OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2576, 15 January 1889, Page 3

OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

|h'ROM OUR OWN* COBRKSPOXDENT.] **■ Sydney, January 2. THE NEW YEAR. Tins letter is dated on the second day of the second year of tho second century. Curiously enough it don't seem at all different from any other day," Tetnpora mutantiir et nos rnutamur in illis," iiiiiy be true enough in tho abstract, but it seems abundantly evident that we don't change nearly so quicltly as the times. Fur instance, it's evidently at this moment tho Xew Year. But it's p.qually evident that the people who are to make the history of this new epoch arc almost identically the aania as they were two or three days ag". New resolutions there doubtless are, and where they are goi-.d ones, may Heaven ppeed them, but it is the same persons who have to carry them out. Well, they know their own record pretty well, and if they profit by their experience the end of the year may bo far contradict the beginning as to show a greater change in character than in date. "A consummation devoutly to be wished' , I think I hear from many quarters. And, .is this ia tantamount to wishing my readers a Happy New Year, I cordially echo the aspiration. LARRIKINS ANU M.K HI KIN ESSES. The holidays arc well-nigh over as far as thi metropolis is concerned, and right well have thuy been enjoyed. The wuulhur has been plorious Ihrouptbnnt, and. in consequence, the picnics and other outdoor enjoyments, fur which our beautiful gardens, our beautiful harbour, and our beautiful environ* generally are so admirably adapted, have been scenes of unalloyed

festivity. Hi-rrlly any accidents have been recorded, nor, wlint is b.-ttor still, have there b"en any of those exhibitions of rpen ruffianism which threatened a few years hack to make Sydney picircs proverbial. A great deal of gross vice undoubtedly them is. The influences of climate and surroundings and the absence and effectiveness of moral education tend to foster and perpetu ate a peculiarly animal and brutal type of character among the voting of both sexes. It is undeniably true that our larrikins and larrikmcsses are more sinned against than sinning. They are the natural result of the callousness and love of ease which has Milleivd them to become what they are, and which scolds so bitterly whenever the proprieties are ontrnsred by its own handiwork. But it I- 1 equally true, that they are very, unpleasant and repulsive, not to say d.ui-Vroas memlv.'i'x of society, and it is a matter for congratulation that they have ceased to inflict the more revolting of their peculiarities on the pleasure-seeking public. TUB i'lilvMlKK. It is, of course, gratifying to note that, even by his n,ost rabid detractors,, the naii.e of the Premier has never been mixed up with the "jobs" with which his colleagues are assailed. Still, the. suoineness which permits jobbery may be as detrimental to the public interests as the roguery which commits it. Without venturing to assert th;it the rumours with which the air is filied are relations of soU.-r fact. I think few persons cm be found to maintain that the Premier's action or inac'.ion divests him of his proper slwe of responsibility for their existence. The colleague* of ,i reforming Minister ought, like Caesar's wife, to be above suspicion. But when the names of the Ministerial team were first announced it was felt that with one or two of them, at least, something very like a miracle would have to be wroncrht before so h.ippy a desideratum could be attained. But this was perhaps inevitable. The species " M.ini4er " is a sub-order of the genus "politician." And the whole of the genus seem to bo literally tarred with the same brush.

PASTEUR AVI) TUB U.UIBITS. M. Pasteur's representatives, who, for a. consideration, propose to spread disease bv inoculating among our Hocks and herds under pretence, of keeping them in health, don't seem to tie making much progress. It is now declared that one part of their programme is an unmitigated failure. It will be remembered that whilst inoculation managed according to French methods was to remove disease from sheep and cattle, it was to carry death and destruction certain and sweeping, to the hordes of rabbits whose ravages are causing so much alarm. With true Gallic modesty our visitors declared their opinion of the almost cortain success of their method. Tho experiments at Rodd Island, however, undertaken to prove the reliability of chicken cholera (always under M. Pasteur's sanction) to extirpate the rabbit pest, have not borne out the anticipations which were formed respecting them. It seems pretty cortain that the only tangible result of this inoculation business apart from tho serious indirect results of spreading diseases which are not reckoned upon, and which are certainly not wanted, will be the large sums of money which, supposing his offer to lie accepted, are to bo sent to La Belle France.

THE GOVERNMENT AND THE TRAMWAYS. The last-named redoubtable per.-nnap;es havo been having a very lively time indeed. Following the snub which was given to the. Government by the hostile vote on their proposal to lease the tramways, the report of a select commission appointed to inquire into the making of roads on private property at the public expense, has caused another grave scandal. The commission has not yet finished taking evidence, and strenuous efforts were made by those of its members who weie supporters of the Government to prevent the publication of a progress report, permission besins; obtained only by the casting vote of the chairman, who is a violent Oppositionist. When the report was laid <ui the table of the House, an effort was made by Mr McMillan, a member of the commission and a support er of the Government, to prevent its being printed until the whole of the evidence had been taken. In the meantime, however, t,he Opposition organ, the Star, by smue nvvtni which may be easily conjectured had got hold of the report, and published it in a late edition in full. Then can.e a comical piece of business. The Premier was raging. He deelaied that the report must have been in the printer's hands before it was presented to the House, and he moved that the publisher of the Star be called to the bar of the House to answer for his breach of privilegu and to slate from whom he obtained the document. Now this was a motion, which in the present state of parties it would take some weeks to discuss, and very reluctantly Sir Henry reco-rnised this stubborn f:ict and withdrew his motion. Mr McMillan also found himself checkmated by the publication of the report in the Star and withdiew his opposition to its being printed. This was a bit of "sharp practice " on the part of the Opposition, and the Government declate that they have been unfairly treated. But the public, who are interested in knowing the facts and in knowing them as soon as possible, are thankful that a little light has been let in on what appears to be a very shady transaction. The inquiry might havo lasted till the Greek Kalends if the Government had had their way. As it is it seems established beyond the possibility of doubt that some forty or fifty miles of roads have been made through private property by the unemployed — made, too, on the most elaborate scale, like the walks, one witness said, in the Botanical Gardens there, laying out the estate like a park, and immensely enhancing its value. It goes without saying that Ministers and members of Parliament are very largely in this " swim," as they are in most others. Formerly it used to be thought that the advantage of being in a position to get prior information as to where railways were going tu run, or where minerals had been found, was sufficient reward for the ardent patriot who wished to increase his wealth while serving his country. But the appetite for dishonest gain is not by any means delicate or scrupulous ; therefore, we must not be surprised when more pronounced developments come to light. The present Government came into office nn the cry of "honest administration." So far as they haveg»t, however, there does not seem to be a great deal to choose between them and their predecessors.