VICTORIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 553, 5 July 1862, Page 8

VICTORIA.

(FROM THE DAILT TIJIE3 CORKESPONDEXT. 18th June, ISG2, The agents of the Victorian Association have got their hands full of a new kind of work. An Act to amend the Electoral Act was passed two months ago, and a clause in it specifies that any person can make objection to any other person's name on the Electoral Roll. Objections to be published in the local paper, and in a Melbourne weekly journal. It appears that in a Union to the legitimate use of tins power of objection, the agent 3of the Victorian Association have »ollect«d five thousand names on the various gold fields, and entered objections against them. And, in order to prevent parlies objected to, seeing the list, the names were printed in an edition oi' Hell's Life on 'Wednesday last, and not a copy of ir was allowed to reach i\ single news-agent. It was not even known th.it such an edition hsvl been p.inlishcd until several days In 1 expire I. One of the members of the AssetnV.y an I an active agent of the Association, ib the editor and part proprietor of Deli'i Life. An cni'iully -urrepllt'ous plan isused to print, but not to publish. lists of objecrions jn the localities when 1 thu voters reside is bciujj lesorted to. The i-.Tuct of this will bj that 'to. y few will evcrlia\eau opportunity of knowing that they are objected to, and they will be struck oIF for non-appearance ! It is very evident therefore that any association, by secretly objecting to their opponents, will hi successful in very greatly reducing the list of tiiose qualifiel to vote. It is very strange the clause gh i'lg this power passe I the Assembly as it did, and that proper prec uitions were not taken. It is now .veil when it is too late that a very dangerous power U being urvle use of for party purposes. The Assembly have parsed the Appropriation Act, and all the business is nearly/ brought to a close. The Education Bill has passed both Houses, and thu Catholics arc very much chagrined at the result. The Bishop has issued a pastoral, telling his flocks half their s'-hoois will bo shut up, and that they must agitate for their rights. This will lead the Catholics to narrowly watch the rolls, and object to ail electors who are not favorably disposed towards thorn, and by well directed (.'fibres, they would be aMo to strike off great numbers, m in a travelling community like osir.s, v large percentage of electors will never trouble their heads about the franchise iv any particular local itv.

The Appropriation Act lias not mot with any serious opposition in the Upper House. The '' of] ladies" made sorno stivng observations against receiving a bill for the expenditure of tlircaT millions, ami passing it in one sitting. They had protested against it hist session and j.roinihed they would nevor do it again, ami they woul 1 not puss it this time only it might ini-onveuieneo the country. The »ov<t- uncut representative adroit iv cooled the senators' indiirn.it'on. by fuithfullv promising next ec-sion thu Act .it a liiuc'i earlier date. It really is «, fUrce passing a bill of tiiM nature after half the m mey is spent, but it is tho same line of policy every government Ims pursued for m:iny a >cv»r, an-i there is not, much prospect that the present government will be in a position to mend matters next session. However, the Appropriation Act has now finally pa'-scl both Houses, an.l a whole host of bills of minor importance were rapidly pn-hcd through last night, and the session clones by piijro'jv.tion to-moriMW.

Mr. Service is not with the Ke.il Property Act. It his oozed o'it that thy AttorneyGeneral has ah i>cl Hie Governor t-> assent to it, but a 'lispivteh is to '>c sent home with the act a-l-Msingthu Duke of Newcastle to t ike some objection to its !>ein<r ulhv.vc I or left to its operation. Mr. Service h.is cirrie I ;in address to the G>vennr asking tori' copy of this proposod despatch, livit there is no cli vm-e of us knowing what ie is until the me.isme i caches home, anil we get the information in the ordinary Enalish news, for the House will not he sitting when the Governor will be in a p )sition to communicate the information.

Some months ago, our little battery at William?town w.is taken down, an-1 great preparation had been mndc for putting our coast (cost !) defences into a "pi oner state of repair." I told you at that time that great reliance was placed on some young officer direct from the 'Cadamy, who was the directoi-general for the time being, of all our military movements. The performance 5 ! of the Merrimac and Monitor have, however, somewhat startled our authorities, and their protege, an 1 the forts arc, for t!ie present, at a stand still.

Colonel Anderson's private fortune becotnini? involved in the failure of the firm of De Castella and Anderson, he tendered his resignation of the volunteer colonelihip, but the government, satisfied of bis integrity, have declined to accept of it. Mr. O'Shanassy announced in the House last night that it was the intention ot' the Government to send home an order to Mr. Childers, our Agent Geneial in London, to lcok out for a first-class man acquainted with the mnnagemeut of Lunatic Asylums on the most approved system, and to engage him for the Ytirra Bend. It is intended, on his arrival, to allow Dr. Bowie to retire on his half p.iy. This statement was received wuh evident iavor byali sides of the llou«e. The Gothenburg made her trinl trip on Saturday. She is well fitted up, has a good commander, .-md is likely to become a favorite in the trade. Her trial trip was a very satisfictory one, although the speed attained was not equal to the Aldinga.

June 21.

The Governor's usual levee was heM yesterday, and was a most brilliant affair. Sir Jamt's Palmer, president of the Legislative Council, hud just arrived a few hours previously, and was one of the distinguished visitors. Sir James looks well after his trip to the old country, and there is reason to believe be lias profited greatly by his interc nirse amongst the leading men at home, and that iifwmation and experience so gained will redound to the benerit of his adopted country.

L'lii.isborough has sifely crossed the Continent from Carpentaria to Fort Bourke, on the Dar-

ling. This is the hist of the exploring expedition, and all is now known to be safe. Landsborouph wenc through a finely grassed and well watered country. A foal, born on the Flinders, accompanied its mother, and arrived in good condition at

Fort Bourke, which is itt.clf a good proof tint there is most extensive land available to the squatter and grazier. The Gothenburg was advertised to sail on Wednesday, but is delayed to this day (Saturday ) The Parliament was prorogued on "Wednesday, at half-past two in the afternoon, till the 23rd

July, His Excellency assented to the Land Bill, the Heal Property Act (Torrens' Act), the Civil Service Bill, the Common Schools Bill, and other bills passed during the session.