The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1875.

Evening Star, Issue 3829, 2 June 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1875.

The dohale last night upon Mr Reid’s motion -was virtually a rehearing of the case Bastings versus E bid. All that can be u aid about it is that the decision was reversed, There was no attempt made by the mover or by his followers to show that the Council had no confidence in Mr Bastinos’s administration, but the whole amount of argument adduced why the Council should not have any confidence in it was that the former Government had been) turned out on a false issue. I.hat this was not entirely the case will be pretty evident when the members of the new Executive take their seats. The ver general complaint this session is that the Works Department has been placed almost entirely at the mercy of the contractors, and that one head alone could not control even the whole of the little business of the Province, and, as was not inaptly remarked by one speaker, could not in any way leave his spirit behind him when he was out of the Province. The Opposition, of course, wanted to base their case upon a comparison of the original and amended Estimates. They proved beyond doubt that the difference, it it existed at all, was of a very slight character; but that was no ground why a fresh turn-out should ensue. Much as the waste of time is to be regretted, the issue arrived at will not be entirely thrown away. Mr Reid will have had opportunity to reflect a little as to the .necessity of a leader, however strong and confident in himself, being dependent upon the support of colleagues in whom the Council has confidence. Mr Armstrong’s proposed test of Mr Bastinos’s team—viz, an appeal to their constituents, if applied to the members of the Government it supplanted—would, iu more than one instance, have been fatal These fine tests are not always successfully applicable to those who wish to see them applied to others. There can be no doubt that whatever members constitute the Government, the session will he quickly brought to a close. One or two knotty points remain tf. be dealt with, but the mode of procedure adopted with them in the present feeling of the Council will be summary in the extreme. Among these we may pick out tho. Permissive Eating Ordinance for Education the Peninsula and Ocean Beach Railway Bill, and the Reduction of Gold Duty. Even with these rather difficult questions in prospect, the session may be closed if members choose by the end of next week.