NEW SOUTH WALES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 488, 8 July 1857, Page 4

NEW SOUTH WALES.

By way of Wellington we have Sydney papers to the 3rd of June. The Simla sailed on her return trip on the 25th May, a fortnight behind time. The arrangements of the company seem to he entirely upset by the loss of the Oneida from the line, and many unfavourahle comments are passed upon the powers of the company to perform the contract undertaken. It is";considered very unlikely that the European j**the next vessel expected, due in Sydney on the 9th June, would be at all punctual in her arrival. Under the circumstances, the public were lending favourable attention to the proposals, of the Royal Mail Company with regard to the Panama route. The following paragraphs respecting political matters in Sydney are from the ' Empire:'— Following the example of parliament at home, several members of the Legislative Assembly have met their constituents, for the express purpose of reviewing with them the business of the late session. Mr. Cowper addressed a large and influential meeting in Sydney, and was enthusiastically received, the chair on the occasion being occupied by the Honourable James Norton, who may be looked upon as the father of the legal profession in the colony. The meeting was also addressed by Mr. Martin, the AttorneyGeneral in Mr. Cowper's short-lived government, who was received with unusual marks of popular favour. Mr. Weekes and Mr. Robinson, two of the Hunter river members, and both staunch oppositionists, have submitted their Parliamentary conduct in a similar manner to meetings in different parts of their constituencies, and have both been entertained at public banquets by the electors as their reward. Mr. Murray, another of the late ministers, is to be banqueted, at Goulburn. Previous to any of these popular movements on the part of the liberal members, the constituents of Mr. Parker, the personal premier, invited him to a public dinner at Paramatta, which was attended by all the other ministers as guests, but was not honoured with the presence of any gentleman, even of the pseudo- conservative party, possessing political weight and influence. These meetings may be regarded as healthy signs of political vitality, and the current of feeling which they exhibit strongly tends to the support of the liberal bide of the Assembly. The most important change in political life, and the one most calculated to weaken the Pai'ker Administration, is the retirement of Mr. Manning, who is about to sail for Europe, under the advice of his medical attendants. Mr. Manning had acquired a high reputation at the bar before the entering into political life, and in the Legislature he addressed himself to the public business with -great industry and an elevated sense of duty. With marked .ability he combined an earnestness of purpose not very common amongst us; and moreover he ft'e' quently infused an ability into the policy of h'S more narrow-minded colleagues which kept the ministry in some sort of favour with the country. He has been replaced by a" gentleman who personally can neither add internal strength nor bring outward support to the ministry, while the new appointment must.create division and inflame the jealouey of friends. Great efforts will be made to fill Mr. Mannings se» in the Assembly by the election of'an anu-

ministerialist, which in all probability will prove believed that Parliament will not be assembled before August, and the delay is very unfavourably regarded. Several questions that have taken deep hold of the public mind must be taken up in the next session, and dealt with decisively. Of these, the management of the Crown Lands, the re-adjust-ment of the representative system, an adequate educational provision, and some new fiscal measures will be the principal. It is more than ltkelv that these questions will be agitated by the constituencies before Parliament meets, and it will be found hardly possible for any ministry to stand that is not prepared to deal with them in good faith and on sound principles.