INTERCOLONIAL. (Per Press Association.) Melbourne, September 21.

Otago Witness, Issue 2014, 29 September 1892, Page 34

INTERCOLONIAL. (Per Press Association.) Melbourne, September 21.

The Victorian Government have withdrawn their proposal to impose a stamp duty on life insurance premiums.

September 22. During the hearing of an. abduction case, in which two Syrian families are involved, evidence was adduced that a girl was abducted while her father was negotiating her sale to anobher mail for LSO.

The Select Committee appointed to inquire into the fishing industry have submitted a report, in which they recommend the imposition of Id per lb duty on fresh and smoked fish imported into Victoria. The Legislative Assembly have adopted a motion in favour of an address being presented to her Majesty praying that steps should be taken to invite the Governments of the nations forming the Universal. Postal Union to establish a universal decimal money and weight and measure union or, as an alternative, the establishment of an Imperial union for the same objects among the states, colonies, and dependencies of Great Britain.

September 23.

A woman giving her name as Clara Parker has surrendered to the gaol authorities and made a statement of an astonishing character. She professes to have been repeatedly and continuously drugged by people whom she names, and while in that condition travelled to Brisbane. She was quarantined during the recent smallpox outbreak, and was afterwards taken back to Sydney. She then sailed to San Francisco, being accompanied as far a's Auckland by a certain person. On arriving at Honolulu she realised ehe was doing wrong, and returned.

Mrs Parker was before the court in June, charged with perjury, at the instance of Mr Joseph Clarke. fc>he was bailed out, and some time after turned up at Albury, whither she said she had been taken when drugged, though her solicitor denied this was the case. After that she again mysteriously disappeared.

Sir Matthew Davies denies that he had made any private provision. He declares that he was worth a million four years ago, but at present every shilling is locked up in companies in which *he is interested.

September 24. There is widespread uneasiness occasioned by the discovery that the contingent liability for uncalled capital iv some of the limited liability companies has been wiped oft' by the debtors

for nominal payments. The practice is said to have attained large proportions.

September 26. The Premier, Mr Shiels, is in favour of increased representation on tho Federal Council.

A reef, which is not marked on the chart, has been discovered four and a-half miles north-east of Crocodile Rock. About two years ago the ship Carlyle struck on an unknown rock in this vicinity and foundered.

The Crown law officers are making inquiries into the peculiar statement made by the woman Parker. It is understood that a sensational conspiracy case will result. The appeal in the case of Clark and Taylor, convicted of embezzling money belonging to the Land Credit Bank, has been dismissed. Sydney, September 22. Butter : Dairy-made, 6d to 7d ; factory, 8d to 9d.

September 23.

The two starters have resigned owing to the decision of the committee to make Sullivan and Kemp row. The former declared ho will not row again, and will take legal proceedings to uphold hip position.

The Government propose issuing the balance of the last loan, amounting to one million, by means of Treasury bills as soon as tho London market is favourable.

The Bulli colliery has been laid idle, owing, ifc is believed, to slackness of trade.

September 25. Owing to the political crisis, the Postmastergeneral (Mr Kidd) has not yet submitted the proposal from the New Zealand Government re the San Francisco service to tho Cabinet. It is thought, even if this colony decides to participate in the service, that it is unlikely that it will be for more one year.

A severe storm was experienced here on Saturday morning, and tho wind reached a velocity of 120 miles an hour. The gale was* accompanied by a heavy rainfall, and it is estimated that- quite 2in fell in a short period. The storm water caused quite LSOOO damage to the city. The loss of two lives is reported. . September 26.

Very bad weather is being experienced throughout the country. Four inches of snow has fallen at Glen Innes and Inverell. The potato crop iv the Hawkesbury district is almost destroyed. The eDgine of tho Northern mail train was derailed at Eastwood. A jockey named Delaney and another passenger wore injured, while Huxley, tho well known jockey, had a narrow escape of his life. News has been received from tho New Hebrides to the effect that tribal wars aro devastating tho island of Mallicollo. The Medical Congress was opened to-day by Lord Jersey. It is the largest over held in the colony. There are 546 names on tho congress roll. The visiting delegates wero accorded a most enthusiastic welcome in the Town Hall.

The Waitcmata, which sailed from Wollongong on Friday for Wellington, New Zealand, has put in hero in distress. £ho encountered Saturday's gale, and narrowly escaped foundering. The deck fittings are much damaged. The second mato sustained an injury to one of his logs, and members of the crew were much knocked about in their efforts to secure the safety of the vessel. The barque Grasmere has arrived from Kaipara. She lost her foremast through the martingale carrying away. The accident occurred the day after tho vessel left Kaipara

September 2 3,

Great damage has been caused to tho crops and stock by floods in the Bathurst and Dubbo districts, New South Wales. The manager of the Union S.S. Company has had a favourable interview with, the Post-master-general respecting the San Francisco mail service. Mr Kidd suggests that the New Zealand Government should conduct negotiations with the other Governments in tho matter in a similar method to that adopted by the South Australian Government regarding the cable negotiations. The old central police site, George street, was sold by auction to-day, and purchased by the City Corporation for L 124,000. Adelaide, September 16.

The Government propose to float the an> allotted portion of the last loan, amounting to L 608,000, and also to obtain the necessary authority to raise a loan of L 900,000 for public works. The latter, however, will not be required before the end of next year. September 21. Heavy rains have fallen in the North-west district, and much of the country is flooded. In the South Australian Legislative Assembly the Treasurer announced that the recent copious rainfalls had increased the harvest estimate from five to six bushels per acre.

September 26. A cable message received from London on Friday last stated that, owing to conflicting reports regarding the finances of the colony which had been cabled to the English papers, 'confidence in Australian financial statements had been . shaken. Inquiry shows that the English papers announced a deficit of LBOO,OOO, while the Colonial Treasurer, earlier in the year, stated that there was a surplus. The Premier has requested the Agent-general to correct such erroneous statements. Bbisbank, September 21. The Total isator Tax Bill has passed through the Brisbane Assembly.

September 2s. Sir Samuel Griffith considers that the proposed alteration in the constitution of the Federal Council will be disastrous to the cause of federation, as showing that tho colonies do not know their own minds.

September 24-. A bill has been introduced into the Legislative Assembly requiting the fire and life insurance companies to deposit security with the Government for the fulfilment of their obligations. The local fire insurance companies will require to deposit security to the amount of LSOOO each, and the foreign fire insurance companies LIO.OOO each. The local life insurance companies will have to deposit LIO,OOO each and the foreign life insurace companies L 20.000 each. A deputation of representatives of the insurance companies has been appointed to wait on the Government, urging, in lieu of the proposed measure, the substitution of a bill based on tho provisions of the bill just introduced by the Government of New Zealand.

September 26. F. Horrocts, the .youug man convicted of murdering a new arrival named Weismuller, suffered the extreme penalty of the law to-day. He showed no sign of fear, and walked to the gallows with a firm tread. Death was instantaneous.

The Timaru Herald states that no other attempt will be made to float the Elginshire- as she now lies. It is Captain Millbank'fi inteutit n .t) have the steamer dismantled, the engines, &c. taken out of her, and then to sell the hull.

The Wakatipu Mail states that a movement has been set on foot by many friends of the late Judge Broad with a desire that his memory — which will always be cherished by those, who were well acquainted with him — should be kept green by the erection of a fitting memorial.