INTERCOLONIAL. (Per Press Association.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1898, 19 June 1890, Page 15

INTERCOLONIAL. (Per Press Association.)

Melbourne, June 11.

In moving the appointment of delegates to the Federation Convention, the Premier (Mr Gillies) reviewed the steps taken to attain that end. He had no fear of any great conflict of opinion, and he believed federation would place them on a vantage ground from which the colonies could speak with one voice.

• Sir Bryan O'Loghlen moved an amendment demanding a definite outline of the proposed basis of federation, since the House could not, without the express authority of the electors, entertain any proposals unless limited, and such a federal union as would leave to the Legislature of each colony the sole right of imposing taxation within their own territory. He accused the Government of ignoring- the House in the appointment of delegates.

Mr Munro inrimated that the Opposition had determined not to oppose the matter nfr present, but to pass Mie resolution appointing delegates and let them go straight to business.

The amendment was negatived, and the motion carried unanimously.

June 15,

A wealthy syndicate is being formed to tost petroleum coal deposits on the Yorke Peninsula.

June 16.

The new Railway Bill provides for 800 miles of railway, at an average cost of £10,000 per mile.

Melbourne, June 17

The Cabinet has been reconstructed. The Hon D. M. Davis, Commissioner of Public Works, will take over the Mines department from the Premier, and the Hon. J. B. Paterson will administer the Public Works department in addition to the Customs.

His Excellency the Governor presided at a meeting in aid of the survivors of the Light Brigade. A committee was formed to establish a fund and co-operate with the Balaclava Committee in London.

Sydney, June 12.

A letter has been received from Dr Nansen, the Swedish Arctic explorer, regretting that he is unable to visit the colonies on a lecturing tour owing to his being engaged in preparations for another Arctic expedition. John Steebe, the bank note forger, was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment. When arrested several hundred clever forgeries of £1 notes on the Australian Joint Stock Bank, Sydney, and the Union Bank, Melbourne, were found in his possession, and in his house at Waterloo copperplates, stamps, dies, and other engravers' appliances were found.

John Farnham and Buchanan, the fireman and stokor of the Sydney train which collided with the Brisbane mail tiain at Farley, on the 13th ult., have been acquitted on the charge of manslaughter. At the inquest into the circumstances attending the collision the jury had found that Farnham and Buchanan were guilty of culpable negligee cc, and they were arrested to answer the charge.

The attention of the Government has been drawn to the state of the potato, carrot, parsnip, and peach tree roots which are infested with insects. These are likely to become a national calamity. The pest is identified as similar to that which devastated large tracts of the best country in Germany, and also caused serious damage to crops in America.

June 13.

The Opposition claim the right to nominate two delegates to the Federal Convention. Mr M'Millan acknowledged the right, and Government has promised to consider the point.

June 14

The most disorderly mooting over held in Sydney took place last night. The licensed victuallers had convened the mooting for the purpose of protesting against, the proposal not. to grant compensation to publicans who were deprived of their licences, but the local optionists turned up in full force, took possession of the meeting, and succeeded in passing an amendment in lavour of local option, with no compensation. Matters became so serious t hat at one stage of tho proceedings the police ha.l to form a cordon, in order to separate Ihe contending parties. June lfi. Sir H. Parkes is now convalescent. Adelaide, June 14.

An influential deputation waited on the Treasurer yesterday and urged that the Government should endeavour to enter into a reciprocal Customs treaty with New Zealand in regard to South Australian wines and New Zealand oats. It was suggested that if the New Zealand duty on Australian wines were reduced from 5s to 2s fid, New Zealand oats might be admitted fice into this colony, The Treasurer replied that he was preparing a bill to t,ive effect to the wishes of the deputation.

Brisbane, June 17. A fund has been started in aid of the Balaclava suivivors.

Perth, June 13.

The schooner Johanna, bound from Mauritius to Mt-lbourne, h;is pur. into this port in distress. The majority of the crew are down with fever, four of them having succumbed lo its effects. Voiy tempestuous weather was met with, but although the vessel was leaking, the mate, with the assistance of the captain's wife, managed to navigate her into port in safety.

Perth, June 17,

Captain Smith, of H.M. schooner Medea, has been fined £100 for burning the huts of Indians at Roebuck Bay. The latter had a dispute with the aboriginals over land, and as they retused to leave Captain Smith gave orders for thum to be burnt out..

An iufc«re."ting collection oi documents lies been fil< d afc the Supreme Oourb bj Mr John L>twß«ij (official assignee) shouiiig in detail his rec ipts und payments in fucb ot the 138 bankrupt estates in the Auckland bankrup cy (not provincial) uistrict ir. icspict ot which he has given notice of his intention to apply foe au onit r of release. The accounts will cover a perit.il of a Htfclo ove.- o>.e year from May 1888 to i bout May 1889. Ie is of jnU-rtst to note th.it of the 138 bankruptcies mentioned 75 paid uo dividends whatever. One estate paid 19s in the pound, but this was a very rare exception, and the average of the dividends paid would probably be considerably under 5s in the pound. In the previous 12 months the average was less.