VICTORIA.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 113, 19 November 1858, Page 3

VICTORIA.

By \vay- of Sydney, we have Victorian papers to the 28th ultimo, and telegrams up to Monday night, the Ist instant, are published in the Sydney Herald. ■ Mr. Haines, the ex-Premier, is expected to sail for England at the end of the present month, by which, it is said, the opposition to tlio O'Shannasy Administration will be weakened. The colonial steam-sloop Victoria had been despatched by the Government to Port Curtis. Her instructions are to convey to Melbourne all those diggers who are desirous of returning, but who are without the means of paying their passage. It is stated that on leaving Hobson's Bay she had on board sufficient provisions to satisfy 2000 for a month. A public meeting of Jews resident in Melbourne was held in the vestry of the synagogue, Bourkcstreet, for the purpose of expressing a sense of gratitude to Lord LynJhurst and Lord John Russell for their zealous championship of the cause of civil and religious liberty, as evidenced by the removal of the Jewish disabilities in the United Kingdom. One or two cases of black-faced robbery are recorded in the Melbourne papers. The Victorian Reform Bill has passed the second reading by a majority of 36 to 8. It is not expected that any serious objection will be offered to the measure in the other House. The Melbourne Government have, it appears, been elevating some queer customers to the magisterial bench. In the Upper House, on the 20th ultimo, Mr. Fellowes stated that a cab driver, two chief constables, and a clerk had been included in the peace commission, and also a medical gentleman, whose preferment was alleged to have been given by a patient unable to pay the doctor's bill. Mr. Miller, in reply, said that he had yet to learn that driving a public conveyance unfitted a man for the magisterial bench, and indulged in a sneer at the assembled honorables, by saying that there were gentlemen present who not only had driven bullock carts, but who had been glad enough to get them to drive. As for the appointment of a clerk, there could be no harm in it—he had been a clerk himself. The Victoria mail steamer took with her from Melbourne 38,955 ounces of gold, and 15,000 sovereigns. The new Lying-in Hospital at Melbourne was opened by his Excellency Sir Henry Barkly. A large fire took place at Sandridge on the 25th ultimo, which destroyed property to the value of between .£SOOO and £6000. An inquest has since been held, resulting in the usual open verdict.