INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10596, 14 September 1896, Page 2

INTERCOLONIAL.

Press Asseciatiea—By Telegraph—Oa»yri(sht. PRSSBYTBRIAN UNION. Melbourne, September 12. The Presbyterian General Assembly hav< adopted the scheme of union by 5T to 3. THE VICTORIAN CONSTITUTION. The bill drafted by the Ministry to ameni j the Constitution Act abolishes plural voting ! legalises the adult one-vote system, give; women the franchise, and abolishes the rate payers' electoral roll. Its provisions ar.i confined to election! for the Legislative Assembly. PONISHING MURDERERS. Sidney, September 12.' The German warship Moewe has trrivec from the Islands. She shelled a number o Tillages in New Ireland aa a punishment fo: tha murder of traders. A FIRE IN A THEA.TRE. ' . Pehth, September 12. j A sensational incident occurred yesterdaj i*t the Esperaace Theatre. A performs | dropped a burning hoop on the stage. Thi j attendants poured kerosene on the flames ii mistake for water, and the fire leaped to th« roof in an instant, and burned'fiercely There was tremendous excitement among thi audience, who made a rush for the doora Tbe proprietor, however, who acted witl ] great calmess, succeeded in. cxtingnishiDf > the flames and in restoring order. A TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILWAY. | Adelaide, September 12. I A representative of the Anglo-Frencl j Gold fields Company of Australasia it) makinj overtures to the Government to grant a con cession for the construction of a trans ! continental railway. He offers to construe J it with European labour, and to manufactnri j all the iron and- steel in tbe colony. Thi i concessions are to take tbe form of a 99 yean lease. He states there are immense forma tions of ironstone and tin. in the interioi which will thus bo developed. The Govern meet are lukewarm in the matter, bu many members are favourable to the pro posals. . HEAVY DAMAGES. Hobabt. September 12. Captain Stracban has obtained the largi turn of L2OOO as damages against the Laun ! ceston Daily Telegraph for publishing ai article reflecting on his moral character.