INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1951, 11 April 1889, Page 13

INTERCOLONIAL.

Continent. f Jupp, the cricketer, is dead. Dr M'Gregor, the Commissioner in New ', Guinea, in his report laid on the table of the House of Commons, says the Boman Catholic missions of New Guinea have proved useful pioneers to settlement, and urges an increase of Protestant missions. The Spanish Government have refused the request of China to be allowed to establish Chinese consulates in Spanish dependencies in the Pacific. April 9. In the House of Commons the Scotch Local Government Bill was read a first time. The measure has been well received. The Army Bill has now been passed by the Hungarian and Austrian Parliaments. Zanzibab, April 6. The German flag has been hoisted onthe mainland, replacing that of the Bast African Company. Berlin, April 5. Emil Treitel, a well-known corn dealer, has suspended payment with liabilities amounting to 6,000,000 marks. Captain Wissman has assumed supreme command of German operations on the shore at Zanzibar. The Nord Deutche Zeitung denies that he has hoisted the German Imperial flag there, and states that the flag hoisted was only a mercantile one. Eome, April 6. Signor Crispi confirms the news of the death of the Negus of Abyssinia, and states that although the movement is auspicious Italy will not be seduced into rash adventures in Abyssinia. Constantinople, April 4. A plot has been discovered in the city for deposing the Sultan in favour of his brother, Mehemid-Reshad Bffendi, heir apparent to the throne of Turkey. Brussels, April 9. , The Duke of Nassau has assumed the Eegency of Luxemburg. [By the Treaty of London, concluded in 1867, Luxemburg was declared neufcral territory under the sovereignty of the King of the Netherlands. But in Luxemburg the Salic law obtains, though not in Holland, and consequently the little Princess Wilhelmine, who will be Queen of Holland, will not be able to succeed to that part of her father's inheritance. Luxemburg was formerly included in the Germanio Confederation, dissolved in 1866, and is now one of the Btates of the German Zollverein.J Bucharest, April 9. M. Catargi has formed a new Ministry of Russophile tendencies. New York, April 5. Terrible prairie fires have occurred in Dakota State, spreading over a vast extent of country, and hundreds of the inhabitants have been rendered homeless. April 8. Great storms have swept through Virginia and Maryland, and numerous wrecks are rej ported on the coast. By a fire at Savannah (Georgia) -50 buildings were destroyed. The damage is estimated at 300,000d015. The prairie fires in Dakota State are ;.still raging. A train entered the burning prairie yesterday, and as it sped onward the rails behind it were destroyed by the fire, which was following. The fire was also raging ahead, but those in charge of the train resolved to dash through it. The scene is described by passengers as being wild in the extreme. The train was partially destroyed, but no one was fatally injured. Ottawa, April 6. Twelve counties and two cities of Ontario have decided in favour of the adoption of the Scott Temperance Act. Eio de Janeiro, April 9. The Brazilian Government have instructed the Embassy in London to declare the yellow fever epidemic ended. Bombay, April 9. The city of Surat has been partially destroyed by a fire which rendered 15,000 persons homeless. The damage is estimated at 25 lacs of rupees. Hongkong, April 7. Mr Kwong Pei, formerly attached to the j Chinese Embassy at Washington, advocates the expulsion of all Americans from the service of the Chinese Government, in retaliation for the action of the United States in excluding Chinese from that country. »

(Per Press association.) Melbourne, April 8. The barque Rachael went ashore at Warrnambool during a heavy gale, and is likely to become a total wreck. The crew reached land safely. April 9. Magnificent rains have fallen, and the drought in Victoria has completely broken up. Wheat is quoted at 5s 9d, with a rising tendency. Sydney, April 4. In the House last night Sir Henry Parkes announced that Government had no intention to enter into a contract for the renewal of the San Francisco mail service until Parliament had been afforded an opportunity of pronouncing an opinion on the subject. It is stated that fully 800,000 sheep perished during the recent droughts. April 5. Ex-gaoler Dick has been sentenced to death for the attempted murder of a warder at Mudgee. Two men named Arnold and Kelly were killed in a lift accident last night, and a third lies in a critical condition. News from Fiji states that the hurricane did not visit that group. The tea crop is expected to be abundant this season. New Zealand wheat is selling in good quantities at 4s 8d to ss. Mr Clarke, clerk of the town council at Blayney, a township near Bathurst, committed suicide by blowing his head off! with dynamite. A heavy thunderstorm has been experienced at Gunning, midway between Goulbourn and Yass, during which a boy was killed by lightning. April 8. • Private letters from Samoa state that all the crops were destroyed by the recent hurricane, and that as all the stores were used up in providing for the ship? wrecked sailors, there is every probability of a famine at Samoa. Several of the churches in Sydney have announced their intention to devote collections to the relief of the Samoari people. Heavy rain has fallen generally through..

out the colony, and the drought in theT Western districts has fairly broken. Good I winter limbing is expected, also good I winter feed. ""The rain has had the I effect of opening the Darling river (which was partially closed through drought) to navigation, and large stocks of wool 'which had been detained in the interior will now be brought down the river for transhipment to market. April 9. Searle; the champion sculler, leaves for England on the 4th May. He proposes to. challenge Teemer for £500 a side and the, championship. The race will probably be rowed on the Thames in August. He will also challenge O'Connor to a similar match three weeks later. A large business is being done in New Zealand •wheat, prime Tnscan commanding ss. The high rates asked for Victorian and Adelaide wheat check business in those lines. Adelaide, April 4. Heavy rains have fallen in the agricultural districts, and great damage is reported to railways, telegraphs, and roads. April 8. The Governor-elect, the Earl of Kintore, has arrived. Mr John Dillon, M.P., one of the Irish delegates to the colonies, was a passenger by the same steamer. F April 9. Sir William Jervois has sailed for England. Wheat is quoted at ss. Brisbane, April' 4. All the printers in the city suddenly struck this evening, and it is with difficulty that the ordinary publication of newspapers will be made to-morrow morning. The cause of the strike is that offices employing men belonging to the Typographical Association are executing work for non-association offices. April 5. The strike among the printers is extending, but master printers have decided to [ hold .out. The newspaper runners have also I gone out on strike. The West End saw mills were destroyed by fire to day. The insurance was £2250, but it is estimated that the damage over insurance is £10,000. Both the New Zealand and South British offices have a line of £500 on the premises. April 9. The Government meteorological observer warns shipping on the West Coast of New Zealand to be on the alert for the approach of a dangerous storm in the system existing ! between Hobart and Cook Strait. Hobakt, April 4. The issue of a'million loan was authorised by Parliament last night. It is understood that the loan will not be placed before July ! April 9. Three lads named Marfett, Floyd, and i Collins were drowned in the River Currie by | a boat capsizing.