The Evening Star TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 1875.

Evening Star, Issue 3828, 1 June 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 1875.

No one could fail to smypathise with the feeling of delicacy shown yesterday by the Opposition when they urged, withal! gravity, the necessity of having time to consider the amended Estimates. Perhaps it was true that “ as the farce had gone so far, it mich" as well go a little farther/’ At the same time, it was perfectly well understood that there were a certain number of members who would support the original Estimates, and a certain number who would support the Government amended ones, and that no amount of consideration would alter the votes There appear to be two vital alterations in the Estimates, and that is all. One of these is an increased assumption of receipts from sales of land • the other is the striking off of the’ sum proposed to ba appropriated for educational buildings during the year. The Treasurer anticipates receiving £200,000 instead of £150,000 from sales of land, aud proposes to borrow £30,000 on the educational reserves and thus to liberate £25,000 for roads and bridges, widch otherwise would be required for new school buildings. Although of course these alterations are not sufficient to shake the Council into throes of undying conflict, unless a pre arranged opposition had been determined upon, yet they will give such an opposition a handle it stood sadly m used of. This handle will be woiked with a vengeance. It is to be feared any decenoy exhibited by the Council will not extend beyond a mild attempt to keep up appearances. Be that as it may, it certainly would appo.ii to have been the common sense duty of the members of the late Government 8 their leader declined coalition upon any terms, to have refrained from afactious opposition to foist back tho man or set of mm they delight to belifevre in as the only capable administrating power over some £250 000 only of annual revenue. 1 f £200,000 i« realised this year from land, ah the worse for the Province; we cannot hold our cake and eat it too. At this early stage to hypothecate the educational estate is little sho't of madness. The Government might very well be put right upon these points, and yet be trusted to see to the general administration of the Province. A fatal mistake was made m bringing down amended Estimates, ■'uch amending, based on no principle, cannot be too severely condemned. In the pree mt case no one can fail to see that the minor items are altered purposely to catch straggling votes. The representatives from the Clutha are offered a bridge for their votes Hopeless antagonists find their little sums cut off for the benefit of _ the doubtful voters. This style of thing is extremely mean, and could have been easily avoided. No Government could hopv to stand on support obtained in such a way. If it was necessary to speculate on steering through Opposition difficulties on so false a support, it would have been more creditable for Mr Bastings to have given up the battle, and to have thrown the onuv, of the position upon the other side. As it is, there appears to be no creditable "-snr an ex'rr.uinlv f »Ipp " isit 1 -;•»