JOTTINGS FROM SYDNEY

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 453, 12 March 1890, Page 4

JOTTINGS FROM SYDNEY

(FROM OCR OWN CORKESJ’ONDENT.) Sydney, February 27. The House being in recess just now, matters of a political kind are pretty quiet. Ministers are interviewing their constituencies, and as Parliament does nob meet bill April the only question that is being discussed is federation. Indeed, the pro tectionists are exceedingly quiet; the Conference at Melbourne seems to have engaged their sole attention and diverted their cry for being allowed to try their fiscal policy. But with the House in session again the old cry will be revived with vigour, and it is doubtful if Parkes will last any time after, as there is bound to be a dissolution, seeing that he has nob a working majority at his back. The short se sion before Christmas was a matter of arrangement, and Dibbs’s ultimatum to his party to “ toe the mark ” was not a real trial of strength. In the theatrical line we are just now favoured with the Little Lord Fauntleroy Company, who are playing under the triumvirate at the Theatre Royal to splendid business, Mrs Burnett’s charming comedy is charming, and the acting of the children Olive Berkley and Grade Hopkins, who appear alternately in the title role, is highly spoken of. George Rignold has had a prosperous run at, Her Majesty’s with “Midsummer Night’s Dream ” since Christmas, and on Saturday last it was replaced by the nautical melodrama “My Jack,” for the first time in Australia, a piece which is a melodrama of a severe type. The scenery, however, is very fine, especially the destruction of the lighthouse. At the Criterion, Messrs Brough and Boucicaulb have been playing to excellent houses in “Caste.” “Missing At Lloyds” has. been produced at tfip Gaiety 'theatre, the latter piece being staged on Saturday night. Messrs Brough and Boucicaulb leave the Criterion for a time shortly, being replaced by the “ Fun on the Bristol ” \ Company. Charles Warner is in Brisbane, where Harry Rickards has also journeyed. G. C. Miln opens for a short Shakesperian season in the Royal Standard Theatre, while “ Hans, the Boatman,” will be revived at the Opera House by a local company, A statement has been published by the “Daily Telegraph” that Sir George Grey intends to visit England shortly, and that ho will pass through Sydney (which, by the way, he has never yet visited), and will deliver an address. Whatever subject Sir George speaks upon, he is sure to be received with acceptance, and a right loyal reception given bo him. His powers as an orator and his brilliant career as a Governor are well known here. If he expresses his views upon federation, especially in regard to New Zealand being a component pfjrb qf a dominion of tho South Sea Islands independent of Australia, I think he will add much to tho information already advanced in regard to this important question.

Two Aucklanders passed through hero last week, cn route to Britain, being Messrs W. C. McDowell and Sommervell, who are bound to Edinburgh to study medicine for a period of five years. They sailed in the Orizaba on Saturday, which vessel is one of the finest of the famous Orient line. The Australian Eleven sail by the s.s. Liguria in ten days for England. The team is nob definitely fixed, but the following are certainties: —Turner, Ferris, Murdoch, Charlton, Lyons, Trotb, Blackham, Bonnor, Deane, S. Gregory, S. Jones ; while Bannerman, Barrett, and Drysdale are the doubbfuls. The team is not so strong as it might be, as without George Giffen, Bannerman, Bruce, and Horan the strength of Australia is nob represented. Three matches with England are arranged. Only twelve men go, with Harry Boyle as manager. . -j, .

When the cable stated that the stud farm at Sylvia Park, was to be broken up, some surprise and regret was expressed in sporting circles. The fame that the progeny of Musket has given to the farm is world wide, and to have the valuable collection of brood mares and stallions dispersed would be a calamity on a small scale for Auckland. But later news is more reassuring, as it is said that the farm is to be offered in one lot arid that there is a probability of a syndicate taking it over and floating a company over here. , The purchases made by Messrs Wilpop in Auckland were much admired here when <n route to their future home in Victoria. They were on view at Fennelly’s. Mr T. Morrin did well out of, his recent draft of stock that he brought over here, and had only to take one cow to Queensland out of tho lot. Mr J. D. Buckland was nob nearly so successful with his venture as ;With the first lot he brought across. , :

In mining matters the Thames shares that are on the market here have had a bit of a boom recently. Marototos which were down to nothing almost have sold as high as 7s 3d for paid up,and 5s 6d for contributing. Sales are now quoted at 5s 9d and 3s 9d respectively. Crawford 8 specials are also in demand at 9s 6d for contributing, and last week could nob be bought, as holders were very sanguine of the prospects of the mine. A matter that would be of gre.it benefit to New Zealanders who are over here is the admission of barristers and solicitors to the Courts of either colony. If it- could be arranged for the two colonies to be reciprocal in the matter it would be gratifying to several who arc in offices in Sydney. I believe that a New South Wales solicitor and barrister who desired to practise in New Zealand could present himself for examination for local statutes, and would on passing be admitted, bub here a New ZeaI land practitioner would have to pass all the I examinations. It is said over here that the New Zealand Court is to blame for the position of affairs now existing, it is to be hoped that one of the many lawyers in your House of Representatives will move in the matter.

The splendid business which the New Zealand producers did with Sydney last year will not be repeated this season. Of course a certain amount of grain and cereals will always find a market here, bub the heavy rains that have sprinkled the colony from end to end have gladdened the hearts of the squatter and the farmer so that an abundant harvest will be gleaned. Indeed, the rains this month have been phenomenal in the eastern coast of the continent. What is complained of over here in regard to New Zealand butter, for instance, is that so much inferior stuff'is shipped along with the good. If exporters desire to get payable returns they must pay attention to this. Mr J. M. Chambers, who has been in Sydney for some months, returns by the steamer to-day. He goes on to Dunedin, hie mission being the introduction of goldsaving plane into the various fields, and after he visits Britain tor a lengthened crip. I hoar that the Rev. D. Bruce has come in for a slice of the Berry estate, of u hich Mr John Hay and Dr. Honeyman are the inheritors of such a large portion, and that the principalship of the college that is to be founded out of a trust is to be taken by the rev. gentleman. He is looking remarkably well,