VICTORIA.

Southland Times, Issue 1003, 14 August 1868, Page 2

VICTORIA.

(PBOM OTJB OWX COBBBSPOITDEST.) Melbourne, 7th August. The ministerial elections are over, and have resulted in the return of the whole of the new Ministry. Mr M'.GullochjtnlL meet the Assembly to-day with all his colleagues around him. I regret to say that the elections have been carried put with a bitterness that has lead to much discord and personal animosity. The demon of sectarian disagreement haa been thoroughly aroused, and in many districts called forth a spirit of class antagonism. At Ballaratthis was especially the- case. There was not however the same amount of physical force argument displayed aB on the occasion of the last elections. Kow that all the Ministers have gained their seats it is to be hoped that party strife will at least be mellowed, and legislative business proceeded with. The Q-overnment are showing a desire to liquidate acknowledged claims upon the Treasury with a commendable promptitude. Payments are being made in every direction, and the 'ready money' tightness so long felt is gradually vanishing. The following extract, will give you some idea of what a state the whole colony had been brought to by the recent "dead-lock. What is said of one district will apply to every other district. I take it from the " Kynton Guardian," 30th July: — ''The welcome pay train made its appearance along the Murray Eiver line on Monday, much to the satisfaction of employes and business people. It left Melbourne with .£30,000 this amount being required for payments between the Melbourne station and Eehuca. We understand that at the end of June the amount actually due on account of the whole of the Victorian Eailways was £130,000. The resumption of payments will be hailed with delight by many who have suffered heavily from the effects of the dead-lock. At Woodend, on Monday, payments were made to the railway employes at that station, amounting in the aggregate to between £3,000 and £4,000. The extent to which credit has been perforce given by business people may be judged from the fact, that on Monday one tradesman in Wbodend received nearly £400 from persons whose long empty exchequers had. been replenished by the welcome pay train." Politics for the time are, comparatively speaking, tame. Just now everyone is anxiously waiting the Ministerial Statement, and the shaping of the opposition. In the meantime both parties appear to be quietly suffering a recovery after their long exertion during a time of unnatural excitement. The Ministry have been entertained at a grand Banquet at Sandhurst by' the Bendigo Liberal Association. There were about 350 persons present, and the Ministers who attended were Messrs M'Culloch, Sullivan, Gk P. Smith, Vale, Jones, and Casey. The speeches consisted chiefly of laudation of the M'Culloch policy, long speeches were made, but nothing new uttered. The members of the Ministry returned to town by special train, which left Sandhurst at twenty minutes to one, and arrived at a quarter to three this morning.

A banquet to the Sladen Ministry war given last evening in the large store I of Messrs Sargood, Kmg>and Sargood. The hon George Harker oeeuppying tht chair. The guests numbered betweeii 300 and 400. The list of toasts wat short. Numerous speeches were made, and much enthusiasm displayed. . - We have had some distinguished risi* tors among us during the last few days. The Earl of Belmore, the Countess of Belmore, and her sister (Miss Gladstone), accompanied by the hon Mr Martin, Attorney-General, and Premier of New South Wales, arrived in Melbourne on Thursday, the 29th July. During their stay, they were the guests of His Excel- . lency, Sir Henry Manners Sutton/ Since their arrival, they have visited most of our public buildings, and were present at the Assembly Ball held on the 3rd inst., at Hocken's Assembly Hall. Itwasagrand affair; the Governor and Lady Snttotf^ were also present. The Earl of Belmore and party left by the s.s. Geelong for Sydney, on Thursday the 6th. inst., thejr s were accompanied to the vessel by Hur Excellency the Governor. . : • The hon G. F. Verdon, C.B. Agent-' General for the colony has at length taken his departure. It is so long since the apftojntment was made, and it has, so often been stated that he was on the eve of leaving Victoria, that we began to think he would never go at aIL Business is decidedly livelier Bince the. treasury has been unlocked, and confidence in the complete revival of trade, during the ensuing summer, is freely expressed. '-■'.'■ « r We have had quite a migration of miners from here for the Queensland, and your Auckland goldfields during the lait few weeks. It is, however, as far as the L former is concerned, now nearly stopped, thereportd of miners from Queensland, being anything but favorable, but thf c, Auckland reefs are still attracting the - attention, not only of the miners, but .\ of the capitalists of the renownedBallarat " corner."