New-York daily tribune., 1856-01-14


A smart shock OF ali earthquake was experienced IN
Melbourne on September II. II occurred at 2:95
a. M, and lasted for about sixty.tye seconds Inc
motion was vbratory, and the direction IN whch u
travelled appeared to be from southwest 10 north
east The air was calm and haZy at the time, and
the sky slightly Ovarcast 10 violent was tue snocA'
that sound sleepers were awakened from ther SUM
bers; all movable objects jinged and rattled, ana
low rumbling noise accompanied the trenlor OF the
earth The shock appears to have been felt sixty or
seventy miles inland, and It seems most proDaoe tnat
il was the circumerentia ripple of great CONFUSION
on some of the islands lying more to the southwark III
the Paciic possibly in New-Zealand.
On the Victoria Government BILL passed last SESSION,
The Age remarks: ,,u
never. The alterations made III 1t are deemed oi 10
Importance here and for this simple reason: All tha'
the people of Victoria were anxious about was the
mower 10 make alterations IN it themselves. Ihls De-
ing conceded they viii at once proceed to adapt to
their own notions of what is wanted. The
fate of Victoria will be decided in Victoria ltseu-nOt
in England At the same time, the colony owes dept
of gratitude 10 Mr. Robert Lowe, Mr. Duffy aud the
other gentlemen who stood up 80 mantully tor our
rights" -, IT..
Britain has been resumed at two meetings OF the Cham
Der of Commerce. The president read an elaborate
paper on the subject of mail communication, when
was followed up at the second meeting oy ahotner ny
Mr.. Train, on the advantages Of the Panama route.
The Government Gazette has published return OF
the popuation OF the Colony of Victoria on the 3Oth
of June, 1855, computed from the Registers OF birtns
and Deaths and the returns OF the Immigration Agent;
The Census Returns on the Goth April 1854, showed
the population TO be at that date 236 79s In the in
term there have arrived by sea jOl souls, while the
births have given additional ll,5J6 souls The
departures by sea during the sam" period have
amc unted 10 3D. 63s and the deaths to ,490 showing
net increase of 6G, 129. This added to the 2J61 19s
quoted above will give total OF 3Oj,5E7 persons; the
proportion borne by the males to the females being
nearly as to l. the former numbering lSo,@Jo, ana
tie latter only l0J,29l. 49,
Tpon the Governor Of Victoria one of the Mel
bouine journals has the following comments: "Sir
Charles Hotham is still a. unpopular AS ever, with
very little prospect of reaction in hIs favor al
"public dinner recently, when the usual loyal oasls
were proposed the company at first refused TO recog-
"nize Her Majesty Representative, and only COM
piled when the words "a he ought to be were added
10 the teast This feeling of contempt TOR him Is unl-
"yersal. and promises 10 be permanent Sir Charles
Hoth am knows that every word which We have here
written about him would be subscribed by the entire
population Of Victoria
Notwithstanding the numerous difficulties ana I'M
pediments in the way the ncosure and cultivation OF
ihe land of the Colony Of Victoria Is advancing. Inc
Port Philip Farmers Society are devoting themselves
with great earnestness to the promotion OF Agricul"
tural industry in all it, branches. They have pub
l.hed let Of prizes for the next show which at once
demonstrates their zeal and theu hberalIty.
The shares in the new Colonial Bank have been
taken up with a rapdity which testiies to the large
amount of interest which the mercantile and general
public take in its success
The Legislative Council was rot in session. II was
prOrOgued to the ith proI., when Is understood that
i viii be prorogued for six weeks longer, in order to
enable the representatives for the constituencies
at the Gold Fields 10 take their seats. Eight new
members will be directly chosen by those who possess
the franchise and four will in addition be nominated
by his Exceency on the recommendation OF the dl9-
GERS generally. The elections will take place early IN
November. There will be some difficulty IN finding
men possessing the requisite property qualification,
and a. yet there are few candidates in the field.