OUR MELBOURNE LETTER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4434, 5 June 1875, Page 3

OUR MELBOURNE LETTER.

(from our own correspondent.) Melbourne, May 26. After the multitude of rumors on the position and tactics of political parties, the parliamentary session opened yesterday with unusual quietness—the calm, possibly, that precedes_the storm. Sir William Stawell, the ActingGovernor, read the opening speech, which, whilst it bristles with promises, is one of the vaguest of such usually very vague State productions. The Argus describes the speech as a " sheaf of promissory notes ;" and this is a fair summary of it, if it be added, "signed in blank," for everything depends upon how they are filled up. Every article touched upon in the speech has already been fully and carefully discussed in the public journals, and the" time i 3 considered ripe for dealing with each of them decisively. The Ministry state, through the mouth of the Acting-Govemor, that the present educational system of the colony has embedded it3elf in the affections of the people, and that, in order to bring it into full operation, it is proposed to raise a special fund to meet the cost of erecting about a hundred new schoolhouses. They further propose to create a number of scholarships tenableat the University, and to commence a training establishment for teachers upon a grand scale. i Allusion is made to the working of the Royal Commission which has been appointed to inquire into the condition of friendly societies, with a viow«to setting them on a more satisfactory footing. The Royal Commission inquiring into the condition of the volunteer force is mentioned, and also the preparations that are being made in Melbourne for the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia. The other portions of the speech will reach you through the usual channels, but that part in which a new, or rather an-amending Land Bill was promised, obtained speedy realisation, as Mr. Casey at once asked the leave of the Houso to introduce the measure. The chief feature of his Bill is that it abolishes the compulsory residence of selectors upon their selections, and increases tho maximum size of the land which can be hold by ono man, from 320 to 040 acres. The farming population have long agitated for this concession, with a viewto obtaining pastoral land adjacent to their agricultural lots. As far as political affairs can be judged by yesterday's meeting, it is obvious that the Opposition are not yet fully harmonised, and that no assault will be made upon the Ministry until after tho Treasurer's speech and tho enunciation of the fiscal policy.

The action brought in the Supreme Court by Dr. Dobson, M.L.C, against the- Daily Telegraph, for libel, has just been concluded, the jury finding a verdict for £lO damages to soothe Dr. Dobson's wounded feelings. The Telegraph broadly accused Dr. Dobson of conspiring with the Minister of Lands to evade the Land Act. Tho costs in the action are said to amount to nearly £6OO, a pleasant sum to pay for freely speaking one's views of the actions and published correspondence of our public men. Two supposed murders have occurred during the week, to shock the community, both taking place in CarltOn. In the one case, that of Mrs. Pryor, a dying wife accused her husband in presence of witnesses of having deliberately poisoned her. At a post-mortem examination strychnine was detected in the stomach, and the remnants of a dose were found in a phial near the deceased's bed. In the other case, that of a Mrs. Barrett, it appeal's husband and wife had for a long time lived on very bad terms, and yesterday she was found stabbed and dying. Her husband was taken in charge by the police, but the inquest has not yet been held. The Rev. Philip Baelhache, who recently arrived here to succeed the Rev. Charles Clark in the pastorate of the Albert-street Chapel, preached his first sermon last Sunday, and at once established himself among the foremost and most talented preachers. The Rev. Charles Clark continues his services at the Athenreum in connection with what he terms unsectarian Christianity, and his temporary church is crowded to excess both morning and evening. The Roman Catholic body, under the leadership of the Archbishop aud the two newly arrived Bishops of Sandhurst and Ballarat, are vigorously prosecuting their crusade against the Education Act, supported by almost the entire Roman Catholic laity. This has led to counter demonstrations, and therefore it was not amatterof surprise that on the Queen's birthday the Protestant Alliance mustered in more than their usual numbers, and displayed more orange, ornaments than heretofore. The war of creeds on the education question is to be to the knife, and apparently as ruthless as savage warfare. Nothing, however, that either side can do will turn aside from the great object the followers of Mr. George Higinbotham, who intend that the system shall continue and enlarge, and that the poorest artizan shall have the opportunity of getting as good a public education as the child of the richest squatter. Commercial matters continue quiet; but flour is still firmly held, and only parted with at prices little short of £ll.