OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 425, 6 February 1909, Page 7

OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER.

a : : THE N.S.W. CHIEF, JUSTICESHIP.' 5 ; ( (pEoit OUB OWK " : . l ; ' •■■■ Sydnoy, February 1. The course adopted by the Wade Govern3 l inent in appointing an Acting-Chief Justice , to take, for, 12 months, tho position just vacated by Sir JFrederiek Darley has. been-vory ? sonously, canvassed/ It is recognised as. ex- • trcmely .undesirablo that, there should ; beany suoh'Uiicertainty.aboutthe'highest'.office i on.the judicial state,; aiid; : moreover,.all sorts of cohstitutidharques'tions are raised as to. how'-'far'thb"authority,of,the " Government may travel. ■; Is the appointment ,-' of, an- Acting .Chief, Justice, legal?: onbiiows-: paper, correspondent pertinently "asks,' -in ef-. :teot; ; and is : not: the' independence' of. tho •■ liench, likely, to.-bo ©ndaiigpred.-.by i such^a; " course, as .has .•been.pursued' in ; the present • .-instance,- where ■ ono of .■the puishe "• judges,- • Mr,. .G., B. ■ Sinipsou,-l;as, been ■ teni- •■; :poranly; aptwin'ted to the 'vacancyP ■■How-. ■ ever, Mr. Wado, vwho is , a lawyer, is suro j hois, quite, within his rights,., and ".so' Mr.' 1 Justice Simpson will act as the Chief Justice J .fora\year at. least. It has been freely!sugi gested.that. Mr. Wade, as. Attorney-General; v wjll,then.take the- offloe himself; but as;to • whether this will be so, tho only man in ; a Vposition to.speak.with.any authority has not r enlightened., the:publio. : . Sir. Frederick -Dar--1 ley;..who left-,with , his wife arid daughter'for London-.by; the :Mprea , on , Saturday, said v. "Good-bye' in; the; Banco- Court on. ; Tliurs-; I day, when ho was; presented with: an address 1 in; a;gold-mounted rosewood cabinet from the -.' Judges and raembers-of .the .Bar, arid an'ad- " dress from: tbp. Law'lnstitute; 'His Honour;! \ who -now takes ■:12:.month.s , ';'leave of-'absence,'. ' and will, not return ..'.to.-• the: ißenchj :.:.has •:. broughlb:dignity:to the position-,of : Chief Uu'sV. =. tice, .as well.as a:kindly and genial;mUnner, , ' c ; atid.?. , dur,ing.:the.22..:years:--in which 7 •.•.he'.'has; "; oc'oupied, it,'.has' upheld the best : traditions = of;:.tne. : ju'dipial,offioe. . His.vitality, and grasp V bf.lawiiwhen: nearly BO.years ;of.;age ; are mar- • ■ yellows.-;.,"-,Mt"; ■'Justice; G. : 8..-Simpson,: who ' will -act for;l2 is a good lawyer,: and '. a j. placid,: even-tempered, elderly gentleman •. pf '-rubipund .visage, Iwho.was 'Attornoy-Gen- *■ .etal before he became a. He has been '. for {some years presiding ■ in.;'.- the' Divorce *■ Court,; an institution -whioh is 1 kept very busy :•,' in. New. South ;.Wale's. ;■; ;':■■:> ■ ■. ■• '•. '■■ ■ - .', •:. i Labour- Conforenoe. t-;. ; "■'. r ''-Tlie;Political'■Labour.fLeague,.,which,is sit1-. ting .'..in.; Sydnby, ■'.. comraencecl : its • busiriess'irit charap.teris.tic;fashion by. ; ,exclu'ding : the pres^ 1 represpritatives; , ; ■.No-.:.terms : ;.appear.;tdo Jiard. t: to be applied to the newspapers byilthe.iaver.--i; ago .LaMuntej:;ibut;..:wheiii.te a twrtunity-of.putting.fhisrsido of the--.case3tos- - fore 4he ptibhc,' afcthese.Jannualvicoiiferencesyj - he;;incomprehensib,ly asks'itho :pf;ess::tpvleavev i the;room. , ' However,, he knows his\pw'n busi--6 nesa \) perhaps.;, ; The. ;• conference,; had ra"; ; busy, .night .discussing' the Labour-objective, T: onvayprppbcar'frpm; the .Barrier, for .the 6017, > leotiye'ownership of: : .'all':the.'.means:'of prb1' ■.duotion, : ;.distributiprij'.and eschange; 'Another 7. .brought 'forward, v a ; :proposalj.from s: his,T)ranchj: : Bexley,. "That :in:, the , .opinion 1- of: thei: conference,.the,time has.come for'the ,' bbjective : to ;: be'-; in clear, and-'" concise. , la'nf guago;;• leaving 5110. possible. loophplb for .any 5 other,.:than This' refrcshingipropoial ought really, toihave'.been' .' carried ;■ for, -if: it';, were given .'effect to,-the' ) result.would;be',te , :bring relief te the-.minds j of. : . maii'y . worthy: people in ;tho -■ ..Cominon- ; wealth.;..., However, it wasn't ;;-nbr.was 1 -.- the , . Barrier;,.proposal,, nor '; another; - suggestion i frorii;Pallamallawa:in , favour v of the , n'atiphr" f alisation of.laVid-and'of the whblo'.soiiree :bf ; ,prpducti6ri,\distributibn, ; arid-exchange, with. .';'■ -the;.ultim;ate);pbject-:of;.;",tho:cbmplete oyer- •; :throw bf : tho'private'capitah'st ana.the : land- ': lordjsj^tem/ , ;:;The.;section ; in'favour of these .';• proposals, is' said:to have;been .very strong; ■■ but;."jt.,W!as;,:not v quite;strong'enoughi,; Hence :: the pledgoj:remains:as:,it was:—"They6ecu'r- ; ing-;of.;the f.ull,>rcsults of their-, industry :tp ; -airi.prpduce'rs .'by ihe,;collective ownership ;of ~ .monopolies ac.iij.the .extension ; bf the in.dus-; £::trial.'.iand 'eco'no'mio .functions:..of;'the State" ; arid.muh'cipality. , Thisi might .certainly 'be j. ■:.less.'yague,-aiid;.one. , 'is inclined,to., sympathise '; w.ith_;'the.Bexle'y.-branch'.in - it's desife'that-the. .',,..publip.-.shbuld'.mpre clearly undprstarid.yhat it -hasvieen: / ■ithe.Vwhite. Australia question,;,with;the';fe-,: )' suit.tha'yt, has; de.qj.ded ;-to recommend/ that' ._■!all-coloured;'aliens■■shbuld-bp/deported'.frbm' : , the "Cpiin'mbnwea'lth by ;the."ij'ear 1920,' arid. ■' Be;nt'.:.b , ack :i tp,!.their,;natiYe..(» i ,eriimcrit resuming.-.their, properties and ■; in'-.: '■ i.dustnes pn ; a'basis of .'reasonable.:'cbmpensai tion. ThJß.;.is - a i tall; ; ordSr! -v;%But if: the : : La-- ;; .bour .party ,warits to: keepj'. Au'stra;ljaf,whit6,;.it i ..ought;. not ijto- ■resist-.whitehiramigratibn . so '■; strenuously,;;.-for'if, : .the,'Vast.interior;of'the : •• :.Cphtinent; , ';.; .bur';pwn:.choosing,;it-may be |; much.Bp.pnqr than weiexpect.by-'a.n ii'ifliixof. ;, 'Asiatics'/., 1 ,; will. \ beepme. of the.i' White' j; Australia ppliby..'.theh?.j.'', l -'i. , ..' '|i.-'.- : u.?'■■■•'.•-■■'-.■';■* : v -' I' , : ■'■:. ''vf; Disaster.:.'. V;-::V';:X-':l V- i ; ; fl'he'decision of. the' Marine - Court: in- regard 1 'to-the::navalJiiisaßtor:iil)'Sydney::Harbour( in' ■: suspendib'githe; certificate' of'.Captain Hansen, '■ :.' master, of ; the'.Dunmore,fprtl2/-mbnths, has,, U .r ; the ..Coiirt,- .the man; in 'charge'■ of'the. iia'yal y launch .with the pinnace: in S4'muel Bfy- .-'. antji was.'primarily;Tesp6risible for'the • colli- ; y, sipn .through,his,'wrongful:'act in. improperly.' ', crbssing.the bows.bf the Durimorei It "is true : : that the ;Courf'also : decided that tho'-'master i; :bf the" Diinrapre had:npt kepta'Tirpper lobk5. but; : .bufit: is difficult to'see, if Ke 'werciipn ■ ' ihis.Aright'cbursb^-arid' there:.isvnb;!evidence- |: thati ho was he can be held 'resp'ori- [. .siblo for the collision.: '.Of course, the Court : r ; had•nortjurisdiotion;;over.; Bryant, ; .in' ~ ;tho;. Navy;, arid ■ his /case has.. doubtless .been' , i- reviewed- by. .the'., naval. authorities,\ who' have ; •heldi : their; t own;.iriquiry, : ;the. : result:.of which [ ,nas; ; _nbt, ! been'. made.' public.: .But it .appears >; "inevitable, that:the-vefdict^iri , regard to Cap-: I ;tain;'Hai>sen/will bo.tho'subject of 1 an; appeal. >' This 'question; is of. top jtiiich '.importance ; to 1 harbour, trafEo'genefally to-b'o allowed\to rest * " ' where'it-ijs<;:i-j.,;-iv:.;.;: :, i ; :rt!''!--i;?:^i.L;l: , !;: : :>v. i ; .-. v oh.Sjiorti;;.;^;-i:vifTAf; 1 i Thbugir (%uiit"Mornerj'(the.CpjnsuVGe'Srai i for Sweden; deriies/that' , lie uttered: the state- .'; ,ment attributed, to,him."in;a;report , of , an : ■. ;inten'iew : -telegraphed - ; the.effe'ct that.thef Australians: are top fond ' of sport, .this' , .proposition As .'none;.the loss' [,'• emphatically;-truejasveyeryonf-of ■judgment' ... must:,realise. who observes; what■: is'.'goinig on | . in the, Cbmmpriwealth , to-day.. This; devotion ;■' to- : isport; ; of.-, young; Australia .; ;roally amounts to blind idolatry.;- Count Mor- , ner : admits'; ; that-,hev remarked' , with '.surprise that a, journalist to. whom ho .'was iritroduced , aid...not seem 'to. appreciate the> distinction l ; wbn,bv ; Professor .Rutherford, 1 -.the i'brilliant "■ NewZealaiider,' in gaining the Nobel Prize-^- • -the', stranger .actually confessed-that -he had r. not even;.heard about 'it !--and. that he:'went ' on: to ■..express: his opinion"' that: Dr. ■'■Rnther- ': . for^s^ iot ?rT;was-OTdateri^atidi ; !ihouid;bf rfe ': ga™ed ! '- if' on .. 1 ' trftlian.;:--;This' is .an-' obvious ".truism,-.but: urrr , .: •- not-rogAi-d-it;"in■ that;.lfehti-;The othep ! ■ : vardmaLMprari .drew .'attention .to- thisrvery ■ .trouble- in-certain ■ weighty.'words;''when" he' ■.. -stated. th&t;,the inordinate.love'bf snp'rt' w'a.s /. •te».rtain;tq lendlto/ith'e destruction:of a nation; •The.fapt.is thattl'n'average'Austrii.lian youth ..' ■'"■tinear's.to/.haye'little time , ;to talk of any- , :; -thingK but:;.the;:'■;latest'.:- hprso .-'race, -: or, ■ cricket match, or. rowing, contest, or-prefer- , . ;, -ably ; 'the; most, recent boxing .enpounter.. If: {■ iany.one goes into, an office anvwliero iiv the. ( : city of Rydney or Melbourne about/ .the time 3 : of tho ; M<>lboiirneCup, he will proinblv hoar' ,: clerl<s estimating the;chancps of. tliß-liorsps: • > -untiTtliW Cun becomes a positive nuisance to ;■ .*>veryb6rlvwjio,y,'n.nts.to attend to hiisinpqs • : Tliojlegjslntioii-jntrndiiced by.the..Wade. Go-, ■. '.vernmerit .toj ; h\pok .t : he..betting-sh6i7S ,and sup-' i :tJrPss.>we.ens irilS.vclnev"..was pxpect-pd to" chert this evil ,iii'' a,; matcrinl; degree; ..nnrlthoUgb v,it'. '■' lias '.to; sbnie".extoiifadono ■ sb;-:the 1 ntt remairi'E': j .that;;:the : .sweep .contiilues .' that; money is 'freely.invested just -'-n's-. before : - in. these ' plmnces,. , .;! ip' ; that' the tickets, am disguised,- aiid 'arK : issued; », ■'nt:plflres-differen't-',from'thbs6- : ;sfilectea ,V |he':6ld.' regime; .but; to thosp ;in ..the.: k'npw," '.. the ticket.'means' the■■ same'-tlii'h(r--as.'-b.efore, : : and stands', to. win .money> if .flie -number 1, proves s to be the.lucky one. • -Tho Sydney B .pplir.e.areidoinß'thciriitmnst to put • n- ston- ;:, to this.sort , of .thing,-;but : this is very difficult - wheriia _■ sceret code has been arranged, by' 1: wliich'-'pieces of pasteboard,-" innocent enough bn their, face, 'are' understood to, moan epnie-

thing outside the pale of tho law. But the question arises;whether in.'the,'alternative it would not bo bettor to legaliso sweeps, under certain stringent restrictions, than; to have the present state of Affairs, by which'tho law is. defied wi.th impunity, whilst peoplo who seek to invest, ss. in a manner perfectly legitimate, in itself 'are- comppUcd to regard such a practice as a crime.-.; ■;V • ■'.. ■ ':' On Saturday morning tho police visited a shop in Oxford Street, and producing a warrant J ' searched tho premises, arid found ticket's'.bearing'numbers, ostensibly 'membership tickets of ■ areading-room, and a pile of printed/lists of- numbers. The twp:pccuparits were .arrested,. and have been remanded on ■charges' of tho anti-gambling law.'. ;fV; : '}v^ •■ Tho Call.of the Surf, .;.-.■ y,.The.cr.azp:for surf-bathing'cqntinuos, strong-, ~ris'ever—indeed, it. is increasing.in:. its hold . upon' rthe: republic of this .State during 'the ■summer 'season; so that not only-'Slanly,' -Bondi,; "and ;; Coogee -'have their throngs of ocean bathers,: but along the beaches of. the nprth' f and. south coasts the pastime has ob- : tamed a great vogue. Henco the' value of a holiday', resort;' is now ' determined'-'in. the minds of thousands of people by its proximity to. the. ocean.■) It is extremely interesting to watch these sea-bathers, because of their veriturcsomenessi Spmo.iof the veterans, at .tho sport, .having-overcome their earlier fears of the undertpw—if they ever had any—now go but; tp'.vfche first ; line: of breakers, and there; wait:;fbr.;tho-huge combers to curl up, and carry;.them, in.:; As the; green : wave.. raises itself'high: in .the air, and then cuds for the break,'the.-forms of half a dozen men and .women,..-expert.swimmers, may.' be.- seen shrouded, iiivthis huge volume of -lifting water. :befpre-they;>disappear in the- ;mass of-white '.foain-'inio which it.resolves .itself;'- As one .looks"at'-.them,'he wonders what , about the. : undertow _?r*Bu't" they. .get.; carried;,,in r.'in. 999 icasesvbut , 6'f _1000. Now' and 'then hear of,, tragedies ..like'.- that tine, ai''Newcastle;;last year]' when.a'man who had been, bathing ,'for twenty years was, carried:; out, and drowned.-This-:year' tho; first : toll of the .'surf was.exacted.at Little Coogee-on Monday, .when a young,woman'of 20, Miss ■ Lurlirio Potter, of: Chesterfield Parade, Waverl.eyj'.whb was unable to swim.was liftetl off ..her. feet by the "scour", which runs in Little , Coogee when the,tide was low, and carried out,. Another bather, -Edward.Owens,.who was further out, seized her.as she-went by, but was unable to retain, his hold, and.reached, the recks almost Exhausted.; ; . The poor girl meanwhile; was tak'erij.far.out, and sank.. It was.s o'clock in the'morning'when this occurred, and Miss Potter had gone down for a bath: "with two •other ;-ladiesj,.whoi were -terribly, distressed; when) they : saw what had occurred..;v;Fiyo ■o'clocif i J's'-.n i Qt; an unusual hour for'■swim-, f m.ing[":.'^li6 ; :b.eaches near the; city, are'crowded VftracljcallyV' all - day, and many ';batb'«rs- go in : tKreft«ry;,ourv;tinies a dajy. .Wliich'so.uncls air; ioget|ierstoGimuch of.' a-, good - thing l,V' Enithusia'stic: bathers, however, are prepared'■ to take;on: all the-risks' of the undertow,, not. to speak."at.all. of;the sharks which-.now and then hover, round on;the chance;of gettihg/an odd meal.^':. At Cooge'e on. Tuesday morning, for;:instance,.'several sharks made their appearance mear the men's.baths,.with tho re-, 'suit that there.'.was a .'stampede of bathers. Fishermen in the; locality, put their lines put/I ■ and., captured : three of the sharks', measuring.' : between'.'oft. , and 6ft. !...::' \] ■:. •■ ;.;.; ';): ;■ ; Ths", QueenslandV Liquor Laws. / ■} , V;'.; ;i:-As;it is felt by the; Queensland Government ;that/the time; has : arrived: .when ; the liquor, laws.ofthat/State, should_be. brought :up-to-date;...::.i;Mr.;;; Ranking,-; police'. , magistrate.", Queensland/rhas been, appointed toinvestigate: existing, licensing legislation not only-iri New: 'South^y.ales I .and: Victoria, but'.'in-'N.ew Zea; ■land, ':¥iia r ;swith\ that .object will''lea^e' to-day' for, ■Vj'eTl.in^ton.:..His main' inquiries'!will be New. Zealandi.'.vwhbse.-Jiqubr ; legislation Is naturally attracting' great attention pn,;this;side,"of. the.Tasman : £ea: ; .by.i i easbn "of. the; spread-of--'No-Lic'ense."'". Hepfopbses: to .base his investigations oil the. following'lines: : : >gqnoral result' in . New Zealand -of ■ the; ,'djmmution. and.total'.abolitiori of -.licenses , in particular districts, ■:so; far,as the visible effects ;.upon'the social .and'.civic improvements,:are concerned;; tho;diminution in,'' crime,'-„■ the the Customs revenue,' and.goner"ally as to how. tho well-boing of the, cbmmu-. ;,jiity; has been, or.seems to have been", -affected., .He. also'proposes to inquire whether the sys- 1 ■tern of'.taking.tho licensing poll on.the day'of .tho: genorajielectiohs ;js-.found- to'- wbrft--aatis-factorily;, whether.: tli'o: three-fifths majority or' tho bare majority .is /desirable j and whether, compensation. stiouldbe ; paid for licenses cancelled. .He will seek fbnnfonnatibn' .concerning''license; fees-7whether: there , is any discrimination •,betwee.n, i .fces. ; .ih ,yaripus';parts;' ,bf tEoi.same'city/o'r whetlier'th'ey are allowed .to. vary■■ in proportion to : ■ tip' amount -of trade donejVand lie : will also; investigate-'the laws; relating to.Sunday ..trading ,arid the adulteration .-6f ;]iqupr,:,'and; thb. i .ppsition> J of the .whole-. v sale spirit merchants V,'....,;-" '-' .<■" :.';,J;'\ '/-■■: ,\;; ;'; ;Mr. Andrew B!aok.;Marrlod. ■';■'/ .v?;Mr»'.VAn'drew, Black,, 'the'.'woll-known 1 bari--toiio^-'aVJatriiliar - figufo' on: the' Sydney concert' ; ho cairie out herova- : couplo"of : : :;year*i;agSj iwas l mafnetl ; in Sydn6y. ; on. Satur-: St. Stephen's■'■Cliiirbh, --to iMrsi'SE.-fliichtscheindel; of,;.pfalilert's.'Hotel, :whidh"Vis':^a'ipopular meeting-place for'VNew ■Ze?landcES;-,mien they/.come: across■ tho.Tas-.'ma'n.','Sea.-v "The; bride,- wlio--was.;;givon-away by.Mri.George:Williams'oni.was attended by. 'her -sister, "'Mrs...Sydney,Adams;; while Mr., P. Fi'JMarich,--manager for .the. musical, finnof W. ~H. Baling and Co., was best man. A. ;receptipii'- was /held at Pfahlert's after -the 'ceremony.o. Amongst,tho, wedding gifts was a diamond arid eriierald. pendant fdr-the bride froiri the bridegroom, and a silver jewel-case from the-.staff of. Pfahlert's Hotel.. ; . ' .;. i; , ;. f :•;;;.". '■. • Burns "as" anvAotor. ■ . .■. -r ■■,':.:;;' 'As has /no doubt appeared. in . dominion •papers, Burns', the' .boxer,' having. given. the ring best, is. about to settle,in Australia, and take' up r the more' financially-perilous, path of the .theatrical manager.. -One'wonders what qualifications•; a -pugilist... possesses- which entake on the business, of. manag-; ing v However/. Burnsi- appears to .\>b cpnMiivt;: that he. will; imake"' a•.sucespss of 'the ."businessV..for he has ;leased Theatre,;' Melbourne,, for .■ five from , . "■March , ;:; I,''and proposes to bring 1 .out an American company to play-what ho describes as a high-class l ,kind of drama. -'.At the' : same timei':,he intends to encourage. Australian, -talent;.'he! says, ..so '.that'.",there V. will bo a 'phan'ce; for the local actor ■in I the now enterprise.'...The Bijou is to,be re-named',' and will, be.'known as the Burns. Theatre. .Before .entering': upon his ; new .duties,' Burns will; got his"'hand in, by touring Australia. as an actor,; in, a; play-;written' by. .that";well-known maker of mlelodramas,"Mr._ George Darreii. In', this '■'■ piece,: which is- entitled. ■ "Fainb: and ■' Fortjirie, ' Burns 'will : have ■:• : . a'< .part, but whether-the hero :qr the: γ-illain,:.or merely" the ■gobd-natured'friend" who assists, to clear in the last act,;,does; not appear/to : been . decided.'; .Meanwhile,. firm in ;his..resolve not;to re/' "entek.'tiiej'ihg^'again,.,unless■■''tov''mq.eVJ6liii-' json.';';" ■^■ ;i: ".'':; ,, "' '■■"'"' '■!■ \':', :[ :'^ : '^;X- ; '- t^,; , ;--,-'.:.-V. • , ■'". , - " : "'-•''■".-•" ■,'*■'"'■"';.'■ :' iil. the ;Tln-Kettler>; ' v"s''\;'V .'^iThe'viiumourists-whose prime idea .of fun 'is;-to;? the bride., and -.bridegroom whp.-.' huve ■ just returned from ■■ their honey-. ; nippn, may derive:a-profitable lesson from the experience which befell one of their number last week at a place .called Napoleon , iteefs,. JO' miles. from ,Bathurst..... A ' resident of jtkat -locality/ Hugh , Sinclair j.•having returned, with his wife'from'.their , honeymoon, a number of yoiing inen paraded outside their house , on Sunday evening between nine and ten o'clock, and proceeded to make- night hideous, by beating tin-cans.- Sinclair; camo out. and-"appealed: to them -to "■ desist, and ,at' 'last warned, them that if..they did not do so ■■•it-, would become, h'is.duty to try ;forco. Thoy 'tboki rip; heed, of the warning, according to one ;acc.ount:;bf. the incident, and:.Sinclair, '■'it? is\":s|aid,':'-fi'rbcb a-ipea-rifle',- and struck" one of the:young.'vmen,;.Charles Edwards, in• the 6f"tho leg.. This stopped the tin-kettling illrrightv/fbr.'Edwards .had;.to;,bb v :'brought "into'Bathurst: for. medical treatment. • Prob'abl)':he willthink twice oiv a. future "occasion befbro joining his friends in this ridiculous ieport.'-.-, ■:-;.; ■'. . : '■'■ '■; ■■ : : ■ ■■■.- ;' ■.-. • ....-'■'' V'i' ":'■-•, .-".'■' ■■■' .. . ! : ■ '- : -: '■ ' '