OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2655, 18 July 1889, Page 3

OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

[TUOM on ft OWN < 'ouuKsrox I>HNX ]. I'UOTKCTION IST VICTOI4V. Thk seat at Redfern has gone to the Protectionists by a very narrow majority. The Free Trade papers attribute the rebuff to the enthusiasm and determination displayed by the victors and to the lack of these qualities in the ranks of the vanquished. This finding is doubtless true, and it constitutes an important admission, namely, that there is something in the Protectionist cause which arouses enthusiasm, whilst there is an absence of this all-important clement 011 the other side. It must be remembered that masses of men are not made enthusiastic by any determinate volition of their own. Still less are they made enthusiastic by any v£ tulhedra- uttsrance of other men, in the way of solemn declarations that they ought to be so. Not even when the exhorters occupy the position of the Herald and ielegraph do such directions awaken any response in the minds of the masses. They must see something to arouse enthusiasm, some intelligent well-directed effort to remove the ills under which the country labours, especially to stimulate industry so as to absorb the unemployed and develop to the utmost national resources. lam not now arguing that Protection is the best means of achieving this end, although the experience of the United States find 0: Victoria shows pretty clearly that Protection is not incompatible with very vigorous national prosperity. But I do say that Protectionists openly and visibly direct their efforts to secure these dfisirablc ends, and vast numbers sympathise with the efforts, and are not disposed to be severely critical about the means which are employed. The Freetraders, on the other hand, give the impression that they don't care whether 111dustiies are ruined, whether men by thousands are unemployed or whethei the country generally goes to the dogs, provided it goes there 011 the Freetiade lilies. This" is not an attitude which awakens the appreciation of any of the nob'er faculties, and as long as it is maintained further Protectionist \ iotorics may be expected, except, of course, whlre there is a strong feeling of selfinterest 011 the other side.

INOCULATION V. DISEASE. The puzzle-headed people who imagine that to escape disease, it ia necessary to infect their flocks and heids with disease, are agitating strongly for the general adoption of M. l'astenr's system of inoculation as a preventati\c of anthrax. Anthrax, or Cumberland disease is one of the most terrible scourgcs of the aniiiiiil creation, and, in ordei to sccure themselves against it, they propose to spread it broadcast over the countiy. This is like providing against lire by scattering sparks. Not only will they scatter anthrax, but with it all inoculable taints of the animals from which the virus is taken will be communicated, to say nothing of the dangers arising from ordinary pycotnia or blood-poisoning. Jt is, of cuursc, impossible to argue with these people from first principles. Their logical faculties must be in a very confused state before they could entertain the idea of obtaining any good results from a practice so revolting. Having entertained it, the hope of gain or distinction, or of evading the operation of natural laws by some magic hocus-pocus conveyed by a bit of filth 011 the point of a lancet, keeps them staunch in their new-found heresy, on the principle that "a gift blinds the eyes." But if reasoning from first principles is ineffective, the logic of facts cannot be gainsaid. It is 110 new heavenborn expedient which M. Pasteur is offering the people of INew south A\ ales. 11 is a theory which has been tried and found wanting—absolutely exploded and condemned in the midst of all men who_ are capable of judging evidence. But it is part of the policy of those who arc interested to keep the evidence concealed, so far as it conflicts with their wishes, and only to bring into prominence that which can be wrested into a support of their views. Dr. W. C. Wilkinson made a very valuable contribution to the Sydney Morning Herald a few days ago. He shows very clearly that the results of adopting the practice must be very unsatisfactory, if not terribly disastrous, and that to make it compulsory or even common would be little short of insanity. MR SANTLKV'S VISIT. Lovers of music have been delighted by the advent of Mr Santlcy, a veteran English singer, whose name alone is sufficient to draw good audiences. I cannot follow the musical critics through the maze of technical terms in which they describe Mr Santley's singing, but the crowded houses and hearty applause show that the season, which, by the way, closes 011 Saturday, is an unqualified success. SIIAMEFUI, NKUI.IGKNCIi.

The costly results of playing at soldiers with improved artillery as I tovs lias come to light in some papers laid before the Legislative Council. It is stated that three ritlnl SO-poundcrs at Steel J oinr, nave became so much choked up with rust that a few fuel from the muzzle it Mas impossible to tell whether the guns were smooth liorea or rilled. The guns, it is feared are permanently damaged, as the lust has eaten into the metal, and the sli"htest damp will further increase the damage. Eight up to the time that this discovery was made the guns were described in otlieia] reports as being " clean ami lit for service,'' whereas their condition is such that it may be necessary to condemn them, i'ur three months the papers revealing this state of affairs have been in the possession of the Covernment, but nothing appears to have been done Hut certainly the facts which are revealed are not much worse than the "ioi.igs of the Casual Labour Hoard, ~ hi<m cost quarter of a million, and v.-hieli W<<r« alWfed to go 3u for t\vei\e piuntiis before a atop vvaa put to tliem.

Perhaps, therefore, it would be unreasonable to expect the Government to take any notice of the matter, especially as n general policy of (l drift " appears to be almost universally condoned. THE LABOUR BOARD FRAUDS. The case against Mr John Davies, 0.M.G., who was charged with having embezzled the funds of the Casual Labour Board, was dismissed on its merits by Mr Stipendiary Fisher, who decided that although the evidence revealed laxness in dealing with public money, no primit J'ncie case of fraud had been made out. The decision to me seems unassailable. I am certain that no ordinary individual would be convicted by a jury on such evidence as was adduced, and although the public indignation in this case is very strong, it is highly undesirable that any judicial proceedings should be biassed by populai feeling° Besides, the revelations concerning the ITornsby and Holt-butherlaud roads, by which certain Ministers themselves were shown to have proiitted, me of far graver public import than any trilling quibble as to the disposal of certain cheques. The one involves thousands of pounds, the other tens. The one reveals tiie principles on which the Board conducted its operations. The other mainly resolves itself into the question whether Mr Davies was or was not a methodical man of business, thoroughly posted in all the intricacies of book-keeping by double entry. Now, no one ever suspected him of any great proficiency in the latter accomplishment. Therefore the inquiry to a certain extent is devoid of interest, whereas the other involves questions of the deepest importance as affecting the principles of upright administration. " I.UCKY " .SHAREIIOLUKKS.

The last hope of Taranganba shareholders lias been shattered. You will remember that the company was floated with a capital of one million and with a flourish of trumpets which declared the mine to bo a second Mount Morgan. At one time the shares were actually selling at a price which represented a value of three-quarters of a million. Experts gave glowing reports, which inHatccl the credulity and avarice of the gamblins* section of the public to the highest pitch. One estimate led to the conclusion that there was golden stone in sight worth from ten to twenty millions of money—l forgot which. One of the director's reports states that the vendor of the property—a Mr Robert Ross — was always able to obtain specimens which gave most encouraging assays of gold, but that others experienced great difficulty in confirming these results. After an incomprehensible period of inaction, the Queensland Government at last instructed their geologist—Mr Jack—to make an exhaustive examination of the ground. He has done so, and his report practically dictates that the so-called " mine" is of uo more value than the surrounding country. He used tests so delicate that they would have detected the presence of gold in sea water, but in the majority of eases without results. In those cases in which " the colour " of gold was perceptible the quantity was 110 greater than is to be found in any quartz country in Australia. It is to be hoped that the matter will not be allowed to rest where it is at present.