INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1387, 29 June 1878, Page 15

INTERCOLONIAL.

MklißOurnk, June 20th. The Government ara preparing for the com ng session. The first measure will bo a Reform Bill, but an Electoral Bill, dealing with the question of boundaries and with the property suffrage, is being prepared. Parliament meets on the 9th of July, when a stormy session may be anticipated. 3ome rather stauliDg revelations as to the doings of members of Par'itment have bo<-n laid before tho Landi Commission now i-itting, and they will probably le^l to a similar re&ultttiou here a» in Sydney, prohibiting members of Parliament from acting as land agents. At the inauguration of the new bujldioga in connec-

tion with Trinity College, the Bshop of Melbourne n. ade an excellent speech. Anewe>ing a supposed objection of wealthy men, that recent events cieaeda doubt whether Victoria was a country where men of prudence, sagacity, and fortune could permanently ca9t their lots, he said he had the yreateat hope for the future of this country. They h*d there men of the British race, and men who wero gradually becoming possessor* ol property, and though they might temporarily become the victims of adventurers, it wan utterly impossible that they should remain the dupes of such men permanently. Young Pearce. one of the two survivors of the Inch Ard, U being ltonissd, and money is being collected for him everywhere. Mi3s Carmichaol still renuins at Mr Gibson's station.

Captain Mindeville, commanding the naval forces of Victoria, recently m»de an extravagant proposition to Mr Berry, that t ie Cerberus should ba stripped for action and run tho gauntlet of the batteries at the Heads, allowing herself to be peppered by the guns in order to test the value of the butteries, and to ascertain whether it was possible that an ironclad could run through the Heads uninjured. Mr Berry accepted the proposal, and the necessary orders wero given, but there was such an outcry in the Press that it has been abandoned.

'Ihe steamshiD r uzco broke her main shaft when 38 days out from P.ymouth, and had to come on under canvas, which accounts for the delay in her passage. She sailed well, and there was never any danger from the accident.

The team of gentlemen cricketers leave London by the October mall for tbe Colonies, and play their first match in Melbournj on Boxlug D\y. Ihe team will be a strong one. Captain Ring, and Butters, tho mate of the brig Alexandra, have beon found guilty of an attempt to Ecuttle that vessel. Judgment has been reserved. The Rev. W. B. Clarke, the well-known geologist, diea at the age of 81. He had a large funeral. There have been snow storms in various parts of New South Wales. The weather has been colder than it has been known to be for years. The New South "Wolea Parliament stands further prorogued to August 13th. H M.s. Wolverine has gone intn tho dock at Sydney, htving been found to be slightly leaky.