§ MR. DUFFYrose to ask a question with regard to the status of the Church of England in the Australian Colonies. He wished to ask the Under Secretary for the Colonies whether the Government had directed any departure to be made from the system of religious equality which had hitherto been established in the colonies of Australia; and whether the Royal assent had been withheld from a Bill which passed the Legislative Council of Victoria in November last, entitled "An Act to enable the Bishop, Clergy, and Laity of the United Church of England and Ireland, in Victoria, to provide for the regulation of the affairs of the said Church."
§ MR. J. BALLsaid that Her Majesty's Government had not given any directions on the subject to which the question of the hon. Gentleman related, and he had also to state that the Bill to which reference had been made had been referred to those gentlemen who usually examined those Bills which were sent to this country front the Colonies; but he himself had not seen the Bill, and could not, therefore, express any opinion as to its provisions. He might add that the measure to which the hon. Member had referred had not been sent to this country in consequence of any communication from the Home Government.