INTERCOLONIAL BREVITIES

Evening Post, Volume LVII, Issue 23, 28 January 1899, Page 10 (Supplement)

INTERCOLONIAL BREVITIES

A revival in trades unionism is noticeable in Sydney. Several societies are reorganising. A band of Greek gipsies wishing to enter New South Wales was turned back at Albury recently. As a result of eight weeks' work, a party of tributers at the Maritana South mine, Kalgoorlie, obtained 2680z of gold. The estate of the late Mr. T. J. Byrnes, formerly Premier of Queensland, has been sworn for probate purposes at under £20,000. The New South Wales Colonial Secretary is taking advantage of the recess to conduct an investigation into the charitable instituions under his control. Arrangements have been made for the stamping of all meat killed at the Sydney abattoirs, but the new system will not come into operation for some time. In consequence of the drought, the isaraoi and Gwydir Rivers, N.S.W., have ceased running, and the districts once watered by them are in a terrible state. Pastoralists in Western New South Wales complain of depredations by the emu, and ask that the law prohibiting thr destruction of that bird may be suspended. A deputation of unemployed waited upon the South Australian Commissioner foi Works a few days ago. It was stated that there were 2000 men out of work in Adelaide. Mr. Varney Parkes, Postmaster General of New South Wales, speaking on Federation, said that New South Wales was equal in commerce and resources to all the other colonies combined. During 1898 the vessels entering Port Jackson numbered 1793, aggregating 3,726,278 tons. The number of seamen carried by ships into the port during the year was 84,548, and the number of passengers 75,069. The Victorian farmers do not appear to be holding back for higher prices thir season. For the week ended on the 12th in st. 200,000 bags were carried by rail. This quantity has been exceeded only once, and that was for a week in 1894. A somewhat exciting incident happened at the Runemede Church, Merino, on Sunday. During the sermon one of the congregation called out to the preacher, Mr. J. W. Davidson, " Don't move— there is a snake alongside of you !" and it was then seen that a tiger snake was coiled up on a box near the reading desk. After some trouble the reptile was killed. A Quindiri fN.S W.) correspondent states that near Walgett, and further west, it is 11 months sinoe a good fall of rain took place. The rivers are merely waterholes, lined with carcases of sheep, kangaroos, emus, and other animals. No other water is available. Horse feed is at fabulous prices. Other parts of New South Wales were visited by good rains recently. In consequence of the dfbundant harvest in the eastern districts of West Australia, and the fact that the mills can only buy up to their grinding capacity, there is a slump in the price of wheat, which has fallen to 2s 10d, and a further fall to 2s 6d is expected. Chaff is also falling, and is practically unsaleable, except at what is described as a ruinous price. For the first time for three year 3 shipments of grain have been made from South Australia to Europe. The use of artificial manures is revolutionising farming in that colony. Professor Lowr}e, of the Agricultural College there, estimates the cost of those used last year at £70,000, and calculates that the harvest results will give a direct gain on the manured lands of from £110,000 to £130,000. The grubs are still making great havoc • in the onion fields (writes the "Border Watch," S.A.). Mr. Webster and others are now trying to get the better of them by employing Doys to collect them. Large numbers are thus being destroyed. It is said the boys are making good wages. They are paid at the rate of Is per 1000 grubs. In a three-acre paddock belonging to Mr. Case a few boys collected no less than 10,000 on sth January. From 10 to 20 grubs are sometimes found around a single onion ! Mr. D. Martin, Victorian Secretary for Agriculture, has' received a letter from the Government of the Cape Colony saying that the reports from the wheatgrowing districts of that colony show that the harvest this season will not come up to the average yield of the last three years. The shortage was estimated at 355,000 bushels. It is mentioned however, -that there was every reason to believe that the wheat crop in the Orange Free State would far exceed the average yield, and should that expectation be realised it would materially affect the market at Capetown. Fineg and costs amounting to £9 9s lOd were imposed on Henry bteer, of Mahonga, at the Police Court, Albury, on the borders of New' South Wales and Victoria, on 9th January, for consigning two head of cattle suffering from tuberculosis to the Municipal sale-yards in November last. The cattle were intended for sale at Wodonga, and were passed at Albury by the local inspector, who only examined for tick, but were rejected by the Victorian inspector at Wodonga. The cattle Avhich were said to have been very badly affected, Avere subsequently yarded at Albury, Avhen they Avere seized by the Council's inspector. A correspondent Avrites to the Sydney Daily Telegraph complaining of the frequency of outrages perpetrated by " pushes," and gives the following account of a recent occurrence: — "A young man from the country is paying me a visit, and having occasion to go out the other night Avas returning home about a quarter to 11 o'clock, and when passing from Wattle-street into Ultimo-street (this being ihe nearest way home) Avas assaulted and robbed. H« informs me that there Avere about 20 men sitting on the patlnvay, and Avhen passing a number of them suddenly rose up and demanded cigarettes. On informing them that he had not any, he Ava instantly knocked doAvn, and everything of value abstracted from his pockets, and a ring taken off his finger." ' A remarkable article appeared recently in the Melbourne Age on the effect of the high Income Tax in Victoria. The tax is Is 4d in the pound on incomes derivable from property exceeding £2200 per annum, and it is said to be driving capital out of the colony. It is shown from official statistics that the number of such taxpayers, Avhich Avas 165 in 1896 Avhen the tax Avas introduced, had sunk to 145 last year, and the amount realised Avas less. The incomes derived from investments have sunk, and a considerable amount of capital has been transfered to other countries. A leading Melbourne financial agent says that the amount of capital invested through his office has dwindled by nearly a million, purely as the result of the tax, and he calculates the loss of capital to the colony at not less than eight millions. A leading trustee company in Melbourne Avas recently instructed to send Home £80,000, on a mortgage in which it Avas placed falling due, owing to this tax.

M. Le Chanoine de Roy, the head of the Seminary at Liege, has acquainted the Paris correspondent of the Morning Post with some of the marvellous results obtained by the collection of old postage stamps. Since the movement was started seven years ago 300,000,000 stamps have been collected, which realised 50,000 francs. With a portion of this sum the Belgian Missionaries have been able to establish and thoroughly organise five Christian villages on the Congo. The collection of stamps is to be continued, and the proceeds will be devoted to erecting a cathedral at Leopoldville, in the Congo Free State,