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THE BULLETIN
Fix this textVol. iO.-N0.12S-
Fix this textSYDNEY, SATURDAY, JUDY 8, 1882.
Fix this textPrice—3d
Fix this textWyt bulletin.
Fix this textSATURDAY, JULY 8, 1832.
Fix this textCheap Railways.
Fix this textMr. Lackey, at Cobar, sprinkled his discourse
Fix this textwith sense. The public of the colony has been so
Fix this textaccustomed to-verbal lollipops administered by
Fix this texttheir public men, in the way of sops, that too much
Fix this textimportance need not be attached to Mr. Lackey s
Fix this texthints, when he said that the Government had Deen
Fix this textgiving their attention to the and
Fix this textdesirableness of introducing a system of railway
Fix this textconstruction which could be more expeditiously
Fix this textcarried out, and in initiation be less costly than
Fix this textthe present system. Still, it may be hoped
Fix this textthat there is really something fermenting in
Fix this textMinisterial minds on this most important subject.
Fix this textThe public have, at least, the encourage-
Fix this textment of knowing that the future adjustment
Fix this textof our railway constructions is not in the index ox.
Fix this textpurgatoris of the coalition. It is not, for instance,
Fix this textis the same category with Land Law reform—a
Fix this text. subject of such diametrical and essential disagree-
Fix this textment between the two leaders of the coalition,
Fix this textthat there is necessarily an understanding not to
Fix this textseriously touch it at all. Still, it would not be
Fix this textwise to reckon too much upon Mr. Lackey’s
Fix this textexpression of earnestness and conviction. The
Fix this textagreeable frankness with which Sir Henry
Fix this textaekes explained at the luncheon given him by
Fix this textthe United Kingdom Alliance, must operate to
Fix this textcurb over-sanguineness in the value of a Minister’s
Fix this textpromise. “In New South Wales,” said Sir
Fix this textHenry, “the exigencies of Ministers, and not the
Fix this textnecessity of society, often carry the day.”
Fix this text# # «
Fix this textIt is not apparent that any “ exigencies of
Fix this textMinisters,” unless it be the lateness of opening
Fix this textthe session, need interfere with practical legis-
Fix this textlation to accommodate our system of railway con-
Fix this textstruction to the circumstances of outlying settle-
Fix this textments. There lis evidently a wide gulf between
Fix this textthe dray-track and railways made on our present
Fix this textplan. Thus far our system has been an almost
Fix this textservile imitation of the European methods, with-
Fix this textout any reference to the radical difference of
Fix this textconditions on this side of the world. There has
Fix this textbeen a certain bumptious conservatism in our
Fix this textrefusal to learn from America, where in reality
Fix this textconditions approach much more nearly to our own.
Fix this textIn N. S. Wales, we have no intermediate between
Fix this texta bush-track and a model railway which might
Fix this textchallenge comparison with the principal English
Fix this textlines for solidity of construction and luxoriousness
Fix this textof rolling stock. Now it is perfectly evident that
Fix this texton certain lines of traffic the bullock or horse-dray
Fix this textbecomes insufficient long before the business at-
Fix this texttains proportions which justify the construction of
Fix this textsuch railways as we are accustomed to make. It
Fix this texthas, thus far, been the practice to make a sort of
Fix this textpolitical toss up. As it has been financially im-
Fix this textpossible to give every locality which had outgrown
Fix this textthe bullock-dray stage of development a railway
Fix this textat .£12,000 to .£15.000 per mile, the system has
Fix this textbeen to let political influence decide the toss,
Fix this textand while giving to one district a railway
Fix this textfar more costly and efficient than its case
Fix this textreqnired'or justified, to leave another district, with
Fix this textquite as good claims, unprovided with asy railway
Fix this textwhatever.
Fix this text* * •
Fix this textNow, if it were possible to arrive at a plan by
Fix this textwhich a railway could be laid down at a low cost,
Fix this text—which would bo more rapid and certain for
Fix this textgoods than a dray, and more comfortable for pas-
Fix this textsengers than a coach —it would be possible to give a
Fix this textgreat stimulus to the progress of localities which
Fix this textunder present arrangements may remain neglected
Fix this textfoif years. There is really no need for hesitation in
Fix this textthe matter. The whole problem has been studied
Fix this textfor years by our Queensland neighbours, and has
Fix this textbeen decisively solved. We do not here specially
Fix this textrefer to the narrower gauge adopted from the first
Fix this textby the Queenslanders. Judging from Mr.
Fix this textLackey’s speech, he contemplates no altera-
Fix this text™vi - onr P gauve. His idea is that,
Fix this textwhile still adhering to the existing gauge,
Fix this text™ a y be means of economizing in construction.
Fix this textNow this is exactly what has in Queensland been
Fix this textproved to be possible. The lines at first con-
Fix this text®brujted were made with! heavy cuttings and em-
Fix this textbankments, easy curves, and great depth of
Fix this textcalkst. In fact they were miniature models of
Fix this textthe best British railways. And they cost on an
Fix this textaverage quite ,£lO,OOO per mile. Latterly, how-
Fix this textthe railways were made in entirely a Afferent
Fix this textstyle. Steeper gradients and sharper curves were
Fix this textadopted, and, consequently, the amount of cutting
Fix this textand embanking dwindled wonderfully. Increased
Fix this textattention was given to the sleepers and rails, while
Fix this textthe ballast was reduced to a remarkable extent.
Fix this textThese changes were found still to give a splendid
Fix this textsubstitute for bullock drays, and, indeed, almost
Fix this textas satisfactory a railway as the old style. Con-
Fix this textsequently, gaining courage, and casting aside
Fix this textprejudices, the engineers began to do without
Fix this textembankments altogether whenever the nature of
Fix this textthe material surface permitted. For miles the
Fix this textsleepers were laid on a few inches of ballast,
Fix this textdeposited On the undisturbed surface of the
Fix this textground, culverts, openings and trenches to turn
Fix this textand discharge the surface waters of semi-tropical
Fix this textrains, being provided when required. This is
Fix this textsucceeding exceedingly well also, and—note the
Fix this textfact —tho cost of railway construction has been
Fix this textreduced from ,£lO,OOO or i£12,000 per mile to ,£2500
Fix this textor .£4OOO, according to the nature of the country
Fix this texttraversed.
Fix this text* • »
Fix this textClearly, if our engineers can he persuaded to
Fix this textmove towards a similar reform —and the prime
Fix this textdifficulty in Southern Queensland was the con-
Fix this textservatism and timidity of the engineering officers
Fix this text—railways could be constructed and made to pay
Fix this textin localities where at present it would be an
Fix this textinjustice to tho tax-payers of the colony to lay
Fix this textdown a line.
Fix this textPLAIN ENGLISH.
Fix this textThe Case of Dalby.
Fix this textHow many innocent men are immured to-day in our
Fix this textgaols ? What an uncomfortable question ! No doubt
Fix this textitis disquieting|to turn things over in this fashion; and,
Fix this textto do so without definite purpose would be like flagella-
Fix this textting one’s self without reason. But look at the case
Fix this textthis way. Whatever may be the discomfort of facing
Fix this textthe idea that there may be innocent men suffering the
Fix this texthardship and degradation of imprisonment, the sum of
Fix this textall the uneasiness which people feel when confronted j
Fix this textby the idea cannot weigh a feather’s weight in the
Fix this textbalance when set against the misery which racks the
Fix this textmind of one such victim of a miscarriage of justice.
Fix this textThere exists of course no exact method of ascertaining
Fix this texthow many innocent men are enduring punishment as
Fix this textguilty. But a tolerably fair approximation may be
Fix this textarrived at by a process of analogies. Every one has a
Fix this textgeneral knowledge of the uncertainty of the law in civil
Fix this textcases. Theoretical perfection has so broken down in
Fix this textthis department of judicial proceedings that it has be-
Fix this textcome a common saying, “That a man had better submit
Fix this textto any wrong than seek a remedy in the courts."* If
Fix this textthe courts are thus uncertain in civil cases, it follows
Fix this textthat, in criminal cases, they must run out of gear also.
Fix this textThere are several distinctions, however. The tempta-
Fix this texttions of plunder are more active and general than im-
Fix this textpulses of sheer malice. Many a man will urge an un-
Fix this textjust claim or resist a just one, who would shrink from
Fix this textconcocting or pressing a criminal charge against an
Fix this textinnocent man. Still there may be exceptional cases.
Fix this textThe expense of prosecutions in criminal cases is borne
Fix this textby the State, and thus one deterrent, which operates to
Fix this textdisincline people from embarking in civil suits, does
Fix this textnot operate to hold them back from initiating a criminal
Fix this textprosecution. Every lawyer, having extensive practice
Fix this textin criminal cases, has a story to tell of clients whom he
Fix this textconscientiously—-which is a different thing from pro-
Fix this textfessionally—believes to be innocent, who have been
Fix this textdeclared guilty by a jury and sentenced to penal servi-
Fix this texttude. This is a harrowing conviction. Tho ordinary
Fix this textformalities of criminal process operate most prejudicially
Fix this textto an accused man. The verr fact of an accusation being
Fix this textlevelled against him at once weakens his position.
Fix this textAt the very outset —at the preliminary investiga-
Fix this texttion—he is surrounded by an atmosphere of disgrace.
Fix this textHe is in charge of the police. He is thrust into the
Fix this textdock, and, by that very fact, degraded and tainted with
Fix this texta presumption of wrong-doing. Dalbt, who has just
Fix this textbeen released, after serving six out of a term of ten
Fix this textyears’ hard labour, to which his original sentence of
Fix this textdeath was with difficulty commuted, was charged with
Fix this texta capital offence committed on a young girl, sister-in-
Fix this textlaw to a man with whom he lodged. The evidence
Fix this textagainst him was that of this man, his wife, and the girl.
Fix this textFor the defence there was only the negative evidence of
Fix this textneighbours, who did not hear the screams which it was
Fix this textsworn the girl uttered There was, besides, only evidence
Fix this textof Dalbt’s good, andof the principal male tness’s had,
Fix this textcharacter ; several respectable witnesses swearing that
Fix this textthey would not believe the man, Springfield, on his
Fix this textoath. Tet Dalbt was convicted, and sen tenced to
Fix this textdeath; and it was not until on 12th June last, Spring.
Fix this textfield, who had cleared as was supposed to New Zealand,
Fix this textwas caught and convicted of having, within six months
Fix this textfrom Daley’s sentence, forged a cheque. Dalbt’s
Fix this texthypothesis had been that Springfield had coveted a
Fix this textlittle bit of laud which the former had purchased with
Fix this texthis savings, and had conspired with the female prosecu-
Fix this texttrix t© trump up the criminal charge in order to hlack-
Fix this textma him. The whole circumstances point directly to
Fix this textthe important influence exercised, now-a-days, in
Fix this textjudicial ati'airs by
Fix this textFerjury.
Fix this textNo one who has paid the slightest attention to the
Fix this textdeportment of witnesses in contested cases, civil or
Fix this textcriminal, can have escaped being painfully impressed
Fix this textwith the conviction that the obligations imposed by an
Fix this textoath have no longer an influence proportionate to the
Fix this textreliance which ia in legal process placed vq>on them.
Fix this textCourts of law, having their origin mainly in ecclesias-
Fix this texttical jurisdiction, retain still some of their pristine
Fix this textcolouring. The assumption with respect to oaths is of
Fix this textancient date, and relates to sooial and religious condi-
Fix this texttions which have long since passed away. When all
Fix this textmen held one faith, and lived in complete intellectual
Fix this textsubjection to the ministers of that faith, and when the
Fix this textcourts of justice were in the main controlled and con-
Fix this textducted by ecclesiastics, and penetrated theoughout by
Fix this texta sacerdotal flavour, [an oath was a very tremendous
Fix this textaffair, alike in its spiritual and its temporal aspect.
Fix this textThe wretch who desperately defied Heaven and Hell,
Fix this textand dared the eternal judgments of the Almishtt, by
Fix this textswearing falsely, had still to reckon with the
Fix this textChurch upon Earth. If he fenced with questions,
Fix this textand feigned convenient lapses of memory, as so
Fix this textmany Witnesses do with impunity to-day, although '
Fix this texta formal prosecution for perjury .might nob be possible,
Fix this textthe confessional troubled' bibb V.bjkL the clergy who
Fix this textmonopolised the privileges Of pleading at the bar passed
Fix this textthe word to the outer branches of the all-comprehead-
Fix this texting and all-powerful organisation to which they
Fix this textbelonged. A blight fell upon the detected trifler with
Fix this textthe mysteries of religion. He had not only obstructed
Fix this textjustice, he had offended the Church. Thug, if the
Fix this textterrors of hell did not deter from perjury, there were
Fix this textthe terrors of this world. To-day, the dexterous per-
Fix this textjurer steps jauntily from the witness-box, and mingles
Fix this textamong his fellows with confident effrontery. As likely
Fix this textas not, he is entertained at a banquet by sympathising
Fix this textfriends—in the same swim. That all men have pene-
Fix this texttrated his flimsy fictions, and fully comprehended his
Fix this textinfamy, he cares little. He has been dexterous enough
Fix this textto leave no loop-hole for absolute proof of his men-
Fix this textdacity. He has eluded all the inconvenient questions
Fix this textwhich he could, and has affected failure of memory
Fix this textwhen no other plan was possible. He is little likely to
Fix this textcare that men saw through his almost insolently trans-
Fix this textparent perjury, considering that he has net heeded the
Fix this textscrutiny of the Searched of Hearts. The gist of the
Fix this textmatter lies in the fact that perjury has become an
Fix this textinstitution. Reckless and false swearing occurs
Fix this textevery day. To a large class of witnesses an
Fix this textoath is no bond whatever. Now, the entire
Fix this textexisting system of judicial procedure is based
Fix this textupon the supposition that a sworn witness will
Fix this textnot lie. So essentially does this theory enter into the
Fix this textsystem, that the evidence of an unsworn man is ncc
Fix this texteven entertained, and, unless a man profess some belief
Fix this textas to a future state of reward and punishment, his ter.
Fix this texttimony cannot, without difficulty, be entertained in a
Fix this textcourt at all. But this grand pedestal of justice hr s
Fix this textcollapsed. Men now not only habitually disregard the
Fix this textidea of future punishment, hut pay very scant deference
Fix this textto the idea of temporal penalties. In fact the ecclesisr.
Fix this textdeal idea has survived its usefulness. The theory of
Fix this textleaving men to the tortures of hell and the pricking of
Fix this textconscience is still permitted.to prevail; whereas tie
Fix this textreal necessity of the day is, that prompt, sharp, and
Fix this textexemplary prosecutions against obvious perjurers
Fix this textshould be constantly instituted until the witness wl •
Fix this textcares nothing about perjury should dread the cense,
Fix this textqueuces of giving occasion] even for suspicion that he
Fix this texthas perverted or even concealed the truth. The per-
Fix this textjurer assassinates justice. He should be pursued, and
Fix this textevidence against him sought with the same activity f a
Fix this textit would be against a man suspected of the lesser crin e
Fix this textof having murdered an individual, or sold a drink en
Fix this textSunday. Were a few of the scoundrels who have, evea
Fix this textof late, defied Providence and snapped their lingers 1 1
Fix this texthuman [justice, in the witness box, subjected to a
Fix this textdetermined prosecution, there would be a chance that,
Fix this texthereafter, judicial decisions would not be secured by
Fix this textthe party who could swear most cunningly, or bring
Fix this textforward the most numerous array of witnesses without
Fix this textconscience.
Fix this textOpen to Hay.
Fix this textThe general tenor of the orations which will b* de-
Fix this textlivered at the celebration of the opening of the railway
Fix this textto Hay, might have been anticipated without hesitation.
Fix this textThe Ministry are glorified as having accomplished a work
Fix this textlong required, and the grand benefits conferred upon
Fix this textthe country by the kindness of Divine Providence in
Fix this textpermitting so strong a Government to exist are
Fix this textreligiously impressed upon the banqueters. Stress
Fix this textis laid upon the fact that it has been reserved for
Fix this textthis powerful Government to accomplish public works,
Fix this textsuch as the extension of the railway to Hay, the neees.
Fix this textsity for which had long been obvious to the meanest
Fix this textunderstanding, and the non-construction of which
Fix this textattributable to the comparative weakness of former
Fix this textMR. ALEXANDER BOWMAN, M.P .—(See next page )
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
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http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-237271933
(1880). The bulletin Retrieved March 26, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-237271933
The bulletin Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 1880. Web. 26 March 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-237271933>
1880, The bulletin John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, Sydney, N.S.W viewed 26 March 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-237271933
{{Citation
|
| title=The bulletin.
| year=1880
| section=105 volumes : illustrations (chiefly coloured), portraits (chiefly coloured) ; 30-40 cm.
| issn=0007-4039
| series=John Ryan Comic Collection (Specific issues).
| issue=Vol. 10 No. 128 (8 Jul 1882)
| location=Sydney, N.S.W
| publisher=John Haynes and J.F. Archibald
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-237271933
| id=nla.obj-237271933
| access-date=26 March 2025
| via=Trove
}}
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