MELBOURNE.

West Coast Times, Issue 67, 7 November 1865, Page 1 (Supplement)

MELBOURNE.

(from ouh ow.y correspondent.) Thursday, Oct. 26.

Political excitement still continues hero at fever heat. Hopeful politicians believe howover that they see tho bogining of the end. The Legislative Council has grasped the olivo branch held out by tho Assembly, and a conference is to bo held to consider tho difficulties which have avison between tho two i louses. Tho proposition was not agreed to by the Council without much demur, as tho leading anti-ministerialists woro of opinion that nothing .should bo done until tho resnlt of the appeal to hoiMajesty to vindicate tho constitution had been ascertained. Mr. Miller — " Money Miller," however, pressed a motion, expressing the willingness of tho Council to appoint a committee if the Assembly choose to take the initiative by appointing a committee of its own, and after an animated debate the " Lords" agreed to this by a majority of twolvc votes to six, Mr. Follows, and others of the heads of tho conservative party, abstaining from voting. Tho Assembly appointed its committee the next day, and tho Council will solect its representatives on Tuesday noxfc. A conforonco means mutual concessions, and if tho Houses aro really prepared each to give way, thoro need bo no difficulty in finding a solution to the " dead lock." In tho meantime tho out-door agitation is vigorously maintained. On Friday, tho 20th inst., tho Molbourno Chamber of Commerce mot, and adopted a vigorous petition to her Majesty, calling upon her to re-establish " law and ordor" in that portion of hor realms. Tho only supportors tho Ministry found in this nssomblago of the commercial community were tho several members of the well-known firm of Ilonty and Co., ono of whom, Captain J. Balfour (St. Kilda Volunteer Artillery), made a sturdy speech on thoir behalf. Tho next incident in tho metropolis was a meeting at St. George's Hall on Monday, convened under tho auspices of tho Freo Trado Loaguo. In this instance tho proceedings of tho rival factions were highly discreditable, but they show sufficiently to what an extent publio feeling has been stirred. The antiministerftlis.ts determined to exoludo

their opponents from the meeting in order that tho proceedings might bo uninterrupted. To secure this end admission was by ticket. Tho Ministorialista,bent upon defeating theso designs, actually issued forged tickets ; but these imitations Avero discovered at the outset, and thero Avas as fine a scene of ''free fighting" in consequence outside tho Hall as could bo oxpected out of Tipperary. On tho other hand, tho Freo Trade League carried matters Avith a very high hand insido tho building ; thoir Secretary, Mr. EdAvavd Langton, perambulating the hall Avith a knot of Sandridgo " lumpers," and violently ejecting any citizen avlio ventured to dissent from tho sentiments expressed. The resolutions proposed Avore in support of tho Council, and Avcre of course adopted by very largo majorities. The Ministry, hoAvovor, i« receiving tho hearty support of the democratic party. Not a day passes that a mooting is not held in their favor in some part of tho colony, and lately tho Governor has been receiving tAvo or three addresses per day in support of the position his advisers havo taken. The Ministry is just as strong as ever in the Assembly. Their " white bait " dinner Avhich avos given at Scott's hotel, on Tuesday evening last, Avas attended by more than forty Members. Thore can be no longer any doubt as to tho side his Excellency Sir Charles Darling takes in the struggle. His replies to the Ministerial deputations are of the " gushing " order, Avhile ho has absolutely declined the honor of personal intervieAvs Avith the gentlemen appointed to present tho Chamber of Commerce and the Free Trade petitions. His answer to the latter is Avorth quoting :—": — " As the petition both supports tho petition of the Legislative Council, Avhich impeaches his Excellency's conduct as Governor of this colony, and accuses his Excellency Avith proceedings calculated seriously to endanger the existence of constitutional government therein, custom does not require, Avhilo it seems to his Excellency inconsistent Avith propriety to tho respect due to his Excellency's office, that he should rcceiA r e that document at a personal interview Avith any of its promoters. If the petition should bo presented to his Excency in the usual Avay, lie will fonvavd it to the Secretary of "State- at as early a date as is consistent with tho proparation of tho necessary remarks on tho several statements the petition contains, in the accuracy of which his Excelloncy cannot acquiesce." This petition Avas signed by 19,675 individuals. Tho next bit of political excitement Avill bo the criminal action, " Wood v. Symo," in Avhich tho plaintiff, late Attorney-General in the Nicholson and O'Shanassy administrations, prosecutes the editor of the Age for a " malicious libel." The Ago applied yesterday for a change of venue, on the ground that owing to tho rclativo political positions of the parties concerned, and the excited stale of political feeling a fair trial could not bo obtained in Melbourne. Mr. Justico Barry said that he had a much higher opinion of Melbourne jurors than to suppose that political considerations would lead them to disregard thoir oaths, and, he therefore declined to accede to the application. The trial takes place to-morroAV, (Friday, tho 27th October), before a special jury of twelve. A good deal of alarm is felt as to tho summer prospects of the colony. EA r en at this early period tho drought is severely folt, and the hot weather appears to havo set in now in good earnest. The squatters ore complaining terribly, and tho miners are yet louder in their grumbling. At Sandhurst, three or four of tho largest companies^ havo suspended operations, and dismissed their workmen, and others avill soon follow thoir oxample. An influential deputation from this distriot Avaited on the Minister of Mines on Tuesday last, and iirged upon him the necessity of carrying out without any delay, the Coliban Avater scheme, for the supply of the mining population at Sandhurst and Castlomaino. Mr. Sulli\'an assured tho deputation that no time would bo lost in commencing operations as all the financial difficulties had been surmounted. As it is, however, there is yot corn in Egypt for Victorian miners. At tho Belgian reef rush, Dunolly, on the 17th instant, a nuggot of 515 ozs., was obtained. The next day a nugget of 80 ozs., was procured from another claim, and since then tAvo or three Aveloomo littlo strangers of this class havo put in an appearance. Mr R. H. Home, avlioso latest essay in tho classio poetic drama, "Promotheus," has been favorably noticed by tho London press, has been appointed Warden of tho Blue Mountain and Mount BlacltAvoocl districts. Apropos of literary celebrities, mention may be made of the fact that Mr Alfred Dickons, a son of Mr Charles Dickens, tho world famed noA r elist, is iioav in Melbourne. Ho has an engagement at tho "Argus" office. A noAv monthly paper has been started here, tho " Magpio," an antipodal imitation of tho London " Oavl." Tho idea seems jto bo a "Punch," minus tho Avoodouts. The editor is a bona fido uoav chum, and his Avoik can hardly be .expected to be up to tho mark. The "Magpie" is in truth, a very so-so affair. Tho police have just captured a company of Chi»eso gamblors. TwentyfiA'o of those Celestial speculators Avero brought up on Monday last at the City Police Court, clwrgod with indulging

in an unlawful game, termed Taw Haw, at a house or rather a den in Littlo Bourke street. The "bankers" were fined L 5 aud costs, and the other offenders 15s. Yankee Tom, otherwise Thomas Maynard, who was convicted of tho murder of his mate at Warrnambool, is to be executed on Saturday next. No attempt was made to obtain a reprieve on the ground that the prisoner was of unsound mind. At Beechworth, on Saturday last, Patrick Shehan was found guilty of murdering James Kennedy, the landlord of an inn, whom he had stabbed in a drunken scuffle. Sunday, Oct., 29th. Town talk has been centred during the last few days in the caso " Wood v. Symo." Few trials have aroused more public interest. The plaintiff, ex Solicitor-General, ox Minister of Justice, ex Attorney-General, and present member of tho Executive Council, filed a criminal information against the defendant, the Editor of the Ago, charging him with intent to " injure and defame/ and with an intent to provokothe said complainant to commit a breach of tho peace. Tho alleged libels wero a series of violent articles commenting on the conduct of Mr. Wood in accepting a retainer from the Crown in the notorious tariff cases, and denouncing the position taken by the Government to a crowded public meeting ; and, also, in connecting himself with the attempted proceedings against Sir Charles Darling, for " conspiracy." The case was tried yesterday, before Mr. Justico Williams, and a special jury of twelve. Forty-eight jurors wero summoned, and so freely was the right of challenge exercised that the last was exhausted, wnon only seven had been passed. Consequently several of these before objected to had to be taken Curiously enough too, Mr. Dill, lately tho manager of tho " Argus," was passed, and was chosen foreman. It was expected that the hearing would last several days, but His Honor excluded the evidence the defendant proposed to submit in justification of his comments on Mr. Wood's personal character, and hence no witnesses were called for the defence — though tho present AttorneyGeneral and several members of the Legislature had been summoned — and the case was concluded in one sitting. His Honor summed up very favourably for the paper, leaving tho jury only ono libel to find upon, that being in rofcrenco to Mr. Wood's " malevolent nature whetted by fees." Both tho hostile camps were represented on tho jury so that a verdict was not expected from them. At ten o'clock at night, they informed the court that thoro was no chance of thoir agreeing if they were locked up for a fortnight. Thoy wero detained all night, and were discharged without having arrived at any conclusion this morning. Mr. Wood is exected to file a now infornation. Mr. Barry Sullivan has provided somo amusement for the public outside tho walls of the theatre. The eminout tragedian has fallen foul of his critics. The "Argus," since tlio advent of arcvorend editor, has done away with a " freo list," and has cut down its theatrical notices to matter-of-fact paragraphs, and tho other daily journals have to a great extent followed this example. The Avookly papers, also, are not disposed to favor the management of the Royal, particularly "Bell's Life." ) The eminent tragedian is no longer /'glorified, and still Avorse, ho is so unpopular personally that tho upper ton thousand havo sent his thoatro to Coventry, and tho dress circle, for all it brings in, might as avcll bo abolished. Mr. Sullivan could stand this no longer. His pent up feelings have found relief in a tremendous onslaught on " our dramatic critics," which ho has placarded tlio toAvn with, and in which ho alludes to his tormentors as "ex policemen," "revolted tapsters," " parliamentary librarians," " masked assassins," &c. Tho only effect as yot of the demonstration is, that the Christy Minstrels havo burlesqued the irate tragedian in a trifle ontitled " Used Up." The popular verdict on Mr. Sullivan hero is that ho is a clever actor, but that as a man he is eaten up by vanity. Time, which tries all, is required to show tho real capabilities of the Land Act. At present thero aro no complaints as to its working except on tho part of the squatters. Tho 42nd clauso, Avhich allows people to rent tAventy acres in any gold-fields district — free selection and deferred paymonts — has boon considerably stretched, and is being mado the means of sottling hundreds throughout the country. A professional board travels about tho land to investigate the applications and tho claims of bona fide cultivators, are admitted everywhere, for it is hard to find any division which cannot bo termed a gold-fields' district. The provision alloAving tho Government to lease swamps and morasses, with a view to reclamation, is also boing extensively availod of. Amongst others, Mr. Graham Berry, M.L.A., has obtained a loaso for a swamp, the extent of which is estimated at 50,000 acres. Thore is a feeling that thoro is a danger of going too far in this direction. Deficient as tho country is in sources of water supply, to drain all tho swamps would bo as great a calamity as to denude it of timber. A western district squatter had tho impudence to apply for leavo to drain ono of the beautiful lakes Avith which the "garden of Victoria" is studded, and which has so much to do Avith its richness and fertility. The application was at onco refused.

Mr. Grant is managing the Lands Department in a very industrious and steady manner. The " Argus " attack on him a few months ago had the effect, as sailors put it of " bringing him up with a round turn." It is said that his action against the paper for £10,000 damages will never como off. Both sides, like two schoolboys, are half frightened at each other. Mr. Grant did pass the bounds of propriety aud sobriety when he was initiating the Land Act in tho pastoral districts, and when tho squatters were working hard to thwart him ; and tho " Argus " was unnecessarily savage, and betrayed its animus by printing its article on English summary day. Monday, October 30. The departure of the Ilaugitoto, fixed for Saturday, is postponed until this evening. The Albion also, which was to have sailed this afternoon, is now announced to leavo to-morrow morning. Those delays arc a groat inconvenince, and tho grumbling of the passengers who throng the booking offices is both loud and deep. There are a great number of diggers in town en routo for New Zealand, and no loss than seven steamers aro advertised for Hokitika direct. These aro tho Rangitoto, Albion, Tasmania, Souchays, Barwon, Hero and Omeo, two or tlneo of which are not in port but arc daily expected. Tho fine dry weather continues, and what tho summer is likely to be one hardly cares about anticipating. Heavy bush fires are reported. One at the latter end of tho week swept the northern side of tho Grampian ranges. Messrs Frazer and Wheeler, M.L.A.'s for tho Crcswick district, and staunch supporters of tho Ministry, have boon feted by thoir constituents. Mr Grant was present and mado a tolling speech, stating his determination to carry out his anti-squatting policy. Tho secret of tlw popularity of the Ministry is tho belief in the honest intentions of tho Minister of Lands, who meets everywhere an enthusiastic reception. Ho has been visiting Talbot, Learmonth, and Linton, and the district. Mr Frazer's admiring constituents presented him with a purso of L4GO. Tho « Ago " has of Into been daily acknowledging the receipt of subscriptions to tho " Wood v. Symo" defence fund: This morning it mentions a donation of LI OO. 111-natured people remark on tho fact that tlio donors aro generally anonymous, aud hint that tho bulk of tho number are " moonshine." A smart littlo paddle-steamer, named tho Reliance, Avas launched in the Yarra on Saturday. She is over 100 tons measurement, and hor engines arc of 50 horse power. Sho is expected to carry her cargo and hor fuel on a draught of 5 foci, of water. The persons interested in hor are the former owners of the Yarra, now at Hokitika. A couple of offers have been made for her for the Hokitika trade, but the owners havo resolved not to part with her until sho has been tried, aud this cannot bo for another three weeks.