OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 344, 29 August 1889, Page 4

OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

[FEOM OUB OWN COBBE3PONDENT.J The Treasurer is congratulating himself on the increase of revenue, amounting to some £90,000, as compared with that of the corresponding month of last year. I am afraid that this is a little premature, and that a great part of the increase will be found to be due to the duty paid for sugar—which is rather a sign of weakness—in the absence of any increased production of any other commodity to pay for it—than of strength. Summer is undoubtedly coming, but it is not a philosophic or statesmanlike attitude to Mize on the first “ swallow/' and lug it in as indubitable evidence of the fact. Matters commercial are not improved by the crisis. We had hoped for a settled period of rest and quietness in which the colony could recuperate. But, although the Premier has withdrawn from the indefensible position in which he at first took up—that of threatening the very existence of the Council, the situation is still very threatening. In spite of the copious rains, and the improved prospects of pastoralists and agriculturists, there is a good deal cf financial stringency. Bain does not put money in a man’s pocket, or add any figures to his banking account until it is turned into grass, fat, wool, grain, or some other marketable commodity. The last harvest was a complete failure, and the one before it was nearly as bad. This means that country storekeepers have been unable to obtain payment for the advances they have made to the unfortunate farmers, and in their turn many of them have been unable to fulfil their engagements to the wholesale houses which supply them. The consequence is that the solid men have to carry on their shoulders a large number of accounts which are worth nursing, but which are temporarily unremunerative. Still the prospects now are very much better than they were six months ago. The outlook then, owing to the prevalent drought, was one of blank and utter ruin. The rairs have changed all this, and we now look forward to a steady, if not to a startlingly rapid advance in material prosperity. The Executive Council have set aside the recommendation of the jury in the case of Morrison, the murderer of Constable Sutherland, and have decided that the law shall take its course. The execution will take place at Darlinghurst at 9 o’clock on the morning of August 20. An increasing objection is mani tested to capital punishment. But whether the law be right or wrong, it is plain that an imperfect law, righteously administered, is jnuch more likely to be effective than a more perfect one capriciously remitted or inflicted at the whim of certain small but active •actions of the community, If the law is wrong let it be altered by all means, but so long as it exists it should be operative, A law that can be suspended at the demand of sentb ment ceases io be a law, and we have not yet arrived at a point at which society can be a Jaw to itself. [The condemned man was executed this week.] The Bishops of the Church of England are busily employed in endeavoring to agree on a successor to Dr. Barry. The task is a very difficult one, as, unfortunately there are not only the questions of Christian zeal, wisdom, ability, and energy to take into consideration, but the due adjustment of seme complicated differences concerning matters of doctrinal opinion. Still a spaed/ conclusion is hoped tor.