New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-28
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
AUSTRALIAN PUBLIC Law.
rur GOVERNMENT OF VICTORIA AUSTRALIA. i!
l,-, London

This volume emnodcS pl!lS'dNlHs duu
elaborate study OF the most Important OF the
Australian dependencies Of tie BRUSH Nrowh' IL
is primarily textbook for university students
on the science OF government in Victoria. The
onthor having been called from England to the
chair of law in Melbourne University was COM
peIled TO lecture upon the government and pubic
law of the country without having any special
knowledge of the subject. There was no text
book which furnished even an outline OF the con-
stitutiOnal system, and In preparing his lectures
hc was forced TO make an exhaustive study OF
statute law. judicial decisions, diplomatic CORE
spondencc and political tradition, and practice
The results of what on his part hborlOus
examining process contained in THIS work
Icrinning with the earliest type of political or
canzation in Australia, he subjects the existing
eystcm of public law to scientific analysis ami
dissection, refraining from comment and opinion
in the body of the work. and permitting himself
in the last chapter the luxury of drawing few
general deductions from the political tendencies
II is n learned and impartial work, but l.
rest ricted by its scope to the requirements OF
political students. IL is a skeleton wihoct flesh
and blood. which will enable scientific invest-
gators Of constitutional law to construct the
system, but which will not enlarge the general
readers ideas of political government in Australia
For purposes Of constitutional law, the history
of Victoria begins with the settlement of Port
Phillip, in ! $50. This was primarily commercial
venture of few men living at Launceston, on
tie northern coast of Van Dicmans Land. The
earliest attempt at political organization came
from the settlers themselves, who in the second
wear selected an arbitrator to adjust all disputed
questions and Joined in a petition TO the Gov
eInor of Ncw-South Wales for the appointment
Of a police MAGISTRATE The creation of the Of
flee of constable and the construction of JAZZ
followed the appearance of a magistrate as sub
stitute for the arbitrator. In the tbIrd year
Governor Bourke visited the settlement. ana 'he
sites of four towns, of which Melbourne was one
were determined. AS these four cities became III
time great centres Of commercial and pohucal
activity the Colonial Government III It's origin
bore the impress of town life An increase III
the number of magistrates, the arrival from i-hs
land Of Superintendent of Port Phillip, an
Order in Council declaring Melbourne to be a Tree
mort. the enactment of various land rceulatlohS'
and tho establishment of o. registry OF deedS,
oraned the way for the introduction OF represeu-
,ative government in 1s42. As Port fhlliip
lod bean governed for seven years under simple
,naristcdial procedure, it continued LOT clsh'
yoors under a representative SYSTEM pu' "HIn
(o cOlonists at Sydney secured control over 'heli
,yn local government separation became necessary
Melbourne could not be governed from 'N""'S
4 1850 when Victoria was released nom uep"nu-
90 unon New-South Wales and armed with
,bqolute rights of local government, the popnla'oh
# the settlement of Port Phillip exceeded '',Ooo.
;. YES then q pastoral province whose wealth lay
:, its foel,s and herds but it was on the verge
=, q co,nyound revolution which was 10 chanGe
rot only its political machinery but also us soc'l
and industrial life. In 1855 came the grant oil "
rev constitution establishing responsible govern
nent. The ground for the grant was the increased
nonuleritv of the colony caused by the discovery
Of the gold fields. the population having risen 10
1889 in the course of five years
The authors method in explaining these th1ee
transition periods Of magsterial representative
and separate government is naturally the histor-
cal ono and he traces with marked lucidity OF ex-
rostion the DEVELOPMENT Of judicial and local al
mnistration colonial finance and the land sys-
fem. Since the constitution OF 1888 is 'ne
Groundwork Of the existing scheme OF government
be employs the analytical method during the re-
rsinder of the work, dividing institutions t'hoer
the two general classes, central and local. ana coh
.;Io~rc under each head legislative, executive
and judicial functions. This uniform ana com
nrehensive plan enables him TO lay the whole SUD-
;not ~ Australian government before the readers
mind in an abstract way. 1t has apparently peeh
Lie aim 70 produce so impartial and colorless
work on the conditions of Australian government
that men of all parties. factions and SCHOOLS OF
thought can refer 10 1t without preJudlce 10 d"
I,ontarv worl, containing all the essential facts
and entirely free from partisan bias. THIS meUhou
has manifest ADVANTAGES for Australia, where '"c
business Of government and politics IS cohuuctc"
rnder condi,iops Of controversial strife and agta-
lion: but il deprves the work Of much oil us NaI'o
as \ body of information for foreign readers. Inc
following summary of the ballot system when
WAS introduced almost simultaneously IN Sou'h
Australia and Victoria, is OF SPECIAL interest W
Americans:
on the receipt Of the wit the returning ofcer nu,
Indorse upon il the date OF Its receipt ana rs
inry,ort and the details above enumerated in the news
Diapers lie must also announce pace ~ d do
,,osits He must also appoint substitute 70 act io
him IN case he becomes incapsoitaed ana, ao , tS
nominations come In, hc must post ddiy tue
and descriptions Of candidate, dominated Oana ,1,ry
nut o. mC "a lesst ten electors ana containing
file names and descriptions OF the candidates WHO 30
testify by ther Signatures TO tie acceptance Of i66
nomination Each domination must be accompam.tSu
by deposit OF e1oo On case Ct an elecnoh 10 NE
Assembly, and, in the former ct>e ai.O by uGcials
Of candidates property qahcSuon: ,o df,, Of
tbe votes OF the lowest successful candidate ne fGle1
his deposit toward the expenses on the eiec,9n. ron or
he Is successful either with or WllhoII oppViiV f
i, obtains one fifth OF the votes OF the lowest sGc,e.I
candidate or ii retires. with the consent OF seven Oh
his nomiDatOrs in formal way, Two cit'r a ~ a.
least before the day fixed or the poinhs' lis uep''
r. when the time for sending in nominations mas
expired the number of candidates does not exceed tc
humber OF vacancies, INC
nomnated candidates duly elected Eat II there j. "A
contest he prepares for poll by hiring OF 3ppoPtAuhs
,ontbs and appointing deputies The poll l. taken DN
h,lln with due prccaution for secrecy. Each canui
date NAV appoint scrutneer 10 protect Ms iefesS
INT uith this exception. persons are allowed 10 Ne
present during the polling except the returning Olhce
or his deputy. the poll clerk apRonled ny nm, anu o'
more than six persons actually engaged IN Nbtne'
The Doll lasts from n. To j. ~ oi the same hay
evcept in the metropolitan and suburban area where on
a poll FOR the Assembly, the hours are from A. m
to p. IN. 40. NO ,,,o.o .ro va
Each ecctOr has many votes rs uierc are va
copcies but not than one vote can De ElNen Df
any electOr for one candidate The ballot paper
rnntn the names Of all the candidates, ana tie electors
strike out the names OF those for whom they, 90 MOI