VICTORIA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 37, 27 December 1861, Page 4

VICTORIA.

(From our own Correspondent.) Melbourne, Dec. 20, 1861. - The chief event within the last week has been the re-opening of Parliament, which took place on the 17th inst. A great many rumours have been floating about as to the re-arrangement of parties, but nothing of any moment has as yet taken place. The new Ministers were duly sworn in, and took their seats on the right of the Speaker, on which side all the members who voted with them also arrayed themselves. The Opposition comprised Mr. Heales and those who voted with him in his defeat, with the exception of the member for North Grenville (Mr. O'Connor), who took his seat with the supporters of the present Government. Several hostile motions were given notice of, but a trial of strength is not likely to be made till after the Christmas recess. On the following day, Mr. Duffy introduced his promised Land Bill, and in a clear and able manner explained its provisions. He proposes to select all the best agricultural lands, and throw them open to free selection to the extent of ten million acres, half cash, the remainder in eight yearly payments. The present squatting runs he estimates at 25 million acres, which he proposes to leave to the present occupants at a fair rental, until wanted for actual settlement; and 13 millions (chiefly poor land), at present unoccupied, he intends cutting up into 800 allotments, and leasing for pastoral purposes, by auction or other competitive means. He is sanguine of obtaining by this means a large revenue; but the greater portion of this 13 million acres is in the. centre of Gipp's Land and other uncomeatable places, and for a long- time to come will not let for anything like a larg-e sum. The chiet objection to Duffy's scheme is that, whilst the bulk of the colonists at present and to come are selecting and settling on the ten millions, the squatters will have the opportunity of yearly purchasing, without much competition, the freeholds of their runs, as it is evident the ten millions cen never be taken up for years to come, and will draw off the settler from competing- with the squatter. In other words, the squatters will be left in possession so long that the profits they make from their monopoly will in time suffice for the purchase of the fee-simple ; and this is the clsief reason the squatters are so pleased with Duffy's bill. The great charm of the occupation licenses, was that any man, on payment of £5, could take up 160 acres, and commence cultivation, &c., at once. This system has obtained on our gold fields in selection of town lots, and is one of the'causes that have tended '•(> create so m?iny thriving inland towns. A man has no mors to do than take up any vacant allotment, bund his home, commence business, and by and by, if he thrives, and the place goes ahead, lie becomes the purchaser. It is put up to auction, but the improvements being- valued, lie invariably (except in rare instances) becomes the purchaser at the upset. This selling- with improvements is a. great .stimulus to people to increase those improvement?, and many are of opinion that the occupation licenses would have done for the country what the present system does for the inland towns." It is more than likely Mr. Duffy will meet with strong opposition in relation to the squatting question, and that his greatest foes are amongst his own followers.

A rather unexpected piece of intelligence was divulged in the course of a debate last night, relative to the "pension allowed by our Constitution Act to retiring Ministers. It appears that our Constitution Act allows a pension list of £4000 to Her Majesty, on behalf of Ministers who shall have served a certain time. The popular idea is, that when a Minister has sei-ved two. years he is entitled to a pension of about £800 per annum out of the aforesaid £4000. In July last, Mr Ireland had completed the term of-two years, and lie coolly wrote a letter to the Governor, requesting his pension. It was usually understood, and, indeed, frequently expressed, in "the Hou*?e, that no one should be eatiiled to a pension unless he was reduced in circumstances, and.that he would require to make the declaration, that he was unable to maintain his dignity without a pension. Richard is the last mail to stick at trifles, and he lost no opportunity of rnaki.ig all the necessary preparations, but unfortunately for him ilie Heale Minis irv would not sanction it, and the aifair fcH t'^-ou^li. It is now, hoWever, elvMir thai; u.wf ouiy he, bui: ail the present Ministry C';:isid;;r tin has c^vubJwWi iii.s right to a pension, and if h'.1 ]i;it- no hjueu.ioa of foregoing his claim, it is ipvctty i'vlcioui; tlial we shall aooa have Duffy, O'Sha- • im^sYj iv.id a host of otiiova, to support a^ State pen-:-.-K}ii;:VS. : The Assembly will adjourn to-morrow till the 14th of Januaiy.

The mail, which arrived six days ago, brought the rather startling intelligence that our debentures had decreased in the London market to the extent of 3 per cent., and that this was owing to a leader in the Times founded on a letter of their Melbourne correspondent, who darkly hinted at repudiation. The Times correspondent is IT. S. Chapman, the Member for Mornington, who obtained his seat through the exertions of Costello (now undergoing a sentence of twelve monthsJ'or getting personators to vote for said Chapman). The Age has soundly rated Chapman for the dastardly manner in which he has sought to affect our securities ; and it is generally belied that he did so at the instance of Money Miller and other speculators, with whom he is associated, for the purpose of reaping a rich harvest in the stock markets as soon as the temporary panic should, subside. The great Cricket match with All England is looked ■ fonvarc. to with great interest;, and the Great Britain, with the English team on board, is hourly expected. The booths and stands have let for about thirteen hundred pounds for the first match, so that the speculation is likely to pay well. Our Melbourne eleven have been iip the country,' and succeeded in beating the Sandhurst eighteen by 22 runs. The great pedestrian match between Harrison, of Melbourne, and Mount of Ballarat, came off at the latter place on the 7th instant. About five thousand persons were present, and a great deal of money changed hands on the occasion. The Ballarat men were great on their favorite, whilst the Melbournites were equally sweet on Harrison, who, however, came off victorious in only one of the three events. As this is twice these men have met and honours are divided, it is arranged that another trial of speed shall take place early in" Melbourne. The following days were given up to horse-racing, when many well-Known favorites came off victorious, the various events being decided as follows ; — Wednesday, 18th December, hurdle race.

Red Deer 2 The schooner " Tyne," from Otago, was totally wrecked on the coast of Tasmania, and the greater portion of her crew and passengers were saved, in a most miraculous manner. The " Empress of the Seas," which paid you one visit with six hundred passengers, cleared out this week with a large cargo of tallow and wool, and 20 passengers for England. Yesterday at daylight .she was discovered on fire before she left our heads, and so rapid was the progress of the devouring element, that "in a few moments she was one mass of flames. The burning ship was ultimately grounded, at Point Nepean, without any loss of life occurring. Our Divorce Court has opened, and two cases have already been heard; in one of which a divorce has been gTanted on the ground of the husband having deserted his wife to Jive with another. The wife was the petitioner in each case heard as yet, and singular to say, the husbands are both Government clerks, in the receipt of good salaries. The following is the latest Sydney telegrams :— Sydney, December 19th. The Lord Ashley, from Nelson, has brought 13,750 ounces of gold. Two aboriginal boys, supposed to belong to the tribe which massacred Mr. Wills and his friends, have been brought to Sydney by Mr. Collins, a squatter. The Judges of the Supreme Court have ordered them to be given up to the Government. N

Birthday 1 Young- Camel ... .. .. .. 2 Modesty and Young Triton were scratched. Fine struggle home. .' BIENNIAL STAKES. Secundus .. :.. 1 Palestine .. .. 2 Saturn .. .... .. .. 3 A close race throughout. Saturn was the favorite. Much money lost. Time, 2 min. 57 sec. SPRING HANDICAP. Flatcatcher .. .. .. .. .. 1 Buzzard .. "'. . 2 Young Alma .. .. .. .. 3 . Close running; but Flatcatcher won without any punishment. Grey Dawn the favorite at starting, at 3 to 2. Time, 2 min. 52^ sec. DISTRICT PLATE. Yorkshireman .. .. .. .. 1 Lanercost .. .... 2 This was a fine contest. Time, 3 min. 15 sec. SKURRY STAKES. Vanity 1 Thursday, 19th December. ■ f FOURTH BIENNIAL. Baroness .... 1 MAIDEN PLATE. Miss Alfred 1 Young Sheriff 2 METROPOLITAN HANDICAP. Bray 1 Young Alma .. .. * .. .. 2 Flatcatcher .. .. .. .. .. 3 CORINTHIAN HURDLE RACE. Tambuck .. ... .. .. .. 1 Kinchin 2 SELLING STAKES. Falcon .. 1