NEW SOUTH WALES. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1958, 17 September 1863, Page 3

NEW SOUTH WALES. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Ilk these exciting times, what with wars, goldfields, et hoc genus omne,, it is not an easy thing for a man to set his foot on any portion of this inhabited globe, where he can find a community pursuing the " noiseless tenor of their way" in comparative peace and quietness. But if a humdrum existence be beneficial to the human mind, a residence iv New South Wales will probably satisfy anyone who just wishes to escape the monotony of a felon's cell, a hermit's grotto, or an anchorite's cave. Here, positively away from Sydney (which is subject to periodical manias) is nothing to amuse or interest anybody. The great feature in the Australian character, or rather the New South Wales character, that particularly strikes a stranger, is the peculiar dependence of the whole community on the Goveroment of the country. Railways, roads, wharves, and even public institutions, such as athenaeums, schools of arts, and so forth, are all dependent on Government for subsidies, churches, and schools, look to the same patron saint for tutelage and assistance, and were the Government suddenly to depart this life, (which by the way is an absurdity) the p«pulation of New South Wales would be reduced to a deplorable state of orphanage. When such a system exists, it need hardly be said that grumblers abound, and the state of the towns, so far as^regards local improvements, is something queer to look at. The outlying towns of Newcastle, Maitland, Morpetb, and Singleton, each more than on a par with the townships of Wellington, the Hutt, Napier, aud Wanganui, are as far behind them in local improvement as those towns are behind Sydney. The inhabitants seem to have arrived at such a pitch of morbid apathy as almost to amount to stagnation, in these matters. It is only when an election takes place, that the public seem aroused to anything like activity, and a specimen of that animation "yours' very truly," had lately a mostexcellent opportunity of witness ing. We who can remember the old radical days of Jerninghain Wakefield and his troop of the stump oration, the din, whir), and , bustle of the radical reform "scrimmage," no doubt thoaght that out of America or the bogs of Ireland, we had seen the confines of modesty, delicacy, and courtesy arrivad at, where a civilised community happened to have internal differences. But one or two who witnessed Che East Maitland election the other day would most certainly have received a " refresher" that would have done them good. The rival candidates were Mr Darvall the new Attorney-Gene-ral, and Mr Parkes, formerly proprietor of the Sydney Empire, (which suffered a severe collapse during his management), and, subsequently an emigration lecturer in England. The fight was Conservative versus Liberal, and the Conservative won in a canter. And why? Not because the people are passionately in love with Conservatism, not because they believe in the present Government, or Mr Darvall either, not "because they did not honestly think Mr Parkes the better man, but simply because in this blessed country you cannot travel a mile and meet a score of people, but the probability is, one or two of them are officials of some sort, and as a natural consequence, being sagacious enough to know on which side their bread is buttered, they vote accordingly. One other little feature remarkable in this election, wac the " glorious uncertainty" of the ballot box. Every vote had been carefully booked on either side and the result was fully believed to be a majority of five or six for the unsuccessful candidate, when to the consternation of all outsiders, the Attorney-General carried the day by a majority of 59, out of a bulk of some 600 voles registered. A general election, however, must take place before long, and it is improbable that a Conservative Government will get into power again. There is no question but that this system of carrying out large works, such as railways, and so forth, entirely under the control of Government, is all but making the Government of this colony an oligarchy, and by putting such an enormous amount of patronage in the hands of that Government, it virtually settles them so firmly in their seats, as to need a sharp struggle to oust them. When I heard Fitasherbert's speech on Stake's motion, respecting the railway to Wairarapa last session of the Provincial Council, I thought at the time, tbat there might be something in what he said respecting the inad visibility of large works being in the hands of a Government. 1 have now lived to see it. in turning for a moment to other matters, I come to the arrival of Capt. Harrison in Sydney, on a recruiting expedition for the Auckland Militia Force. I do not think he will have i great success, npr do I think that the class of inert who will wail tU^^es o f o s m wil i

be any blessing to the people of/Auckland ; - still there is an old saying " beggars must not be choosers," and the fact of the matter would seem to be, men must be had at any price. The main question will be I think, " will the Got eminent guarantee the title and tenure of the land they promise, or are the men doomed to; be perpetually fighting to retain possession f I have had this query put to me a dozen times by scores of people, and I know of no answer save confusion and dismay. It, no doubt is au excellent system to gain men to do Militia work, but I sadly fear that as a system of colonization, it will utterly fail. Martial law may tame the wild spirits that are likely to join the ranks of the Auckland Militia and make the men good soldiers, but as good colonists, credat Judceus ! The late defeat of Green by Chambers for the championship, has somewhat staggered the " cornstalks," who " blew " tremendously a little while back. At present they are busy paying their bets, (which amount to no trifle,) that they have lost in the matter. As a sort of balm to their wounded feelings, some jokers inserted ia half the papers in the colony, the advertisement " Wanted to know — Are the natives subject to spasms f" I would not give much for the man's bead tbat concocted such a joke, if he fell into the hands of the " cabbage tree mob." The weather here is vile, endless rain and mud, carts are Bticking fast in the streets, and pedestrians are losing their anti-gropelos as they pick their way across the roads. One good thing, however, is, that though wet it is warm, and the crops look splendid. , We have no fears of wars in this quarter, and, the only military spectacle I have witnessed, was a small party of volunteers who have been attending squad firing parades in the early morn. Their object, apparently, has been to avoid hitting a large iron target,' and their efforts have been, I am happy to say, crowned with most complete success.