INTERCOLONIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1030, 27 November 1891, Page 34

INTERCOLONIAL NEWS.

AN APPEAL EROM JAPAN. FATAL THUNDERSTORM. DESTRUCTIVE TORNADO. WINNER OF THE QUEEN’S PRIZE. NQUIRY INTO THE BOOMERANG MISHAP. (PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Melbourne, November 19. The Salvation Army self-denial week realised LIO,OOO. The New Zealand contribution was LISOO. The Legislative Council has passed the Constitution Amendment Bill. At the Australasian Charity Conference Miss Twopenny read a paper on the industrial schools and the boarding-out system in vogue in New Zealand. Melbourne, November 20. In the House of Assembly a heated d scussion is taking pla:e on the Railway Bill. Mr Gillies requested the Government to report' progress. The Premier declined, stating that he intended to finish the Bill last night ; wher upon the whole of the Opposition followed Mr Gillies, who retired from the Chamber. Lieut. Kirk, of Williamstovvn, is the winner of the Queen’s Prize with a score of 276. , . , The Charities Conference has resolved to request charitable people in the several colonies to consider the expediency of establishing a Workmen’s College on the German plan, to which able-bodied mendicants and unemployed can be referred. The Victorian Government has promised the Melbourne chaiitable authorities a piece of land for the purpose. Sydney, November 19. A cable message has been received from Japan soliciting assistance for the sufferers by the recent earthquake. Sydney', November 20. Tbs comments of the London Guardian

are based on the report presented to the Anglican Synod of Australia, which met here in September, recommending that a committee on Home Re-union should organise, through the Primate, a private conference, consisting of representatives of the church, with chosen representatives of other Christian bodies, for the purpose of obtaining a better understanding as to their mutual positions, and prepare the way for organic unity on the basis of the Lambeth Congress. The motion foe setting up the committee to carry out this recommendation was lose. Croft, the Gisborne absconder, was arrested here, and brought before the magistrate, who ordered his remand. During a violent thunderstorm to-day a building in course of erection, at Homo Bush, was struck by lightning. A workman, named Wotton, was killed instantly, and five others badly injured. Rain-making experiments will be tried at Broken Hill shortly. A tornado almost demolished the township of Round Hill, in the Barrier Range. Sydney, November 21. The Penrith municipality is in financial difficulties, and unless the Government renders some assistance it will probably be placed in the hands of a receiver. Sydney, November 24. The court-martial in connection with the accident to H.M.S. Boomerang found that Mr Gowder, chief engine - room artificer, was to blame, and lie was reduced to the rank of engine-room artificer and his long-service medals forfeited. In defence he urged that the accident was caused by great pressure of steam, and he alleged that one engineer let cold water into°the boiler while red hot. Mr Dunn, the leading stoker, will also be tried in connection with the same accident. Adelaide, November 20. In the House last night Mr Playford, Premier, stated that if Lord Carrington made the statements attributed in the message from Home, they were quite unwarrantable. Adelaide, November 21. Sir A. Blyth, the Agent-General of South Australia in London, resigns in December. Perth, November 21.

One of the pioneers of the Murchison 0-oldfield confirms the statements of the wonderful richness of the finds. He himself dollied 40ozs in one day. TIDAL WAVE AT THE GILBERT GROUP. Sydney, November 19. Intelligence has been received from the Gilbert Group of very severe weather, accompanied by tidal waves. In ‘one island eighty natives were drowned and many habitations demolished. No details have yet been received.

ILLEGAL ISLAND TRADING. Sydney, November 20. The cutter Freak, belonging to the same owners as the Emma Fisher, was also seized by H.M.S. Royalist for a breach of the trading regulations in the Solomon Group. THE KAURI TIMBER COMPANY. Melbourne, November 23. Afe the annual meeting of the Kauri Timber Company, the Chairman sweepitigly condemned the extravagance and laxity of administration and want of cohesion of the New Zealand management, which would be ruinous if allowed to continue, consequently he had directed the closing of the mills, although such a step was not absolutely necessary. Regarding tfee financial position of the Company, though there had been a loss of L 44,000 on- the year’s transactions, they had, after deducting debts, assets amounting to L? 46,000, equal to LI 13s 3d for every pound iuvested, and about LI 3s lOd for every pound of :?aidup capital. The report was adopted. ISLAND MURDERS. Sydney, November 24. Two Frenchmen have been atrociously murdered by Mallicolo natives, anti groat alarm has been caused. H.M.S. Dart has landed ant armed force to protect the residents.