NEW SOUTH WALES.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVIII, Issue 94, 23 November 1859, Page 3

NEW SOUTH WALES.

NOTES OF THE WEEK. [From the Sydney Morning Serald.J Saturday, 15th October. Our last notes were made up for the Emu's mail, and there has not been much of a noteworthy character since. The great questions of State-aid and of Education are standing over to await the decision of the Assembly upon Mr. Martin's motion for a vote of censure. Upon that motion the House has been battling all night. The ministerial majority successfully resisted every effort for an adjournment of the debate, and, after a rest of about two hours this morning, »hey were at it again. It was not until about noon that the struggle ended. The ministerial majority, as shown by the several divisions, seems to be from eight to twelve. As we anticipated, there have been many appeals to the Legislature against the abolition of State aid to religious establishments. These are evidently the result of an organized counter agitation. There have been a few strong appeals the other way, but the organization is wanting. The popular feeling upon this question has, however, been too loudly and too plainly expressed to allow of any doubt as to what that feeling is. The suit of Purves v. Lang and others has terminated unfavourably to the reverend defendant and his co-trustees. According to the decree of the Primary Judge, the resistance by the Rev. Dr. Lang of the Synod's authority is sufficient to warrant his removal both from the ministry and the trusteeship of the Scots' Church, in Jamison-street, and his removal from both posts has accordingly been directed. Mr. Ramsay, the Doctor's co-trustee, now absent from the colony, has been removed also, and they are directed to pay the costs of the suit. We presume, however, that there will be an appeal.

The members of the New South Wales Alliance for the Suppression of Intemperance have quarrelled among themselves. It is a sad thing that men engaged in a common object of the most praiseworthy character cannot avoid these unseemly squabbles. Surely, with a little forbearance on both sides, matters might be arranged. The quarrel is between the trustees of the Hall and the members, or a portion of them. The latter find fault with the powers of the former, and with the mode in which those powers have been exercised. There has been a recent meeting, at which it was proposed to invoke legislative interference to limit these powers. The ladies, on the other hand, had begun to stir themselves as temperance advocates. The first public , meeting of the Sydney Female Temperance Society was held yesterday evening, at the City Mission chapel, in Sussexstreet. None are more interested in the advocacy of temperance principles than females. If they will but take up the matter earnestly and unitedly, they can do wonders. Saturday, 22nd October. Another ministerial crisis! Mr. Cowper's Education Bill was rejected by the Assembly, and that rejection was immediately followed by the resignation of himself and his colleagues. This resignation took most people by surprise. It could hardly be said that there was a ministerial stand made for the second reading of the bill, for there were but eight votes recorded in its favour, while there were fifty-seven against it. And among the latter were many of Mr. Cowper's, most staunch friends. It was not expected, therefore, that it would be treated as a ministerial defeat. There is, probably, in this movement something more than meets the eye

The defeat of the ministerial education scheme became certain as soon as public opinion thereon began to be fairly expressed. It had few friends, and these few had no arguments worthy of the name to advance in its favour. The attempt to get up a popular demonstration in support of it last week was a dead failure. The supporters of the bill talked against time, and the opponents of it iudulged themselves by getting up a sort of vocal tempest. Midnight was drawing unpleasantly near, aijd the meeting was compelled to adjourn without coming to any conclusion. The adjourned meeting was never held. The supporters of the bill felt that public opinion was against them, and that there was no chance of getting up a demonstration. The plan of sending round petitions was therefore resorted to, and with more success.

But the opponents of the bill were more confident, and their success was complete. They also held a public meeting and succeeded in getting all their resolutions carried. Thus, although few were agreed as to what sort of scheme ought to be adopted, there was a surprising unanimity, both in Parliament and out of Parliament, in condemning that of the ministry. The general opinion was that it would be better to let things remain as they are for another year, and to try in the interim whether something more generally palatable can be devised. At present, the National system has the preference, and it is most probable that with a little modification to suit peculiar views, it may ultimately become a national system in reality, as well as in name. The advocates for the abolition of State -aid to religious establishments have also had their say. A public meeting upon this subject was held on Monday evening, and was one of the most unanimous as to its results which we have seen for some time. The opinion expressed by this meeting was not only antagonistic to the continuance of State-aid in its present shape, but even to the compromise proposed in the ministerial bill. It is thought better that present claims should be met by compensation, and the whole thing swept away, than that there should be any patchwork — any such a partial continuation of the old system as would afford a chance for its resuscitation in any shape or way.

A number of movable houses are now being made in Paris for exportation to Cocbin-Chin», where Ad* miral Rigault do Cteneuilly is founding a city.