VICTORIA.

Otago Witness, Volume 15, Issue 1487, 15 May 1880, Page 11

VICTORIA.

A meeting of representatives of the Farmers' Union has been held relative j to feeding grains, A large portion of the meeting came prepared to discußS the relation of Free Trade to Protection, but the chairman declined to go into the question. Those who favoured imposing im port duties then left, amid groanp. The following day a deputation inter viawed the Treasurer, accompanied by Messrs .Lougmore M'Kean, Gaunsor, and other members of the Assembly. Mr Service said the question lay between the farmers and the cabmen, an import duty Rerving the latter and oppressing thp former. He denouncad the whole artificial system of keeping up high prices. The deputa tion asked for assistance in a wrong direction, and he could not help them. Thpre was a stormy meeting of the Exhibition Commissioners relative to thi terms of the contract for manufacturing 6000 ohaire, and prohibiting the employment of Chinese. A protracted discussion was followed by a division, 43 voting against the restriction and 42 in favour of it. The termß of tbe contract were subsequently enlarged. The new Commissioners appointed by the present Government favoured enlarging the terms of contract. New diggings are reported at Mount Taxcomber. Tin has been discovered at Tale River. The prospectors say the men can sluir e three to four tons weekly, the ore averaging 75 per cent, of tin. Two men, who barbarously injured a black girl by exploding powder under her, have been committed for trial.

An important deputation of the medical profession waited upon Mr Bamaay to day for the purpose of submitting their views regarding the management of the Lunatic (Asylum, withthe object of supporting the memorial previously submitted on the subject. They proposed that the appointment of officials should be made non political ; that the (institution should be extended so as to afford patients sufficient room, and that the management should be placed under a board consisting of legal, lay, and medical men. Mr Ramsay promised to investigate the matter, and to give a reply at an early date. Conway, the ex -policeman who took strychnine yesterday, owing to domestic infelicity, died this morningfrom the effects. The creditors in the case of the Suburban Bank were paid a first dividend to-day of sa. It is expected that the next dividend will be made shortly of Is 6d.

Kent, well known in football circles, sailed to-day in the Sorata, for London, for the purposes ot arranging several matches between the Intercolonial and English players. Ten of the best Victorian players have signified their willingness, and are going to Sydney and Adelaide.