INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8074, 9 January 1888, Page 2

INTERCOLONIAL.

[By Electric Telegraph— Copyright.] (Pkr Press Association.) SUSPECTED CASE OF SMALLPOX. Melbourne, January 7. (Received January 7, at -1.50 p.m.) A ease of suspected smallpox-is reported from Balranald, a town on tho New South Willes border nnd about 300 mile;s N.W. of this city. COMMERCIAL. (Hoodlved January 8, at 5.-10 p.m.) The authorities have made full inquiries into the alleged outbreak of smallpox at Balranald, and doubts are expressed whether the case reported is smallpox. New Zealand oats, ex bond, are at 2s 4__\t\. PERSONAL. (Koo6lved January S, at 5.40 p.m.) Jlr Abigail, Minister of Lauds, has left on a holiday tour through New Zealand. Mr Gillies-, the Premier, is declining in health.. . ........', ' ■■ RAVAGES OE CATERPILLAR. Complaints aro being reoeived from most of thb country districts of the ravages made by caterpillars and locusts, audit is expected that tho crops will be seriously damaged by theso pests. THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION. Tho Exhibition Commissioners have reserved 100,0001't of space for tho French exhibits. THE BABBIT PEST. Sydney, January 7. (Received January 7, at 4.50 p.m.) The Government only intend to pay one* fourth of the cost of the destruction of rabbits in future instead of three-fourths as at present, but landowners will not be required to keep a specified number of rabbitera as before.

THE PARKES FUND. \ The Sir H. Parkes Fund now amounts to * £7200. /** AN ALARM OF FIRE IN A THEATRE. f A false alarm of fire was raised during a J performance in the theatre afc Newcastle. J\ Jhe house was packed at the time, and the * I audience made a rush for the doors, but / were quieted before any harm resulted. , (Received Januarys, at 5..10 p.m.; / The panic in the tlieati-t-^last night v^ s ,' caused by one of tho audience placing a ! lighted cigar in his pocket, which contaffied loose powder, the result; being a slight ex- •* plosion and then a stampede by the audience, ' which lasted 20 minutes. '* NEW ZEALAND'S POLICY. ij (Received January 7, at 5.15 p.ai.) '' | Tho Daily Telegraph in aa article ' \ to-day commends tho honesty of New. | Zealand in insisting on a wide" scheme of <1 retrenchment, and prophesies a rise iii f stock in consequence. The same paper * further remarks that if the colonies will | cease borrowing British capitalists will senc the money privately for investment a. I fact which is evidenced by last year's trans- ' actions. CIVIL SERVICE REFORM. | The New South Wales Government arc imquiring the immediate retirement of all civil servants over CO years of age, except in I special cases. » THE SEAMEN'S UNION. ) (Received January 8, at 5.40 p.m.) ii The Seamen's Union here have voted £350 f as a contribution to the New Zealand Seamen s Union to carry on the opposition to, the Northern Steamship Company, of Auck- I laud, which declines to employ" any union, J CARDINAL MORAN. j Cardinal Moran will shortly make a visit to Rome. ■ THE HYDROPHOBIA SCARE. I . The action taken by the police in destroying all stray dogs in consequence of the increase of hydrophobia in Europe has caused many complaints to be made, and the authorities have now issued instructions. L putting a stop to tho wholesale destruction. A CHALLENGE DECLINED. .' Hanlan challenged Searle, the winner of / the sculling race at the Grafton regatta, to- I row a match over a two-mile ccarse, and was f DAMAGE BY FIRE. I Sydney, January S\ I (Received January 9, at 1.30 a.m.) I Fri™ e, wllich b, roke <">t on the barque* I TW 'J i aiTlV l ed at Newcastle from New E Zealand, destroyed the forepart of the vessel. P aud^the amount estimated for repairs il jf THE CHINESE QUESTION. I Brisbane, January T. i (Received January 8, at 5.40 p.m.) f; The Premier has promised to bring the I Chinese question before the Federal Council fof Australasia at Hobari, but states that s concerted action by the other colonies is- I necessary, and he will consult with the i Premiers of sister colonies. | QUEENSLAND WHEAT YIELD. j (Heceived January 7, at -1.50 p.m.) I ' A splendid wheat yield is reported from I a 1 quarters of the colony, and millers aregiving 4s per bushel. c I THE ADELAIDE EXHIBITION. f Adelaide, January 7. i (Eeceived January 7, at 1.50 p.m.) I ' The Jubilee Exhibition closes to-day The f attendance during the time it has been onen. amounts to 753,000, and tho receipts to * £21,000, whicii is £5000 beyond the amount * estimated to be taken. The following are the * number of awards made :-South Australia,. ! 1015; Great Britain, 995; Victoria, 516: New South Wales, 427; Belgium, 15<h . Owing to the great success of the exhibition f'. it is not expected that tho guarantors will f be called upon. A BARQUE DESTROYED BY FIRE. } (Received January 8, at 5.40 p.m.) The barque Saturn, while lying in the bay > to c - I\ was burnt* and the care-o, consisting ' o.tuOO bags of v.*':»at, was destroyed. The I ' vessel is insured in the Sonth British office ! but they are partly reinsured. " |