INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9978, 21 February 1894, Page 2

INTERCOLONIAL.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. THE MERCANTILE BANK OASES. Melbourne, February 20. The Mercantile Bank cases against Sir Matthew Diviea, F. Millidge, and T. B. Muutz have begun. The judge declined to grant the application to have the defendants tried separately. MAIL CONTRACTS. The Premier is averse to a renewal of the mail contracts, even for a short period, unless the freight on meat, butter, and cheese is reduced, and better accommodation for produce provided. A SENTENCE COMMUTED. . The Cabinet has commuted the death sentence pasßed upon Bennett for shooting a boy under ciroumstances of great provocation to imprisonment for 15 years. BEET SUGAR. The GippsJand Beet Sugar Company asked the Colonial Treasurer to grant a subsidy of LI for every L 2 privately subscribed, and also to remit the duty on machinery. The Treasurer promised a remission of duty and to grant a bonus for every ton of sugar produced, but refused to give a subsidy. OUR VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS. Sydney, February 20. |Toe Rev. Mr Dunn, one of tbe Presbyterian ministers who visited New Zealand to inspect the village settlements, speaking generally, said the settlements were not such a succbbs as they should be. He attributes tho selection of poor land and the absence of Belf-relianca among the settlers rb the chief causes, and goes on to say: "Thera is a great tendency to rely on the Government in various directions. This remark applies specially to the settlements in tbe nortb, those ia the south being in better condition owiDg to the superior land." AN EMBEZZLER Sydney, I'ebruary 20. Cyril Haviland, secretary of tbe School of Arts, has been convicted on a charge of embezzling large sums belonging to the society, and sentenced to four years' hard labour.

DOLLAR, CIGARETTES. Try them,