The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-12 00:00:00

NEW SOUTH WALES.

The chief news from this colony relates to a de-
feat of the Ministry,
.and a dissolution of Parlia-
ment. On the subject the Sydney Herald of the
21st of November says :
" The session of Parliament which commenced on
the 18th of last month was of very short duration.
In consequence of a vote of want of con-
fidence in the Martin Ministry being carried in the
Assembly, Parliament has been dissolved, and a
general election is about to take place.
" The debate on the reply to the governor's
opening speech, which was pending when we pub-
lished our last monthly summary, extended over
seven sittings. Mr. Cowper had moved as an
amendment on the address resolutions expressing
dissatisfaction with the conduct of the Government,
and stating that the Ministry did not possess the
confidence of the Assembly. In the course of the
discussion the various administrative acts of the
Government were brought under review and were
freely criticised. The two measures that subjected
the Ministry to the greatest amount of censure
were the new commission of the peace and the
delay in calling Parliament together. The ex-
tending of the recess to nearly six months, with
an increasing deficit at the Treasury, was espe-
cially complained of, and was but feebly jus-
tified by the Government. The debate was car-
ried on with much warmth on both sides of the
house, and recriminations were freely indulged in
between the supporters of the present and of the
late Government. The house was unusually full.
At some of the sittings the whole of the members
were in attendance, and only six wero absent from
the division. The amendment censuring the Go-
vernment was carried by a majority of 36 to 29.
" At the following meeting of the Assembly, Mr.
Martin entered into a lengthened statement of the
course that the Government intended to take ;
there were two courses open to them—either to
resign, or to advise a dissolution of Parliament.
As they believed that no combination of members
on the Opposition benches could afford a strong
Government, they had felt it their duty to advise
a dissolution ; and his Excellency had accepted
that advice. Mr. Martin further stated that
the Government were entitled to a vote of
supply for three or six months, and justified
the request by reference to several English prece-

dents. The remarks of Mr. Cowper and other mem-
bers of the Opposition indicated that the proposal
would not be assented to, and the application was
not formally made. On the following day a
Government Gazette Extraordinary was issued pro-
roguing the Assembly, and on the day after Parlia-
ment was dissolved. Preparations for a general
election were immediately made by the Govern-
ment ; the writs were issued on the 11th inst., and
all are returnable on or before Jan. 24. It is ex-
pectea that the home will meet the last week in that
month.

" The issue to be tried at the forthcoming elec-
tions is—whether the people approve or disapprove
of the conduet of the Martin Ministry ; and their
merits and demerits are being freely canvassed at
the meetings of the various candidates. The ques-
tion that is being brought most prominently for-
ward is that of protection to native industry.' The
Government have, by their protective tariff, rendered
themselves very unpopular with the mercantile and
trading classes, who clearly saw the injurious conse-
quences to the commerce of the country which that
measure would have produced if it had passed into
law. Mr. Martin is in favour of protective duties,
but Mr. Foster and Mr. Eager have hitherto de-
clared themselves to be freetraders. They are now,
however, courting the favour of the Protectionists,
and are depending on their votes for re-election.
Although no announcement has been made by either
of the ministers of their intention to bring for-
ward another protective tariff, the circumstance of
their being so warmly supported by the Protec-
tionists has excited the suspicions of the Freetraders,
and has roused them to adopt every means in their
power for the return of free-trade candidates. Many
of the questions that have been agitated at previous
elections are at present to a certain extent laid aside,
and the battle cry of the present elections promises
to be ' free trade or protection.' "
By this mail, Mr. W. C. Mayne, late auditor-
general, proceeds to England to fill the office of
colonial agent in London, rendered vacant by Mr.
Edward Hamilton's retirement. The auditor gene-
ralship has been conferred on Mr. C. Rolleston,
whose former appointment of registrar-general is
now filled by Mr. T. Jaques."

CHINA AND JAPAN,

(From the China Mail.)

The news of the fortnight is not of very great
interest. Affairs in Japan appear to hang in the
balance. It would puzzle a conjurer to tell the
next move that the Japanese authorities will make
with regard to foreign relations. The virtue of
patience, - it would seem, must be exercised in re-
gard to our relations with that strange people.
Every new experience that we acquire with respect
to them only stimulates, further inquiry, and it
appears very plainly that Japan cannot be any
longer a closed country to foreigners.
Turning to China we have little to report. With
regard to the Taeping rebellion, now broken up,
there remains only this to be said, that if the man-
darins cannot cope with the straggling bands that
constitute the dregs of that insurrection it will be idle
to assist them any further. We have, neverthelesss,
accomplished two things through our late operations.
We have given to the Chinese authorities, both local
and Imperial, a proof of what English prowess and
English skill can accomplish. Merchants now send
agents into the interior with no fears for the fate of
the money entrusted to their charge, for the pur-
chase of tea or silk. - It is even affirmed that the
treaty right of residing in the heart of the coun-
try is about to be accorded to such merchants as
choose to avail themselves of it. This is a step cer-
tainly in the right direction. It looks as if the soil
we have freed by the sword was now to be turned to
useful account.

A body of rebels is said to be in the vicinity of
Amoy, but it is also affirmed that the people have
surrounded them, and are determined to stop their
operations. This is as it ought to be.
We hear that the merchants of Shanghai have
joined in giving their unanimous testimony to Col.
Gordon, R.E., for his services in opening up the
country and rendering its resources more available.