LATEST INTERCOLONIAL NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume IV, Issue 271, 8 October 1867, Page 3

LATEST INTERCOLONIAL NEWS.

Our files by the Egmont have at last come to hand. The latest data is Melbourne, 24th September. ... Parliament is again in session, .and the principal bigness appears to have been ! the adoption 'of an address iu,repiy ti> the '.Governor's speech. The address was brought up by Mr Sladen as a report from the committee appoiuted for the purpose, and was,, as different from the usual echoof the original speech as possible. It set out by concurring with the Governor's regret at the necessity for another session so soon after the late protracted one, and then reminded his Excellency that time necessity was not caused by the Council, they being ready to assent at once to an Appropriation Bill if the proposed grant to Lady Darling were omited from it. The address then proceeded to express further regret that the coat of completing tho water supply works already undertaken should have been so miscalculated as to render a fresh loan requisite ; and- in the next paragraph the House promised to consider any well devised scheme for railroad extension, though the absence of any scheme of immigration discouraged any idea of a revival in the railway revenue, which had fallen off so much of late, or that railroad extension could be accomplished at the present time without a large and undue inci'easo of taxation ; finally, it assured his Excellency that the Council should not be wanting in any endeavor to bring the questions to be considered by the Legislature to a satisfactory conclusion, but that harmonious action could scarcely be hoped for so long as the policy of the mother country was deviated from, and the Appropriation Bill made an instrument of attempts to coerce the Council on questions of public policy. Mr Sladen simply moved the adoption of the address, and it was adopted by fourteen votes to three ; Mr A'Beckett and Mr M'Crae only offering very brief observations, and Mr Cole simply saying that it would save the House a deal of trouble if they would pass Mr M'Orao's amendment, which was a reflex of the Governor's speech, shaped after the ordinary pattern. The only other thing done was the appointment of standing committees. Mr Cole moved that certain members be appointed to sit on different committees, and he was met by a demand for a ballot, which resulted in the appointment of other members than. those named. It turned out that the representative, of the Government had never con- . suited hon. members' convenience about their connection with committees, but had gone arbitrarily to work, against all which the demand for a ballot was an effectual protest. Mr Cole soon gave way, however, and after two ballots had been taken tho remaining committees were appointed by mutual agreement. There is said to be a growing disposition among members of both the Council and the Assembly to arrive, if possible, at some understanding whereby the present uncomfortable crisis may be terminated. During tho last few days some members of the Upper House have consulted upon the propriety of agreeing to pass the Lady Darling vote, if sent up in a separate bill. It is rumored that a considerable number are in favor of this course, and it is also said that there would be a majority of the Assembly willing to make tins concession, the Appropriation Bill being retained until the Darling measure was dealt with by. the Council ; so that, should it be thrown >■ out, it might again bo included in the former bill. The Duke of Edinburgh was not exptcted lo .arrive in Melbourne for a month or six weeks. The first meeting of the Royal Commission appointed for his reception was to meat on the 24th September. The Argus of that date say 3 :— The members of the commission dined with his Excellency at St. Kilda last night. We trust that the commissioners will enter heartily' on their too long delayed work at their meeting to-day. They have found a. good secretary, we believe, in Mr J. G. Knight, and the sooner they empower him to do something the better. There is no time to lose, for example, in preparing the New Exhibition Hall as a ball room ; and past experience shows tliat for the purpose of a supperroom the carriage annexe- should be extended as far as Russell street. Repairs of a substantial character are wanted, probably, and there is no time to spare' if the ■work is to be creditably done. For the ball, additional lights in the aisles will be wanted, and the rotunda should be turned into a reception room for the Prince. The preparations now being" made in the city and suburbs should also be organised in some systematic manner. Sydney has already arranged its 4 flotilla to meet the Galatea of Botany Bay, but nothing hasbeen done here as yet to arrange a rece^ - tion at the Heads, m which all the steam ships of the port winch are available should take part. ' The Gipps Land gold fields transmitted heavy consignments of gold to Sale again last month. The escort from Walhalla brought 62930z., that from Grant 15030z, and 4760z. from Boggy Creek. »In addition to this, 11500z. , also the produce of Boggy Creek, were shipped from Bairnsdale during .the month by the Bank of Victoria. The Gipps Lund Times considers that " a monthly return of 90000z., independent of the quantity which is conveyed privately to' other parts of the colony, proves that Gipps Land bids fair to excel any other mining district in the colony in the quantity of gold raised in proportion to the population, and that even now the majority of our mines are realising the utmost expectations of those who placed confidence in them three or four years ago." A few days ago some severe comments appeared in the Tarrengower Times on the appointment of a resident of Maldon, by name John Stevenson, to the magisterial bench. . H. 3 was spoken of in the most contemptuous terms, both as to his personal character and Ins fitness for the office. Mr Stevenson, it appears, has a son, and these severe comments seem to have roused him to the resolution to avenge the insult to his father by using a horsewhip- to the offending editor. He struck the latter one slight blow with a whip ; some convenient friends interfered ; and our brother journalist will now, it is said, seek reparation of his wounded honor in the courts of law. . The late turf news is as follows :—Seagull has been scratched for the Melbourne Cup ; and Yattendon for the v Port Phillip Stakes. The present rates ruling for the Melbourne Cup arenas under :— IOO to 14 agst Fireworks ; 100 to 14 agst Tim Whiffier:(KS.W.) ; 100 to 10 agst Rose of Australia ; 100 to 9 agst Glencoe ; 100 to 8 agst Nimblefoot ; 100 "to 6 agsf Pri-

I vateer ; 100 to 6 agst Tim Whiter (V.) ; j 100 to 4 each agst Cowra and Queen of j Hearts ; 100 to 3 agsfc Mary Ann ; 500 to 25. was ■"offered agst Mr Cleeland's lot ; 150 to 100 p.p. was laid on Rosa of Aus-^ tralia agst Privateer. ■ Offers were current ■ ti> take 200 to 100 and back four against the field for the Cup ; and several offers were made to back six ayaips't the field for even money, and marked; indications pointed to the following as making up the half-dozen that would have been selected — Sydney Tim, Fireworks, Rose of Australia, Glencoe, Kimblefoot and Privateer. Some «f the bookmakers offered to give the five best, and back the field to beat them. The current offer on the field for tho Port Phillip. Stakes is 7 tb. 4 ;'occasionally 2 to 1 is laid agst Fishhook ; 4 to 1 agst the Barb ; 100 to ,15 agst Nimblefoot. There was more betting on double events than on the backing of horses outright. , Consequent on the late ran:s aid't'ie melting of the snow, the- Upper -Murray is rising "rapidly,- and. already the whole of the flats from Wodonga to Wahgunyah are partially inundated. Serious apprehensions are entertained that, should the present unsettled weather coit'ime, avoiy high flood will be tho result— higher than has been seen for a number of years past.