VICTORIA.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 34, 6 March 1863, Page 3

VICTORIA.

[FBOM OCE OWN COBBESPOSDESTT.] MELBOURNE, February 21, 1863. Government sustained a defeat in. the Assembly on the Governor's Salary Reduction Bill. The amount is fixed at £ 10,000, instead of £7000, 34 voting for and 25 against. The renowned Mr Coppin bid farewell to the Legislative Council on Wednesday last, compelled by a series of misfortunes to take this step. The Royal assent was given to the Provitent Institute Bill on Thursday, which vests :he property of the Institute in assignees. A ipecial meeting in this estate was held on fuesday last, when the examination of Mr Sorter, managing director, was proceeded rith, and failing to answer satisfactorily luestions put, waseommitted to gaol for fortylight hours for prevarication. Sir Redmond Barry having returned from England, has resumed his duties as judge, rlr Chapman returning to the practice of his irofession at the bar. The second reading of the Land Act imendment Bill is fixed for Wednesday lext. T _c proposed rules of the Board of Educaion are meeting with but little favor ; the ystem of payment by results is regarded as bjectionable. Public meetings are being leld in reference to this matter. At a meetQg held at Sandhurst strong opinions were xpres.sed as to the mal-administration of the Common Schools Act. Mr Deane Wells, of Talbot, pleaded yeserday, in the insolvent court, the privileges if a solicitor, and refused to state what were he instructions given him by a client, upon vhich the Commissioner formally committed lim to prison to permit the matter being >rought before the Supreme Court. The exodus steadily proceeds, notwithstanding some rare finds of nuggets at our ;oldfields by those who prefer Victorian niners stopping at home.