SYDNEY NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 5348, 19 November 1885, Page 2

SYDNEY NEWS.

[from a correspondent.]

The events of this month now drawing to a close have bpen of a lively and interesting nature. The sth instant heralded in the 30th anniversary of the initiation of the eight-hour system— the working man's holiday. The members of the different societies collected in Cook Park, and formed into a procession at nine o'clock. About 24 societies were represented, each one having its banners and bannerets— the head banner of each society being large, cosHy, and beautiful, and bearing a motto suitable for the occasion — and its band (which played inspiriting airs on the wav to the ground at Moore Park. The procession was fully a mile long — marching four deep— and besides the gay appearance of the banners, and the music of the bands, it was made more attractive by several societies working at their re-

spective trades in lorries drawn by horses. ' For instance, the confectioners were lollymaking, the stone masons were working at a large block of greenstone, whilst oh another lorry was a smithy, and on another the Seamen's Union were demonstrating the method adopted by the "Burwah" officers and men of saving the lives of the passengers and crew of the "Cahors," which was recently wrecked on Evans Reef. The procession was a magnificent success from every point of view, the sports were admirably conducted, and great good order prevailed throughout the day amongst the 37,000 who paid for admission. In the evening a banquet was given to the delegates representing kindred societies in other colonies. It was numerously attended by prominent citizens ; the speeches were good, and it was a great success. For a week afterwards a conference was held, and many important questions were discussed — assisted immigration, protection of native industries, payment of members, of Parliament (which will soon be adopted here), and federation of trade unions throughout the colonies, were the chief matters discussed. Such was the termination of the eight-hour demonstration. The early days of the month saw the departure of Mr Dion Boucicault, the Irish author-actor, whose season here has been a great success, dramatically and financially. His two most popular pieces here were the "Shaughraun"and "Colleen Bawn." Dion's forte as an actor is in the pourtrayal of the simple, humorous, Irish peasant. His "make up" as a young man, his life and activity on the stage, is wonderful for a man over 60 years of age. His brogue and Irish sayings are natural and perfect. His son Dion (junior) is the actor. In the two dramas mentioned above, he finds scope for his powers as a villainous man-servant. As such a character, especially in the Colleen Bawn, he is powerful and affecting. His struggle in the drowning of Eily O'Connor, which is also a struggle with his conscience, is a masterly, powerful, and perfect piece of acting. He is generally regarded as a superior actov to his father. Miss Boucicault is a pretty, simple Irish peasant girl, and her acting is good. As " Colleen Bawn" she was exceedingly good, and won thousands of applause with bouquets too numerous to acknowledge separately. Miss Thornton (now since her arrival in Sydney Mrs Dion Boucicault, senr.) is a good actress, very affecting as a proud haughty mother in the " Colleen Bawn." The family were invited to a picnic during their stay here, and Dion made a speech \ to the 400 ladies and gentlemen present, which was commented On by the press in a eulogistic manner. As the curtain fell on the la<t scene of "The Jilt," Mr Dan O'Connor presented Mr Dion Boucicault with a medal, and in a speech in reply he said that he was going to write an Australian drama, and would return in a year or so to produce it. He also alluded to the grand building — Her Majesty's Theatre — in the course of erection, which, he said, when completed would rival those of Europe and America. All play-goers will welcome another Boucicault season when it comes again. The inimitable Thomas Bracken made his first appearance before a Sydney audience on the 7th inst. And what an audience! Some 80 persons were seated in the spacious new Masonic Hall when the clock struck eight, but this did not damp the lecturer's courage, nor render his lecture less interesting and his recitals less amusing. If the audience was small, the appreciative powers of it were great, for an outsider judging by the applause would imagine a crowded house. Many regrets were expressed by the audience when Mr Bracken said that on account of the meagre attendance there that evening he would not lecture again, ft is hard to say whether Paddy Murphy will forget the appreciation of the audience or the audience itself the sooner. On the 7th inst. Miss M. M'Carthy was married to Mr Wm. Casey. She is the first Greymouthian resident in Sydney who has entered the matrimonial bond, but several are waitins for — the winter. Parliament met in the beginning of last month, and although the Government had a working majority, Sir Alexander Stuart could not get through any business. Mr Burns was appointed temporary, leader of the Opposition, in the absence of the veteran Sir John Robertson, who was seriously ill, and he moved an amendment on the Address-in-reply deploring thft late time of the year that Parliament had been called together. After a fortnight's discussion the amendment was lost. Then Mr Garvan brought forward a motion censuring Hon. Mr Wright, Minister for Works, for accepting a portfolio, and being at the same time a Government contractor, doing an immense business with the Government, especially through the railway department, over which he had control. .Mr Garvan in an argumentative speech showed that such a: Government contractor occupying such a position, or even a seat in the House, was against the spirit of the Constitution. Mr Wright is head of the firm Wright, Heaton, & Co., the largest carrying firm in the Southern Hemisphere. The palatial offices Of the firm recently built, and the great business carried on by them, is a practical proof ef the administrative ability of Mr F. S. Wright, who once owned a pick and shovel on the diggings, and afterwards drove a team, and who now drives an immense business. It must be a consolation to him that during the heated discussion on the motion^ which lasted several days, Mr Wright's honesty, ability, or straightforwardness was never once called into question. The motion was defeated, but was supported by the PfeßS. As soon as this motion was disposed of Sir Henry Parkes gave notice of another praying his Excellency to dissolve Parliament "on account of the late

period of the year." The House adjourned errly in the morning until 4 o'clock m the afternoon. Many rumors were m circulation, and weary discussions were going on outside concerning political affairs, and at the hour of 4 a Gazette appeared proroguing Parliament to the 10th October. The Opposition members were in great glee, and the excitement wia intensified when a few days afterwards Sir Alexander Stuart sent in his resignation and that of his colleagues. Mr Dibbs (Treasurer in the Stuart Ministry) was sent for. He form ed a Ministry which comprised Mr Wright and several of his Golleagues in' the late Ministry. During the session several abuses were brought up, and the Government were charged with destroying sub- . atantial fencing along the railways throughout the colony and replacing it with " barbed wire" fencing, several members of the Ministry being large shareholders in the company ; also, " Standard paint •was being used by the Government to their own advantage and to the exclusion "of other paints— several members of the ' Ministry were also, shareholders in this company. But the short session was made more remarkable by the attacks on the Governor by Sir Henry Parkes and Mr Angus Cameron, Chairman of Committees for many yearß past. The speech by the former did much to lower the tone of the Assembly, and when he said that Lord Loftus was the " most insignificant and most narrow-minded man who had ever occupied his posit on," the House was silent, save Mr Cameron, who interjected that he (the Governor) knew more about " Muscovy ducks and poultry than politics." Sir Henry's speech was most offensive, and is best summed up by Mr Dalley, when reviewing the doings of the session, and supporting the candidature of Mr Dibbs, he said :— " Of one thing you may be assured, that no injury that can be inflicted upon the country will be half so fatal to its prosperity as the practice of recklessly, for base partisan purposes, slandering the character of those who are charged with its Government. I think there is not a man in the colony who does not feel thoroughly ashamed of our Parliamentary proceedinorß during the past six weeks — who does not wish them, if that were possible, to be blotted out from the pages of our history. Not alone the attacks upon men of public character and position, but the cruel, cowardly, shameful imputations upon persons helpless by their station and their absence have dishonored us all. For the first time, as far as I can remember in «ur Parliamentary history, a direct and most insolent attack upon the Queen's representative ; another brutal one on the private character of his son. And in the desire to soil an achievement of which the world is proud, a gallant officer (Lieut. Mulholland, who was charged with creeping under a cannon during an engagement in the Soudan) was charged with disgraceful cowardice, and could not compel a privileged libeller to pive the name of the author of the slander. Just think of this attack upon his Excellency !" The r elections are nigh over, and already the fate of Mr Dibbs's ministry is sealed: The utmost excitement and interest were centred in the St Leonard's elections where Sir Henry Parkes went out of his way to oppose Mr Dibbs, whom he called Captain Moonlight, the leader of a gang of bushrangers who were captured at Want-a- Badgery (Want and Badgery being two ministers). During the whole campaign he used^most abusive and insolent language fowards his opponent, who acted as a gentleman throughout. Mr Dibbs was defeated by several hundred votes, Mr Badgery, Minister for Works, fared like-wise,^whUsjt--Miy^Wriglit was annihilated by the constituency which three years ago placWhim Stthe top of the poll. The latter has acquiesced in popular opinion, and has retired into private life. Mr Dibbs, who has overcome many difficulties in life, is determined to meet the House if he can geielected ; but it is thought Mr Barton, the able and learned speaker of the House in the last administration, will be next Premier. The local optionists exerted themselves to the utmost during the elect- \ ion, and as they were well organised and worked hard, . they were very successful in returning men. Nearly two-thirds of the returned members are in favour of local option being extended to the renewal of busines'. The Protectionists fared badly indeed — three of their most prominent members of the League, includiug the S^Bretaryj losing their £40 deposit. Mr Kethel, a hard-headed Scotchman, an architect F of his own fortune (in the shipping business), however, was returned for South Sydney. He and Mr Eorsyth are both protectionists, and are men of more than average ability. These with Mr Heydon and Mr O'Sullivan, both able speakers, will be able to protect the princi plea of the league sufficiently well for the next three years. Many of the representatives are in favour of payment of members, and it is probable that New South Wales will soon pay for its j legislation. Mr Miriam Melville — who was charged with receiving £25 commission for his influence in obtaining an additional jJIOO from the government for a piece of land— in defending himself said "We must live." Many members have pronounced themselves in its favour, and no doubt many more are wishing payment, although pronouncing against the system, but none have in their stump speechts argued against payment. So the feeling on the question is clearly seen . The Hon. Mr Wm. Bede Dalley will soon leave for England. The Hon. gentleman has not been in the best of health for the past year or two, and after the dispatch of "the contingent to Soudan he was very seriously indisposed. May he return with health and strength fully restored. A new .daily evening paper to be called the Globe will soon make its appearance, with its weekly Sunday Times. Mr JJaynes, the originator of the Bulletin, has started Hayne's WeeUy, price 3d. It is written in a racy style, and is full of humor. It went off like wild fire and is likely to live. Mr Tom Coy, who organised the Daily Telegraph crew, was presented with a writing desk by his fellow comps on the staff of that paper last Saturday week. Just as Igo to post Mr Wm. Beach has accepted the challenge of Ned Matterson, for £200 aside and the championship of the world, which is held by the former. The race will take place on the 19th December, on the Parramatta river. The latter has many friends, and will no doubt be backed heavily. Beach gains flesh very quickly, and although it is a difficult matter to get him down to 12 stone, it is a much more difficult matter to keep him .at it. Matterßou is the young Clarence River sculler— the " dark un " of Mr Michael

Beach, kept In reserve by him for Hanlan. He is not yet 21 years of age, and is said to be developing a splendid physique* Last week he won the £80 prize for the all comers' race at the Lake Bathurst Regatta, in which Beach had promised to row ; but, though present, he did not contest. Both men have gone into training, and the match will doubtlessly excite much' attention in aquatic circles. October 31st, 1885.