INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1905, 25 May 1888, Page 13

INTERCOLONIAL.

(Per Press Association.) Melbourne, May 16. The Wesleyan Conference have effected a satisfactory compromise regarding the Tongan difficulty. The Rev. Mr Moulton lias agreed to retire, provided that the Rev. George Brown is appointed to succeed him in carge of the mission there. The Conference agree to this recommendation. Owing to the recent splendid rains, a good harvest is expected throughout the agricultural districts. May 17. A scaffolding which was being erected at the Coffee Palace fell with a tremendous crash to the pavement, fracturing the skull of a boy, breaking a girl's leg, and seriously injuring two other persons who were passing at the time. The workmen on the structure escaped uninjured. May 18. At the Wesleyan Conference the Rev. Mr Williams, president of the New Zealand Conference, moved — " That the New Zealand church should be granted a separate conference." An amendment, declining to accede to the request, was carried by 80 to 18. The Wesleyan Conference has appointed the Rev. Mr Morley, of New Zealand, one of the Australasian delegates to the British Conference. May 19. The Rabbit Commission will visit the Tintinally Run, on the River Darling, in order to thoroughly investigate the disease discovered by Drs Butcher and Ellis. Mr Winter, treasurer of the local branch of the National League, has commenced a libel suit against the Age for publishing a letter in which it was stated that Mr Winter had failed to account for all the money received by him. A commission has been appointed to examine the treasury of the Dublin League and Mr Parnell. Charles Markham, an employee in a boot factory at Richmond, who on the night of April 27 attempted to murder his wife, from whom he had been separated since Christmas, by shooting her, has been committed for trial. Accused admitted that he had fired the shots in a fit of jealousy. Sydney, May 16. Lord Carington has returned from a visit to Norfolk Island. May 18. The labour schooner Madeline has been wrecked at Tonga. The French vessel Idaho has also been lost at Ambryn, New Hebrides. In each instance the crew were landed safely. Two boys named Crompton and Spragg quarrelled, and the latter stabbed the former to the heart. May 19. The Government have accepted two local tenders for the construction of 50 locomotives, the cost being £3000 each. Adelaide, May 16. A collision occurred last night between the steamers Gabo and Cowry. The latter was cut down to the water's edge, and sank almost immediately ; and the Gabo was so badly injured that she had be beached. Brisbane, May 16. No clue has been discovered as to the perpetrators of the outrage and murder of a girl at Bunga. The murderer is believed to have been a blackfellow. May 17. Two prospecting explorations to New Guinea have been sanctioned by the Commissioner. May 18. The mother of the girl Baker, found murdorered at Bunya, and who it was supposed had been outraged and then murdered by a blackfellow, has been arrested on suspicion. Tie woman had frequently been heard to threaten the child's life. Perth, May 18. A tragedy of a mysterious nature is reported from La Grange Bay, on the northwestern coast, where a teamster named Graham and a blackfellow have been discovered in a tent, both shot dead. There is no clue to the elucidation of the affair. Newcastle, May 17. A new reservoir at the gasworks, holding 3,000,000 gallons of water, burst to-day while being tested. The damage done will take two months to repair. No one was injured.