VICTORIA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 46, 8 January 1862, Page 1 (Supplement)

VICTORIA.

{From our ow7i Correspondent.) The Aldivya, on her last trip, had scarcely cleared the Heads when it was known over Melbourne tluit the Great Britain was off Cape Otway with the All England Eleven on board ; and the welcome signal of " All's well" gave zest to the announcement, which spread rapidly through the town and suburbs. A meeting- of our cricketers was immediately called, when a fitting welcome wa3 at once determined upon, no less than a coach and eight greys being provided to convey the coming team with befitting pomp to our pleasure-loving city. It was calculated that considerable numbers would show their enthusiasm mi the following day, but the welcome exceeded all anticipation, and attained such dimensions as called forth a leading article in the " Argus," gently upbraiding us for going too far. Sir Oracle did not oonsider them entitled to a welcome such as a Governor or foreign potentate, or even an ordinary ambassador on State affairs might have received, and considered something less enthusiastic might have been given without at all evincing a disposition to show them the cold shoulder. Well, Tuesday the 24-th arrived, and early in the morning the noble steamship, after a most successful voyage, anchored in the bay close to the Sandrklge pier, with over five hundred passengers on board. A telegram hfd been previously despatched to Queenscliffe to , apprise Mr. Mallam, the agent in charge of the Eleven, not.to leave the vessel until Messrs. Spiers and Pond, with the Victorian cricketers, should come on board. Shortly after ten o'clock a large crowd began to assemble, and by noon several thousands were eagerly waiting to catch a glimpse of those who had come sixteen thousand miles to enable us to thoroughly enjoy our New Year. Many of our leading citizens and representatives of the Victorian team went on board of the Lioness steamer, and in a few minutes were alongside of the Great Britain, on the poop of which the English Eleven were congregated, surrounded by great numbers of their fellow-voyagers. Mr. Kusden, on behalf of Victoria, in a neat and appropriate address, formally welcomed them as cricketers and as countrymen, .to, which Mr. JI. H, Stephenson, their captain, -briefly: but suitably responded, the listening onlopkers repeatedly applauding. The Eleven and friends were speedily conveyed on board the Lioness, and within a few minutes landed on the railway^ pier, where they met a perfect ovation ; the assembled thousands giving way to most uproarious marks of delight in the shape of enthusiastic cheers. They passed along to Garton's Hotel, adjoining the beach, through flags and triumphal arches. They appeared on the balcony, and-then received such a British cheer as fairly^ took them aback, one of them quietly re- r marking," ;">Velli we expected a welcome, but nothing'like this." On the top of one of Cobb's large "coaches, the twelve took their seats and the" greys" rapidly drew them to town, where a repetition of the cheering was heard in quick succession,, until they finally took up their quarters at Spiers and Pond's Piazza Hotel. The- Caledonian 'gathering has been well attended during three days last week (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday), and the aggregate num T ber of visitors would be close on fifteen thousand! His Excellency the Governor patronised the games on Thursday, and appeared pleased with the various feats of skill and strength exhibited. In addition to what may more properly be called Caledonian.games, a great .variot- of amusements was introduced, some of the moit, interesting of which were the volunteer exercises with the bayonet and sword, many showing-a great amount of skill in using those weapons. Four competitors succeeded, whilst on horseback, in cutting suspended sheep in two with the sword. A variety of other games and amusements were iiu'iiUjed in every where, and the thousands to be seen 'enjoying themselves the entire week speak v 'nines in favor of the number of well-off people v,l have amongst us. At the. conclusion of the Caledonian j.-.-:.i ins. Underwood, of snake antidote notoriety, who h-ul been exhibiting at the games, called at a publichouse in Simpson's Koad, on his way home, aivi was there showing the efficacy of his antido;i-. He was bit twice, and although the antidote wu ■ . applied, he died in a few hours, It is said he v:. - drunk on the occasion, and did not apply In.antidote in time. Be that as it may, it has somewhat shaken public faith in the power of his discovery, when he himself has fallen through its inefficacy. His death proves two things—that it was really poisonous snakes he exhibited with, and that he had been before frequently bitten by them, and his antidote hitherto appeared to have been efficacious. ■* In the political world there is not much doing, but the usually quiet season of Christmas has one or two little bits of gossip, the most prominent of which is that Dr. Evans has been appointed Post-master-General, so that the " old man eloquent" will have an opportunity he has long wished for, of finishing his two years' ministership, and securing his pension—a consummation, the doctor's friends say, most devoutly to be wished. The present Government have notified that the squatters may now take out their annual licenses, giving them the same power as they have at present over all the best lands of the colony. There is however, one or two important exceptions which are to be found in the following conditions : —" No such licenses shall authorise the holder to depasture cattle or sheep on any lands already proclaimed, or which may hereafter he proclaimed as a common ; nor shall such licenses include any common already proclaimed, nor any land which has been granted or oecuj>ied under the regulations respecting residence and cultivation licenses issued by the Board of Land and Works." The Exploring Expedition Commission held another meeting yesterday, and examined Dr. Beckler, the botanist of the ill-starred expedition. No new facts were elicited, and the sooner the commission shuts up the better. One thing is now beginning to take possession of the public mind—now that the first excitement is over— and'that is, that Burke possessed only two qualities for the enterprise—daring and persevearice, and was lamentably deficient in common forethought and judgment. The German newspaper published in Melbourne even goes to the length to say, that the feat performed by Burke was not much, after all, and nothing compared to what others have done. The working of our municipal institutions has lately come rather prominently before the public as to " hpw the money goes," and other little iicculiarities. One of the most common practices fa ■to send, deputations to the Government, to get large sums on the Estimates for public works, and in this '.way the BallaYat Municipality expended six hundred pounds, but succeeded in getting ' twenty thousand for public works in their district! Following in their wake came the Beechworth Town Council, who despatched two of their number to Melbourne to look after some local matters, and they were absent fourteen days, and during that time they allege their expenses to have been no less that one hundred and thirty r nine pounds. This has led, of course, to an indignation meeting of the ratepayers, and a leader in the Argus against such prodigal waste of public money, in allowing two.geritlemen to squander so much in so short a time. On being called to book they could not account for the way in which the half of the money went, so they put it down to secret service, and darkly hinted that the members for the district required to be shouted for and taken about in cabs, Scd. This, of course, brought about letters from the M.P.'s thus invidiously pointed out, andthey both declare that the amount spent on them.was not more than a. few shillings, and that so far as treating went, a solitary drink was .all. they had—a compliment they returned at their own expense. It appears, however, one of the deputation came after a, consignment of cheese, and some hint the money was acceptable by way of deposit on the transaction—a mode of disposing of municipal funds not exactly "the cheese" Another"■'■municipality—already famous in its town clerk having paid you a visit last year en route for California, with four hundred pounds in his pocket that didn't belong- to him (the money not the pbcke't)^-had a queer election the other day. Tbe Chairman attended at eight o'clock sharp, and only one.candidate appearing, he was declared'duly elected ; when, just a minute after, came three candidates, one in a dog-cart hired for the occasion, another walking, and a third running, with proposer and seconder nt their heels. " Too late." " What ? you're joking." " No, it's all over," and sundry other quick questions and replies were speedily followed by a comparison of watches, and by all accounts, it must either have been before eight, or sight was taken very sharp indeed to have so cut the others out. In commercial matters there is very little to note. Markets remain steady, and but a small amount of business has been done during the holidays. Flour, brandy, sugar, and other staple articles remain at about last week's prices. Flour had an upward tendency, but has not reached higher since the Aldinga sailed.