190 A HISTOKY OF THE COLONY OF VICTORIA 



Salt Water Kivers was necessary to keep the entrance channel open, 

 and he devoted his recommendations to an improvement in width, 

 depth and directness of the existing water-courses. The work 

 finally carried out included the cutting off of an awkward and 

 extended curve in the river known as "Fisherman's Bend," and 

 substituting a slightly curved canal, 300 feet wide and 23 feet deep, 

 whereby the distance between the city and the bay would be 

 shortened by something over a mile, and the passage of large ships 

 rendered easy. The estimated cost of this improvement and the 

 provision of a commodious dock at West Melbourne was 1,240,000, 

 and though the outlay exceeded that amount, it may be said that 

 public money has rarely been more usefully expended in the colony. 



Sir James McCulloch's financial statement in July caused some 

 surprise, for he had to admit that his previously submitted estimates 

 were all abroad. Instead of the predicted deficit of 180,000, the 

 year had closed with a surplus of 52,000 thus fully justifying 

 Mr. Service's denunciation of the income tax as quite uncalled for. 

 The Premier entered into voluminous explanations of the various 

 increases, and finally declared that though it was clear that a re- 

 adjustment of taxation was necessary, he did not propose to attempt 

 it during that session, as it would involve much waste of time, and 

 the raising of bad blood in the House. The bad blood was promptly 

 engendered by this insinuation that it was there. Confidence in the 

 Premier's financial capacity was rudely shaken, and a condemnatory 

 motion was put forward demanding the retrenchment in expenditure 

 which Sir James had so loudly cried for when out of office, and the 

 repeal of some of the vexatious duties of customs. It formed the 

 text for a five days' debate, and the Government emerged with a 

 majority of twelve. Later in the session Mr. Berry launched 

 another no-confidence vote, this time making the pretext that the 

 Ministry were neglecting the extension of railways demanded by the 

 country. Once more the Government scored, though the majority 

 was reduced to ten. 



In July of this year Mr. James McKean, the representative of 

 North Gipps Land, was, upon the report of a Select Committee, 

 solemnly expelled from Parliament for having declared at the 

 Collingwood Police Court that the members of the Legislative 



