NEW CALEDONIA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5376, 20 June 1878, Page 3

NEW CALEDONIA.

(From the correspondent of the Melbourne Leader.) Noumea, 12th May.

Since the advent of our new Governor many changes in the administration have taken ■ place. . This was only what was expected from the utterances of Mons. Ohy, who intimated in a very plain manner that, so far as he was able, he would have affairs managed in a very different and much more satisfactory manner than had hitherto been the case. He is reputed to be a prompt, energetic, and just administrator, from whom much good may be expected. Some of his acts have already, given great satisfaction, except to those whose personal interest it was to let affairs alone. It is an understood thing that a spirit of economy will be introduced without delay into the management of the public service, and a legitimate amount of zeal will be expected from those whoso duty it will be to see the work of the Government carried on, with a view to lead to successful results, and certainly not before it is time. Here, as elsewhere, the drones have had very nice times of it, but the interests of the community demand that a check should be put upon a system where the good of many is sacrificed to that of the few.

Tho accident to the mail steamer City of Melbourne, although it occasioned much anxiety to those on board, was after-all one of a trifling nature. Captain Webber joined her but a short time before she left Sydney. When a few hours’ sail from that place it was reported that there were eight feet of water in the hold. The pumps were set to work, the boats provisioned, and the vessel put about for Sydney. However, after pumping had been continued for some time the eight feet were reduced to three, and it became apparent that the leak was well under control, at least so the captain and engineer concluded, and the vessel was once mare put on her course, and arrived here in five days, inclusive of stoppages, thus making, after all, a very fine passage. The leak was caused by the breakage of a pipe in her side, leading from the ladies’ cabin. It was easily repaired, and the steamer leaves for Sydney to-day. The passenger list is unusually large, the cabins in particular being crowded. The way in which legal affairs are conducted here, as illustrated by the coarse of events following the “ leak ” to the City of Melbourne, will astonish strangers, aud I should imagine call for remedy.