsequent events demonstrate the necessity of temporary borrowing. ■■ ..-■ '..'./'■ ■ :..

COLONIAL DEFENCE,

As a sequel to the resolution adopted at the recent Conference -on the subject of Colonial defence, the New South Wales Government has appointed a Commission to report upon the military organisation' ti the Colony and suggest reforms. The members inolude some of the most experienced military men in Australia—Colonel Scratchley, CM.G., for instance-; the commandants of the : military forces in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, &c.—presided over by Sir James Martin, Chief Justice, who has been selected on account of the interest he evinced on the subject of Colonial defence some years ago. It does not do to be very sanguine of any good resulting from the labours of such a Commission. None of the Colonial .Governments have yet carried Into effect the Boheme of defence recaminepded by Sir William Jervois, admittedly a far higher authority than any on the Commission.

TUB MOUNT POOLE GOLDFIELB,

It: is reported with, oinuderable ciroumstantiality that gold has bsen discovered at Mount Pooo. in the Grey Ranges, some 200 miles from Wilcannlo, a town'hip od the Darling River, New South Wales. Diggers are oautioned to bs osreful, ss the place is not very accessible, and water is scarce acd provisions dear. :. If the reports of the auriferous character of the 0 unlry are substantiated, the discovery will possess some scientific interest as demonstrating the 1 presence of gold much further inland than haf hitherto been supposed possible. Up t > the present the chief gold discoveries have been made along what may be termed the coant region from Yorke Peninsula to Cooktown and Port Dai win. Bhould the existence of rioh gold deposits in the Grey Ranges beco'mo established, gold mining in Auscralia' must receive a deoided impetus. The alleged discovery is reported to haVt) aroused as much interest in South Australia as in Sydney.

EXPEtII^rESTAL COLOUISATIOU,

.An attempt is about to be made to establish in Central Queensland an agricultural settlement, upon a basis resembling in eorae respects that upon which the most flourishing provinces in New Zealand were originally colonißed. It our readers have no doubt heard of Bishop Bugnion's proposal to settle a Mennornte colony in the heart of Queensland. He, in fact, obtained permission from the Government to bring out from Bessarabia, under his paternal care, a prelimiaary expedition of some 250 souls, who were to be settled on 10,000 aores of l»nd In the interior. Russia prohibited the emigration of these industrious non-combatants, and cow another religious community is seeking to obtain somewhat similar concessions from the Queensland Government. Au influential member of the Primitive Methodist persuasion, Jiving in Yorkshire, has written to the Colonial authorities intimating that there would be no difficulty in sending out 100 families of PrlmUire Methodista, if only the

Government would give them a free patlsage to the Colony, one year's provisions, with seeds and neceßsaries to produce a first crop besides granting them tsro square miles of land in,the centre of the Colony for a township. The modern pilgrim : fathers would, it iB Baid, willingly undertake to repay the whole of the money advanced, and the price; of their land besides, within 10 years, and a guarantee would be given that all adulfc immigrants should have at Jeist five years'practical acquaiatance with fam work. The Primitive Methodist persuwion in the Colony have interested themselves in the matter, promising to co-operate with the Government, who havesihce Intimated their willingness to pay the/passages of a limited number, arid to facilitate their settlement on terms which have not yet been divulged, but which no doubt approximate olosely to those offered by Mr W. B. Bootland, of Yorkshire.

THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILWAY. '. b Mr Kobert; Watson,- the late engineer-In-chief of Victoria, and who is now making, a flying survey, of the proposed route for the transcontinental railway to Carpentaria," hag forwarded a progress,report to the Queensland Government; which contains some interestingiinformation relative to the country passed through, and the engineering dim-, ciilties. to' be encountered. ■ Starting^from Eona, the present moat westerly terminus of the Queensland line, Mr Watson haß proses cuted his survey to Charleville, a po'nt about 200 miJes farther west. He is inclined to takea' most hopeful view of the project. No railway; .difficulties of a formidablecbaracterhavefaeen' yet encountered; indeed,' the first' 67 milesj of line can almost be laid upon the surfaoe of the ground ; but timber for|ballaßt;is scarce, and.provision must be1 made for the heavy, flood 9 which are periodical. •: The character of the countryJ resembles ■ much that Mr: Watson' Is" familiar -with in Viotoria, and should therefore be suitable for wheatgrowing, if thei cultivation :of cereals would pay so far inland. Mr Watson concludes his > report in the following hopeful terms:—, " On the whole, I believe a good, useful, efficient line can be m&de at reasonable cost; that one-third of the adjoining land is excel lent, equal to any I have seen in the Australian Colonies; that one sixth jis indifferent scrub; and that one-half will eventually come under cultivation as it may be required." With respect to the country' between Roma and Adelaide, which will have to ba orossad by the grand trunk line of the future,,Mr Watson also reports' that from accounts which have reaohed him he' is inclined to believe that the land ia fairly fertile,and well .watered, and possessing timber ia safficleut qaantitlea. If ■ MrM'llwralth can only persuade the English oapitaliats to follow the example of the Syndicate which is providing the means for the construction of the, Grand Paoifid railway in Canada, we may in a few years see. thej realisation of the splendid, but* at pre- '' sent somewhat visionary,' aims of ■ 'specu- • lative railway engineers and enthusiastic Premiers. -;" ' ■"' ! ':/ ;-; -'-: '*'' : :-.h:\

CHINESE. IMMIGRATION.

i Great; indignation is felt in Western Australia at the remonßtraace addreaaedto the Imperial, authorities by the Intercolonial Conference respecting the Chinese immigra-. tion policy of the Colony. The insult, as it' is, termed, is felt the more poignantly from,' thefaot that it was the resolt of Mr_Berr'y'a! Interference. , Why the resentment'of our Western cousins1 should ba intensified for such a reason passes oar comprehension, unless the shrewd suspicion has struck thea that it is possible, they have been made use of by two astute Premiers*"with: strongly, developed popularity- hunting tendencies. However, if Sir Henry Parkes and Mr Berry, by exhibiting a desire to prohibit Chinese immigration, succeed in ingratiating themselves with the advanced democrats of East Sydney and Oollingwood, to whom "the eqaal rights of man" are 30 dear, they will ba able to Burvlve the indignant displeasure of Westera'Australian officials. The Eastern Colonies appear to have acted somewhat inconsiderately in this matter, and'without making any allowance for the peculiar circumstances of their poor and struggling sister. Many years ago, despairing of attracting population, in any other way, the colonists petitioned the Home Government to make the Colony a penal settlement, and the large Imperial expenditure and cheap labour resulting from their acquiescence in this policy gave the territory a great impetus. The united remonstrances of the Eastern Colonies secured the stoppage of convict immigration, and the endeavours made since, to attract, or rather to retain, a more desirable class of settlers have signalled failed. A soarcity of labour is the result. From time to time private enterprise has endeavoured to supply the want by the introduction of a few Chinese ooolies from Singapore, and these men have proved such useful and reliable servants in the minor walks of life that the Legislative Council recently decided to introduce a certain number at the public expense. To judge from the tone of the remonstrance addressed to the Imperial authorities, one might suppose that .Western Australia was likely to flood - the Oolonieß ; with Chinese immigrants. As a matter of fact the total number ecattered ; throughout, the vast territory scarcely exceeds 100, while in the Eastern States they oan • be numbered by thousands, and in Queensland thousands of Polynesians.have bach introduced on the sugar plantations, and to some extent on the outlying squatting stations, without a word of remonstrance. The Western Australians not unnaturally feel that they have had the poor relation's portion meted out toth;m, and resent it accordingly. - • "

MISCELLANEOUS,

The amnouncement that the Sydney Exhibition cost £311,000, while the total receipts only amounted to £43,896, has rendered our local financiers somewhat anxious as to the way in which the Melbourne Exhibition will work out. It is scarcely possible'that we shall be able to present, a more satisfactory balance-sheet. In the- meantime the interest of the metropolis in the "costly Bhow- is flagging fast, but the provinces are pouring down thousands of country cousins who are eager to see the World's Fair, and purchase some of the "bargains" whioh are now being pressed upon visitors. : . The harvest returns in South Australia Indicate that the-average harvest will be a low one. The fruit harvest also promises to be under the mark;

The Bubjeot of mail communication with Europe is engaging publio attention. " The splendid passages of the Orient steamers have disclosed that Vibtorla's bargain with the P. and O. Company ia likely to prove' unnecessarily costly. The boats of the old i Company are eclipsed both on the way: Home and on the voyage out. The Adelaide Government have agreed to pay the Orient Company a fairer remuneration for carrying mails than they need, and the Company have undertaken to maintain a regular fortnightly servio9 to Adelaide. ; Messrs' Goldsbrough and Co., the enterprising woolbrokera of Victoria, have given mortal offence to their Sydney confreres by under-estimating the wool export from New South Wales,' and as a natural result: unduly ex;Uting Melbourne as the wool depot of Australia. A. hot dispute is raging on the subject at the present time ;. :

Melbourne and Sydney were united with an iron b*nd evly in ths current month.. The New South Wales Jine to the'south* west was commenced ia 1846, bo that it has been 35 years in progress, while the first aod of the North-eastern railway of Victoria was not turned until June 1870 The purhey batvveen the two capitalo oan now be performed in less than 26 hours, and at a very moderate cott. Tb.B'festivities with whioh the foraiaropeDing of the line was oelebratad were aomfiwhot marred by a wrangle that occurred at the bmqaet between the Premiers of the two Oo'onies as to which country was progressing fastest—tile Free-Trade or til r Protectionist. Of Course each statesman was positive, though it oannot be denied that Mr B«rry's remarkß lacked some of the self-ccm fideuce which has hitherto baen the ohief characteristic of hisutteranc-'s.