OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4455, 30 June 1875, Page 3

OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

(t'KOM oun OWN CORIIESrONDENT.) Floods have visited us again and threatened to exert their malevolent influence to its fullest extent. Fortunately, a return of fine weather averted another great calamity, and the damage was not extensive. It is strange that though certain localities are periodically inundated, people persist in returning to them immediately the water subsides. Flooded land actually fetches ten times the price of that situated out of the reach of the visitation ; but then of course it is richer. The gales that blew on your coast must have been general to these latitudes, as I ace that much damage was done everywhere. The Chinese complication in the North still continues, and large numbers of Celestials still land at Cooktown to the great indignation of certain parties in Queensland. In our Parliament the Contagious Diseases Bill has been debated again, meeting with strong opposition. The further consideration of -it stands adjourned. Popular opinion I believe is, on the whole, favorable to giving it a fair trial, though some strong objections to it are urged. Mr. Wearne, the ironmonger, having failed for £50,000, with small assets, has resigned his seat in the Assembly, and Mr. Long, son of Mr. William Long, the wine merchant, and a graduate of our University, is a candidate for it, besides Mr. McCulloch, an untried man. It is rumored, too, that Mr. Saul Samuel, the ox-Postmaster-Genoral, will woo the favors of the electors of Central Cumberland. There is to be another election for the Upper Hunter, as no poll was taken at four booths in consequence of the floods. The contest between Messrs. Hungerford and

McElhone, who polled within thirty of each other, will be severe. The battle is to be fought on Monday next. The Stamp Act is progressing in the Assembly. Small cheques and bills will be exempt, which will be a great convenience. On Tuesday night (15th), Mr. Parkes’s motion to expunge from the records of the Assembly certain letters of Mr. Buchanan’s, in which lie was rated pretty soundly, was carried amidst Opposition cheers. The debate took place with closed doors, as Mr. Davies cried “ I sec a stranger.” Ho alleged as his reason for this that tho//c)'«W would notreport Mr. Buchanan, so it was not fair to let any part of the discussion be recorded. During the debate Mr. Davies and Mr. Hill got to high words, and after the House adjourned they resumed their quarrel outside the chamber, Mr. Hill calling Mr. Davies <£ a d d scoundrel.” East night Mr. Davies moved the adjournment of the House to call attention to Hr.'Hill’s language. Mr. Hill repeated that Mr. Davies was a d d scoundrel, and added that he was a rascal. The Speaker did not interfere, for which the evening paper took him to task very severely. The Whampoa, the largest vessel that over came hero, which left' on April 10 and called at Melbourne for a week and at the Capo of Good Hope, reached London on the 15th inst,, making a line passage of fifty-seven days from Melbourne. The Sydney streets along the proposed lino of railway extension into the city are being levelled and surveyed, so it is to bo presumed that the Government are in earnest about this highly desirable and important work. You will, of course, have telegraphic news of the tenders received in London for the San hVancisco mail service. Nothing is known hero but, the price £89,050 viaPiji, and .£7-1,950 via Auckland. A sad accident, by which a young man, a clerk in the Mint, Mr. Macfarlane, lost his life, happened last Friday. Mr. Macfarlane mounted a quiet horse, but failed to got his foot in the stirrup and was thrown off, being killed almost instantly. The Torres Strait mail steamers continue to arrive with commendable punctuality, and bid fair to make the service useful and popular. Nearly all the world must bo acquainted with the facts, if not the merits, of the case of Brasyor v. McLean ; but for the benefit of those who are not I will concisely state them. Colonel Brasyor, a gentleman travelling for his pleasure, was on board a steamer leaving this part some two years ago. A friend of his wont on board, but had not paid some bill or bills, and the sheriffs’ officers tried to arrest him. Colonel Brasyer interfered, offering (he said) to be responsible for the debt, but according to the bailiffs, attempting a rescue and inciting others to rescue his friend. The colonel was taken into custody, for which indignity he sued the sheriff,, Mr. McLean. He got a verdict ; an appeal was made. Trial after trial took place, and finally, so far as this colony the Supreme Court gave its officer a verdict. This the Privy Council rcversedj'so the gallant soldier wins, and the colony payte the sheriff’s bill, a good round sum you n{ay be sure. Messrs. Beilby and Scott, it is said, will file their schedule and not assign their estate. Their liabilities are over £200,000 ; assets, as yet not known. Mr. Hoyt, well known in your colony, has also sought protection in the Insolvent Court; liabilities £16,000, assets £35. Bus proprietorship is the cause of his misfortunes. The Opera, as I almost predicted in my last, collapsed most ignominiously, and the impressario, Signor Pompei, has been for some time in Darlinghurst gaol. The season was a miserable one, for the public and performers alike. Pompei files his schedule tomorrow, I believe, and will be released from durance sile. The Williamsons still continue to draw crowded houses at the Queen’s, “Kip Van Winkle” being the attraction at present. Mr. Williamson’s Kip is a fine study, and the town is rushing to see it. I shall leave this letter-till the morning, so as to give you the latest intelligence. June 19.

Strange to relate there is no advertisement in the Herald this morning respecting the sailing of the Easby, though the postal notice of the closing of the mail by her would infer that she leaves to-day. Her trip has been a long one, in consequence of her detention in Newcastle. , The supplementary news I have for you is that last night the Legislative Council considered several clauses in the Medicall Bill, and the Lands Amendment ActJ Bill, and adjourned the debates. In the Assembly, the Stamp Duties Bill was discussed in committee, several clauses being passed. It was decided, by a large majority, to omit the stamp duties on receipts, a great convenience. To-night the secularists and sectarians enter the political arena, and a great gathering of the clans is expected. Mr. Dibbs’s motion, to sweep away the denominational schools, is the cams IeUL I send the opinions of our “ great organ ” on the mail service, and other clippings of interest.