INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1921, 14 September 1888, Page 16

INTERCOLONIAL.

(Per Press Association.)

Melbourne, September 7. At the Supreme Court Mary Kempton, charged with the murder of her child at Warrnambool, was found guilty and sentenced to death.

In the Legislative Assembly Mr Monro's motion for an increase of the stock tax, which the Government accepted as a want of confidence, was negatived by 51 to 25.

September 10. Intelligence has been received here that a vessel, supposed to be the Derby Park, a barque of 1292 tons, bound from Pnget Sound to this port, has been wrecked on Penryhn Island. The captain's wife was drowned, but the remainder of those on board were rescued and taken to Tahiti.

Sydney, September 7. A severe earthquake occurred at the New Hebrides last month. It is stated to have lasted some minutes, and it is feared that great damage has been done. The most violent shocks were felb at Tanna, and it is reported that Port Resolution has been blocked up by the submarine disturbance.

The trial of the libel action of Dibbs v. the Proprietors of the Daily Telegraph was concluded last night, after a hearing of 10 days. The alleged libel was published in a leading article on the lObh December, commenting on Mr Dibbs' Financial Statement, and charging him with manipulating the public accounts and estimates. £10,000 damages were claimed.

The jury in the libel case G. R. Dibbs against the Sydney Daily Telegraph, after being locked up for the night, returned a verdict for plaintiff for £100 and costs.

September 11. The election of a member for Redfern, rendered necessary owing to the death of Mr J. S. Farnell, resulted in the return of Mr J, P. Howe, a Protectionist, by a majority of 852 votes over Mr Martin, the Freetrade candidate,

A private, cablegram has been received here to the effect that Mr Bradlaugh has no intention at present of resigning his seat in Parliament for Northampton.

Mr Dibbs, the plaintiff in the recent libel action against the Daily Telegraph, has commenced another aotion against that paper, having served on the proprietors a writ for £10,000 damages for alleged libel contained in an article published by the Telegraph, commenting on the decision in the just heard case.

The sentence of death passed on Robert Hewart for the murder of a fellow prisoner in the police cells was carried out to-day. The condemned man protested his, innocence to the last.

[Both Hewart and hia victim, Thomas Park, were couflned in the police cells for drunkenness. Park was found shockingly mutilated the next morning, and died a few days afterwards.]

It is announced that his Excellency Lord Carrington will net leave New South Wales until his term of office as Governor expires.

Brisbane, September 7., | The Governor has informed Sir Thomas I M'llwraith that the members of the Government possess the confidence of the country, and he sees no reason for the stoppage of public business. He disclaims any responsibility in the matter. A public meeting was held last night to ! discuss the question, 10,000 people attending. A resolution was carried protesting against the Governor's action. September 8. Lord Knutsford has cabled to his Excellency the Governor authorising the release of the prisoner over whom the. latter had had a difference with Government. When the message was made known there was great rejoicing in the city at the triumph of the Government. September 11. In obedience to the instructions cabled out by the Colonial Office, the prisoner' about whom the recent difficulty between the Governor and his Ministers . arose has been released. The Premier has therefore withdrawn his resignatien. , . . Mr W. M'Gregor, Special Commissioner for New Guinea, has proclaimed the sovereignty of her Majesty the Queen over British New Guinea. Adelaide, September 8. The Rev. Jas. M'Fie Donaldson, clergyman of the Church of England at Kapunda, whom the Ecclesiastical Court recently pronounced guilty of conduct unbecoming a clergyman, he having committed bigamy, has been dismissed from the Anglican Church. The charge against the rev. gentleman was that in 1866 he married in Victoria, but separated from his wife after three years, and in 1888 at Newcastle, England, without due inquiry or search as. to the existence of his first wife, he contracted another marriage^ his first wife being still alive.

Perth, September 10. A pearl diver named Ker was stabbed to death by a Malay at Cossack.