INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10562, 8 January 1896, Page 2

INTERCOLONIAL.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. COMMISSIONS FOR VICTORIANS. Mblbowbne, January 7. Lieutenants Sitter and Francis havb beesi appointed to regiments in the Imperial Army—the formsr to a lieu tenancy in the Second Battalion'Princass Victoria's Royal j Irish Fosileere, and .'the, latter to the Second i Battalion Prince 6t Waiss'a own Weak York- | Ehire Begiment. I . BUSH FIRES. | Extensive buah fires are raging in various j parts o£ the colony. At Grehyille 11 buildifaga were destroyed, the damage being estimated at L6OOC). Several people were bnrned ( in. fighting the flames, but cone seriously injured. CONFERENCE OF COMMANDANIS.' . SYCNEY, January' 7. TKe Colonial Secretary has written to the Governments of. the various colonies, excepting iihoee oil Western Australia and New Zealand, inviting a conference of | commandants, to meet here on tha 20th inst., to decide upon a uniform rifle for tbd colonies represented at the conference. EXECUTION OF SHERIDAN. I Sheridan was exscdted this morning, death being instantaneous. The condemned man vfas remarkably cool and composed. He made do statement. A CYCLIST DISQUALIFIED. The League of Wbee'lmsn have disqualified Magsoa, the woll-known New South Wales rider, from riding for six months fdt disrespect shown,to the committee. Tha disqualification holds good throughout Australia; , BUSH FIRES IN NEW SOUTH WALES. ; Yesterday the hsat at lingerie registered j 125deg, and at Cobar 12O3feg to-day. In j many of the country districts bush .fires ; are already raging in all directions. The Blue Mountains are ablaze in many part's and a grand spectacle is presented. At the Terminal three houses have been deatroyed. The town if B3mbala was completely surrounded by flames,-bat was .saved after' several hoars' fierce fighting. The residents, turned cut ia a body to. fight the flames. Besides the great destruction of crops by fire, orchards have been mined by tha intense heat. z ■ arHestsd for murder. Brisbane, January 7. Ah old man named Sims has been arrested for the, murder pf a black boy. The accused admitted that he shot the boy because he stole his beef and fowls. He burned the body owing to the smell attracting dingoes; | which howled dismally. : INTENSE HEAT. Perth, January 7. Intense heat oontinries. In some places the thermometer registered llGdeg in the shade. Two more deaths from sunstroke are recorded. [ ■ A LARGE TRANSACTION. [ % The Black. Flag Company recently paid : the Central Exploration Company a mm of ' L525j0G0 for the purchase of four leases of a [ total area of GG acres in the Block Flag district. The stamp duty on the transfer amounted to L 2625. FEDERATION. HoBAitT, January 7; A special session oE Parliament to Heal with tlie Federal Enabling Bill has opened.