OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 218, 6 November 1888, Page 3

OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

(FBOM OVB OWK COBBESPONDEKT.) Sydney, Oct. 24. The silly season is over. So at least, we are told, though I am free to confess that the information is not received with that unreserved and unconditional belief which ought to follow a statement so self evident. Parliament met yesterday. Once more the refulgent light of our “ collective wisdom ” illuminates the land. Surely the re gn of silliness is at an end, for a time, at least. But people whose memories are more active than their organs of hope shake their heads incredulously. I don't want to rip open o'd sores by explaining categorically what it is my pessimistic friends remember, or how it is that after an existence of nearly two years the House is now invited to commence the most pressing of the hu-inesa it was elected to transact—namely, the setting of our financial house in order and arranging for the national expenditure before the money is all disbursed. Let us start afresh. Let bygones be bygones. U the present Assembly, even thus late in the day, will make some serious, well-directed eff ■rt to redeem its election pledges the sins of the past won’t be remembered against it. So far, I am bound to say, everything seems l favorable. The Governor’s speech, instead of a pretentious list of ambitious which it would be impossible to states that the chief business will consideration of the estimates, and larger measures with which the desires to be identified—the bill, electoral reform, and local selfIBEverument—shall be allowed to stand over. Tfetween now and Christmas there are 24 Bitting days—none too many for the work of xn*. kins' our outgoings balance our incomings, but still reasonably sufficient. It seems to me that the man who wastes them by opening the floodgates of talk on irrevelant topics, still more the man who wilfully obstruct*, as some of the more ardent Oppositionists threatened to do, will have a great deal to answer fnr If the Government deserve credit for the modesty of their programme, the Opposition deserve it for tne'r forbearance Instead of the dreary wrangle which usually follows the moving of the address-ir:-reply it was suffered to pass wi'hout any attempt at amendment, 0 course whicn leaves the decks clear for action, and which, I hope, gives the key-note to th* tune which the Opposition are going to play. There was one little “ rift in the lute.” The leadership of the Opposition is in commission. But the three or four possible leaders are each desperately afraid that ths others will usurp the coveted position So if one grt. up to speak, ail the others | make it a point of following him in order to show practically that one man is as good as toother, and a great deal better. This threefold infliction is too bad altogether. Rumor* of approaching dissolution are rife. The Protectionists declare that the country Is with them and the more fiery spirits desire to fore* an appeal to the constituencies. On the other hand there is reason to believe that the Premier himself is by no means unwilling to grant their wish and that if they are in earnest they ean have their request as soon as supply is voted. Parliament must expire next year by effluxion of time, and it is a noteworthy fact that the longer a Government Is in office the more unpopular it beoomes. Therefore there is practic 1 wi-dom in not putting off the evil day. In view of such a contingency it may be hoped that both par< ies will b on th- ir best behaviour. Among the sin* of the recess, which the Government is being hauled over the coals for, is the notorious Holt case, in which they are accused of playing fast and loose with the prerogative of mercy. As manager of the Sydney branch of the Bank of New Zealand Mr Holt had made a large number of influential friends both in speculative, •pc: ting, and political circles. When he was sen forced to a term of imprisonment for embezzling the bank’s funds, these gentlemen made stupendous efforts to effect his release. It has now been *hown that they had friends at court also, that the Minister for Justice had signed a minute, formally recommending the remission of the remainder of the sentence, and that the Premier had also banded Holt’s solicitor a written memorandum pledging himself to carry out whatev- r the Minister for Justise might seriously recommend But such a storm of disapproval was raised as soon as th* project got wind, that it was incontinently abandoned, the Ministry taking very high ground indeed in the refusal. Then Mr Mcl aughlin. Holt’s solicitor, published the entire correspondence. He charges the Premier with heartless unscrupulousneis and tergiversation. But the la‘ter declares that he had not seen Mr Clarke’s minute recommending the release at the time he gave his own pledge, and that he gave the latter “in an unguarded moment,” never dreaming that his colleague would take such a step. The Ministry certainly don’t come out of the aff ir well, and the claims which they put forward for having acted with Spartan virtue are ludicrously misapplied. There is no doubt that if they had had their own way Holt would have been at liberty long ago. A* it is they have raised hopes in his mind which they cannot fulfil, thus unwarrantably adding to the severity of his sentence, and they have entirely destroyed any confidence that might have been felt in the impartiality of their administration of justice. The names of Mr Eddy’s colleagues have at last been announced. The two gentlemen who are to assist him in reforming our rail administration and showing a thumping Mprplu* where there is now a howling deficit wre Mr 0. Oliver, late Under-Secretary for Lands, and Mr Fehnn, lately a partner in a Victorian carrying firm. Both of them are believed to be men of great probity and ability, and a* they are entirely unconnected with th* department and it* previous traditions they will hav* a splendid opportunitv for putting matters on a sound basis. It’s very much easier to make a respectable show on a clean sheet than it is to rectify one which has already been defaced. Mr Oliver ha* apparently been chosen on the principle of setting a thief to catch a thief. Political influence is suppneed to be the chief source of railway troubles, and the Lands department, over which Mr Oliver has hitherto presided is the most preposterously over* manned of the whole Civil Service. If any one is. thoroughly versed in the wiles employed by influential billet hunters it surely should be Mr Oliver. Respecting Mr Fshon, who comes to us as a practical man, there is a good d*al of perplexity and some dissatisfaction, tfe can understand that it might have been strictly necessary to go outside the department for a third Commissioner. . But surely it was not necessary to gp outside ths colony. However, as there were a large number of candidates whose Claims were apparently of equal value, perhaps the course adopted will give less offence to the gr#«at army of the rejected than if one of their own number had been promised over the heads of al the rest. Mr Go-de’nap, the sx-commissioner, retired on Monday lust on a comfortable pension of over £9OO a year. He is an able man, and perhaps, if h« could be placed in the satnf position as Mr Eddy, with regard to freedom from interference, he might be quite «• canahle of Giving a good account of himself. But that |e obviously as impossible as it would be for • wife to get back to the state of her maiden hood. Mr Eddy enters upon hi. task with the sympathy and good wishes <f all whoso good wishes are worth anything, and notwithstanding all that has been said against the recent appointments, there is every reason to believe that he will obtain valuable assistance and loyal support from his colleagues. Jn mining circles considerable sensation has been caused by the publication of Mr How.ll',l report on the White lirck Proprietary mine. This is a pretentious concern with a capital of half a million and five shilling calls once a month, of which about threefourths go straight into the pockets of the promoters a. a reward for their magnanimity Ih‘ allowing the contributing shareholders to give value to the property. Mr Howell 1« one of the best judges in tha world. He recommends a heavy outlay on machinery, and, read between tbs lines, the report says it is very problematical it there will ever be goy return,