INTERCOLONIAL.

Bruce Herald, Volume XX, Issue 2113, 5 November 1889, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL.

At Brisbane an escaped prisoner named ' Flick, who was called upon to surrender, resisted, and in the struggle which ensued he shot Constable Woville and a boy dead. He was not captured. The reported masßacre of the Rev. Mr Savage, aome native teachers, and the crew of the London mission vessel, Mary, by Debeer natives, near New Guinea, is generally discredited, aB the same tribe caused a similar scare some time baok. The teller of the Sydney branch of the Bank of New Zealand has suddenly disappeared, and an investigation of his accounts has revealed the fact that he had embezzled a sum of £13,454. The defalcations are attributed to speculation in mining stock, but the bank authorities have suoceeded in recovering Bcript from the defaulter's broker representing between £7000 and £8000, and they expect to get more. At present there is no trace of the absconder. Sir Henry Parkes, in a despatch to Mr Thomas Gillies, Premier of Victoria, aaya he believes the time ia ripe to consolidate the Australian Colonies, and New South Wales invites the other colonies to take the first great step— viz., to hold a national convention for the purpose of devising and reporting on some adequate scheme of federal government. Iv order to avoid a sense of inequality he proposes the number of delegates from each colony should be the same, and equally chosen from both sides of political life, such delegates to be elected by the Parliaments and commissioned by the Q-overnor-in council. He suggests that the number of delegates from each colony should b 9 four members from the Lower House, two from each side, and two from the Upper House, one frond each Bide, and"if -New Zealand joins in the 'proposal fclie convention will consist of 40 members. Federation, it is assumed would necessarily follow on the lines of the constitution of the Dominion of Canada — viz., to provide a Governor- general ' for the Dominion of Australia, and a Queen's Privy Council ; also that the Legislative power Bhall be exercised by a Parliament of two houses, called the Senate and the House of Commons. Thomas, the defaulting teller of the Bmk of New Zealand, has been arrested in Melbourne, with £600 in hiß possession. Harvesting in South Australia is progressing, and returns bo far are excellent, but red rust is spreading in several localities, which it is feared will reduce the total yield. The police have received a letter confirming the account of the massacre of the Rev. Mr Savage and party at Debeer, on the Western Coast of New Guinea. They were murdered while praying ashore. Th« Intercolonial Stock Conference was opaued at Melbourne on Friday. Mr Charles Myers, officer member for Dundas in the Victorian Assembly, was chosen chairman. The questions to be discUased include regulations for the admission of foreign Btock into the Australasian oolonies, and quarantine restrictions, the diseases of stock, and the best means of exterminating rabbits. The first question discussed was that of acab, and it waß resolved to request the New Zealand Government to take more stringent measures to cleanse flocks in that oolony. In the Victorian Legislative Assembly the Minister of Lands has made an explanation with regard to his remarks as to the infringements of Mr Pond's butter box patent. He says that the letters patent of Mr Pond apply to boxeß, while in the instance under notice tbe enamel was only used in casks. He adds that Mr Pond haa not made any oharges against the department. The •Argus,' in referring to the question, says the explanation iB tortuous and unsatisfactory, and demands that the Government should fully inquire into the matter ; and also suggests that the Legislative Assembly should appoint a select committee of inquiry. Flick, the escaped convict, who in the attempt to capture him shot Constable Wovill and a lad dead, was pursued by the police, and aa he refused to surrender, waa i Bhot dead at Norman ton. Thomaß, the defaulting teller of the Bank I of New Zealand at Sydney, who was arrested [ in Melbourne has informed the detectives J ! where they will find mining scrip representing £15,000. Consequently the Bank made a further discovery of scrip to the extent of £10,000, wbich will considerably reduce the defalcations of the defaulter Thomas. The German warship Alexandrina reports that she hoisted the German flag on Ysabel, one of the Solomon group ; also at Home's Group. The village of Lagullevan was burned in revenge for the murder of two ; Germans.