The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-06 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA•

MELBOURNE, Nov. 24.—Yesterday the Governor
opened the last session of the present Council. As
the same day was chosen to proclaim the new con-
stitution, a good deal of interest was evinced in the
ceremony. Moreover, there was some curiosity to
see what sort of folk would come up as representa-
tives for the new mining constituencies. I believe
some people expected to find in the " diggers"
members some rude, unwashed fellows, with un-
shaven faces, clothed in " jumpers," with revolvers
in the broadbelts, and short black pipes in their
mouths, so that when one or two plainly-dressed,
sober-looking citizens came up to take the oaths "
there was a little disappointment. The house was
filled with ladies—the wives of members and others
—that hon. members were obliged to creep into
holes and corners, sit on the steps of the Elpteaker's
platforw, or get out of the way as best they could.
The strangers' gallery and the reporters' gallery
were both full ; indeed, I never saw greater evi-
dence of intense interest on any previous occasion.
There was also a greater crowd out of doors than
usual. The day of the proclamation of the new
constitution had been proclaimed a holiday. The
shops as well as the public offices were closed. The
Supreme Conrt did not sit, so that to-day counts
as the 'bird day of term instead of yesterday.
After the delivery of the speech there was a gentle
but very general and unmistakeable expression of
applause from hon. members, and when the Gover-
nor left the house he was well received outside by
the crowd.

On the first day of the session very little is done
in these colonies. The speech is read by the
Speaker, and ordered to be printed ; then, instead
of moving the address in answer to the speech as
in England, a select committee is appointed, con-
sisting of members from both sides of the house,
to prepare the draught of an address. This draught
is reported a few days after (in this case ou Tues-
day, as the house does not meet on Saturdays or
Mondays), and then debate takes place, but seldom
to the extent it does in England. 'Under the .new
constitution the English practice will probably be
adapted, as more consistent with a responsible
Ministry. _ _ .

There is one fact connected with the new mem-
bers for the diggings which deserves notice, and
which may very considerably affect the future of
the colony. I may here remind your readers that
the new act giving to the several mining districts
power to return members adds eight elected mem-
bers and four nominees to the house. Some of
your readers will remember that one of the un- .
caught leaders of the Ballarat insurrection was one
Peter Lalor, an Irishman. A reward was .offered
of 4001. for his capture, and it was said that the
Government knew of his whereabouts, but that
they had captured more than the law officers of
the Crown could successfully deal with, and after
the first acquitt d Peter Lalor was left to his own
devices. He was wounded in the attack on the •
stockade, and has, I hear, had his arm amputated
at the socket. This is the new member for Bal-
larat, and his leadership in the insurrection and
his lost arm—" lost (of course) in defence of the
liberties of the country"—now constitute his poli-
tical capital.

I an not aware what his qualifications for a
member are ; his friends and countrymen saY•he is
a man of intelligence and of some power as a
speaker. But speaking to a mob is not the best.
training for legislative!debate. verybody wanted
to see this Peter talor, and many anxious inquiries
were whispered about him. I doubt very much.
whether any constituency in the colony would have
deliberately recorded their solemn approval of in-
surrection, except Balarat. But even there w•
must accept the Governor's testimony that con-
tent and satisfaction prevail.

It is not the intention of the Government to in-
troduce any bills, except such as are absolutely
necessary. Among these an act for the registra-
tion of voters and an act for the prevention of
bribery are, as it were, conditions precedent to
the first working of the new constitution. The
other Government bibs merely provide for the
keepirg alive of certain expiring laws. There is
also a disposition among members not to prolong
the session
.by the introduction of new measures,
and the only bills likely to be brought in are one,
or perhaps two, for the amendment of the admi-
nistration of the law ; one for the adaptation to
this coleny of the Common Law Procedure Acts of
1852 and 1854 ; and one for the introduction, with
the necessary modifications, of the the English
Trustees Act. Tue Estimates will, it is said bo
passed for six months only. This seems to me to
be no more than a becoming abstinence on the pxrt
of the present Council—consisting, as it does, of
22 nominees, of whom 11 are official and 11 non-
official members ; and of 44 representative mem—
bers, of whom 20 were elected when the population
was under 80,000—about one-fourth of the present
population ; 16 more When the population was
about 160,000 or 180,000, and the remaining eight
recently by the mining constituencies, the new
elements not being represented.
A large meeting has been held in Astley's Am-
phitheatre to take steps for the repeal of the grant
of 50,0001. for the several religious denominations.
The Independents will accept no aid, the'PreShy-
terians object to it, so do the Wiesleyans. The
members of the Church of England are. divided
upon it, on grounds of expediency, not conscience)
while the Roman Catholics desire its continuance.
I do not know whether the question will be mooted
this session, but it will be carried in the new 1/3.•
gislature.
The gold brought down by escort this week is
45,809 oz. The market is without change.