VICTOEIA.

Southland Times, Issue 979, 3 July 1868, Page 6

VICTOEIA.

(mOM OTTE OW COBEESPONDENT.) Melbourne, 18th June, 1868. Since I last wrote political excitement has if possible increased, and the position of the legislative gladiators remains almost unchanged. The Sladen Ministry are still in office, and are fighting at great odds with considerable pluck, while the Loyal Liberals maintain unflinchingly the determination not to yote the supplies unless the Appropriation Act to be introduced by the Ministry is a reflex of the M'Culloch Appropriation Act of 1867. No real business is being done, although much talking and sparing takes place. The debate on the M'Culloch resolution that was to have taken place on Friday, the 12th inst., contrary to expectation, did not come off ; it was however taken into consideration on Wednesday the 17th June. Considerable interest was displayed on the occasion, but the certainty of it being carried "served in some measure to lessen the excitement exhibited on former occasions. The debate was comparatively tame, the government making their opposition more a question of the legality of suspending the Standing Orders, for the purpose of moving such a resolution. Messrs M'Culloch, Higinbotham, Wrixen, and Duffy, maintained that the Assembly had the right to suspend the Orders, and after a short discussion the motion was carried. The Standing Orders having thus been suspended, on the motion of the Colonial Treasurer (Mr Langden) that the Governor's speech be taken into consideration, and that the House go into committee to consider the resolution that supply be granted to Her Majesty, was agreed to and the House went into Committee. The Treasurer then moved the Committee to sit for the consideration of the supply the next day, and Mr M'Culloch moved an amendment, making the day Tuesday, 21st ; after a sharp but short debate, during which the mover stated that he was not attempting to delay the consideration of the supply, but intended to move immediately, a resolution, "calling upon His Excellency to recommend a grant of money equal to the amount of the Appropriation Act, 1867." He said that the Ministry had only to advise His Excellency next day to send down to the House a message, and they would then be in a position to discuss the question, and to vote the Bum of £2,756,000 in any form they thought fit. The amendment having been carried, the resolution was taken into consideration. The Q-overnment opposed the resolution on the ground that it was for His Excellency to ask the House for money, and not the House to ask the Governor. The Treasurer, and the Secretary, (Mr Fellows) were the chief speakers on. the Ministerial side, but neither party appeared desirous of discussing the Darling Grant question at that time. Mr Dufly, however, tried to force from the Government a statement as to what was the course they intended to pursue, but the only reply he could get was that when the estimates were brought down next day they would give the information asked for. The motion was agreed to, and the House adjourned. It is thought by some likely to be tolerably well informed that a way , out of the difficulty has been found, that the supply will be granted, and Lady Darling obtain her £20,000 without further delay. Perhaps the wish is father to the thought, but the alteration that Mr M'Culloch has made in the phraseology, though not in the spirit of his resolution since it was first put on the notice paper, and the f mild opposition that was offered by the Ministry, would give a color to this surmise. If this should prove a true prediction there will be great rejoicing throughout the whole colony. Every class is tired of the conflict, and if a way has been found to settle the question without infringing upon the principles of responsible Government, all parties will be satisfied. It is now understood that as soon as the vexatious Darling* Grant question is settled, that a reform of the constitution will be entertained, the leaders of both Houses of Parliament being anxious to co-operate on this object. By the next mail I hope to be able to advise you that the "dead-lock" has come to an end. ' There is little else of political importance. A rather angry discussion arose out of a question that was put to the Ministry as to a site of land that had been granted to the Eoman Catholic denomination for school purposes by Mr Gillies, the new Minister of Lands, the House having decided during last session that no further grants were to be made for denominational purposes. Mr Fellows having made inquiries stated that the issuing of the grant for the land was an error, and it would be cancelled. Gold has been discovered in the Cape Otway ranges, but the prospects have not been such as to justify a rush. Sereral miners, however, are making something more than "tucker." Whilst on the topic of mining, I may say that the yield of gold has decreased as compared with previous years, yet more general confidence appears to be manifested by capitalists in investing; m quartz mines all over |the country, and more especially at Ballarat. .The attention of the public is now fairly directed to the establishment of local industries, and almost in every instance where a new manufactory has* been established it has received moat liberal support. We can now make ink, paper, woollen cloth, and a host of other articles, which affords employment to a very large number of people. : m . There is Borne probability that Victoria will take steps to establish fortnightly communication with England via -Suez. By the last mail, letters have been received from home of the willingness of the Imperial authorities to aid any efforts made in this direction. Owing to the continued existence of the unfortunate dead-lock, which prevents money from being circulated* levera!

public workg have been suspended, and the consequence is that a large number of the working class has been thrown out of employment: It is calculated that upwards of two millions and a half of money would be put into circulation if the crisis were settled. Prominent amongst those works urgently requiring to be pushed forward and completed, I may mention the water supply scheme, which has been stopped for want of funds, although plenty is lying in the Treasury. Half finished riaducts and embankments meet the gaze in various parts of the country, and the loss which will be sustained in consequence of the stoppage of the works will be something enormous. - I have to record the occurrence of » most disgraceful row at Ballarat, arising out of the late elections. Towards the end of the polling, party feeling rose to high, that the committee rooms of each candidate were rushed, anda regular " free fight" ensued. The following account by |an eye-witness appeared in the local ! journal, which will give your readers some idea of the state of political excitement existing in Victoria:— ! The most serious row took place between 4 and 6 o'clock at the Stork Hotel, in Armstrong-street, where Mr Jones had a oommittee-rdom ; Mr Gillies. having a committee-room at Lane's -Fort. Philip, hotel, adjacent A portion of the immense" crowd assembled in SturVatreet' had gradually moved round into Armstrong-street, and took position in and about the hotel, at the bar of which numbers ..were drinking, and all more or less intoxicated. As the returns were brought in and it became known that Mr Jones had obtained • a majority in several booths, considerable excite* ment was manifested. A row being apprehended, Superintendent. HUI ordered up a strong reinforcement of police, several of whom entered the house while the remainder were stationed in the immediate vicinity, in readiness for any emergency that might arise. Half a dozen mounted troopers were also placed in the archway adjoining the bar, where the pressure of the crowd was) greatest. The precise origin of the disturbance is variously stated, but it would seem to hare arisen in the course of a discussion at the bar. Xo the outsiders who blocked ud the street the affair at first appeared to afford considerable' amusement; but' things gradually assumed •» serious aspect. A number of men taking part m the dispute at the bar attempted to force the door at the side leading to the stairs, at the head of which was the committee-room. The police re* sisted their efforts, and in the struggle the glass was broken to pieces.' Sergeants Lamer' and M'Gullagh, with a further relay of men,, now entered the house, and a general row ensued, many being knocked down and trampled on. Those outside now endeavored to forte an entrance ; but the mounted troopers drove them back aud kept them at bay for a time. On* policeman, however, was dragged from his horse and trampled on in the rush, and the mob succeeded for awhile in gaining a footing within. A fierce encounter now arose between the police, who were well posted on the staircase, and til* excited mob. After some time they were obliged to give way, the constables using their baton* liberally, and getting oent. per cent, for their efforts, in the shape of kicks and blows. Those nearest the side- door now rushed out into the ferchway, and in a moment the troopers and mob were literally jammed into one mass, all vociferating and gesticulating in the most frantic manner. The roofs and gabels of houses opposite and around the scene were now occupied by people endeavoring to obtain a view of the proceedings. At this moment a shot was heard from inside the house, aud a second rush was made by those who had been ejected. It was thought some one had. been shot, so orders were immediately given to dose the doors and allow no one out. The troopers who in toe meantime had been reinforced, surrounded the house as far as possible, and by the most violent efforts kept back the crowd. Serjeant Lamer was standing at the foot of the stairs when the shot was fired, and seeing the direction from which the report proceeded, he made a rush to the spot, and succeeded in seizing a man who wa» in the act of bolting into the committee-room. He was pointed out by several as the man who fired the shot, and he was accordingly arrested, and when searched there were found in his possession a number of pistol bullets and some caps, and on looking round the room and old horse pistol was found, which at the time was quite not, and evidently had only just then been discharged. The man gave his name as James M'Bride, of SebastopoL He is a respectable-looking man, but at the tune was somewhat under the influence of. drink. When questioned he said his own life was threatened; and he was determined to have satisfaction. He refused, to give the police any farther information. When the shot was fired the man was standing on the turn of the stein facing the landing, off which the committee-room is situated, and the bullet, which was subsequently discovered, lodged in the wall beside the door. The mob became greatly excited on hearing the report of the pistol, and cried out repeatedly, « Lynch him, lynch him,' and ' Burn the house/ Matters-were becoming rery serious. The police got very rough handling, being kicked, trampled, and bitten by the rowdies. Sergeant Lamer received a kick in the abdomen from a rowdy, whom he seized, but the fellow managed to effect his escape, leaving the skirts of his coat in the sergeant's hands. He also received a bite from another, in the right hand; and, indeed, there were few of the police who escaped without a bruise or -blow of some kind. The polioe available were evidently inadequate to cope with the numbers that kept rushing in ; but they behaved with great pluck, and kept the rowdies from making their way upstairs. Such seemed to be their intention from the first, and had they effected their object the consequences might hare been most serious. Having laid about them with their batons, the police succeeded a second fame in partial'y clearing the bar, upon which they proceeded to barricade the doors and windows. These, however, were again smashed,^and the barricades carried away in the effort of the people £S?2 the man who fired the shot With a view to appeasing them, they were told he had been removed to the station-house, and thu, together with theformilable front presented by the constables in and about the bar, had the effect of inducing them to draw off. Six men were arrested, and a number of others, whose names Or appearance are known, will be summoned. Nearly three-quarters of an hour elapsed before order and quietness was restored. At a subsequent period of the evening an attack was made upon the establishment of Mr Bade,Sturt-ssreet, and in the course of the row a man named Ghas. Brooks. a carpenter, residing in Skipton-etreet, wa* stabbed in the abdomen, and a wound about an inch in length and tolerably deep inflicted. He was able, however, to return home. AMr Jinks, a shoemaker, residing at Ballarat East, had • very narrow escape when the shot was fired ; the bullet, it is stated, having passed through one of his whiskers. Mr Wm. Clarke, in the row at the Stork, was knocked down and violently beaten and kicked, receiving a cut under the right eye, which wound bled profusely. Many others were injured, particularly a woman whose name- we have not ascertained, and who happened to be in the bar when the rush was first attempted; stte was nearly crushed to death, and was earned way in a lainting condition.