MELBOURNE.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume III, Issue 194, 28 January 1881, Page 3

MELBOURNE.

[from our special correspondent.] I must recant. I said in my last that the regular Melbourne scorcher was obsolete. This morning (11.30) the thermometer is So degrees in my bedroom, though the sun does not shine thereon. For my part I prefer the English Christmas. You will have heard the result of the No Confidence motion long ere this reaches you. The result was not unexpected. Several members who had promised to support the motion deserted at the last moment, and Government received votes from several very lukewarm supporters wiio could not be depended upon for another

division. There seemed to be a dislike to turn Government out. the week before Christmas, when political complications are peculiarly ill-timed and disagreeable for .holidaymakers. Government have thus saved their screws, which are really the one thing they care about ; but it is not a victory to be proud of —a majority of five in a full House, where formerly there was a majority of JO in their favor. It was Berry's wish to adjourn over the holidays, giving lion, members a fortnight’s recreation, and then to resume work on or about January 4th. But lion, members could not see it, and the upshot is that the House stands adjourned till February loth. The manner in which this decision was arrived at is of a piece with several other matters decided of late. On various occasions Berry has proposed one thing and been forced to accept another at the bidding of the •' Corner.” Such is the result of having a majority of five only on a critical division. In the meantime, before the House reassembles, Berry and Yale, the Attorney-General will journey to Sydney to attend the Intercolonial Conference to which all the Colonies have been invited t ' send delegates. No reply has yet been received from New Zealand, but I presume no objection will be raised to accepting the ! invitation. In the event of New Zealand being represented at the Conference I should say the Premier and Attorney-Gen-eral would be the best representatives. At different times a good deal lias been talked of the defences of the Colony, and Col. Xcratchley was engaged to report on the various harbors and their capacities for defence. In Dunedin and Weffington some heavy ordnance lias been stored ; and if it were not that the Armed Constabulary on the Plains absorb all our available cash for military purposes these guns would no doubt have long since been properly mounted in batteries. At any rate. New Zealand is in earnest on the question of handing over her chief towns to Russian enemies. But over here they manage these tilings differently. In the same way as Col. Xcratchley reported on New Zealand ports did Xir William Jervois report on Victorian ports. At his suggestion large stores and heavy guns were imported at great cost, and a commencement was made at building forts. There was an admirably trained force of artillerymen ready at band to mail these forts, and work the guns. Now Berry proposes to disband the artillery because of financial difficulties, and the House is foolish enough to accede to this proposal. What on earth is the use of cannon and iii(ih-ri(4 if you have no men to fire the one or look after the other? When the next “ scare ” of war with Russia arises what a row there will be in Melbourne about the defences of the bay ! Apropo* of financial matters it was stated by several members in the House last week that we were drifting towards insolvency. I am not very well versed in Victorian finance, but, after reading pretty extensively, and bearing the opinions of those who know something about the matter, I have come to the conclusion that Victoria will shortly be in a worse plight than New Zealand was under the Grey mjrme. For-

tunately for New Zealand the pro-Consul had his career as Premier cut short in the nick of time : but no man can say how much longer Victoria is to be cursed with her present useless Government (?) The Victorian (jiir.clti' is not a place where the general reader ■would look for amusing reading any more than is that dreary sheet, the New Zealand Gazette. But the last number contains the following signed by Vale, the Attorney-General: — ‘‘ The attention of officers of the respective departments of the Attorney-General and the Minister of Justice is specially directed to clauses 1,2, and Jof the Civil Service Regulations, which, it is noticed, are not duly observed.” the hours of attendance at public offices. I wonder if the heads of departments at Wellington ever require to issue such a notification in the Gazette. More than likely, in these days of retrenchment and dismissal, “curled darlings” require few incentives to be punctual in the morning. No doubt you are well posted in all that relates to the loss and recovery of the Xorata. I went over her last week as she lies in the Williamstown graving dock. Not being a practical engineer I despair of conveying an idea of her appearance at the part where the rocks pushed their way into the hull. It is a marvel to me how the vessel ever arrived in Hobson’s Bay. Whore the keel struck, which is nearly amidships, the frame is forced up about JO inches, and the bottom of the vessel for about 40 yards amidships is in the shape of a bow. The contract for repairing the vessel has just been signed. The contractors have laid themselves under a penalty if the vessel is not ready for sea in four

months. The Exhibition still “ drags its "low length along ” in a humdrum fashion. It seems doomed to he the scene of misfortune. ’File last related to the organ, which is still incomplete. It was advertised that a performance would he given last Wednesday, and a great crowd assembled. lint there was a hitch somewhere, and after keeping everyone waiting an hour it was announced that something was wrong with one of the pipes, and the performance was postponed for a week. The audience hissed a little at this announcement ; bur Victorian audiences are not particularly refined. For the holidays we are promised quite a glut of amusements. At the Theatre Royal I the pantomime, “Sinbad the Sailor” will be the 7 tivev <!<•■ resistant:/-. At the Opera House the opera comique season will be opened with “La Lille duTambour Major,” Offenbach’s last completed work. “ Little Goody Two Shoes ” will be the attraction at the Bijou Theatre, and Kelly and Leon will open at St. George’s Hall. In addition to these apopulai concert is announced at the Town Mall, by Madame Carandini. Quite a “ host of taient ” is announced to appear —amongst others Mrs George Cotterell (Isabella Carandini), who was iu Blenheim about 3i years ago. She is very popular here. The holidays have passed off very flabbily. The Race Meeting was very poor—the big event was such a certainty. Some very good cricket has been seen, however. The intercolonial match, Victoria v. New South Wales, was very exciting, Victoria pulling through by two wickets—a great surprise, as New South Wales, for whoiu Evans bowled superbly, were hot favorites; but they had very bad luck. On New Year’s Day a combined Eleven from Victoria and New South Wales tried conclusions with the Australian Eleven and were beaten by 178 runs. The combined team were frightfully unlucky, having to commence each innings at five o’clock, when the light is very bad. the wickets being pitched East and West. Bouner knocked a hall on to the Grand Stand, where it remained. The hit would have been about 150 yards otherwise ! Evans again bowled wonderfully well, better than the cracks, Spofforth and Palmer. For the edification of Blenheim howlers I giwj-you his analysis for the two innings :—OB overs, 59 maidens 69 runs, 7 wickets. Comment is superfluous.

The Australian Eleven leave here tomorrow for New Zealand, and so I suppose your cricketers will be in a state of squash.