THE VICTORIAN RAILWAY TARIFF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8145, 31 March 1888, Page 2

THE VICTORIAN RAILWAY TARIFF.

A deputation has asKett tne rrenner 10 reduce the grain freights 50 per cent, to temporarily relievo farmers suffering from the low prices. The deputation urged that the estimated loss oE £100,000 could be recouped to the railways from the general revenue. Mr Gillies, the Premier, in reply, said that Parliament would have to decide such an important matter. March 30. A NARROW ESCAPE. The Opera House had a narrow escape of being destroyed by fire last night. The hotel adjoining the theatre caught lire, but fortunately the flames were extinguished before serious damage was done, although it was not withont great trouble that the brigade subdued what at one time looked as if it would result in a serious conflagration. THE RECENT FATAL FIGHT. The five men in custody on a charge of taking part in the recent fatal light pleaded Guilty. The Crown prosecutor stated that the light was a fair one, and the judge released the men on their entering into recognisances to come up for sentence when called UP °n" AN UNWELCOME DECISION. (Reoeivait March 30, at 9 p.m.) A decision delivered by the Appeal Court on the appeal of one of the female teachers involves I hat provision must bo made by the Education depart men t to pay from £10,000 to £15,000 accumulated increment salaries, principally those due to females. A WINE CONGRESS. The Premier has received a communication inviting the colonies to send delegates, or be represented at the congress arranged by the Spanish Government, to discuss the question of fraudulent wine marks, and also to amend the sugar bounties. The conference to be held in April. SHIPPING. Sailed : Barque.Othello.for the Bluff. THE ANTI-CHINESE AGITATION. Sydney, March 28. A crowded anti-Chinese meeting was belt last, niffht, when resolutions objecting to tin great influx of Chinese and the action of th< Chinese Government in encouraging th< emigration of Chinese to Australia wen tabled and carried unanimously. The captain of the Changslia has beei fined £'200 for allowing seven Chinamen ti escape fiom the vessel without paying tb necessary poll-tax. March 20. A deputation from an anti-Chinese meeting held on [Tuesday night waited on the Pre mier yesterday afternoon and laid befor him the resolutions passed by the meeting In reply to the deputation, Sir Henry Parkc said the Government aimed st practical pre hibition of Chinese immigration to Nc South Wales. The whole question, said th Premier, would shortly be submitted to th consideration of Parliament. BROKEN HILL SHARES. The Broken Hill Proprietary Silver Mmm Company's shares have dropped to betwec £330 and £310 in all colonial markets. SMELTING WORKS. Government intend erecting smoltin works for the purpose of assaying bulk sail pies of ore instead of small quantities. La year 2200 assays were made. It is cxpectc that 5000 assays will be made this year. ' SYDNEY MUNICIPAL FRAUDS. The Evening News states that the inqni' made by the municipal authorities into tl alleged "frauds shows that there has been triple system or plundering carried on f upwards of 20 years, large numbers of tl weights, prices, and articles supplied by tl contractors being altered. The amount the fraud is likely to swell to £100,0 C Legal advice is now being taken as to t! prosecution of several of the officers, and is mentioned that the prosecution may extw to circles little suspected. SILVER MINING. (Itrctwe*! March 20, at 11.60 p.m.) Several new lodes have been discovered the Qnena silver district. Five hundred in are now on the ground, and the field is dai increasing in importance. MANUFACTURERS'CONFERENCE. March 30. A conference of delegates from t various chambers of manufacturers in t colonies is fixed for June li. PERSONAL. Mr Bernard C. Molloy, M.P. for Bo\ King's County, Ireland, is a passenger f Auckland by the Tarawera. A SAD ACCIDENT. Sydney, March 30. (Uectfiral March 30, at f p.m.) A gatekeeper on the Parramatta railw line, in attempting to save the life of a lit girl who had wandered on to the line, i\ run over and killed. The child was a: killed. TYPHOID FEVER. A serious outbreak of typhoid fever 1 taken place at, the Broken Hill silver mine A DISCOVERY. The books and vouchers which were mi ing from the municipal oftiees have been il covered in the storeroom of the Town Hal M. PASTEUR'S MICROBES. Adelaide, March 23 M. Levi, M. Pasteur's nephew, with Fermont, French doctor, and Dr llin English doctor, arc passengers,!))' the Cuz which has arrived here. They come to A tralia to conduct experiments in connect: with M. Pasteur's rabbit extermination p posals. M. Levi, in reply to an interview stated emphatically that the possibility any ill effects from the experiments had bt disproved by M. Pasteur. The disease w which it was proposed to infect rabbits v not allied to cholera, and M. Levi stated tl persons had been infected from poultry wi out experiencing the slightest inconveniei or discomfort. He also stated that af being infected the rabbits die painles within 24 hours. In reply to further qu lions, M. Levi said he was not aware wl elfect the disease would have upon skin*. ANOTHER BLOW TO NEW ZEALA> March 30 (Kucelvi-d March 30, ai, 9 p.m.) Owing to the presence of the Hessian in New Zealand the local Agrieului Society are urging the Government to p hibit the importation of hay from there ii this colony. THE FRENCH IN THE PACIFIC. Brisbane, March 2S News has reached here to the effeSt ti the French troops are heartily glad to le: the New Hebrides. All but two of thorn 1 fever while on the islands, it being aim impossible to sleep ashore without catch the f OTor. QUEENSLAND AND THE CHINESI QUESTION. Brisbane, Marcli 3C Sir Samuel Griffith has forwarded a It memorandum in reply to the protests m; by the Trades and Labour Conference agai Queensland not joining in the anti-Chin agitation with the other colonies. Samuel in the memorandum states that : Queensland Government took no part in a"itation, thinking separate replies fr each of the colonies would be more ell (Received March 30, at 9 p.m) Sir Samuel Griffith, the Premier, in rer. ing to a deputation from the anti-Chin meeting, said that he would urge the me bers of his Government to bring pressure bear on the Chinese Government to t courage and, if possible, forbid emigration Australia. A RAILWAY SYNDICATE. I'EKTH (W.A.). March 28 The Legislative Council has refused authorise a contract with the llamp1 Plains Railway Syndicate. The Survey general urges that it would be better wait the results of similar enterprises hand before encouraging others. He licved the proposed line would ruin the p moters, an'l he condemned the alienation any more large areas to absentees. THE CKOZBTS CASTAWAYS. The report which found circulation so months a<>o to the effect that castawi were on the Crozet Islands, has been c firmed by the receipt by his lixcelloi the Governor of a cable message from ' French Government, stating that a yes had just returned to France, report that sailors landed at the Crozets, and i an inscription to the effect that the pre sious having become exhausted they 1 removed to another island some distal off The vessel went in search of till but found no further trace. It is surmii that they have been picked up by a pass ship. "