VICTORIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 571, 8 November 1862, Page 2

VICTORIA.

(PBOSt THE DAILST TIMES CORRESPONDENT ) Melbourne, Oct. 25. The near approach of the opening of Parliament is awakening a little political lie amongst us. The land bill lias been very freely discussed by the Press, and great efforts arc being made by Mr Duffy, to put as many facts before thu publi? as possible, in order that 'a proper judgment may be formed on the wotkiug of the measure. Wiciiout these facts, it would be impossible to form a correct judgment. Mr Ligar bus furnished his second butch of statistics, which show that the total amount of land available for selection, was 2,537,219 acres, of which amount nearly one million has been selected, and nearly one tourth bus been selected without any competition whatever. The mitu'stcrialts,ts argue from this that no ons can complain of monopoly, when so much has been taken up without competition, and that a million and a half still remains open to the first coiner. On the other hand, there can be no question that some of tbe choicest spots have fallen in large blocks into the hands of speculators, and that for these lots many bona fide settlers have been unsuccessful applicants. As however, there is so much land open for which there is no application as yet, -and much of it is known to be first-* lass soil, there does not appear to be much reasonable ground for complaint on the part ot any intending settler.

As by Act of Parliament, a fourth of the money realised from the lands, goes to the immigration fund, there will be a large amount to be devottd to this purpose, and we may look forward in a few months to a large infitix of persons from the United Kingdom. The amount to be devo'ed to roads and briuge%\vill next year be also large, and tbe internal improvements' of the colony will be largely benefitte I.

The railways being now all but completed, tbe question has arisen — will they pay? nnd Mr Mitchell tbe Commissioner of liiilways, Jias volunteered several statements, one, that they would pay tbe interest and the working expenses, another, thut they v ill pay £4 per cent on the capital invested • and if this latter statement is correct, it will take £150,000 fiom tlie geiieral revenue, to keep the railways going. This will be a great stnmbling-block in the way of the Treasurer, in preparing Ins new budget for next month, and it is generally conceded he will have a great difficulty in so framing his estimates as to meet with general approval. Tlie opposition are tolerably strong 1 , and it is rumored tliev wij| muster a formidable division list on the assembling of pavlinmcnt.

Mr Wilson Gr.iy has resigned bis seat for Rodney, which is an intimation of bis intention to remain with you, probably permanently. You will, lam snre, find him a valuable colonist. As yet, it is not certain who will contest the seat. The Miuisteriiiliats are most alive to their interests; and Edgar Ray, tbe gentleman who formerly contested tbe seat, has announced his intention of coming forward. He says, he comes forward on independent principles ; but heis wpII known to be a Ministerialist. Mr Casey, formerly member for Sandhurst, is also spoken of as partly a Healcs 1 man, and lie is known to have written several letters on the subject, but whether Mr Heales and be understood one another or not, it has not transpired. Rumor says, that Mr F. Coster, a Solicitor of this city, "and formerly of Kilmore, is likely to be the candidate for the Heales party. If so, the contest between Ray and Coster will not be n very animated affair.

A new evening paper will appear on Monday next tbe 3rd November. Considering tlie plethora of daily and weekly papers, it is almost a wonder that Melbourne has been so long without an evening journal. The present paper is started to supply this long felt want, and its founders. are sparing no efforts to render this one of the leading papers of tlie colon es. There will be one or two novel features in it— one will be the large sp ice devoted to telegraphic intelligence, nearly two columns of which are to appear every night. Another will be the 1 eduction in tbe price of advertisements; single ones for servants, &c. being inserted for sixpence. It will be priuted at the Herald office. A gentleman lately sub-editor of the Age will haie the principal management, and it will be published at the office of Messrs Gordon and Gotcb.

The series of graphic and interesting articles which have appeared in the Argus from the pen of Mr Paterson, fheir special reporter, have just been brought to a close. I understand that they will be shortly published in a separate form. As containing the latest and generally speaking most reliable information of the Victorian gold fields, they well deserve to be rescued from tbe comparative oblivion that would be their fate, if entombed in the columns of that journal. The lawyers will soon have a nice little afKiirin hand. The editor of tbe Weekly licvieiu sind the gentleman that "does'' th» theatrical criticism for the A-gvs have fallen foul of each other. Mr D. Blair, in a recent number 'of his journal accused Mr James Smith of having accepted a bribe of £100 from an enterprising manager of this city, to puff up a star that was about to appear in the Victorian firmament. Such an insinuation as this could hardly be passed over in silence, and Mr Stnitls has taken proceedings against Mr Blair for the alleged libel. Damages have been laid at £3000. Mr Michie will condnct Mr Smith's case, while Mr Blair will manage bis own. It is rumoured that Mr Smith has been superseded in the position be has so long held. The unfortunate depositors in the Provident Institute, are much to be pitied. Since tbe affiiirs have got into the hands of the lawyers, there ia no telling when matters will be woundup, and tbe only thing that appears certain is the fact, that the dividend will be far smaller than it otherwise would have been, if it could bave been kept out of the clutches of these gentlemen. At present, the dfbts are being proved in tbe Insol vent Court, and over L 150,000 have already been admitted. Meanwhile fresh cases come to light daily, of parties who have been sufferers in this " crash " and some of tbe cases are very distressing. It has been decided by the Judge at the Insolvent Court, that shareholders who are also depositors, cannot prove on their deposits, but can only be admitted as claimants,— should there be more than 20s in tbe £, a thing problematic? 1 in the extreme, then they come in for a share of the surplus; on tbe other hand, if there is a deficiency they will be compelled to make it up, so fur as they are able, Messrs Foxton and Porter, two of the leading men, have voluntarily sequestrated their estates.

The trial of Josiah Grlmshaw for the murder of a man named Mitchell, a painter, at Greensboro, mentioned in a previous letter, took place last week. After a long and carefully conducted trial, the Jury returned a verdict of Manslaughter against the prisoner, and he was sentenced to three years on the roads. From the evidence, it appeared questionable whether <he prisoner intended killing his unfortunate victim, and tlie rather favorable summing-up of the Judge, doubtless led the Jury to take the lenient view of the case they did.

The charge of manslaughter against the mate of the Kunnymede resolved itself into one of assault, and tbe prisoner was sentenced to threemonth's imprisonment.

A case of sending a threatening letter to the Honorable J. Highett, has been before the Police Court. The writer and sender of this letter— a man of the name of Barrett — in it brings sonic serious charges against Mr Iligbett, and also im plicates several other gentlemen in not very creditable transactions, and unless he was paid a certain sum of money within a given time, thieatened to publish the. whole particulars:. It is doubtful whether there be a word of tiutk in his statements, but as the matter will shortly be decided— the truth or falsehoood of them will then be elicited.

The genial weather we have had lately, has in some measure dispelled the fears that were beginning to be entertained, regarding the approaching harvest, and though it is almost premature to speak positively now, yet there are reasons for expecting an average one. From personal obser vation of tbe crops in the neighborhood of Kynetoj, G'astlemaine, and other places, I can speak favorably of them, and should propitious weather continue, the yield of grain will not be below the ordinary. It is only in the more southerly and wetter portions of the country that a deficiency may be expected. The market gardeners are now pushing on their operations with vigor, having from the long continued winter to crowd a considerable amount of work into a small space of time. A large breadth of vegetables has been sown, and on the whole the various plants are looking well, with the exception, of some of the root crops— the turnip crop being damaged by its old enemy the fly to a considerable extent. Of fruit there will be a bountiful supply, judging from the preen t appearance of tbt trees. Tlie oat crop will probably be a small one, on account of causes before mentioned ; from the scarcity of this article prices are advancing rapidly they Are txow gnoted as highas93,and there is little hope

of a change for some sis weeks or two months to come. Owners of horses are casting about for sime substitute for hoi se feed, as many sire unable to give this ruinous piie<\ Some are Irving wheat, and one ingenious individual has suggested the use of ship biscuit. Th« Rillaitafc Agricultural Show was held last week, and proved very successfulexhibitors in all cases being more numerous, and the public attendance larger, than on any previous occasion.

Melbourne has happily been free of late from those sorious confutations that in the early ciays of the city weie so prevalent, but 1 have to record an interruption to this pleasant btate of affairs. Lust Thursday a serious fire took place on the premises known as Cashel's Family Hotel, situated at the junction of Queen and Buurke street-, involving a great loss of property, and subsequently resulting in thp death of one of the inmates. The alarm pealed from the Town Hall Tower about four a.m., and ihe members of the Fire Brigade were promptly on the spot, when fiey found the whole building wrapped in flames. The inmates were all asleep at the time of the outbreak, and it ■» as only by dint of great exertions that that they were able to make thtir escape. One man in his haste and terror, leaping out of the window and injuring himself as it afterwards proved, fatally. The firemen were unable to obtain the mastery of the flamt'3, till the greater portion of the building had been destroyed. Mr Cashel is a great sufferer by this disaster, as he was totally uninsured. The building, itself, was in-

surcd to its valu ;

Lust Monday was a memorable day for the colony, being the opening of the Melbourne am] Sandhurst line. Fully aware of the impoitance of the occurrence, the authorities of Sandhurst determined to celebrate it in a manner ivortiiy of the occasion, and issued invitations far and wide to a grand banquet and ball. Fiom an early hour the western portion of Collins-street presented a busy app arartce, an almost uninterrupted stream of vehicles hastening to the station. Long before nine — the time appointed for the starting of the first train — the station was crowded by visitors. Shortly after nine the firsD train, drawn by two engines, and consisting of sixteen carriages, left the station. This liitle diminished the number on the platform. Another tr.iin, equally ns lonjr, took the place of the other, and was as quickly filled and sent off; but still the passengers were not disposed of, and a third monster train had to be nut on to convey the remainder of the excursionists. Upwards of 2,000 people were then being whirled along to Bcndigo. On leaching Sandhurst, several overgreen arches spanned the line, and crowds of weil-riiessed persons appeared on cither side, en tlniM.isticnlly cheering each train as it passed. Arrived at the station, some 20,000 persons had assembled to welcome the trains, and such a scene of bustle and animation Sandhurst has never before witnessed. All Bemiigo was apparently keeping holiday — the principal buildings wero decorated with flags and evergreens, and arches had been erected in lie principal streets ; and if ever Sandhurst looked gay, it was surely oi* that morning. After the Governor had declared the line opened, a grand procession was formed, and, accompanied by crowds of people, and followed by a miscellaneous tag-rag and bobtail of vehicles, horsemen, and pedestrians, passed through the principal streets. The Go vernor was most warmly received, and the greatest enthusiasm was displayed. Soon after, the banquet (at which upwards of a thousand sat down) took place, after which the usual congratulatory and complimentary speeches, proper on such occasion*-, were delivered. A few hours afterwards the ball was opened, and some hundreds of couples might have been seen whirling away in the giddy mazes of tie dance, and not ti 1 many of the small hours had passed away did the company break up. Up to the time of returning home, all had passe 1 off successfully ; but then the (ksagremens of excursion travelling began. Through an accident to a water-pipe, the engines were unable to get a proper .supply of water, and consequently could not go on, so that the unfortunate excursionists had to remain all night in the carriages, not reaching Melbourne till seventeen hours after the proper time. It is to be regretted that this should have occurred, as it altogether spoiled, what otherwise would have been, one of the pleasantest days that many have spent here.

The Jockey Club Spring Meeting, as was expected, proved rather a dull affair. Since the exposure of the Flying Duck and Buzzard case, nbout the time of the first Champion Race, the public seem to have lost confidence in the lacing fraternity, and very sparsely .attend the different meetings, except they be, like tbe Champion Race at Geelong, of more than ordinary interest. The attendance on the first day was very limited, though the racing on the whole was good. The Grand Stand Stakes were carried off by Flutcatchcr. Amina won the Spring Sapling Stakes, beating five othcis ; anl the Jockey Club Handicap, after an exciting race, wns won by Falcon. The public mustered rather more strongly on the socond day, but still nothing like what has ficquently been witnessed on former occasions, The first race, the Maiden Plate, was won by Josephine ; and a filly named Modest}', much to everybody's surprise, carried off the Spring Handicap Stakes. General won the Hurdle Race, and Barvron very easily the Derby, The half holiday on Saturday brought rather more on tbe course, and those who were present witnessed a fine day's sport. Th • Town Plate fell to the lot of Mormon, and the Oak Stakes were awarded to Modesty, the winner of the Spring Handicap. Donovan Brown, after a well-contested race, won the steeplechase, and Paul Pry proved the winner of the Consolation Stakes, which affair wound up the sports of the day. Rallarat will be the scene of the m:<t Champion Race.

There is little of importance to chronicle concerning amusements. The Opera company are still successfully occupying the Theatre Royal. The Lyceum has been, or is about to be closed. A sensation drama is being rehearsed ut Coppin's Theatre, and the Cou-t Minstrels, lately at the Apollo Musii! Hall, have gone to the Princess's.

An important rush has taken place at Dunolly, to a place cnlled Smuggler's Glen, where several shafts have been bottomed, the yield being loz 18dwts to the tub. Some parties have been more successful. From other fields there is little of interest to report.

The cricketing season is now beginning, and some important matches are on the tapis.

Latest advices from Adelaide mention that M'Kinlay is to have £1,000, and his companions six months' pay, for their services in the cause of exploration.

The parliament has been dissolved, and South Australia is busy electioneering.

From Sydney there is a report that the übiqui tous Gardiner lias again turnel up.

The members of the boating clubs intend having a regatta shortly.