The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-02 00:00:00

WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

Accounts have lately been furnished of the general
condition of the colony of Western Australia (Swan
River), showing that in this settlement the continued
introduction of convicts is regarded with satisfaction,
and has unquestionably been attended with favourable
results. Owing to the system pursued, which gives
great encouragement to good conduct, while, at the
same time, a strong coercive power is vested in the magis-
tracy by summary jurisdiction, disorder is rendered rare,
and, although 2,000 ticket-of-leave men are scattered
throughout the inhabited districts among a free popula-
tion whose numbers do not reach 9,000, the criminal
cases for the whole year 1852 were not merely reduced
to a point to compare most favourably with the social
state of other colonies, but were remarkable from not in-
cludingee no
thef affairs,most it
timid
observed,
oftho s e ‘
0‘
in a single act of violence on the person. This condi-
tion
!ig is noawllfytilly admitted by
v
opposed to the
introduction of convicts, who
can scarcely realise to
themselves the gratifying
fact of the security felt by all
as to the safety of life and property in
every
part of
this widely-extended possession." Meanwhile, the
growth of trade and industry has been very satisfac-
tory. The revenue for 1852 was 37,0211., showing
an increase of 11,854/. on the preceding year, while
the expenditure was 34,7771. ; the imports were
97,3031., showing an increase of 40,7051. ; and in the
entries of shipping there was likewise a large augmen-
tation. The land sales also continued rapidly to increase,
and the prosperity of the settlement seems to have
been greatly stimulated by the facilities given to men of
the yeoman class to purchase small blocks, even to the
extent of 10 acres. The exports of 1852 showed a slight
decrease, apparently attributable to merely temporary
causes, such as a falling off in the whale fishery, and a
delay in shipping the last clip of wool. The export of
sandalwood had at the same time entirely ceased. The
total of live stock had considerably increased, but the
want of fresh pastures threatened to prevent any further
great extension, and the exploration of the country be-
tween the Murchison and Shark's Bay, and thence to
the mouth of the Gascoigne, had not resulted in the
hoped-for discovery of good land. An expedition to
the southward, through the hitherto unknown district
of Lanark, had also failed in discovering anything of im-
portance, save a small tract of desirable soil, intersected
by almost impassable scrub, some distance inland from
the coast. With regard to the mineral resources of the
colony, of which considerable expectations have been
entertained for the last year or two since the discovery
of the Geraldine Mine, it is stated that there is at last a
hew, of a regular exportation of lead and copper to the
eastern seas, a vessel bcleg 41r0ady 0 —I at Pl,
Gregory (about 40 miles from the Geraldine Mine) to
take a freight of lead to Singapore.

The New Reform Bill has been Ninted. It is entitled " A
bill further to amend the laws relating to the representation
of the people in England and Wales." It contains 67 clauses,
the contents of each of which are indicated by the usual mar-
ginal descriptions.
Clause 1 declares that certain boroughs shall cease to send
members to Parliament, viz. :—Andovcr, Arundel, Ashbur-
ton, Caine, Dartmouth, Evesham, Harwich, Honitou, Knaves-
borough, Lyme Regis, Marlborough, Midhurst, Northaller-
ton, Reigate, Richmond, Thetford, Totnes, Wells, Wilton.
Clause 2. Certain boroughs to return one member only.
They are :—Bodmin, Bridgnorth, Bridport, Buckingham,
Chichester, Chippeuham, Cirencester, Cockermouth, Devizes,
Dorchester, Guildford, Hertford, Huntingdon, Leominster,
Lewis, Ludlow, Lymington, Lichfield, Haldon, Malton, Mar-
low (Great), Newport (Isle of Wight), Peterborough, Poole,
Ripon, Stamford, Tamworth, Tavistock, Tewkesbury, Tiver-
ton, Weymouth, Windsor, Wycombe (Chipping).
Clause 3. Certain counties and divisions of counties, &c.,
to return three knights, viz. : Bedfordshire, Cheshire,
northern division ; Cheshire, southern division ; Cornwall,
eastern division Cornwall, western division ; Derbyshire,
northern division; Derbyshire, southern division; Devon-
shire, northern division ; Devonshire, southern division ;
Durham (county), northern division ; Durham (county),
southern division ; Essex, northern division ; Essex, south-
ern division; Gloucester, western division; Hampshire,
northern division ; Kent, western division ; Kent, eastern
division; Lincolnshire, parts of Lindsey ; Lincolnshire; parts
of Kesteven and Holland ; Middlesex, Monmouthshire ; Nor-
folk, western division ; Norfolk, eastern division ; Stafford-
shire, northern division ; Staffordshire, southern division ;
Somersetshire, western division ; Somersetshire, eastern di-
vision ; Shropshire, northern division ; Suffolk, eastern divi-
sion ; Suffolk, western division ; Surrey, eastern division ;
Sussex, eastern division ; Warwick, northern division ; Wor-
cester, eastern division ; Yorkshire (East Riding) ; York-
shire (North Riding) ; Glamorganshire, Wales:
Clause 4. Lancashire to be formed into three divisions, the
West Riding of the county of York to be divided ; three
knights of the shire to be returned for each division.

Clause 5. Provision as to polling places and districts for
new divisions of Lancashire and divisions of West Riding of
the county of York.
Clause 6. Certain cities and boroughs to return three mem-
bers. They are :—Birmingham, Bristol, Bradford (York-
shire), Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, and Wolver-
hampton.
Clause 7. Borough of Salford to return two members.
Clause 8. Parishes of Chelsea and Kensington to form a
borough and return two members.
Clause 9. New boroughs to return one member—Birken-
head, Burnley, and Stalybridge,
Clause 10. Inns of Court to return jointly two members.
Clause 11. University of London to return one member.
Clause 12. At every contested election, after the end of
this present Parliament, of three knights of the shire, or for
any county now returning three knights of the shire, or for
any county, or riding, parts, or division of a county, which by
virtue of this act, shall return three knights of the shire to
serve in Parliament, and at every contested election of three
members for any city or borough which shall return three
members to serve in Parliament, no voter shall be entitled to
vote for more than two candidateS.

Clause 13. At every contested election, after the end of this
present Parliament, of four members to serve in Parliament
for the city of London, no voter shall be entitled to vote for
more than three candidates.

Clause 14 Every male person of full age, and not subject
to any legal incapacity, who shall occupy within any county,
or riding, parts, or division of a county in England or Wales,
except within the limits of a city or borough which shall re-
turn a member or members to serve in Parliament, or of a
place sharing in the election for a city or borough, as owner
or tenant, any house, warehouse, counting-house, shop, or
other building, being separately or jointly with any land
within such county, riding, parts, or division (except as afore-
said) occupied therewith as tenant under the same landlord,
of the clear yearly value of not less than ten pounds, shall, if
duly registered, be entitled to vote in the election of a knight
or knights of the shire to serve in Parliament for such county,
riding, parts, or division : provided always, that no such
person shall be so registered in any year unless he shall have
occupied such premises as aforesaid for twelve calendar
months next previous to the last day of July in such year,
nor unless such person, where such premises are situate in
any parish or township in which there shall be a rate for
the relief of the poor, shall have been rated in respect
of such premises to all rates for the relief of the poor in
such parish or township made during the time of such his
occupation so required as aforesaid : provided also, that
no such person shall be so registered in any year unless he
shall have resided for six calendar months next previous to
the last day of July in such year within such county, riding,
parts, or division.
Clause 15. Provided also, that the premises in respect to
the occupation of which any person shall be entitled to be
registered in any year, and to vote in the election for
any county or riding, parts or division of a county as afore-
said, shall not be required to be the same premises, but may
be different premises occupied in immediate succession by such
person during the twelve calendar months next previous to
the last day of July in such year; and where any premises as
aforesaid, in any such county, riding, parts, or division (ex-
cept as hereinbefore excepted) shall be jointly occupied by
more persons than one as owners or tenants, each of such
joint occupiers shall, subject to the conditions hereinbefore
contained, as to persons occupying premises in any county,
or riding, parts, or divisions of a county, be entitled to vote
in the election for such county, riding, parts, or division, in
respect of the premises so jointly occupied, in case the clear
yearly value of such premises shall be of an amount which,
when divided by the number of such occupiers, shall give a
sum of not less than ten pounds for each such occupier, but
not otherwise.

Clause 16 refers to enactments requiring payment of rates
and assessed taxes by occupiers of houses, &c., of the yearly
value of 101. previous to registration. (Parts of sects. 27 and
28 of 2 and 3 Wm. IV., c. 45, and the whole of 11 and 13
Viet., c. 9. repealed.
Clause 17. Occupation of any building (other than the oc-
cupier's dwelling-house) jointly with land, not to confer a
right Of voting in counties or boroughs, unless such building
be of 51. annual value. 2 and 3W.4, c. 45, s. 24, 25.
Clause 18. In every city or borough in England or Wales
which shall return a member or members to serve in Parlia-
ment, every male person of full age, and not subject to any
legal incapacity, who on the last day of July in any year shall
have occupied, during that year and the whole of each of the
two preceding years, within such city or borough or within
any place sharing in the election for such city or borough, any
house, warehouse, counting-house, or shop, in respect whereof
he shall have been rated during the time of such occupation
to all rates for the relief of the poor of the parish or town-
ship in which such premises are situate, on a yearly value ex-
ceeding six pounds, and also during the time of such occupa-
tion shall have been an inhabitant householder within such
city, borough or place respectively, or within seven statute
miles thereof, or of any part thereof, shall, if duly registered, be
entitled to vote in the election of a member or members to
serve in Parliament for such city or borough ; provided always
that nothing iu this enactment shall be deemed to affect the
right of any person to be registered or vote in respect of the
occupation of premises of the clear rental of not less than
ten pounds.

Clause 19. Provision for successive and joint occupation.
Clause 20.—N0 person elected, made, or admitted 3. bur-
gess or freemen after the passing of this act, shall, as such
burgess or freemen, be entitled to vote in the election of any
member or members to serve in Parliament for any city or
borough, notwithstanding such person may have been so
elected, made, or admitted in respect of birth or servitude.
Clause 21. Existing provisions (2 and 3 Wm. IV. c. 45, s.
39, 14 and 15 Vic., c. 14) enabling occupiers to claim to be
rated, repealed. Occupiers may claim to be rated on all
rates to be made during their occupation.

Clause 22. Compositions not to be disturbed and laud-
lord's liability not to be affected.
Clause 23.—Every male person of full age, and not sub-
ject to any legal incapacity—
Being entitled to any yearly sum of not less than one
hundred pounds payable yearly, half-yearly, or quarterly, or
in other fixed portions, not less than quarterly payments, as
the salary or wages of any office or employment whatsoever,
whether public or private, or as a superannuation, or other
allowance or pension, in respect of any office or employment
previously held by such person or otherwise in consideration
of his past services.
Or being beneficially entitled to a yearly income of not
less than 10/., arising from all or any of the following sources ;
(that is to say) from the dividends of any of the Govern-
ment or Parliamentary stocks or funds of the United King-
dom, or from any annuity for life or lives for years granted by
the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt,
or from the dividends on the stock of the East India Com-
pany, or of the governor and company of the Bank of
England.
Or being charged to any of the duties of assessed taxes, or
to any duties which for the time being may bo payable to her
Majesty on profits arising from property, professions, trades,
and offices, or to any duty payable in respect of any annual
certificate or license, or to fill any of the said duties, with a
sum of not less than forty shillings for a year.
Or being a graduate of any university in the United
Kingdom. . _ .

Or being a depositor in any savings bank in the county,
riding, parts, or division, city, borough, or place where he
shall reside, whose deposit shall amount to not less than
fifty pounds, shall be entitled to vote as hereinafter men-
tioned ; (that is to say), where such person shall reside in
any county, or riding, parts, or division of a county in
England or Wales, elsewhere than within a city or borough
which shall return a member or members to servo in Parlia-
ment, or a place sharing in the election for a city or borough,
he shall, if duly registered, be entitled to vote in the election
of a knight or knights of the shire to serve in Parliament
for such county, riding, parts, or division ; and where such
person shall reside within any such city or borough, or any
place sharing in the election for any such city or borough,
he shall, if duly registered, be entitled to vote in the elec-
tion of a member or members to serve in Parliament for
such city or borough; provided always, that no such per-
son shall be so registered in any year, unless he shall have
so resided for twelve calendar months next previous to
the last day of July in such year : provided also, that no
person shall be so registered in any year by reason of his being
entitled to such yearly sum or yearly income as aforesaid, un-
less he shall have been so entitled and in respect of the same
for twelve calendar months next previous to the last day of
July in such year ; and no person shall be so registered in
any year by reason of his being charged to all or any of the
duties hereinbefore mentioned with a sum of not less than
forty shillings for a year, unless he shall have been so charged
for one year within twelve calendar months next previous to
the last day of July in each year ; and no person shall be so
registered in any year by reason of his being a depositor in
any savings bank, unless he shall have had not less than fifty
pounds deposited in such savings bank for three years next
previous to the last day of July in such year : Provided, also,
that no person having two or more places of residence shall
be entitled to be registered or to vote under this enactment,
in respect of his residence in more than one place.
Clause 24. Provided always, that no person who shall be
charged to any of the said duties on profits arising from pro-
perty, professions, trades, and offices, shall be entitled to vote
in respect of any sum so charged which he shall be entitled as
a tenant, trustee, or otherwise to deduct, retain, or be reim-
bursed; and any person from any payment to whom any sum
so charged or any part of such sum shall be by law authorised
to be deducted or retained in respect of any charge of the
said duties, or who shall be liable in respect of any such
charge, to reimburse any other person any such sum, or part
of any such sum, ehall, for the purposes of this act, unless he
be entitled to deduct, ret.lin, 61' )5 the same, be
deemed to be charged with the sum so charged, or so much
thereof as shall be authorised to be deducted or retained from