The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-04 00:00:00

S YDNEY.

The news from Sydney is down to the 13th of
December. The following are some of the most
interesting items, as given by the Sydney .Morning
Herald ;
__ _

" A great fire occurred at Newcastle on November
13, by which the Theatre, the Commercial and
Victoria Hotels, Mr. Whyte's butcher's shop, and
the houses of Messrs. Schoemacker, Hawley, Staf-
ford, and Croft were destroyed. The total loss has
been estimated at from £lO,OOO to £12,000.
" Some very superior samples of sugar cane,
bananas, and mangold wurtzel have been received
from Wide Bay.
" A considerable portion of the Queensland coast
has been recently explored by Captain Sinclair
in a schooner of nine tons, called the Santa Bar-
bara. He has found a capacious and well-shel-
tered harbour at Edgcumbe Bay, which he has
called Port Denison. There is a dispute as to whe-
ther or not this is a new discovery; but that this
party of four has explored a dangerous coast, and
added greatly to our knowledge of it, is undeniable.
It appears from their journal that they ran great
danger from the treacherous and hostile character
of the aborigines, who are savage in the extreme,
and who appeared continually on the watch for an
opportunity to plunder and murder their white
visitors.

" The railway managers have at length come to
the wise determination of issuing excursion tickets
every Saturday, available for that day only, by
which passengers can both go and return on pay-
ment of a single fare.

"A subscription has been set on foot for a publio
testimonial to Mr. Ledger, the importer of the
alpacas, who is about to leave the colony.
" The parliament has re-assembled, and Queens-
land has been called into existence as a distinct
colony.
" Both Houses of Pailiament have expressed
opinions most decidedly adverse to the dismember-
ment of the colony. It has been held that in the
separation of Queensland at this juncture without a
sufficiently emphatic demand for such separation,
and without a due apportionment of the public
debt, the Imperial Government has acted illegally.
But the Governor General has, throughout this
business, attended only to the orders of his minis-
terial superior. Treating the question as one of a
purely Imperial character, his Excellency has not
deigned to consult with his responsible advisers.
" It was necessary, however, that the proclama-
tion should be authenticated by the Great Seal of
the colony, and the signature of the Colonial Secre-
tary for the time being. Mr. Forster was com-
manded to affix his signature and seal, and he was
advised by the Crown law officers that it was his
duty to do so. He had been in no way consulted,
and according to his view he did not by this act
make himself a responsible party to the transaction
which, personally, he regarded as an illegal one.
He might have refused, and have been dismissed,
in which case the Governor could, and most pro-
bably would, have appointed another Colonial Secre-
tary pro tenepore, for the performance of this act.
Thus the business of the country would have been
cast into abeyance, without any practical good
resulting. The estimates would hive been thrown
over until next year, and the squatting leases must
have been renewed.
" Such was the explanation of Mr. Forster, and
it seemed to be held sufficient by a majority of those
who heard it. But Mr. Martin had given notice of
a series of resolutions, which not only condemn the
dismemberment of the colony, but censure the
ministry for having in any way aided it.
" The ministeria programme for the present
session includes only such things as will not
admit of postnonement, viz., the estimates
for 1859, the re-organisation of the upper
house, and the relief of the executive from the com-
pulsory renewal of the squatting leases, which will
expire at the beginning of the year.
" Some progress has already been effected in the
estimates. At present little change has been made;
but the Ministry seem to be going in' for re-
trenchment. They have brought up a bill to re-
duce the salaries of all future Governors from
£7,000 to £5,000, and of Ministers from £2,000 to

T' i4 1-- -1„ ; •a, a. 7rs
a screw for the compression of other high salaries.
Hitherto the Forster Government has got on bet-
ter than had been anticipated. In all such con-
tests as must necessarily terminate in victory or
resignation they have succeeded, although in cer-
tain minor points they have been less fortunate.
One of these was their first effort for the reduction
of high official salaries. It was proposed to reduce
the salary of all future governors to £5,000, and off'
Cabinet Ministers to £1,200. The first was con-
sented to readily enough, but hon. members, most
of whom hope all to have a share of the loaves and
fishes iu their turn, did not like to see Ministerial
salaries too much cut down. These salaries were
fixed by the house at £1,500 each, the only reduc-
tion consented to being one £5OO from the pay of
the Colonial Secretary. A year's full salary has
been voted to the Chief Justice by a majority of 31
to 17, so as to enable his Honour to avail himself of
his much needed leave of absence.

"Mr. Samuel has made his financial statement
as Colonial Treasurer. According to this statement
the estimated revenue for the year 1860 is
£1,522,232, and this, together with the estimated
balance on Dec. 31st of £52,422 Bs. 9d., and the
amount proposed to be raised by loan, of £568,344,
will make a total amount of £2,142,899 Bs. 9d.
The estimated expenditure to be charged on the
consolidated revenue is £1,546,290. The charges
proposed to be covered by loans are—for public
works, £202,605 ; to pay off debentures, £365,600 ;
the amount to be set aside to pay off the debt of
£600,230, £l2,oos—total, £2,126,540. There will,
therefore, be an estimated balance on the 31st of
December, 1860, of £16,359 Be. 9d. The Govern-
ment do not intend to make any alteration in the
duties on tea and sugar, and the only new feature
in the financial statement is the proposal to create
a sinking fund. The sum of £12,000 is to be set
apart every year, and invested in debentures or
other security, and the interest is also to be invested,
so that at the end of 10 years the sum saved will be
sufficient to pay off the sum of £568,240, which it
is proposed to borrow during the year 1860.