INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2308, 26 May 1898, Page 17

INTERCOLONIAL.

Melbourne, May 17.

There is a severe drought over a great part of the colony. Water aad feed are scarce, and winter prospect are poor. Seeding is being delayed, and lambing is proviag vary disappointi»g. Sir G. Turner, in reply to a letter from Mr E. Barton, Q C., in reference to the sns.'g*stion of the Premier of Nsw South Wales that New South Wales should join the present Federal Couacil even if the Commonwealth Bill were defeated at the polls, says that "to give effect to that suggestion ie Would bs necessary to make radical changes in the constitution of the Council, which will probably meet with equally strong objections as the present proposals. May 18. The Marine Board found Forbes, master of the Kdina, guilty of gross misconduct in connection with tbe Edina-Manawatu collision, suspended his certificate of competence for 12 months, and ordered him to pay L3l towards the expenses of the inquiry. Captain Forbes intends to appeal. The charge against the pilot was act sustained. The Eastern Extension Telegraph Company intend to lay an entirely new cable between Victoria and Tasmania at a cost of about £60,000. May 10. A test income tax c&«e was brought before the Full Court, which decided that all outgoings incurred for the purpose of obtaiiii&g businafcs are charges on income, and do not constitute an investment of capital. The drought has broken op, and a good general rain has fallen. - May 20. Christopher, the chemist's assistant; who recently supplied Dr Williams with a*rophine in mistake for morphine, with fatal result?, baa been acquitted on the charge of manslaughter. The Argus London correspondent stateß ihat noticß has been given to the Hawaiian Government that the Franca cable connecfripg Australia and New Caledonia is to be immediately extended to San Francisco, via Tahiti and the Saadwich Istands, This, of course, would place tlrer Pacific cable under the immediate control of France and Amsrica, and tbns forestall tbe proposed British cable. Sydney, May 17. The annnal meeting of I3ie Looal Option League adopted as a new battle cry for the eleefciong : " Local and State option without compensation." The Germac-Auatralian Steamship Company of Hamburg intend to start a aacond line of steamers to Australia, with Adelaide as a terminal port, and calling at Melbourne and Sydoey. Tbe first steamer sails on July 9. The ship Wateiloo, whf.oh has arrived a», Newcastle, reports Righting the ship Crown of India dismasted and badly damaged off the South Solitaries or Thursday. The Crown,of India aaked for the assistance of two tugs, which have bean despatched. The Pendle Hill, frora Mongonui, met the full f orcft of the l»ts gale. She was hova4o for three days. Considerable darrage was done to her sails. Tha steam collier Saxonia, bound fiom WoUoiigong to Sydney, struck on Beilambi Reef and baoarae a total wreck. The crew v,-ere saved. May 18. At the half-yearly meeting of the Baak, ef New South Wales the net profit for the halfyear was shown to be LBB.OOO, which, with the undivided balance from the l»Bt balfyear, gives L 104.600 for distribution. The directors recommend a dividend at the rate of 9 per c-»Bt. per snnuro, absorbing L 87.750, the balance of L 16,900 to be cavriad tj tbe profit and loss new account. The president, in bis speech, wotod the satisfactory increase of the current account. The working portion of the bank's business had been fairly maintained. The deposits were LBOO.OOO higher, having come back to about the level of this time last year. Bills payable- and other liabilities again showed a shrinkage, this time of a 3ittle over L 400.000. Tbe total assetß grouped undar tbe heading "British and colonial se'eurities " were L 6,627,000, aa against L 6.677.000 for the last half-year, a sufficiently strong reserve for all requirements. Reference was made to the drought season in tbe South Island of New Zealand.

The report and balance sheet were adopted.

The Volador, which has arrived from Napier, struck the gale in thß Tasmau Sea and hove-to for some time. Portion of her deck cargo, consisting of timber, was washed away/ Ths vessssl sustaiatsd slight damage.

Ths brigantine Lady Eobicson, which left the Ohuence River on April 29, bousd for Wfistporr., timber laden, bas been picked up by a tug. She lost her rudder, and' has been towed to Newcastle.

May 19.

The brigantine Lady Robinssoc, whlob. left the Clarence River bound for Westuott, and was towsd into Newcast)© disabled, had a te):ribl« exs.erlosjoe. For 32 days aha w&k battered about afc th« x»&rey of th* vj&ve*, bsieg cHummated, and leaking- bfttify c Tft*? crew were worn out by pumping, ft»d h&.d to crowd into the cabin, Sit square. They were also short of food.

The Crown of India, which was sighted by the Waterloo last week badly damaged off the South Solitaries, has been dismasted, and is being towsd in,

A heavy squall carried fcb«3 S!#r of India's JaEb mainmast away g,j; n&h,s &&©« leaving

Newcastle. Pbe wrs picked tip and toned into the harbour to-day, having been knocking about helplessly for 14 days. She was unmanageable aud rolled heavily, and everything was swept eff the decks.

May 22.

Mr Edd, spsakiag at Bathuret, *aid his great desire at the approaching election was to receive sufficient strength to carry out his promised reform of the Upper House. Hs did notproposetoadcp', revolutionary methods. He would approach with leyerence a body which had been so eminently useful to the colony. Hs also announced an ictention to re-esta's-Usb a system by which civil servants, proving themselves efficient through the medium of periodical examisatioas, would receive annual increases. In figure msric would be recognised.

The Ribston, the pioneer boat of the new American-Australian Steamship Company, left New York for Melbourne aud Sydney on Thursday last.

The Marine Board found that the craw of ths *.s. Merkeworth were justified in abandoning that vessel, believing that she vf&s sinking.

The inquest on the Msitland victims has been concluded. The jury exonerated the captain and officers from all blame, and foond that they did all in their power to avert the (.'isaater. They gave great credit to Captain Skinner for his courage and skill in saving live 3.

The celebration to-day of the centenary of the Irish rising of 1798 was very largely attended. The remains of the well-known insurgent chief Michael Dwyer and his wife were eshnmed at tbe old Devonshire street cemetery and leinlerrecl at tha Waverley Oemstery, where tbe foundation stone of g> national monument was laid. The body of the wife was in a remarkable state of preservation, due largely to her great age (95) whfen she died. The features and hair wers perfectly recognisable. Dwjer pas buried 73 years a?td his wife 38 years ego. Speeches were delivered in ealcgy of tbe heroism aud patriotism of the leaders in the rising. May 23. The schooner J. S. Kondio, from Nambucka River to Sydney, has been missing since the gale, and it is feared that she has foundered, and that her crew of seven have been drowced. Eastern news states that the bubonic plague is spreading at Hongkong. Since the beginning of January 379 deaths have occurred, and the mortality In increasing daily. Adelaide, May 17. Good general rains have fallen throughout South Australia, and a good season is practically assured. Brisbane, May 19. The Government decline to publish the correspondence iv referee cc to the New Guinea Lund Syndicate till Sir Hugh Nelson's return from the north. May 20. The Deputy-governor ba? s&ut a cablegram to Mr Chamberlain, Color lal Secretary, asking that the Queen ba advised to reserve her assent to the British New Guinea Land Syndicate's scheme until this contributing colonies have been consulted. May 23. Ticks have bten discovered io a cumber of cattle at the Roiibank Meat Works, near Brisbane. Ac emergency meeting of the Stock Board has been called for to-day to dsal with the matter. The New South Wales Government ars taking steps to prevent meat killed in Queensland entering New South Wales. Pjsbth, May 23. A cariug os.se of robbery under arros vcok pl&Cf} at Guildiord, a few miles from Perth. Mr Ford (secretary) and s»n emploj cc of the Peninsular Brickworks were driving from the oity to the works with a bag containing L9S in wages. Three armed masked men rushed from tbe bush. One seized the horse's head and the others demanded the money. Mr i Foid attggp,pted to whir, up the horse, but the I robber drew his revolver and shot him through the fleshy part of tbe forearm. The wounded man and his companion were then I bonnd and gagged. The robbers decamped with the money. The horse and buggy were found three miles from tbe scene of the sticking-up. Ho arrests have been made is connection with the affair.