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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4986, 16 March 1877, Page 2

Amid the party struggles now raging in New South Wales, the question of the mail service seems to 'go to the wall, and-week r after week fe passing by without anything being done in (;he matter. The Government it appears :have placed upon the : order paper notice of a motion ;whieh, if- carried,"would; 'ratify on behalf of- that colony the "terms lately arrived at, and whioh have b«en made -public; but the motion has not been yet proposed,' and from present Appearances there Beems"small chance of its being brought forward yet awhile. The question however is not altogether lost'sight of, for we observe by a report of a-recent Parliamentary sitting, that the following remarks were.made: —"Mr. Speaker, having stated that the clerk would now-proceed to read the-orders of the day, Mr. Piddington asked what had been done with the resolutions-respecting the Pacific mail swvice?—Mr. Speaker said' : the resolutions had been postponed till Thursday week. —Mr. Piddington said then he would move the adjournment of the Souse. -The" extraordinary course taken by'the"Government with regard to the Pacific mail service was ample justification for his idoing so.—Mr.' Leary: You might wait to see what the Government intend to do themselves.— said he was afraid they were not- sensible of their position.—Mr. lieary; {You might'wait to see \fhat they will do;—Mr. PiddirigtoD said he had waited, and he had heard that they had postponed this motion for a week, and he was justified in moving, the; adjournment of the House."' The hoh. member, after urging at some~iength the necessity?or the continuance of the service, commenced ;an general attack upon the Government—at which we leave him. However, we think the delay which has occurred is mainly attributable to the dilatoriness'of the New South Wales Government, and that it is as unfair to New Zealand as it is to the contractors to have deferred settling this matter so long.

The engagement of Captain Campbell-Walker for the extended term of fifteen montha as Conservator of State Forests expires with the ; termination of the current month, by which time his report upon,the forests of the colony, and his recommendations as to the best mode for their management, will be in the hands of the Government. It .seems no definite arrangements have been made as to.the immediate future,'but we believes we are correct in saying that nothing will be; done in the way of organising a department until the report shall have' been laid before Parliament. It will then, rest with .the.Go.vexnmeh.fc-.to. re-engage Captain Campbell-Walker,: :or 'any other gentleman to whom they may decide to entrust the.owork, provided. Parliament consent to. a system of forest ; conservation. Captain: Campbell-Walker,' we. be}ie,ve, leaves the colony on a visit to. Australia and Tasmania .early next month.