INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1681, 9 February 1884, Page 11

INTERCOLONIAL.

[BY EtEOTBIO TeIeOBAPH— COPTBIQHT.J (Reoter'r Telegrams.) Melbourne, February 5. {ttecelved Fobruar} 5, at 4.50 p.m.) The Marchioness of Normanby was taken seriously ill on Sunday, and remained unconS iious for some time. She has since regained consciousness, but lies in a very precarious condition. The Melbourne manager of the National Mortgage and Agency .Cornpuuy of New Zealand (Limited) reports of the local grain market as follows :— Wheat is in fair demand at 3s lid to 4s ll^d ; maltißg barley steady, but not in active demand, at 4s to 4s Gd ; New Zealand oits, duty paid, are quoted at 2s 9d to 3s Id, and are in request at' reduced prices ; New Zealand oats, under bond, 2s 3d to 2i !7d — market quieter and weaker. , x o o Sydney, January 31. A largely-attended demonstration took place last n%ht in opposition to the immigration policy of the Government. It was decided to present a monster petition to Parliament, praying for the cessation of immigration. The acheme of taxation set fotth in the Treasurer's recent Budget Statement is being warmly criticised, and the opposition to the proposals is daily increasing. Further arrests have been made by. the police in connection with the. murder of Elizabeth Phillips at Woolloomooloo in September last year. ■ ■kt lr , , , ' February 1. New Zealand wheat, 3s Gd ; New Zealand pa s, Sb ; maize, 4s 6d. Sugar : Company's No 1 pieces, per ton, £34. • In the course of the debate iv tha Legislative Assembly to-nwht an angry altercation toolc place between the Hon. Robert Wisdom and Mr Buchanan. Subsequently both went into xt x 8?a B . ret 7 n ?; ro °n>. and whilo there Mr Wisdom struck Mr Buchanan, and both rolled on the floor. The House broke up i>» confusion, and the galleries were cleared On the return of mejabfirß ap excited debate

ensued, and Mr Wisdom was ordered to attend the Houso on Tuesday next on a charge of breach of privilege. Bkisbank, February 2. A hurricane of a most severe character hjis been experienced at Bowon, a. seapoit town about 725 iriles n<-rth of this city. The wind blew for some hours with terrific force, ajid caused immense destruction, every buildiug in the town being moie or less damaged, arid many being blown down. Hundreds of people have been rendered homeless. Both the bank buildings have beon razed to the ground, and all the hotels have been so damaged as to be unfit for occupation. The jetty has been blown away, and the steamer Fiado, which was lying alongside, lias been driven aground. So far as is known, no loss of life has been caused. February -1. IL has been ascertained that no lo^s of life has occurred from the hurricane which was recently experienced in the north. The Poole Island freezing-works, near Bowen, were completely destroyed, and it ia feared there has been a wreck on Gloucester Island, off Edgecumbe Bay. The storm had a most extensive front, and serious floods arc reported from many parts of Northern Queensland. One hundred persons at Bowen are in a state of destitution.