POLITICS IN VICTORIA.

Patea Mail, 9 August 1881, Page 4

POLITICS IN VICTORIA.

Melbourne, 4th. The Victorian Parliament was opened on the 4th, by His Excellency the Marquis of Normanby. The Governor said that during the forthcoming session a Bill would be brought down for the amendment of the Land Act with a view to increasing the area which selectors were now allowed to hold, and others for the extension of railway line and works of irrigation ; that Royal Commissions would be appointed to inquire into and remodel the Colonial expenditure, and to investigate the working of the present tariff, bnt that the existing system of protection would not be disturbed. Bills also are to be introduced for the conversion of loans and for the issue of fresh loans amounting to £4,000,000 at an . early date ; for the extension of public works ; for the regulation of Chinese immigration ; for the readjustment of the Land Tax, so as to include city property ; for law reform ; for founding a School of Agriculture in the colony ; and for various other purposes. In both Houses the Address in Reply was agreed to without opposition.

The opening of the railway line from Auckland to Kaipara is expected to give an impetus to trade on the Northern waters on the advent of spring, and as the railway tariff has been arranged to foster this trade, steamers formerly doing the river trade on the Waitemate from Auckland to connect with the land transit to Kaipara, are now likely to be passed around for service in developing trade on the magnificent Kaipara rive r and its tributaries.