VICTORIA.

Southland Times, Issue 986, 15 July 1868, Page 3

VICTORIA.

(fbom oub own cobbespondent.) Melbourne, 7th July, 1868. The "dead-lock" still continues, but every day brings forth signs of an approaching end of the wretched state of affairs into which we have been thrown by the long protracted dispute between the two Houses of Parliament. It is having a demoralising effect upon the whole community. The civil servani^s are now all either borrowers or lenders ; the one who has saved or be able to command a few hundred pounds finds twenty applicants for loans at high interest, while numbers are squaring their accounts in the Insolvent Court. Every small contractor makes the dead-lock an excuse for not paying his debts, and even tradesmen seek renewals of their bills on the ground that they have so much on their books that cannot be got until the Government treasury chest is again opened. To such a pitch has this state of things arrived that all parties are most anxiously desiring that a compromise should be come to. In fact the attitude of Messrs M'Culloch and Higinbotham is beginning to call forth the censure of a number of even their own followers. The suggestion of Mr Francis, . that His Excellency the Governor should send down a supply bill to cover the Darling grant has been adopted. On Thursday, the 2nd July, upon the opening of the House, a message was received in reply to the address of the Assembly, on the resolutions of Mr M'Culloch, sent in my last communication. It was short and to the point, simply recommending the House to provide supplies for the grant in question. On the following day the house went into committee, when Mr M'Culloch asked the Colonial Treasurer if it was hiß intention to bring up any other matters of supply with the Darling grant. Mr Lahgton replied, by at once moving, that the sum of £20,000 be granted, intimating that it was not his intention to ask for any other vote that evening. A discussion ensued, the Op-

position demanding that it should not be a separate vote but, included with others. The debate lasted for two hours, but the vote was carried. The Treasurer then proposed that on the following Monday the House should go into committee of ways and means, for the purpose of passing a Supply Bill for £20,000 through all its stages, and sending it to the Upper House on the following day, which was also carried. On the following Monday, the question was discussed again as to the form in which the Supply Bill for the fixed grant should be sent to the Council, and lasted the whole evening ; the House separating without coming to any decision. The debate will be resumed to-day. It is generally thought that the opposition will not continue to refuse to permit the Bill to go to the Council as a separate, one, without the Government pledge itself to afterwards include it in the Appropriation Act. I hope by the mail steamer to be able to report that the dispute has ended by the £20,000 Supply Bill being passed by both Houses. Until this is done it would bo hopoless to expect any other business will be taken up.