CABLE BREVITIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10420, 24 July 1895, Page 2

CABLE BREVITIES.

Proprietary mine shares have fallen 4s 6d and Block.X la tis Rain, hailstorms, and snow figure largely io the country weather reports in New South Wales. '"• The South Australian vintage this season is 1,575,000ga1, ; being an increase of 419,000 gal over last year's output. - Canadian riflemen , are making, inquiries with a view to sending a teamto Australia I and New Zealand. A smart ■ shock of earthquake was .experienced throughout tho southern districts of New South Wales on Monday. It is understood that a writ has been issued against -the Sydney Daily Telegraph at the instance of the Hon. E. Viekery, M.L.C., claiming LIO.OOO for alleged libel contained in comments in a letter ■ insinuating that Mr yickery sought to influence votes in- connection with the loan for church'purchases. The Sonth Australian Register, commenting on the bill providing for advances to settlers, says that it will tend to reduce interest "and the earning power of savings banks depositors, and the Register suggests that a fair, course would ba' to obtain a -plebiscite of-savings bank. depositors, and appoint, a commission to inquire into the bill and obtain the mandate of the people at the hustings.

The Victorian Rifle Association are endeavouring to; secure such unityr of action amongst the associations of "the different colonies as would result iii matches, being so fixed that the first-class shots in,the colonies wishing totake part in a series of contests coutd\do so; The question pf an Australian team to shoot at Bisley is. hot being" considered. The feeling here is that each colony should send, a team, if funds are raised, but it is understood that Sydney riflemen favour the idea of sending a federal team. •;:-■ '-- ■■'•.-■ .

5 , The report of the directors of the Broken Hill Proprietary mine states that after carefully estimating the quantity of oxidised ore remaining it is necessary that every effort be made to economise the higher grades to such an extent as to prevent any burden or excessive cost in the treatment ofthe lower grades. On the recommendation of the general manager, it was decided to reduce the weekly Output. This will render it impossible to maintain the present dividends without encroaching on • the reserve assets. It is hoped, however, that the reduction will not exceed one dividend for the half-year. A portion of the sulphides can be treated profitably by methods already known, and the directors trust that in the near future they will be able to treat the whole on a satisfactory basis. In the meantime the directors say they are pushing forward the exploration of the sulphides. .."*