The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-07 00:00:00

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

We have received the Adelaide Observer to Sept. 26
from which we learn that South Australia, like the pro-
vince of Victoria, has experienced a ministerial crisis.
A. dispute between the Legislative Council and the
Assembly upon a question of privilege, in the latter part
of August, occasioned the resignation of the ministry of
Mr. Finnis, which was succeeded for two or three days
by a cabinet formed by Mr. Baker, and this adminiatra•
tion was not allowed time to state its policy, but was
overthrown on the 26th August by a direct vote of no
corifilence, the majority being 24 to 7 against it. The
Governor, Sir R. M'Donnell, then sent for Mr. Torrene,,
the mover of the resolution, who formed a ministry as
follows :

Chief Secretary Mr. Terrace.
Attorney-General Mr. Andrews.
Treasurer
Commissioner of Public Works
Commissioner of Crown Lands
Torrens Ministry, however, had also fallen, in its
turn, at the date of our latest information, in consequence
of a resolution passed by the Assembly, on the motion of
Mr. Hanson, censuring the conduct of the government
with regard to the waste lands. It seems that the old
Waste Lands Act is no longer in force in the colony,
having died out with the proclamation of the new con.
atitution. Mr. Torrens advised the Governor to rescind
and revoke the rules and regulations for granting pas.
torsi leases framed under it. His Excellency acted
under Mr. Torrens' advice in a proclamation of the Bth
of September, while the Legislative Assemily was not
in session. We take from the Adelaide journal the fol-
lowing statement of the unpopular parts of the ministerial
scheme :
But from the legality or non-legality of the rescinding
of the old rules and regulations, we turn to Mr. Torrens'
waste lands policy, and this we declare to be in the
highest degree objectionable. Sonth Australia lies to the
north of Adelaide. Now, stretching away to the far
north, there are from 20 to 30 millions of aces of rfch
and well-watered pasture-land already discovered, and
announcements ‘of fresh discoveries are being made
almost daily, To stock these twenty to thirty millions
of acres is beyond the power of the present occupants of
crown lands in this, province. They have neither sheep,
horses, nor cattle for the purpose. But our Victorian
neighbours are both able and willing to do this, if they
get anything like a satisfactory tenure. Nay, more, of
the 4,300,000 acres already applied for, two-thirds of
the applicants are said to be from the other side. These
applicants, moreover, declare their readiness, the me*
meat their leases are granted, to pat their flocks and
herds in motion, and to cast in their lot among us,
and others, it is said, will speedily follow them. Our
position, therefore, comparing great things with
small,' is that of the owner of a large number of nue
occupied mausions—of vast, and naturally rich, but
unimproved estates—and for each of which there is a
whole host of eager and eligible applicants ; but, by
advising his Excellency to issue his late waste lands
proclamation, Mr. Torrens has smashed the whole
of the notices To Let,' and has well-nigh scared
all the applicants away. What Mr. Torrens proposes to
do, is more than the squatters ever expected to have
done, or even now desire. Fifteen millions five hundred
thousand acres of crown lands are already leased to the
squatters at 108. or thereabouts per square mile, and
these are to be left in undisturbed possession of their
leases, on the present terms, and without being called
upon to contribute one farthing more towards the bur-
dens of the state. Applications have been made for
about 4,500,000 acres more, and to these the same pri-
vileges and immunities are to be accorded. But the
monstrous part of Mr. Torrens' scheme is that contained
in his proposal to dispose of the waste lands of the
crown in future upon an unaltered tenure, that is, al-
tered, not as to the duration of the leases, but as to the
rental per square mile. A-b present the average is under
lie., but all future applicants are to be charged 150.,
205., and 255., respectively, and whether the discoverers
of new runs or not, they are to be subjected to the com-
petition of a public auction.
The question before the Assembly, however, turned
--first, upon the legality or illegality of the act ; and
secondly, upon the right of the executive to impose upon
themselves the functions of the legislature, however
urgent the circumstance might be, and by one sweeping
proclamation subvert the very essence of constitutional
government. Mr. Hanson moved, on the 23d of
September, that the Governor-in-Chief's proclamation of
the Blh inst., rescinding and revoking the late rules and
regulations for granting leases of the waste lands of the
crown is, in the opinion of the House of Assembly un-
warranted and illegal. This was carried by a majority
of 'l7 to 14, and the Torrens' ministry next day resigned.
All sorts of rumours are afloat as to the constitution of
the Hanson thieistry, but nothing has as yet been
decided on. This, however, is what we understand Mr.
Hanson proposes : Mr. Finnis, Chief Secretary ; Mr.
Hanson, Attorney-General, and also Premier ; Mr.
Reynolds,,Treasurere Mr.Blyth, Commissioner of Crown
Lands; and Mr. Davenport, Commissioner of Public
Workie
The late Treasurer made his financial statement on the
22d. The estimated revenue fur 1858 is 475,9991., in-
cluding a balance of 54,9991. accruing from. 1857. This
leave 421,0001. as the net expected revenue of 1858.
But the actual revenue received during the 12 months
ending 31st of August, 1857, was 452,651/. ; this al-co
being irrespective of balances. The treasurer thus pre-
dict a falling off in toe revenue of next year amounting
to 81,6511. This anticipated loss to the revenue did not
seem to affect the principal items of proposed disburse-
ment, the most noticeable features of which are the
increased amount HA down for establishment charges,
and the diminished sum proposed for public improve-
me ate. Taking the whole of the establishments for
1858, the aggregate sum asked for is 188,6121., against
171,6731,, the total and final votes for 185. The
sem proposed to be set apart for main roads during
1818 is 70,0001. ; and the amount to be given in aid
of district councils, See., is put down at 25,0001.
The sum of 15,000 is all that is set apart for other
improvements under the head of "Public Works ;" but
under the head of " Miscellaneous Services" we find a
proposed grant of 5,2001. to the Trinity Board, and a
grant of 1,5001. to the Botanical Gardens. The subsidy
for steam postal communication is entered at 15,0001.,
and for the introduction of immigrants from the United
Kingdom the sum of 60,0001. is put down.
This budget, however, as well as the other measures
of the Torrens Ministry, would probably be superseded
by their successors.

The bill for legalising marriage with the sister of a
deceased wife had passed both houses, and was ready
for transmission to his Excellency, either for his personal
a,sent or for remittance to England far the decision of
her M ajesty thereupon,