INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1895, 16 March 1888, Page 16

INTERCOLONIAL.

(Per Prkss Association.) MELB'omtNE, March 8. The inquest on the body of Hyrons, who was kitted at a prtee tight, resulted in a vet■diet of manslaughter against BVan3 (his opponent), Flimmer and Stephen (seconds), Ely (referee), and Pollock (timekeeper). The cost of the Exhibition will probably exceed £100,000, The men v/h'o were arrested on a charge of being concerned in the second case ot a •criminal assault on a woman were brought before the City Court to-day. The evidence proved that the woman was given to ■drunkenness and was a bad character. It was also proved that the woman could not identify any of the men in custody, but the magistrate comnnMed two of the accusod for trial at the next criminal session and acquitted the third. March 0i It fcaa been announced that, in view of the Jremoval of the prohibition on the importation of stock by the various colonies, arrangements have been come to between all the colonies by which they will combine to pay an expert to inspect all the stonk shipped for the colonies at London Should he meet any uuhealthy animals he will immediately advise the several Governments by cable, and upon arrival the vessel containing these animals will be quarantined. All the colonies have approved of the proposal for inspection by an imperial oflicer, excepting New South Wales. Mr Gillies (Premier of Victoria) is now in communication with Sir Henry Parkes, and is pressing him to agreo to the arrangement. A serious burglary epidemic has broken out in the city, and four oases were reported to-day. Eighty new constables have recently been sworn in. The police here have been requested to inquire into the whereabouts of Charles Blackenburn, architect, of Sydney, who left on a trip for the benefit of his health at the end 1836, and subsequently a telegram was received that he had arrived at Dunedin. Since then it has been Hscer(.ained tiiat the telegram, was not sent by himself, and no trace oun be found of him. March 10. The Government have received a communication from the ftoyal Society enclosing a resolution passed at the annual meeting advising the Australian Governments fo refuse to allow the introduction of disease for the extermination of rabbits. March 1 12. "Under the new Licensing Act tho residents of Port Melbourne demanded a poll to determine the number of licenses to be granted by the local licensing bench. A poll was taken on Saturday, with the result that, by a majority of eight, the residents declared that the number of hotels should be reduced by one-half. March II). The woollen manufacturers are agitating for increased duties on imported goods. Twelve hundred and iiCty-six students have entered the Working Men's College. Sydney, March S. A company is being formed, after the style of the London Safe Deposit Company, to build vaults for the safe storage of valuables. The police are taking steps to prevent the prize fight which has been arranged between Burke and Foley. The police also intend to make provision 'that in the future no fights to a finish will be allowed. The man Cross, who was running consultations on horscracing under the name of W. Miller, has been arrested on the ground that numerous investors complained that the originator of the sweeps could not be found. When Cross was searched letters enclosingbank notes and cheques from all parts of New Zealand and Australia were found upon him. March 9 Six racehorses were burnt to death in a stable near Mudgec last night. Incendiarism is suspected. The question of the legality of selling newspapers on Sunday was settled by the Comt of Appeal to-day, the decision boing against the defendant, who had been fined by the magistrate. He applied for an order restraining the magistrate, and on the decision being against him went to the senior court, which has, after considerable delay, confirmed the conviction, one judge dissenting. The cricket match between Lillywhite's team and the Australians was commenced to-day. The weather was fine, but the attendance was poor. The Englishmen went in first, making 212. Smith made 50, Docker and Read ;K5 each, and Shrewsbury 24. The Austrahnns have iuadc 55 for the loss of no wickets, Jones (no), out) 17, Bannerman 38 ("not out). Turner took seven wickets. March 10. Broken Hill shares have again reached £400 per share here and at Adelaide. In Melbourne they are quoted at £M 2. The local press condemn the action of the Government in forcing the police to prosecute persons selling newspapers on Sundays, and declare that the sale of tramway and railway tickets must now, under tho recent ■judgment ot the court, be slopped. ° March 12. In connection with the recent offer made by the Government for the manufacture of locomotives within the colony, the local manufacturers intend to ask the workmen to consider the matter, as the work can only be taken up if the men will consent to a reduction of wages. The ironmasters say they will accept tho work if Government will increase the price to be paid for each locomotive from £15000 to £3260 each, and will be content with v profit of 5 per cent. On a former occasion the men refused to agree to a reduction in wages. The Union Company of New Zealand have entered intc an agreement with the Government to run a steamer to the New Hebrides regularly. Two fatal tramway accidents have occurred recently. In one, a man and his son wsre standing on the step of the car when they were knocked off by coming into contact with a telegraph post on the road to Botany. The father had his brains knocked out, and the son was internally injured. In the second case a'woman stepped in front of a motor at .Newcastle and was cut to pieces. She was

somewhat deaf, and it is presumed she did not hear the approach of the engine-. The police are raiding bookmakers, and summoning them for assembling on the footpaths. March 13. A departmental report has been made public with reference to the disease among sheep recently imported from Southern Queensland, New England district, New South Wales. The report states that the mange is contagious and very difficult to eradicate, The Sydney Morning Herald states that the manufacturers have declined to take up the locomotive contract recently offered them by Government on the ground that it would be impossible to carry out the work under the conditions and at the price proposed by Government, except at a loss to themselves. Burke and Foley have been bound over to keep the peace in a bond of £1 00 each. During the hearing of the case it was elicited that the projected match was abandoned three Weeks ago, and both men protested against the bond, but without avail. Companies are being formed to work the Poolamaccii ruby mines in the Broken Hill district. The stones arc small, but larger ones are expected to be found. Michael Carroll, aged 4.0, a gasworks labourer, gave himself into custody to-day, stating that he had murdered his sweetheart near Woolwich, England, 19 years ago. The girl's name was Mary Clouston, and she had quarrelled with Carroll, refusing to have anything to do with him. The prisoner subsequently made an appointment with her, in a lane between Deptford and Woolwich, and When she came he struck her violently on the head with a hammer, and fled. The girl was found next morning alive, but she lingered a few hours and died. A man named Walter Pook, a printer, was arrested on suspicion of having committed tho crime, and most circumstantial evidence was adduced, but he was acquitted amid great indignation. Carroll let the story out in a drunken fit, and eventually asked for a policeman to give himself up. He also admitted serving five years at Home for badly assaulting a gas manager. The man has been a soldier, and deserted twice. He was recently concerned in a sly grog-selling case and is generally a bad lot. He was examined by medical men and found to be suffering severely from a drinking bout, but he told his tale circumstantially, and was very minute in the details. Adelaide, March 8. The Government have received information from the Imperial Government that they will supply modern and improved armaments for the defence of King George's Sound and Thursday Island. Maich 0. The directors of the M'Donnell Ruby Mine Company have accepted tho offer of the English capitalists to purchase the mines subject to tho decision being affirmed by the shareholders. March 10. Rubiss have been found in the Broken Hills district. Two pounds weight of stones were picked up in a short time near Poolaraaca, and rough tests of them gave satisfaction. The colour is not so deep as of those found in the Mount Macdonnell mines. The Government, after long consideration, have decided to offer colonial firms the work of manufacturing 50 locomotives at £3000 each. Tin's is above the English price and below the lowest tender. Trie offer is not looked on with favour, as the margin is not considered sufficient in view cf the ri.se in copper, tin, and steel, and the probability of a further advance in the event of war. Owing to tho large exodus of farmers from here to Victoria, the Government have been urged to advertise that suitable districts in the south-east portion of the colony and elsewhere arc still open to agriculturists. Some of the evidence taken by the Land Commissioners, who were requested to make inquiries into the position of farmers, shows that privations of a most pitiable character have beenundert crone. ° March 13. The Rev. Mr Jones, recently expelled by i the French authorities at the New Hebrides, | has received letters stating that there have been further expulsions at those islands. He leaves for England to-day. Information has been received from more than one of the Loyalty Islands by the Rev. Mr Jones, which states that the French have erected two prisons and are incarcerating .all natives who refuse to join the French Church, and are rewarding all those converted to the tenets of that body. Application has been formally made to the Government for the reward of £10,000 offered for the discovery of a payable coalfield. Tho discoverer claims to have found a rich scam oC anthracite near Mount Pleasant, oo miles north-cast of this city. Brisbane, March 8. The Premier (Sir S. Griffith) has issued a manifesto to the electors in which he declares that the uiost immediately pressing question which will have to be considered by the new Parliament will be that of Chinese immigration. He proposes to increase the poll rax and to diminish the number _of Chinese carried by each ship; the prohibition of their working on lands or in mines ; the imposition of an annual residence tax; all Asia tics to be prohibited from becoming naturalised ; and, if necessary, the imposition of an excise duty by means of stamping goods manufactured by Asiatics. The address further promises' a revision of the tariff in the direction of protecting native industries ; and a judicious reduction of the railway rates to give cheaper produce and to help the farmord. A land tax is shadowed, and a bill promised to deal with the grievance of the northern half of the colony. Sir Samuel hopes that the new Parliament will pass tho Naval Defence Bill, and expresses the opinion that the time has come for the establishment of a university and for the adoption of stringent measures to check the rabbit pest. In conclusion, the Premier doclaies that the watchword must be "Australia for the Australians," but he does not believe in actual disloyalty and conflict with Great Britain on such a policy. The political campaign begins in about six weeks. March 9. White, a dentist, shot his wife in the neck last night, and then immediately shot himself. The deceased was in a drunken frenzy when the acts were committed.

Mrs White, who was shot by her husband while he was in a state of frenzy from drink, is seriously wounded, but is expected to recover. Mrs White only arrived here in February, and married White after a fortnight's acquaintance. White was given to drink, and the couple had arranged to live separately. The wife was on the eve of her departure when the tragedy occurred. The Rockhampton harbourmaster, who went out in search of the ship Eastminster and brigantine Kate, has returned. He reports finding a quantity of wreckage of a character leading him to believe the Eastminster capsized and foundered. March 12. The disease among the horses which recently appeared in different parts of the colony is pronounced to be merely due to the heat and damp, and it is not contagious. 6 March 13. It is proposed to establish telephonic communication between the various missionary stations in New Guinea. The gold yield for the year is estimated at 'ill.OOOoz, being 70,0000z above the yield for the year ending 31st December 1887. Perth (W.A.), March 13. The Legislative Council are considering the despatch of the Secretary of State for the Colonies on the subject of granting responsible government to Western Australia. It is understood that the House will reject the proposals submitted by the English Government and demand a new Constitution, without limit or restriction.