VICTORIA.

Southland Times, Issue 1015, 4 September 1868, Page 3

VICTORIA.

(FEOit OTJS OWST COBBESPOITDENT.)

Melbourne, August 28,

The short time that has elapsed since my iast has been one of extreme dullness. Nothing of importance has occurred in either House of Parliament, except a short debate on the question of the appointment of a select committee to inquire into certain charges made against the Hon Mr Jones, of having received money for political purposes. It is ■understood that the session will be ■con brought to a close, and that, after a short recess, it will again re-assemble. This course it is affirmed is necessary in order to overtake the work of the Government. The Council is displaying a much more praiseworthy feeling towards the Assembly than previously, and I think if Mr M'Culloch would consent to a conference of the two Houses that such changes as are necessary to the perfection of the constitution might be brought about. But both M'Culloch and Higinbotham appear to have taken such a hatred to the Council, as a Conncil, and to all the members individually, that they will hold no intercourse with them.

The religious community have been greatly shocked at a report detrimental to the reputation of a wellknown Congregational Minister, the Bey. Mr Beer. I give you the scandal ss I have heard it, and I am afraid that it is too true — It is stated that a young girl belonging to his congregation was recently married, and sometime afterwards made an avowal to her husband, which, after inquiries on his part, resulted in a charge made by her against the minister of her church, who had himself performed the marriage ceremony. The husband, in high indignation, sent back his wife to her father, who, learning the facts of the case, threatened to take vengeance on the reverend gentleman who had thus wronged his family. These threats coming to the ears of the minister, he applied for protection to the police authorities, who gave directions to the constables in that neighborhood to look after his dwelling. These precautions, however, did not prevent a scene with the father, who came to seek the minister at his house, but found him away from home. It is further stated that the pastor is on the point of leaving the colony. The ' Argus ' in its endeavors to damage the government has unwillingly done justice to New Zealand. In an article having reference to the export of gold it drew particular attention to the fact that large quantities of gold was brought from your colony and shipped as Victorian. Mr TVancis demurred to the statement and brought the matter before the Assembly. The following paragraph will give you the jist of the whole : — Mr in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday evening, referred at some length to a paragraph which appeared in the ' Argus ' of "Wednesday, drawing attention to the fact that a large quantity of Hew Zealand gold helped to swell the import and export returns for 1868, and accounted to a great extent for the increase in trade apparently shown in the ftjrst seyen months of the present year,

as compared with the corresponding period of 1867, which Mr Francis on a former occasion had stated at £1,663,401. Mr Francis indirectly admitted that the { Argus ' was correct ; but he, at the same time, produced further official returns prepared by the Customs department, showing that up to the 15th inst. the imports and exports of the colony from the Ist of January last amounted to £17,213,632, and those for the corresponding period in 1867 to £14,617,792, leaving a gross balance in favor of 1868 of 2,525,840. The gross amount of New , Zealand gold imported and exported amounted to £1,417,189, but of this £171,464 worth had been transhipped without passing through the Customs, leaving the net amount to be deducted from the total balance of £2,595,840, £1,245,725, or, in other words, reducing the balance of favor of the present year to £1,350,115. The telegraphic intelligence from New South Wales of the arrival of flour from California, and South America, and the announcement that other grain ships were to follow, has had the effect of decreasing operations in this commodity, and the same may be said of other leading articles, such as sugar, tea, &c. But upon the whole trade is good. The escort returns are up to the mark, but no mineral discoveries of any importance have been made. I have heard of new finds in the Dalysford District, and other localities, but no reliable information has been received. A new rush is reported to' have taken place at Omeo, and also at a spot called Bealiba, near Dunolly, but the value of the discovery has yet to be determined, it is however, believed that good ground has in the last mentioned locality been found.