VICTORIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 582, 2 June 1858, Page 3

VICTORIA.

SmaH-pox had broken out at Ballaarat, but not with a virulence tending to, create any serious apprehension. Prompt measures, however, were adopted to prevent its extension. In the Melbourne parliament on the lOfch of February, Mr. Macartney wished to. ask the; Secretary to the Treasury whether the contract' entered into in July, 1856, with the Australian Mail Company had been cancelled or determined; and if so, what arrangements had been made to secure the iriaihtenance of the postal communication with the Australian colonies for the: future; also, whether any. extension of time of the existing contract with the Royal Mail Stlam Packet Company, which expires in .1862, had been granteds.and for what period.—Mr. Wilson, in reply, explained that there had.been an extension of the contract of ..the Royal Mail Steam Packet CpmpanyJ%r two years, in consideration of that company .having undertaken to irriprove the service between Buenos Ayres and Rio Janeiro, by putting on an increased number of larger and more commodious boats, and not in consequence of any arrangement between that company" arid! tlie Australian Mail Company;^—-Mr. Macartney inquired if the hon. gentleman would object 'to produce the correspondence' on the subject ;P~—Mr. Wilson; ; If the hon. geutlernari would make a motion for papers, he should, be prepared to produce such as were necessary to show the nature of thetrafisactioh;

The Royal Mail Steam: Packet and European and Australian RpyalMailj Companies Bill was read (11th Feb:)"a second tinier;;'MryM'Kenzie -having, Upon the motion, urged tjhe propriety of appointing a committee 'during the present session to inquire into the system under which the steam packet mail, contracts, were entered into by the Treasury ,illnstratedthe necessity for such inquiry by a reference to the. contract with • the European and : Australian which had been given to them aft a price considerably* oyer.that for, which thei Peninsular and Oriental^ •Company had • tenderedj and--wbieh| they had not been able properly to carry^ put. r/ Mr. Gabrelli, the-great capitalist' has pro- ! pounded a monster scheme' for ; developing by machinery the hidden wealth of the mines ofVictoria,. It is proposed.to take;in working. -partners or shareholders. The capital is to be £1,000,000.' 1

The first issue of the Rev. T. Binney's sermon, "Be Men," was sold on"the day of publication. Therewasquitearushfor.it. The unemployed are still availing themselves of the arrangements of the Government for their ''temporary relief,'and "notwithstanding the low rate of remuneration, about 200 men, ihost of , them with families, have availed themselsray> of the opportunity afforded them of finding aToaf for their half- starving children. The remuneration at present given is four shillings &: day. It is understood that, the Government have decided upon Appointing Dr. Macadam to fill the post of analytical Chemist, vacant by the ! decease of Mr. Maund. The appointment will ;give universal satisfaction. v

The Solicitor-General was reported to have stigmatised an act of the previous ministry as " a very Jewish looking affair." He was "called to account by the leading Jews of the city, whereupon he denied- having used the expression. , ..•■■.-,.■;•■

t It is proposed to introduce a. clause in the IReform Bill before the Assembly, to give the {Melbourne University power to send a inember,into; the Assembly when a certain number of shall have taken degrees. The proposition is regarded with; favour by the ' Argus,' land it is expected it will be adopted. | Upwards of 30 ton's of gold have been.ship ; ped during this year from the port of Melbourne, i Mr. Colin Campbell moved in the Assembly Jfor a grant of £10,000 per month for the supportofthe National and Denominational Schools iduring the last.six months of the year._ .The honorable mover having established a claim on" behalf of the Denominational Board alone for £97,000, may fairly be considered as entitled to v the lesser sum. The: Chief Secretary readily admitted that a case for a grant of £60,000 had been made out, and regretted that the country could afford no more, as the Assessment on Stock Bill, so far from .producing the £350,000 estimated by Mr. Ebden, caused a positive loss ,on its collection. .■ w . . ■ ■ -