The Express.
London, England, 1858-04-02 00:00:00

ipper House the government mu Been
dellsated upon the second reading of a bill entitled
" A Bill to Secure the Independenoe of Parliament."
This bill was rejected on the 3rd of Feb., in conse-
quence of its involving a change in the constitution,
and thus requiring the assent of an absolute majority
of the council, although the second reading was
carried by 11 to 4 votes. The bill, if it had pissed,
would have disqualified all persons in the receipt of
publiopay, and not being members of the ministry,
from sitting in parliament.
The atrocities committed by the revolted
in India have awakened in the colony a ver;egLYPl
feeling of horror and of commiseration. A move-
ment nag been set on foot for the promotion of the
fund for the relief of the surviving victims of the
mutiny. "It is impossible," says the dryer, "to
form even an approximate estimate of the amount
that will be realised by private subscriptions, but
from the general approval of the object of the fund,
we have little doubt ttat it will be such as to con-
stitute a substantial token of sympathy. In the
meantime, the sum of 25,00 W. has been appropriated
in aid of this object by a unanimous vote of the
Lower House of Parliament."
In most of the agricultural districts the farmers
had secured the bulk of their crops, and the harvest
is much the largest ever gathered in Victoria.
During the previous two or three weeks men of
the labouring cWs had been in less demand. In
many districts the greater part of the crops were
secured, and the farmers had been paying otf their
extra hands. " There is at present no work for
these supernumeraries, nor will there be until the
expenditure of the sums voted by parliament for
buildings and improvements this year commences.
Idle men are accumulating in town, where they ask
higher wages than are accepted willingly by those
in the country seeking employment. By all ac.
counts the latter are already rather numerous, and
their number is daily increased by men driven from
the gold fields in consequence of a want of water."
From the "commercial intelligence" of the Argos
we extract the following:
TM gold market his been remarkably dull The change
radar dr rate of freight frees per cent. to I per cent. by
tbs Mwsin and Australian Royal Mail Company
ters cars of this. At the tomer rate the com-
mis sseassei suceseefully sub the clipper ships sailing
goat ids err time, but at 1 per cent. the advantages on
is &or of the clipper ships. The reduction in the prices
el yid milablished at the beginnleg of the year has beware
simonise. The Melbourne bullion brokers me buyers M
the Ylewtai rates :-31. IL. tki. to U. 14. 9d. for castle-
:ease sod harm ; 31. 14s. 6d. to 31. 16s. for Monet
Koroag; 31. ISs. 6d. foe Dueolly, Meryborough, Fiery
Creek, sad Avoca; Si. I& to 31. 15e. 9d. f e Ararat sal
piasaai Creek; 31. 16s. to 31. 17e. far the Ovens; sad
31. 17.. dd. to Si. 17s 9d. for Ballaarat.

Is our recent seminenee we have bad to week of !grads-
ally tightening money wake. Since Joinery, 1167, the
banks hove bees operating with entreesa meths, In conse-
quence of the &tad state of dm Import market, and of the
heavy additions made to stocks of Imported goods every
week, by their arrival is quantities is excess of the wants of
the Asstralisn colonies. The intelligence recently received
front England of the slarraiog monetary erieis that bad con-
sumed is the latter part of October, and prevailed
throegbout November, baa Dot produced any considerable
movesonst ham The first eSect was to check the shipment of
specie and gold, but them articles are now coming forward
more freely. The suspension of Messrs. DellaidnOill sad
Co., of Glasgow, produced a gnat Impression, is cense-
querns of the Wane., cosasake of the bore left the