OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 271, 17 February 1881, Page 2

OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

(From a New South Wales Correspondent.) Sydney, Feb. 4.

Nothing of any great importance has transpired lately in Parliamentary circles. The time of the country has been taken up by a few of our old members making attacks upon officers in the public service for abusing the privileges appertaining to their various departments. Mr. Goodchap, Commissioner of Railways, had a very severe lecture road him by that well-known but bully-ragging politician, Mr. M‘Elhone, on the subject of granting too many free railway passes. In the Legislative Council on Wednesday the Temporary Supply Bill for January was passed through all its stages, and will be returned to the Legislature on Tuesday next. It will then require the consent of his Excellency the Governor, and as s< >on as that is given the salaries of the civil servants for the past month can be paid. The Council now stands adjourned until Wednesday next. The public mind has for some time past been exercised as to the method to be finally adopted for the supply of water to the city and suburbs. The excitement engendered by the recent water famine has drifted, as it were, into the question whether the Government proposal to bring the water from the Nepean river at a cost cf two millions shall be carried out, or the Kenny Hill scheme of Mr. Gipps, which, it is alleged, will furnish an adequate supply of water by gravitation, and, consequently, high pressure. An influential committee, formed by the citizens in favor of the Kenny E ill scheme, has been the means of induci ig the Government to stay certain portions

of the Nepean scheme which were about to be carried out, and which would have interfered with Mr. Gipps’ proposals. Mr. Moriarty, the Engineer-in-Chief, has now reported fully on Mr. Gipps’ proposals, condemning them, and alleging at the same time that, owing to the fact that the wafer will have to be brought in pipes, the cost ' ill exceed that of the Nepean scheme ; although the latter contains ten miles of tunnelling. Mr. Moriarty’s last report has been severely criticised and commented upon. Professional men have shewn glaring inconsistencies in it, and notwithstanding'the fact that the Goi eminent seem inclined to adhere to the Nepean scheme, every effort is being made to show that our Engineer-in-Chiof has not only acted in a domineering spirit towards Mr. Gipps, but at the same time that the very arguments lie adduces against Mr. Gipps’ scheme prove him to be incompetent to hold the important position he now does. Another point of difference is in the height of a certain reservoir at Waverley, fixed upon by the late Mr. Clark, the eminent engineer. Mr - Gipps and his numerous friends aver that in order to damage their scheme, Mr. Moriarty has deliberately raised the height of the reservoir above alluded to some 40 feet. The question is now before Parliament, and the discussions that have already taken place show that it is likely to be a very sore one. The ceremony of opening the great Southern Railway from Gerogery to

Albury was surrounded by all the eclat and enthusiasm befitting an event of such national importance as the connection of the capital of Sydney with Albury on the southern frontier, and the establishment of through communication by rail from Sydney to Melbourne. The'formal opening of the railway took place after the arrival of the Victorian team (about 2 p.m.) The platform was occupied by a number of gentlemen, prominent among whom were Sir Henry Parkes, Mr. John Lackey, Mr. Berry (Premier of Victoria), and Mr. Patterson (Victorian Minister of Railways). The banquet was attended by a large assemblage. Mr. Edmonson, Mayor of Albury, occupied the chair, with Sir Henry Parkes on his right, and Mr. Berry on his left. Near also were other distinguished visitors, including a number of members of Parliament .and others. As a wind-up to the festivities of the day a ball was held in the new Goods Shed, about 700 couples being present. Dancing was kept up till the “ ama’” hours. Albury and Wodogona were both en fete, and great satisfaction was expressed at the fact that all passed off ■without a hitch. • The screw-steamer Gollaroy still remains a wreck on Manly Beach. As the tide did not float her yesterday, no efforts were made to get her off, and the contractors have suspended operations until, next high tides. A heavy sea broke over tlie'Steamers yesterday, but apparently did no injury. She lies deep in a bed of sand, and, for the time being, has every appearance of being safe. The proprietors of the Bulletin have been served with a writ, at the instance of Mr. Robertson, solicitor, of this city, for libel. Damages are laid at LIO,OQO. The nature of the libel is in reference to his private life in the early days of the colon j. The Emerald left Sydney on the Bth of December last, on a cruise to the South Seas, to endeavor to punish the natives for the numerous massacres of Europeans

that have taken place in different parts of the Solomon group.. She has now returned, bringing one prisoner and two witnesses from Brooker Island. Her arrival in this port caused for the time great excitement, but us soon as it became publicly known that all that, had been done to avenge the death of the crew of H.M. gunboat Sandfly and other massacres, was that a few villages had been burnt to the ground and tw6 natives killed, general dissatisfaction was expressed. The natives of the fSouth Sea Islands treat our squadron with contempt, saying that—“ Big ship come, make a great deal of noise, and then leave.” A Naval depot is now being advocated by all our leading journals, and the late South Sea massacres will, on the meeting of Parliament, form a very important question.

A rather strange relic in the shape of a skull was picked up while excavating for the addition to our General Post Office, George street. It is evidently that of an aboriginal, and there is reason to believe of one who met with a violent death. There is a perforation in the skull, as though it had been pierced by a spear, and the relic is probably part of some old brave who fell fighting for his rights against the British. The skull was found embedded 15ft. from the present sdrface, and in the bed of an j-old stream. When our principal street (George street) was a forest rivulet, the skull was probably washed down from a higher position, where the' remainder of the old warrior may be lying. The differences which existed, between the members of the Austrian- Band ,and the entrepreneurs who brought .them to the colonics, were amicably arranged,‘and the public were treated last night to s6me fine orchestral music in the Exhibition Building, in Prince Alfred Park. Last night’s performance was conducted by Herr Braun, in the presence of an appreciative audience of 2,700 persons. ■ Mr. Garner, of the Theatre Royal, intends disbanding the London Comedy Company, who have had such a successful run, and has engaged Mr. J. C. Williamson to produce for the first time in this city, Messrs. Gilbert and Sullivan’s “ Pirates of Penzance.”

It is currently rumored that Sir Archibald Michic, after an absence of twentyfive years, intends making Sydney once more his home. Victoria can to lose such a distinguished man. The intense heat still prevails, with no apparent chance of a change. To-day the thermometer showed 87dcgs. in the shade. : During the day several eases of sunstroke were reported at the infirmary. None proved fatal. A company has been lately formed here with a view of establishing a Telephone Exchange. The principal business men of the city are strongly in favor of its formation. y, That eminent artist, Miss Christian, has paid Sydney a visit, accompained by Mr. Turner and Miss Annie Montague. She gives a series of concerts in the old Exhibition Bindings. By the arrival of the barque Kosciusko, from London, yesterday, a valuable addition to the thoroughbred horse stock of this colony was made. They consist of five thoroughbred horses, shipped by the well-known William Blenkiron, of Kent, England—and arc the property of Mr. E. King Cox, of Penrith. The prospectus of the Sydney and Country Bank appears this morning. The reasons given for the launching of a new Bank in Sydney are such as to arrest attention and merit considei’ation.