SYDNEY NOTES.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 463, 31 December 1880, Page 2

SYDNEY NOTES.

The following extracts from a letter from Sydney received by a gentleman in Akaroa may not be uninteresting :—

Just a few spare minutes with ;in idle pen n my hand *ti»eni: >•> !>•.' > _.'.i;»'i opportunity to -en.l you :i iiu ■ <>. ' '••

There is nothing vu.y to rt-iriU' of events in this city. We have just passed through a general election,with the result apparently of the hands of the Government being very considerably strengthened and the country more committed to a policy of free trade Fifty years' time will show pretty well whether our or Victoria's policy has been the better, provided we adhere to wha_ we have adopted. At present it seems to be turning in our favor, things being far better here than in Melbourne. I re turned from a visit about a fortnight ago thoroughly satisfied that my lot was cast in the soundest if not the largest community. On all sides I heard grumbling on the state of trade and the difficulty of inducing people to purchase.

In our own line complaints were par licularly loud, but we ourselves have scarcely ever had a better half-year than the one so nearly over. Money too is plentiful with us. A wet spring and mild early summer seem to betoken a prosperous year. The only drawback in this city itself is that there is a probability of the Wiiter supply failing. As you doubtless are aware our supply is drawn from large swamps on sand which hitherto have never failed. Owing to the rainfall in 1878 and 1879 behig rather below the average the supply was exhausted rather more that: usual and though fairly heavy rains fell in the early part, of t.is year, yet the winter was dry; the reservoirs now present the appearance of perfectly dry ponds overgrown with grass and reeds.

A peculiarity in the supply is that very often there is as much waler below as above the ground and steps are now being taken to sink tubes in order that this may be used. This last winter was the driest recorded for forty years, only 4 inches of rain falling in 16 weeks, and consequently the sand, which is generally saturated at this time, is now so parched that every drop that falls is at once sucked up. How we are to get through nobody appears to know. No doubt the easiest, thecheapesti and the best solution of the difficulty would be to woik night and day in order to bring into operation a new scheme already commenced, to supply the city from a distance of about 30 miles. If it were at once started it could be done in time to save us from the worst evil. But apathy appears to characterise the official mind and effort will doubtless be put forth when the trouble is over and the men unable to work owing to the heavy winter rains, I suppose it will not be uninteresting to you to know that I do not consider the Melbourne Exhibition as being better than that held last year in Sydney. For position there is of course no ground for comparison as I remarked to you in a previous letter, the site on which the Garden palace in S} T dney is built could scarcely be excelled in the world, certainly the Carlton j Gardens in Melbourne do not equal it. i The grounds have been very much im- ■ proved and one or two ornamental pieces iof water have been added which, with I fountains, buite set the place off. In one lake or pond is a Venetian gondola,and on paying fourpence you can be paddled round four times. The building, although built more of brick than that in Sydney does not surpass it for appearance, and is not nearly so well lighted. Tho insido arrangement is not so effective, but the number of the exhibits is very much greater, but they are hardly so well displayed. The wonder is, that so many foreign manufacturers could be tempted to send their samples to a city where there is so little chance of doing business, except under heavy customs duties. However, I suppose when it is all over, the greater part of the exhibits will come into Sydney hands for sale. The sights of Melbourne you know as well as I do, so I need not say anything of them. I noticed very little difference in the place generally, but was most struck with the difference in the railway accomodation. I don't think I'm blowing when I say greatly in favour of New South Wales We have been hitting out with our railways lately, now that we have got into level country,and have been extending our lines, and improving our rolling stock. I i made the journey both to and from Melbourne overland, going down in twentyeight, and returning in forty hours. Somewhat of an improvment on our old

Ra'.igatira's eighty hours of jdiseomfit and sea sickness, me think my friend you would not mind the three hours of coach" ing compared to the prostration in our bunk. Of course with the extension of our lines we are opening up country that has been hitherto as good as our neigh, hours territory, and are commencing to get trade which has hitherto gone down the rivers to Melbourno and Adelaide We reckon that the quality of wool com" ing to Sydney this year is 50,000 bales more than formerly, and where extension ß now in progress are completed, that number will be considerably added to. Our friends across the border are not satisfied to lose this, and the " Age " suggests that we give up Riverina in order to equalise matters. The few minutes are up, the idle few must now b* busy again, so I must say adieu.