OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2595, 28 February 1889, Page 2

OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

[l-'KOM OUR OWN COIiKESI'ONDENT.] Sydney, Wednesday, POLITICS: FKKKTRADE AND PROTECTION. TllK battle is over in the electorates and is just about to begin on the real convincing ground of tho Assembly. Tho results are about as equivocal as they well can be. The Frcotrade press claim a majority of five for their side out of the 137 members returned. The Protectionists, on the other hand, claim that they are, numerically, only one behind, and that six of the members who were returnrd as abstract Freetraders have signified their intention of supporting the Government in its general policy. To all intenls and purposes tho House may bo considered as equally divided—a state of things that bodes ill for the real interests of the country. Party spirit runs very high, and there is likely to ba some very shameless bidding for vote«, and still mnro shameless neglect of the exigencies of the position considered from the point of view of the public good. With reference to the policy to be pursued, widely differing ideas prevail. Tho matter of finance ivquires immediate consideration. Tho trust funds have been tippropiiated to meet deficiencies : supply has not been voted ; and, to all intents and purposes, the colony is at the mercy of the banks. Immediate legislation is necessary on the land question, in order to encourage leaseholders to effect improvements ; and, further, In give some legal security to who disirc to inaugurate irrigation works, but who are at present deterred from doing so by the hazy and uncertain state of the law relating to water rights. These and other matters intimately affecting the general prosperity pi ess for immediate solution. There is plenty of work for one session in doing work which mon of all parties must acknowledge urgently requires doing, and which has already been neglected too li-ng. The present state of affairs in these matters is a national disgrace, and threatens to end in national disaster. Both parties find themselves unable to carry out their views on the liscal question. Is not this fact of itself an invitation to take- a short breathing time, in order that they may address themselves in a business-like spirit to matters of even greater importance ? All but the extremists, 1 imagine, will see the matter in this light, and although the extremists may bo expected to use every effort to inoculate the others with their own fury, it is hardly likely they will in every case succeed. Unfortunately the science of obstruction has been so developod that a much smaller minority than is represented by the extreme section of either party can force a crisis. Under circumstances like these, it might be expected that leaders of public opinion would counsel moderation. The Metropolitan Press, [ am sorry to say, does nothing of the- kind. It is endeavouring to hound on the Freetrado members (who certainly require very little instigation that way) to bring about an immediate change of Ministry, with tho avowed object of plunging the community into tho throes of another general election, leaving the affairs of tho country, meanwhile, to look after themselves. I must confess that such advice, under such circumstances, seems to me, very little short of criminal. "Her Majesty's Government must be carried on " was the motto of the creat Duke of Wellington. " Her Majesty's Government shan't be carried on, if we can help it, except by our own party " is the cry of these modern lights. So far as Protectionists aro concerned, they have everything to hope from another appeal to the country. The Freetraders on the other hand have everything to fear. Although they claim victory their present position reminds one of that old sailor's yarn in which a delinquent oilicei , who had been disrated for mi-conduct on the voyage persuaded his poor old mother that promotion had fallen in his way, li I went out one mate," ho said, "an>l I .tin come back three mates." Tho Freetraders went to the country, representing two-thirds of the Assembly. They come Kick representing only one-half, and the chances are that next time they will be only ,i third. It is not in the interests of Frootrade that the party is asked to precipiato another crisis. A short time ago it was able to dictate its own policy. It i.s now strong enough to prevent its opponents from dictating theirs. But at the present rate of progression, it is prutty certain that it will never, in any future Parliament, be so strong as it is in this one. The clamour for yet another shuffle of the cards is rather th.o igtstiuct of the desperatu \yl,\y

refuses to recognise the fact that fortune is against liini, and who in.si-ts in playing until he is utterly ruined, and t-cont.s tinidea of retiring from the panic while lie still has a competence left. However, we all know the old saw:—''Qnem Ueus vult perrlere, primus dementat." The policy shadowed forth by the Star, tlio only Ministerial supporter amongst the Sydney newspapers is a short session to pa?s the estimates and enable the Government to formulate their ideas a.-s to the details of the new tariff. Of cimrsu, this di.es not commit the Ministry, but it seems on the faco of it, to be a reasonable and statesmanlike request. Sir Henry Parkes, to whn.se petulance the >'ieetra'ders owe it that they have not at present a two-thirds majority, is now unanimously designated as the lender of the party. Tin- step on the face of it seums to'show groat poverty of resource, for if ever a leader deliberately trailed his party through the mire of disaster, Sir Henry Parkes did. But it seems to bo llobson's choice, He will either lead the party or destroy it, and they prefer tlio former, even though it should prove a leading to destiuction. The best thing that ciiuld happen to Sir Henry and the public would bo his acceptance of the Speakership. It is a post which perhaps no other man can (ill so well, in which, too, he could render .splendid public service, and onu of which his acceptance w.uikl rid the politics of New South Wales of their greatest disturbing force. A man who is potent to destroy but powerles? to build up, is rather a public danger than a public benefactor, Sill HEXIIV PARKF.S , MAKUIACK. Sir Henry's marriage, which at first was kept secret, has at last been announced, and has excited i;o little comment. The lato Lady l'arkes was for many years a chronic invalid, and it was expected in some quarters that Sir Henry would confer the title on Miss Dixon, his present wife, as soon as Lady Parkes died. However, he waited a reasonable time, and whatever may be thought of him politically, I cannot see that his marriage adds anything to Ins discredit. Tnless common report be a common liar, it is an act of reparation, which many other men in similar positions would do well to imitate. HAI.OO.VJXI':. Biilloonists aro causing wiine little stir. A few weeks ago I mentioned Hie feat of Mr Williams, n Sydney watchmaker, who ascended several thousand feet in a balloon and then dropped safely ti> earth, with tlio help of a parachute. Since, then the colony lim been visited by mi American performer, in the same, line—a Professor Baldwin, who proclaims to eclipse anything that has yet been doiiß in the way of plunging into apace. His particular specialty is that of being able in some, measure to guide his descent. He nlso drops some distance like a stunts before expauuing his parachute, and when it is expanded lie perforins acrobatic feats in thi) air. He lias already exhibited iu Melbourne, and has twice been announced to do so in Sydney. For some reason or other, whether it is that there were too great a proportion of "outside' , tickets or not, 1 do not, know, he declined to make the ascent in Sydney, but he hns now beeii challenged by the friends of Williams to a contest in his peculiar art. I need hardly say that tho j'cJph of competition brings iu a fiesh danprer tu a peculiarly hazardous extent. Unless the authorities interfere it seems only too evident that tho feats will increase iu foolhardiness until one of the performers loses his life. One does not envy the feelings of those who can take dolight in such spectacles. But it cannot Lβ denied that they are very popular especially among those who seek to enjoy them on th.: " cheap." A CUKIOL'S CASK. A curious case is reported from Murine, where the head gaoler, one .John Dictyhas been committed for trial foi shooting a gaoler, who was severely wounded, the bullet striking his chin. The prisoner is also clr.iigi'd with embezzling moneys handed him to pay the prison siihines. It would of course be out of place to say anyt'ning rospecliufr this particular case, further than that lons-continued indulgence in drinking - habits is said to be at the bottom of the trouble. It does, however, suggest a train of thought something after this wise :—i.n how many important ottices of State from the L%'isl:itivo Assembly downwards, ura the men who fill them engaged in qualifying themselves with move in- less rapidity for the niadlurnso "r the gaol'; And, whilst they are. thus engaged, what becomes of the work which they are supposed to bo duiug. hi a well-ordered machino every part does its work, and does that only. If a sudden fioak of destruetiveness were to sei/.j cog-wheel or rod or lever, what would be the result'.' Yet in tho service of the public it nppe-irs to be nobody's business to see that tlio work is faithfully done and we are occasionally start led by some terrible act which is in reality only the climax of a long-continued and L mny add a long wmked-at course of misdoing.

Tin-; people of the United .States use about 100,00D,0(K>lead pencils every year. Count von'Moi.tke bus served Germany siiniiiny years Hint most people have !"'"- biibly fnrßottcn that llio gruat strategist h ;i I >.iue unci originally seized in tli« Danish Army. It w.is nut for lone.;, however, for itt the ago of L'l ho sent iu bis resignation, which was endorsed by the Minister <>f War, who wrote thi'. [oll.iwmc wcrJ.-; »ii it for his Majesty's notice :— '■ Your Majesty's Government will lose nothing by u-leasins: the under i:i after years was a stern and bitter contradiction to this, though. Thk Rev. J I/Witt Talinapn states his position as follows:- ■•.involution and tho origin of the liuniau race do not trouble me. 1 am not so anxious to know what was my origin as to know what will be my destiny. I do not earn *<• much where I came from as where I am K"i"o to. i am not so interested in who was my ancestor ten million years from now. J am not so much interested i;i the preface to my cradle as 1 am interested iu the appendix to my Kiave. Ido not care j0 much about protoplasm 11 •: 1 do about etHnirt-itn. The li was " is overwhelmed with the " to '■"*•"'