INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2069, 19 October 1893, Page 16

INTERCOLONIAL.

(Prr Prims Association.)

Melbourne, October 11

A parliamentary board has been appointed to inquire into the effect of the fiscal system upon industry and production and upon the employment of the people, as to tbe condition and extension of the agricultural, mining, and other producing interests, and upon exports and imports.

October 13

The coroner's jury returned a verdict of wilful murder agaiLSt Mrs Knorr, alias rhwaites, for child murder at Biunswick.

C.lonel lempleton (a Freetrader) was elected for Banalla on the casting vote of the returning officer.

October 10,

Correspondence is passing between the wool- buyers and the brokers with a view to effecting a compromise in the difficulty which has cropped up. The Dunedin Association have cabled their approval of ths action taken by the brokers.

The dispute between the wool-buyers and brokers bas been compromised, the latter having agreed to accept caeque3 if time is allowed to satisfy themselves of the validity of the cheques.

The Mercantile Bank prosecution is at a standstill pending the application to test the legality of the warrant against Millidge on the ground that 12 months have elapsed before proceedings were taken.

The Premier, Mr Pat rson, has received a despatch from the Secretary for the Colonies stating that the Imperial auchotitie3 share the views expressed by the Victorian Government, that inconvenience and loss, and perhaps danger, might arise in time of war by the Pacific cable passing through New Caledonia, and that the Imperial Government could not but view the action taken by Queensland and New South Wales in subsidising the cable a3 an implied departure from the principle of colonial cohesion and consideration to Imperial interest?, to which prominence was given at the Colonial Conference in 1887.

Sydney, October 12.

Mr Bowell, the Canadian Minister of Trade and Commerce, in addressing the Chamber cf Commerce, said that he looked forward to the establishment of a fortnightly steam service between Sydney and Vancouver, calling at Fiji and Brisbane, with auxiliary boat 3 onnecting Nsw Zealand to the rnaiu Jiae at Fiji.

Tha New South Wales Government have signed a contract with Captain Whitney, of Auckland, for the supply of a million and a half rounds of ammunition a year.

After an acrimonious discussion, Sir H. Pdrke»'s mo ion for the adjournment ot the House was negatived. The Postmaster-general (Mr Kidd) moved a resa'ution for the introduction of a local option bill, but an amendment favouring the principle of compensation was incorporated by 48 to 41, and the motion as amended agreed to by 40 to 8.

A bill to protect cablegrams published in the New South Wales papers has been read a first time in the Legislative Assembly. The bill protects messages for 24 hours, and makes it penal to transmit them from the eoleny within the prescribed time.

George Merriman, the city solicitor, who was recently suspended, owing to irregularities in his accounts, has been dismissed from his position.

October 13

When the Federation Bill is under consideration in Committee in the Legislative Assembly, the Attorney-general (Mr Barton) intends to propose an amendment in the direction of single voting and defining the extent to which the commonwealth may use the railways.

October 14

Tbe following is a forecast of the Budget : There will be no fresh taxation, as the revetue &bows an upward tendency, and the Treasurer will predict that the colony has now turned the corner.

Four thousand pounds will be placed on the Estimates as a subsidy to the Sin Brancisco mail service for another year. It is unlikely that any formal resolution will be submitted as to the maintenance of the line.

The Poit Darwin line is interrupted.

Two hundred deaths from measles occurred in the metropolitan area in September. The epidemic is now abating.

October 15,

The Wellington riflemen to tak° part in the shooting competitions have arrived in good health.

A cyclist named Vider ha? lowered the colony's bicycle road record for 100 miles, doing the distance in 7hr'3min.

October IG.

The schooner Louisa Messel l , b> und to Gisborne, has put in for repairs. She met with a he^vy gale after leaviog Newcastle, and sustained some damage.

The schooner Louisa Messell sprang a leak, and tbe crew had a terrible time, being kept continuously at the pumps till port was reached.

In connection with the despatch received by the Victorian Government, the Premier states that he is personally favourable to a Pacific cable through British waters, but does not think the cable to New Caledonia will interfere with such an idea. From an interview he has had with Mr Bjw.-li, the Canadian Commissioner, he anticipates the preliminary steps will bo tak^.n in a f-w months to connect New Zealand with Fiji, and thence with Vancouver.

The military tournament, wbich concluded on Saturday, wa-* a bril iant success.

The Rifle Association meeting began today, The weather is fine though hot. In the Merchants' Continuous Match Doughty of Auckland scored 33 out of a possible 35. In the first stage for the Queen's Prize Tobia of New Zealand leads with f>7 out uf a possible 70.

October 17

The report oE the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney show 3 the net; profits at the end of September to be L 51,000. Although the instalment of LBO,OOO of the new capital is not cuie till January, already nearly 1,100 000 has been receive!. Many of the shareholders are paying their calls in full.

For the period of five month.3 enderl September 30 the revenue derived from the transmission of cablegrams averaged L 21.000 per month. If the iemaining months aver-

age L 19.000 no cfuarantee wil! be required to be paid to the Eastrrn Extension Cable Company.

In the first stage of the Queen's Match (300 and 500 yards) Tobir, of Aucklind, who was the top scorer, made five successive bull's-eyes at 500 yards. Captain W. Ballirger (of the Petone Rifle Club), Sergeant Doughty (of A Battery, Auckland), and Gunner Howe (of D Battery, Wellington) each take prizes in the match. Last year Private Kruse (of tre Wanganui Pifles) won this match with a sc re of G4 points. A strong easterly wind interfered with the shooting to-day. The following New Zealand representatives take prizes in the second stage for the Queen's prize: — Ballinger (Wellington) 60, Kirk (Petone) 59, Kuchen (Wellington) 58, Webster (Auckland) 56. Private Brookes (New South Wales) was top scorer with 63.

Brisbane, October 13

The Legislative Assembly, by 33 to 23, negatived a motion in favour of the abolition of plural voting.

In the Legislative Assembly the Sugar Bill, providing for assistance to e&tablish central mills, met with strong opposition from the Labour party, who desired to prevent any coloured labour being employed at such mills. A stonewall began yesterday, and was continued until to-night. Two or three of the speeches were extended over eight hours. S'.r Thomas M'llwraith assured theHou?e that the Government never contemplated the employment of Chinese or Cingalese at the mills, and kanaka labour would only be employed where white men were unable to work. The Labour leaders accepted this assurance, and offered no further opposition to the bill, which passed through Committee.

October 14.

The Government intend to issue LG30.000 worth of Treasury bills. L 290.000 will be devoted to making- up tbe deficit, L.190,000 to meeting the calls imposed and releasing the accounts in the suspended bank. 0 , and LIOO.OOO for loans aulh .rised under the Meat and Dairy Produce Act.

October 16,

The steamer Woonona has been totally wrecked in the Rockhampton river. The crew are safe. The vessel is insured for L7OOO.

The lajing of the cable to New Caledonia has been compl- ted.

Perth, October 14. Parliament has been prorogued. Hobakt, October IG. Sir E. 0. Braddon has informed the Government that the New Zealand Shipping Com pany and the Shaw, Savill C maany rave agreed to convey emigrants to Tfcsnrania on the same terms as has been conceded in the case of emigrants booked for New Zealand.