VICTORIA.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 232, 10 January 1860, Page 3

VICTORIA.

By the City of Sydney, wo have papers from Melbourne to the 18th instant.

We quote as follows from the Argus. That journal, of Monday, says:—The business of the Criminal Court was brought to a stand-still for about an hour on Saturday morning, in consequence of their being no cases ready to be gone ou wilh. In those in which the crown were prepared, the prisoieis were not ready, and vice versa. His Honor the Chief Justice commented very strongly on the inconvenience ihe Court was subjected to, and observed that it seemed to be getting worse every session.

Much alarm was occasioned in Melbourne on the evening of the 16th, \j the reflection in the sky of a large lire in the direction of Wiiliamsiown. At one time the flames were plainly discernible in this city. The scene of itae, disastt-r, it appears, was a four-momed stone cottage, in New Town, belonging to one Mai tin, a cowkeeper. Many hundreds of people were present, but no engine was brought to the spot, as thert was no water at hand. About £400 worth of property is understood to be the amount of the loss sustained.

To celebrate the conjp'etion oi the St. Kilda and Biighton Kail way, Mr. W. Randle, tie contractor, entertained the "navvies" and ariisaiis who have been engaged in the con* stnictinij .if the line, at dinner on Saturday. About aOO stalwart fellowa responded to the iuvitsiii.m, and the abundant and substantial rep.ißt, provided by Mr. Morton of Melbourne, was laid out iv a spacious marque, erected near the E: stern wick station. A dray load ol Eng'ish ule and porter constituted no uiiimporfiint joriiou of ■ the .supplies, and none but em, ply casks found, their way baok $0 Melbourne.

Tlie Victorian Volunteer Corps have been milking steady, though quiet, progress of late, Tl.e pri-sent strength of the volunteer force is 1500: in July l.he force barely mustered 350.

On the ltfth instant, the Chief Justice took his seat upon1 the Bench at the Criminal Court, for the purpose of sentencing several prisoners who were convicted a', ihe last seasons, but who iiad points reserved iv their favor. 'Chose now been disposed of, th§ parties were brought up fur' Bentence. P,e!latt was cotidemneil to two years' imprisonment for the Post Office robbary; Barnetf; to "eighteen months' imprisonment, for receiving a iJIQO note knowing it to he stolen ; and Harris for his murderous assault on a man named Brodie, wae sentenced to eighteen moutl)*' imprisonment wiih hartl labor. ' ' :

The season at Cremorne Gardens commenced on Monday night last, under the unpleasant auspices of several heavy showers, which tnateriiiliy interfeted with the enjoyment of the visitors.

The Evangelical Alliance of Victoria hald a yery numerously attended prayer meeting on the evening of the 13th, in the Protestant Hall Stephen-street. Appropriate addresses were de Hvered on the occasion.

Arrests continue tt) be made daily by the police aihongst the Chinese cf Little Bomkestreet, who have neg'ected to provide' themselves with the nere-isary protection-tickets.

The Ballarat Star of the 13th says :•— We unileraia'nd that Charles Seal, Esq., has, with commendable liberality, presented to the members of the Ciiurch of England, in Dowling Forest, a plot of lanfl hi the' township' of Miner's Rest, as a lite for a church."

;At about ten o'clock on the night of the 14th the Aurora Australis was again observed—--at jfsrst on the southern Horizon", and from thence Eubsequeiitly fi-t.shing to tha meridian. Seyeral bireamers liad'a'hund of red which pinged' the dark ' cjknls wifh which tlie heavens were partly suffused were distinctly visible.. The phenomena lasted but a short while, and by jjleveri o'c|oc^ llil(l disappeared eptirtjy." >f php proposed iiupoj-'tation jnfq titjs cojflny of certain caii^ele, vylno wen? tp ajd iq \.\\e work of exploration, seems likely to foil through. A gum of money was voteJ by Parliament last year for the purpose, but letters having been received by; the lust mail which make it appear that something has;occurred which has prevented anything being done in the matter. As Dr. Embliug has given' notice of his intention to question the 'Government on the subject, the why and this wherefore, ot the detyy will coon ty made public f .» "; il