INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1981, 11 February 1892, Page 34

INTERCOLONIAL.

(Peu United I'hess Association.) Mbliiouune, February 4-. The unemployed difficulty is again claiming attention. It is stated that 1000 people are starving in Richmond, a suburb of Melbourne, and that hundreds are existing upon charity. The platform of the country party will probably include a 25 per cent, ad valorem tax on stock ; organised opposition to the domination of the Trades Hall ; the franchise \o remain as at present, but if altered to be in tb^e direction of a dual vote ; economy in the public departments, and a moderate expenditure upon progressive public works. February 5. Owing to the state of his health, the Hon. James Service is unlikely to accept office again in any Ministry, and Mr Alfred Deakin has also announced that lie finds himself unable to again take any important part in politics. February 8. At Scots Church yesterday Ihe Rev. 'Mr Mar'shall'referred to the' unemployed, and said that the country should provide bread or work for them. A large body of unemployed who were present enthusiastically cheered the preacher. The Rev. Dr Bevan had announced that he would address the unemployed in the afternoon, but on reaching the place' of meeting found a Socialist flag floating, and he took his departure after expressing sympathy with the i men.

The Trades and Labour Council lucve passed a resolution to the effect thufc it is desirable that Parliament bp urged to provide relief works for the unemployed. . . Sydnky, February 4. It has not yet been settled whether Mr Dibbs will visit England at the close of the session. There are several matters of importance, including tho.se relating to iinaucc, which could more readily be adjusted by the presence of the i Premier in London than by correspondence. ' The annual stock report shows that up to the Ist January last the following increases in the number* of head of stock in the colony had taken place as compared with the year ending Ist January 1891 :— Horses, 15,000; cattle, 103,000 ; sheep, 4-,802,000. Bad weather and rabbits considerably interfered with the lambing, which was 68 per cent. February 6. The Government intend to introduce a bill immediately to facilitate the export of frozen meat. It empowers pastoralists to tax themselves to provide a fund to pay the subsidy to establish freezing depots in the country districts. Nothing authentic is known as to the exactreasons for Mr Dibbs' proposed visit to London, but the assumptions contained in cables from London to-day that his visit is due to an extensive conversion scheme will probably befound to be true. « A fearful murder was perpetrated last night close to one of the main thoroughfares, a woman, whose name is unknown, being found almost decapitated. Numbers of people were about at the time, and the affair is at present a mystery. February 7. In the courie of their investigations the police discovered a man named Macrow with his throat cut in the vicinity of the quarter where the woman was atrociously murdered on Friday night. He confessed that he had murdered the woman, who was his wife, in a lit of jealousy. Macrovv's wound is not likely to prove fatal. Twenty years ago Macrow's brother was hanged in Sydney for a similar offence. February 8. Articles for the sculling match between Stansbury and Sullivan will be signed in a fortnight. Adelaide, February 3. Tho strike at the Moonta mines is ended. The men attribute their defeat to the miserable support they received from tho Miners' Association. February 7. The Earl of Kintoro emphatically denies that he is to bo transferred to New Zealand in succession to Lord Onslow, and says he cannot imagine how the rumour originated. February 9. The Junction mine, .at Broken Hill, has shut down, throwing 130 men out of employment. The reason, it is understood, is that the sulphides, which constitute the bulk of the ore, cannot be worked at a profit. Brisbane, February 4. Twenty-eight thousand tons of sugar were exported during the last six months of tho year just ended. Febrtary 8, Pybus, a levanting stockbroker, was sentenced to four yeaVs' hard labour. The Queensland Deposit Bank, one of tho largest and regarded as the strongest institiir tion of its kind in the colony, has suspended payment. It is believed that when realised the assets will more than cover liabilities.