OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 234, 13 December 1888, Page 2

OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] THE BLAKE AFFAIR : DEMOCRATS SUPPORTING THE SNOBS. Sydney, Nnr. 28. Since my last the makers of history have not been idle. Perhaps the most important event has been the almost ihi-munous stand taken by the Assembly in defence of the claim put forward by Queensland to bo allowed the privilege of rejecting a distasteful Governor. Prob tb y the declaration made by this colony has had more than anything else to do with the abandonment by tho Colonid office of the “offensive” policy on which it had embarked. At first sight the nomination of Sir Henry Blake seems a mere exercise of and nothing more. Lord Kuutsford had an influentially supported -candidate for whom he wished to find a billet and he claimed the right to een-i him to Queensland whether the Queenslanders liked it or not. Seeing that the most important essential of successful administration is the cordial co-operation and goodwill of the governed, this would be bad en ugh. But there is room to surmise that worse remained behind Queensland was the only colony which rejected the Naval Defence Bib, and it would be quite in accord with the general tenor of Tory traditi ns to inflict a severe snub in return for thia insubordination on the first opportun ty. The sudden death of the late Governor furnished the opportunity. The ameat of an ex-police magistrate in the ro>l “live lord” dear to “society” was the snub. Hence it that conscientious democrats and going radicals found themselves battle of the tuft-hunting circles and end-all is found in the Government House. Apparently, oddly allied forces have gained victory. Instead of administering » the Colonial Office finds itf-e’f snubbed being compelled io withdraw its candidate. The next scene in the comedy—the announ ement of Sir Henry's successor is looked for with a great deal of interest. A QUEER SURPLUS. The Treasurer’s surplus has been so pulled to pieces by “ candid friends ” and hostile critics that it is now pretty evident it h no surplus at all, but simply an amiable fallacy of figures, conjured up by oue-sided bookkeeping. Meanwhile precious time is bei g wast d in the re-statement and contradiction of this very patent fac% and it appears very evident that if the estimates are passed before Christmas it can only be by the usual unseemly haste and pressure. When the Government try to expedite matters they are met by the Opposition wi h threats of obstruction. It would be much more to the credit of both parties if they would combine their forces to get the necessary business transacted. There is no reasonable probability of effecting any great change in public opin on, or of obtaining any decisive party victory before the end of the brief session, so that the delay which is now being caused, from whatever point of view it is regarded, is inexcusable.

PLAYING “DUCKS AND DRAKES” WITH PUBLIC FUNDS. Powerful governments inevitably tend to political profligacy. When the inner history of the present administration comes to be written we shall find out how far it has illustrated the time-honored axiom. Meanwhile its outer his ory furnishes food for comment. We have the unemployed making roads through lands purchased by Min iters ; we see the Assembly making a desperate eff >rt, without any mandate from its constituents, to vote i'self money from the public funds ; we have the Premier proposing payment to the Public Works Committee, which contains savefal membe s of tho Assembly. But perhaps the biggest “ job ” of all is the proposal to send Mr Goodchap on a roving tour throughout Europe, Asia, and America, to inspect railways whose operations are already perfec’ly well known, and thoroughly detailed in the pr<»f« siional journals. This is looked upon alm universally as a “sop” to the powerful Goodchap faction in the House, who deeply resent tbe aupercession of that gentleman by our new y impor’ed Commissioner, Mr Eddy. When Mr Goodchap was at the he id of the department such a transparently useless expenditure ns this appears to be was never even hinted at. But now the expense of •u per vision has been raised from £1250 to £6OOO, it is suddenly declared that it fs absolutely necessary to spnnd four or five thousand pounds more. Aid that is urgently needel, by municipalities for instance, is sternly refused. Yet there is plenty of money for making “ ducks and drakes ” in this irresponsible m inner. Rome people hint at a hidden compact ; others, m >re given to romancing, declare that the ex-commissioner intended to enter Parliament and push the Premier from his perch. I don’t see that there is any need to resort to any farfetched hypotheses. The weakness and want of principle whioh are involved are very patent on thri face of the transaction-—so patent that they ought to secure its rejection. THE NEW SOUTH WALES CLIMATE. It is wry disquieting to learn that while we have been comforting ourselves with hopes of a gradual return to prosperity, the absence of the usual spring rains is causing hard hip and loss neady all over the col »ny. There

was a very fair lambing but now the lambs are dying. Except in a few favored cases la a few favorable localities the wheat crop will be nil The rain still holds off and the outlook is gio my in the extreme. An idea is gaining ground that the salvation of agricu turists is to be found in water trusts and irrigation, and that of pastoralists in the storage of ensilage. Both of these have been found successful in practice, J|A this colony is very bickw&rd in them. One oiuse of this is to be foundHu the chaotic state of the laws relating to water conservation, which puts an effectual veto on tbe employment of capital. DISCOVERY OF NATURAL GAS. The latest industrial sensation in the metropolis is tbe discovery of natural gas at Narrabeen, near Manty. While boring for coal at a depth of some 1600 feet, the gas began to force its way up the bore, and the workmen do their cooking and lighting by it. Of course, it is quite possible that it may merely prove to be a small reservoir which will soon be exhausted. At present, however, the pressure is sufficient to overcome a column of water estimated at 800 co the square inch. It is in the hands of a syndicate, who intend appealing to the public for capital to test and develop their discovery. They state that the gas is identical in composition with that of Pittsburg (U.S.), which has almost entirely displaced coal for manufacturing purposes, being found adequate even to the smelting of metals, and the melting and forging of iron. Should the Narrabeen discovery turn out to be on the same scale, it is predicted that the North Shore will promptly become the most important manufacturing centre in Australia, tbe expense of utilising natural gas being very much less than that of using coal. The Pittsburg reservoirs have been tapped, I believe, for about 27 years, and show no signs of exhaustion. It is, therefore, quite within the bounds of possibility that the Narrabeen discovery may turn out a very “ big thing.” On the ocher hand, extended operations may cause it to “ peter out ” with inglorious promptitude. Meanwhile, the fact which is mist prominent in the minds ot the investing public is that they are likely to be asked for money, and their first impulse is to button up their pockets accordingly.

A “ HAPPY FAMILY.” The destruction by fire of the new offices of the Evening News last Sunday night, though a terrible calamity, had its bright side. 11 revealed the strength of the resources of metropolitan journalism, and the esprit de corps by which its directors are actuated. The proprietors of tbe Herald placed their machinery at the disposal of the News, and two rival evening papers are now amiably set up and printed side by aide. Half tbe Town and Country Journal will be printed at the Daily Telegraph office, and the Government printer will lend hjs powerful aid to bring out the remainder. J