INTERCOLONIAL. (Per Press Association.) Melbourne, April 23.

Otago Witness, Issue 1891, 1 May 1890, Page 14

INTERCOLONIAL. (Per Press Association.) Melbourne, April 23.

The Government has finally decided that owing to the shortness of time for the completion of exhibits Victoria will not be represented at the Mining Exhibition to be held at the Crystal Palace in July next. April 24. Up to date £2000 has been subscribed in aid of the sufferers by the floods at Bourke. William Warden Couch has been sentenced to death for the murder of William Trevithick, an elderly man employed by the United Devonshire Gold Mining Company at Eaglehawk, Sandhurst, On the night of the 3rd of December last. Deceased was night watchman at the mine, and Couch murdered him in order to steal the plates from the quartz crushing batteries. April 26. Mr Smith Ellis, of South Yarra, whom the Victorian and New South Wales Governments conjointly agreed to pay the sum of £10,000 if his specific for the prevention of rust in wheat proved effectual, has submitted his views to the respective Governments. The rast he defines as a parasite fungus constitutionally affecting the weak plant. On arriving at maturity it bursts forth and escapes in the atmosphere in the form of a| pale yellow smoke. The rust smoke fastens on the clean wheat, producing the disease, and every precaution must be taken to prevent the fermentation of the seed wheat, as it affords an opportunity of detaching the parasite. The principal preventative measures are to sow the wheat in sufficiently wet ground as the smoke 'perishes in water, to winnow the grain, and carefully avoid reaping before the wheat is ripe. April 28. The Government chemist is not sanguine that Mr Smith-Ellis' specific for rust in wheat will prove effectual, and the Commissioner of Lands for South Australia thinks his recommendations are opposed to their experience in the northern portion of the colony. Sydney, April 24. It is estimated that the floods at Bourke will cost the Government alone £100,000. Two bodies of men have been found floating about at Bourke. The water it at last falling. The embankments at Louth have given way and the town is flooded. April 25. A man, whose name has not been ascertained, was savagely murdered iv the Domain last night. The body, which was horribly mutilated, was thrown into the harbour. The police have no clue as to who committed the deed. April 26. Louth is now in a similar condition to Bourke. The same night as a man was murdered in the Domain, another man was badly stabbed in Hyde Park. Both the murder and the stabbing are believed to be the work of a maniac. April 28. Doctor M'Leod, who was arrested at Napier, has been committed for trial on the charge of bigamy. The charge of criminally assaulting a young woman in his employ some years ago fell through, the prosecutrix being unwilling to prosecute. April 29 The man murdered in the Domain on Thursday has been identified as Dennis O'Connell, who was known to be in possession of a fair amount of money. The vital statistics for April show a remarkable decline in the death rate in Sydney as compared with the previous month. This is said to be due to the extremely wet weather experienced during the month. Mr Solomon Joseph, the proprietor of the Tamworth News, who was charged on the 17th inst. with publishing a malicious and defamatory libel on Mr Edward W. G. Eddy, Chief Commissioner of Railways, has de- i vulged the author of the letter complained of. Tha letter in question was written by an ex-railway servant, and was to the effect that a number of appointments had been made in the Railway department and that in many cases either friends or relations of the chief commissioner had been selected. Mr Eddy has instituted a criminal process against the author. The barque Crummock Water, on her voyage from Cardiff to Port Pirie, met with exceptionally heavy weather. One tremendous sea broke on board, washing seven of the crew overboard. Four managed to regain the ship, the remainder being drowned,

Parliament was opened this afternoon. In the Speech from the Throne it was promised that bills providing for the construction of additional railways and other public works would be introduced. A comprehensive measure would be brought down dealing with district self-government, and members would be asked to consider the reduction of inland postage to Id and a revision of the electoral laws. A bill will also be introduced extending the vote of householders in determining the issue of publicans' licenses. In the Speech from the Throne this afternoon on the occasion of the opening of Parliament,, the Governor announced that in connection with the Financial Statement it was intended to introduce a reform of the existing tariff, and readjust the burden of taxation in accordance with the principles laid down by the highest fiscal authorities, the soundness of which had been confirmed by their own experience. Adelaibe, April 26. The general election returns are now com plete. The new Assembly consists of 54 members, 28 of whom are recognised supporters of Mr T. Playford, the Premier. Not a single Freetrader was returned. Hobart, April 23. A^ case of suspected murder is being investigated here. It appears that a man named Beswick and his child died three weeks ago at Campbelltown, it was supposed from eating tinned fish. It has now been ascertained that Mrs Beswick, shortly before their death, had purchased a quantity of "rough on rats," and investigation by the police proves that the child died from arsenical ppisoning and the man from some irritant poison. The inquest on the bodies is now proceeding.

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