INTERCOLONIAL. (Per Press Association.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2080, 4 January 1894, Page 36

INTERCOLONIAL. (Per Press Association.)

Melbouenb, December 27.

The case of. Mrs Knorr, alias Thwaites, sentenced to death for child murder, will be considered by the Executive Counoil on Friday. Strenuous efforts aie being made to obtain a reprieve.

A sensational action will shortly come before the Supreme Court. The .plaintiff, who is well known in sporting circles, snes the executors in the estate of the Me Abington Baird (the English sportsman) for L 15.000. The statement of claim alleges that the deceased sportsman some time.before his death charged a lady with stealing L 50.000 from him, but he was dissuaded from taking legal proceedings for the recovery of the money, and promised plaintiff half the amount if he could recover the whole sum. Plaintiff did so. but it is alleged Baird only paid him £10,000. December 28. The Premiers of the Australian colonies have agreed to invite the Duke and Duchess of York to visit Australia and New Zealand nest yesr. The idea originated with the Premier of Victoria, and an invitation will be sent from each colony to-morrow. Daring a quarrel a man named O'Brien stabbed a woman named Bromley with a chisel, inflicting eight wounds. The woman is in a low condition. December 29. A meeting of the Executive was held to-day, when it was decided that the capital sentence passed on Mis Knorr, alias Thwaites, should be carried cub. Mr Gillies has been appointed Agentgeneral. Mr Pearson retains the Secretaryship.

The Leongatha Labour Colory proved a failure, chiefly owing to the unsuitable character of the land, which was too heavily timbered to permit of it being easily cleared. "the execution of Mrs Knorr is fixed for January 15.

The Government have abandoned tbe idea of sending to Amerioa for a railway expert.

December 30. The heaviest floods on record are being experienced in Gippsland, where great damage has, been done to property and stock. Houses on the river flats hare been washed away, and railway and telegraph communication is interrupted. January 1. The revenue returns point to the possibility at the end of the financial year of a deficit of L 300.000, in3tead of an estimated surplus of L 3400. Mrs Knorr has been completely prostrated since the decision of the Executive Council to carry out the death' sentence. , The floods in the Gippsland district are subsiding. A boat containing a rescue party was swamped, and three men (Piggot, Brooks, and a Cbioaman) were drowned. Many sheep and cattle are dying from extreme old in the Coona district-, Victoria. One station lost 1000. Many hundreds are lying dead along the road. A drill st St. Kilda (Victoria) has revealedthe existence of a splendid seam of coal 4ffc thick at a depth of 110 ft. It also showed favourable indications of another seam at 200 ft, with the possibility of a thick seam of black coal at 400 ft. For som 1 ; unknown reason the Victorian Cabinet have deemed it expedient to reverse the previous decision to dispense with the services of Dr Pearson as secretary to the Agent-general in London. Some mention was made of the commercial flavour which it was previously suggested should be invested in the Agent- general's department, but Premier Patterson, after mature reflection, said it would be ridioulous to degrade the office of either the Agent-general or the secretary by reducing it to the level of that of a butter man. January 2. In the Speight-Age libel action the jury returned a verdict on one count out of 11, and declared that they were unable to answer the other counts. They gave a verdict for plaintiff on the eighth count, which refers to the Age comments alleging gross extravagance, and assessed the damages at LIOO. The question of coßts was reserved. The solicitor for plaintiff, when interviewed, said Mr Speight regarded the verdict as merely LIOO on account, as it was intended to take fresh action on the other alleged libels. Sydney, December 27. Owing to bush fires there is an almost continuous trail of fire over the country from the Lachlan to the Marrumbidgee, which will remain a desert until the rain falls. Much ultimate good will result, for a large area of coun f ry which is rotten through the Cumberland disease will be rendered habitable for sheep. December 23. A man named Lewis visited a restaurant in Gastlereagh street last night and fired three shots from a revolver at a girl named Helm&ley. One shot took effect in her face, but the wound is not regarded as dangerous. Her assailant, who is thought to be suffering from a fit of jealousy, made his escape. The Cabinet has finally approved of the new rates of pay for the military staff and permanent officers on the lices of the Imperial pay to the forces in South Africa. This is practically equivalent to a reduction of from 5 to 10 per cent, in salaries over L2CO per annum. The commandant has succeeded in establishing military schools for training cavalry and infantry officers; and Captain Marling, who displayed brilliant heroism and won the Victoria Cross at the battle of Tamai in the 'Soudan, has been appointed to the control of the cavalry school. The wool market is very firm. Greasy crossbreds, 6£d to lOd ; scoured fleece, 8d to Is 2d. Sir G. R. Dibbs states that so far he has not discovered anything in the point that ihe Constitution Act will interfere with the Ekctoral Act in regard to plural voting. December 29. The most severe westerly gales experienced for years are raging along the coast and inland. The weather is bitterly cold, and snow is falling on the Blue Mountains and other parts o£ the country. In connection with the alteration of boundaries in New Guinea, ie is explained that in order to check the fierce marauding of a tribe known as the Tugeri, who are located in Dutch territory, Sir William Macgregor suggested to the Dutch authorities that if they could not deal with the marauders they should alter the boundary and include the tribe under British supervision. The Dutch agreed to the proposal, and ceded sufficient territory for the purpose. The yacht Ilex capsized yesterday between Broken Bay and Sydney. Her two occupants were rescued after being nine hours in the 1 water. Dicember 30. The Treasur. r is sanguine that there will be a surplus at the end oE the year, and declared th t his expectations of the revenue are more than realised ; also, that in spite c f an unprecedented year of financial difficulties he will be able to present an excellent array of figures, and had no hesitation in stating that the colony was now in a sound financial position. Unless something unforeseen happened, the coming year would be a bigbly satisfactory and prosperous one. December 31. The Premier estimated in October last a deficit of L 210.000. The returns up to the end of the year show that not only has this amount been wiped off, but that there is a surplus of LIG.OOO. This is the first time for 10 years that the revenue has shown a surplus. The principal decrease has been in I customs revenue, which shows a fall of L 121.000. The chief increases are :— Stamps, L 29.000; land revenue, L 64.000; railways, L 11.500. The Sunday Times alleges that during the recent cruise of one of the vessels belonging to the Australian squadron she was made a floating hell for the men by the tyranny of the officers. The paper asserts that owing to the treatment to which they were subjected one of the men committed suicide, and that unless the authorities take action in the matter it will end in a repetition of the H.M.S. Egeria episode. Mr Addison, one of the city magistrates, in passing sentence on a larrikin, said things had ccme to such a pass that citizens would shortly be under the necessity of forming vigilance committees to assist the police to put down the pest, '

Sjr Henry Parkes left for Western Australia yesterday, and will probably deliver an address in Perth on Federation.

January 1. JChe Premier of New Zealand has written to the New South Wales Government promising 00-operatiou in an endeavour to obtain redress for the seizare of the Sydney vessel Coßta Rica Packet by the Datoh in Java waters.

Owing to the excessively dry weather the maize crop in the Grafton district, New South Wale?, is partially ruined. Some strong remarks were made at the customary luncheon of the Sjdney Highland Society at the absence of the Governor, this being the first time for 15 years that the toast of " The Governor " had been drunk in the latter's absence. . Brisbane, December 29. At the Wesleyan picnic at Croydon a large number of children were poisoned from some unknown cause. Twenty-three required medical treatment, but are now out of danger. December 30. The Mount Morgan Company have applied for six months' exemption from the labour conditions for the whole' of the company's property outside of freehold, on the ground of the present unprofitable nature of the workings. The granting of the application will enable the company to dispense with the labour of nearly 200 men. January 1. The steamer Tenterden has been finally abandoned, and will be sold as she lies on the reef. The crew of dredge No. 404, who were prostrated with fever at Thursday Island, are making fair progress towards recovery. Adelaide, December 28. The- steamer Tenterden, which ran on a reef in M'Donald Bay, is practically a total wreck, and her cargo is being removed. The barque Royal Tar has cleared for Paraguay with, 190 emigrants, who intend to settle in " New Australia." December 29. His Excellency the Governor has received a cable from the Secretary of State for the Colonies stating that eight members of the " New Australia " Association had communicated with the Colonial Office, through the British Minister in Buenos Ayres, stating that they had left the colony in Paraguay, and protesting against the alleged injustice of the administration there. They further asked that friends in Adelaide should be warned against sendirjg further shipments. A detective boarded the Royal Tar, which was on the eve of sailing, and read the telegrams to the passengers. The latter expressed thanks to the Governor, but said they knew the malcontents, and passed a motion of confidence in tbe officials in Paraguay. -December 0.

The authorities of the "New Australia" Association believe that the men expellel from tbe settlement of Paraguay are identical with some who caused trouble in Monte Video owing to their drunken habits.

January 1. The South Australian revenue returns show the probability of a slight surplus at the end of the year. Perth, December 28. Splendid rains have fallen on the Ooolgardie gold fields.

Owing to the expansion of the mining industry in the colony the Government have decided to establish a separate department for mines, to devote its whole attention to that industry.