INTERPROVINCIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1640, 28 April 1883, Page 11

INTERPROVINCIAL.

[By Eleotbio Telegraph.— Copyright.]

(Reuter's Telegrams.)

Melbourne, April 19th.. The Victorian Government have invited the New South Wales and South Australian Governments to join in instructing the Agentsgeneral in London to communicate with the Imperial authorities in support of the annexation of New Guinea. Mr James Service has already telegraphed to Mr Murray-Smith, the Victorian representative in London, requesting him to favour the annexation.

Victorian wheat statistics of the northern counties have been published. They show that last season's yield was 5,321,000 bushels producing an average of 8*65 bushels to the acre ; against 6,344,444 bushels and an average of 9 46 bushels last year. The Australasian is sending an agricultural reporter on a lengthened tour through the United States.

The Victorian Parliament was prorogued to-day by his Excellency the Governor, who in his speech on the occasion said that the proposed annexation of New Guinea had given great satisfaction to the people of Victoria, and his advisers had taken prompt action to urge the approval of the Imperial Government. The conference which had been arranged to consider the question of entering the Postal Union would doubtless avail itself of the opportunity to consider other matters, his Excellency's advisers being: anxious to promote collective action on Colonial questions. Parliament stands prorogued till May 30th. Melbourne, April 24th. Tho Melbourne manager of the National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand reports of the local grain market as follows : — Shipping wheat, 5s 3d to 5s -Id ; market quiet. Malting barley firm at 5s 3d to 5s 9d. Now Zealand oats steady at 2s lOd to 3s 2d for feeding qualities, and3s 2d to 3s 4d for milling. New Zealand oats under bond, quiet at 2* 3d to 2s 7d.

Arrived, this evening : Union Company's s.a. Arawata, from the Bluff.

Sydney, April 10th. Sailed, this afternoon : City of New York, for San .Francisco, via Auckland. She takes £24,000 worth of specie from this port. The passenger list is very large, and includes tho .Right Rev. Bishop Vaughan.

April 20th. The New South "Wales Government to-day cabled to the Agent-general for the Colony expressing- their views in favour of the annexation of New Guinea.

A boiler explosion occurred at Maitland to day, causing the death of one person. Sailed, this afternoon : Union Company's steamship Hauroto, for Wellington. New Zealand wheat, per bushel, 4s 3d ; New Zealand oats, 2s 8d ; maize, 3s ; Sugar Company's No. 1 pieces, per ton, £35. April 23rd. The Legislative Assembly have resolved that hotels shall be closed on Sundays, and that the mileage requirement in the case of travellers shall be increased.

Adelaide, April 19th. The advance official statistics of the South Australian wheat crop of last season show that the average has only been 416 bushels per acre.

April 20fch. Wheat is steady at 5s 6d, but nothing doing ; town flour, £11 5s to £11 10s Freights to United Kingdom offered at 25s from Adelaide, and 27s 6d from outports ; but no business has been done. The freight market is dull.