INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1917, 13 November 1890, Page 13

INTERCOLONIAL.

(Per Press Association.) Melbourne, November 5. The steamer Age has been picked up at Flinders' Island. The vessel had an exceptionally rough experience, and after her shaft broke she drifted 190 miles to the eastward, rolling fearfully all the time. The officers and crew had great difficulty in working her clear of rocks in Bass Strait. The revenue for October shows a decrease of £60,000, as compared with the amount collected in the corresponding month of last year. November 7. A search of the workshops at Pentridge

prison has revealed the presence of 200 forged notes. November 8. Yesterday was the hottest day experienced 1 at this period of the year for the last 24 years. November 9. The Government propose to stimulate tobacco growing by means of granting a bonus which will practically abolish the excise duty. Sydney, November 5. The Thomson-Housten system of overhead electric tramway has been successfully demonstrated here." November 6. Mr H. 0. Russell, Government Astronomer, claims to have discoveied, by means of photography, a new universe in the Magellan clouds. November 7. The Sydney Morning Herald devotes an article to a criticism of the manifesto issued by Sir H. A. Atkinson. Commenting on Sir Harry's determination to dispense with future borrowing on the London market, the Herald says that should the Premier's anticipations, so confidently expressed, be even approximately realised during the term of office of the new Parliament, there is no doubt that the moral effect thereof on the borrowing policy of the Australian colonies will be very marked. Sir Henry Parkes will shortly introduce a new Electoral Bill, which provides for " one man one vote," and totally abolishes all qualifications except residential. The bill divides the colony into 135 electorates, confers the franchise on women, Temoves the disqualification of police and military, abolishes the system of nomination on the hustings, and establishes a system of self-registration. November 9. Jacques Ibbot, the Swedish faster, has now completed 14 days of his self-imposed task, and continues to remain in good health, although losing considerably in weight. November 10. A fire in the timbering at the mouth of one of the main shafts in the Great Cobar Copper Mine extended to the shaft, which burnt fiercely for 15 hours, and is still burning, but is under control. The damage is believed to be great. November 11. Particulars of the foundering of the Turkish warship Ertogroul have reached here. It appears that everything went well during the gale until the explosion of the boilers rent the vessel in pieces. Everyone on board then lost their self-control, and no sooner were the boats launched than they were washed away, AH Bey jumped overboard, and Osman (the commander of the ship) followed his example, but was struck on the head by a falling spar, Many of those on board managed to reach the shore, where they were afterwards found suffering from broken limbs, and other injuries. The German gunboat Wolf rendered what assistance was possible. All the executive officers were drowned. The nautical authorities are confident that the vessel struck on a rock, and a sudden inrush of water exploded the boilers. Nog a vestige of the wreckage was left. Another surmise is that the magazine exploded and not the boilers. The steamer Musasha Mari, bound to Yokohama to load coal for Australia, foundered in the same gale, and only one man was rescued out of 66 on board. A sailing vessel belonging to the same line was also wrecked, and 21 lives were lost. Adelaide, November 5. Several of the Australian cricketers have arrived here on their return from England. November 7. The Education Bill has passed through the House of Assembly, and extra taxation will now be proposed. Brisbane, November 7. The Separation League have considered the scheme formulated by Sir F. Griffiths, and have come to the conclusion that they will not be satisfied with anything short of separation pure and simple. They have alsc decided to cable to Lord Knutsford asking him to urge the Government to introduce an Enabling Bill next session. November 11. Sir S. Griffiths has given notice of motion relative to his separation proposals. In addition to the general idea previously cabled, they provide that the legislatures of the united province should consist of two Houses — one chosen by the legislatures of the separate provinces, and the other elected by the electors of the separate provinces in proportion to the European population. The Governor and Executive Council of the united provinces are to be appointed as at present. The united government retains control of the public debt, external relations with England and other colonies, the question of the admission of the new provinces to the union, the alteration of boundaries, the alteration of powers of separate legislatures (subject to the consent of provincial legislatures), the imposition of taxation other than Customs duties, the question of borrowing on the public credit of the united provinces, currency, coinage, the special laws dealing with natives which are not applicable to the general community, the marriage and divorce laws and railway tariff. The separate legislatures are to have control of charitable institutions, local railway construction, taxation for provincial purposes, borrowing on the credit of the provinces, and generally all matters affecting internal affairs, not assigned to the united legislature. Hobart, November G. The City Corporation has decided to electrically light the city in a similar way to Wellington. Pbeth, November 8. The West Australian Government have given their adhesion to the proposed postal reductions between England and the colonies. Albany, November 10. The s.s. Poherua has called in here in a disabled condition, en her way to Freemantle. An accident happened to the main boiler, and caused the steam pipes to burst. She will be repaired here.