VICTORIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 439, 17 January 1857, Page 7

VICTORIA.

We have received papers from Melbourne to the 18th instant.

No business of importance had been transacted in the Victorian Parliament. In the Assembly, on the 17th instant, Captain Clark, the Surveyor-General, proposed a series of resolutions in reference to the sale and leasing of Crown lands, the leading features of which were the maintenance of the principle of sale by auction and the existing upset price. Mr. Michi moved an amendment suggesting the reference of the topic to a select committee, and a very animated debate ensued, in which Mr. O'Shanassy, the Attorney-General, the Solicitor-General, the Chief Secretary, and Mr. Foster, took part. The debate, however, was adjourned till the following day, and it was not expected to be then resumed, as the Council was to adjourn at its rising on Friday to Tuesday, the 30fch instant.

In reference to the work before Parliament the ' Herald' of the 16th says:—" Great questions are now looming upon the horizon of our Legislature,—Manhood Suffrage—the right of the Executive to fill the Parliament with placeholders, or to buy up the existing representatives of the people with well paid offices, —the distribution of the public lands among religious bodies, and the use or rather abuse of those grants for purposes alien to the intention of the endowment, —the'whole subject of the Crown lands, including the disposal of them in feesimple and the leasing of the unsold portion for pastoral and other kinds of occupation—spirit merchants' and tavern-keepers' licenses—Customs consolidation—these, and a huge catalogue besides of other subjects, are set down in the notice paper and are all expected to come under the consideration of the ' collective wisdom' within the next few days. Such topics will try the mettle of those who have been, sent into the Assembly, and we shall be enabled to judge by this experiment not only what are the principles of our public men, but likewise the amount of capacity and'the degree of energy they Can'bring to bear upon the performance of their senatorial duties."

The following remarks are from tlie 'Age' of the 17th—" The estimates are certain to belaid on the shelf till the middle of January, at least. It is a beautiful system into which we have got in this colony—of first spending- a considerable portion of our yearly income, and then asking for leave to spend it. In countries where this new and improved system of financial management has not yet been adopted, they go on the absurd plan of voting the expenditure for a given 3 rear three or four months before that year commences. How ridiculous this is! and how much more rational and economical it is to carry on the voting and spending at one and the same time! The estimates will be got through probably, by the end of March; and, as all other business will be postponed till they are disposed of, the session will very likely be spun out till Jmie or July. Then there will be another adjournment till December: and then the estimates for the next year (1858) will be voted in that year. An admirable plan: statesmanlike, and businesslike at one and the same time!"

The man Charles Johnson, who stabbed Mr. Murdock, of the Star Hotel, Beechworth, was tried at Melbourne, on the 15th instant, and found guilty of manslaughter. He was sentenced to seven years' hard labour on the roads. The electric telegraph had- reached Sandhurst on the 13th instant, and was expected to be in operation in a few days. The Argus of the"lßth says:—" On Tuesday night a man named Kerr was ' stuck up' by two or three men and a woman, near the Houses of Parliament, and robbed, according to his own statement, of £35." The following paragraphs are from the conntry papers. The Crops.—The late rains have been of the most beneficial character to the wheat and potatoes, according to the statements of competent judges. It was thought the hail-storm of Tuesday last would have beaten down a considerable portion of the wheat crop ; but we are happy to hear that such lias not been the case; nor did the hay suffer materially, unless that being slightly bleached on the outside. In the

potato crop the effect of the rain will be most seen, particularly the late crop. A few days sunshiny warm weather would be hailed with satisfaction, as a large quantity of hay is waiting to be stacked. It is also gratifying to learn, that the destractive insect which has been so ruinous to cabbage, &c, has been in a great measure washed ont of the plants by the last week's rains.— Q-eelong Advertiser. The Chops.—Although the late rains have unquestionably improved our agricultural prospects, the crops throughout the extensive agricultural districts of Warrnambool, Woodford, Yangery, and Belfast, will not, even under the most favourable circumstances, amount to an average one. Of wheat a much greater breadth has been cultivated even than last year, but it is in general very light, which many of the _ farmers attribute to the excessive rains of tHef-^ winter, and the drought at a later period: pota.-tl' toes, barley, oats, &c, are not so extensively-" sown, nor are the early crops very abundant. What with light crops and heavy wages,we fear the fanners will have some difficulty in making "'both, ends meet" this season. Labour is their great want, yet of the immigrants lately sent here, not a fifth part is suited to farm work.—■ Banner of Belfast

Mousteb Cabbage.—We have had forwarded to our office the largest cabbage yet grown in Portland, and one of the largest, we doubt not, yet grown in Victoria. It weighs 25 lbs. ; the diameter of some of the leaves is 2 feet 6 inches; and its circumference when growing was 12 feet. It was grown in the garden of a gentleman in Portland, from Melbourne seed, sown in the middle of August and is of the Paignton species. — Portland Chronicle.