INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2085, 8 February 1894, Page 36

INTERCOLONIAL.

Press Association— By Telegraph— Copyright. Melbourne, January 31. Successors to the present Victorian Railway Commissioners will only be appointed until Parliament deals with the question. February 1. The Railway Commissioners have issued a circular discountenancing the raising of subscriptions in the Railway department towards defraying the expenses of either of the contending parties in the libel action of Speight v. the Age. The banks have decided to lower the deposit and dtecount rates by £ per cent. February 1. Sequestration has been granted in the estate of Mr Arthur Garner, the weU-known Australian 'entrepreneur, on the petition of the General Finance Agency, to whom he is indebted to the extent of L 15.000. The company, however, hold security for the greater part of this sum. The old-established firm of P. -Mips and Turnbull, Melbourne, are bankrupt. Their trading liabilities are small, but there is a considerable sum in contingent liabilities in regard to uncalled capital in various companies. The bankruptcy does not affect the Sydney house or tha firm of TurabuU and Hobeon. February 4. It is understood that when the Mercantile Bank cases begin on the 19th inst. Sir M. Davies will conduct his own defence, and that Mr Gaunson will appear for Millidge. The Premier of Victoria states that the question of silver coinage for the Australian colonies rests solely with Victoria and New South Wales, and he disapproves of the proposal to consult the other colonies. February 5. Archbishop Carr has issued a pastoral letter, in which he vigorously condemns State education, and suggests that the Catholic schools should be made a department of the State system, as is done in Canada and England. At a large meeting, attended by many leading public and commercial men in Melbourne, a voluntary tribunal of arbitration was inaugurated for the purpose of settling disputes between merchants and business men without entailing the loss of •time and money. Thiß step is necessitated by the present legal methods. Dr Neild, coroner, writing to the press, says in 90 per cent, of 500 Infant corpses be has examined death was due to wilful suffocation, and be . estimates there are 1400 women living in Melbourne who have cheated tbe hangman. February 6. Hot weather is being experienced in the country. Serious grass fires are reported in the Ararat district, and it is believed that the ignition was caused by phosphorised wheat. Sydney, January 31. In connection with the frauds on the National Bank, about £700 has been recovered. The editor of the Evening News was summoned to the Bar of the House to-night, but declined to answer any questions. A discussion is now going on on a motion to imprison him for a month. The Newß to-night contains a further stinging article in support of previous statements. It accuses members of rooking ona another at card?. Heavy gales are raping on the northern coast of New South Wales. The schooner Sea Foam was washed high and dry on the beach at Port Stephens, but her crew escaped with their lives. February 1. When Mr Hindle's motion of censure on tho Government over the Copeland incident was reached the galleries were cleared. Mr Hindle said that he declined to discuss the matter behind the backs of ihe public, and withdrew his motion. Mr See, Colonial Treasurer, delivered his Budget speech to-night. He said the deficiency amounted to about L 1,200,000,, 200,000, against a deficit estimated by Sir G. R. Dibbs at a million and a-quarter. Treasury bills to cover the deficit will be issued, but only sold for investment in trust funds. The floods in. northern rivers and the commercial and financial depression bad affected the revenue to an alarming extent. The receipts fell 1.767,000 below the previous year. The savings on votec, which usually came to a quarter of a million, had amounted to £800,000 (sic), showing that judicious retrenchment had been carried out. He estimated that the revenue for 1894 would reach £0 851.000, and the expenditure £9,728,000. Tbe sum of £175,000 had been set aside during the year as a sinking fund to reduce the public debt. He estimated that tbe surplus for 1894 would amount to £47,000. During tbe discussion on the motion to imprison the editor of the Evening News, Premier Dibbe endeavoured to have the

matter discharged from the Order Paper, but the suggestion was not acceded to. He pointed out that the attempt to examine a witness before the bar of the House four years ago only brought contempt on the House, which had no power to inflict punishment. If more authority were required they should amend the Constitution, and ask the Imperial Government to grant greater powers to maintain the dignity of Parliament. Mr Hogue, the editor, admitted that the paragraph in question was written by one of the regular staff of the paper, but, as a journalist, refused to divulge the writer's name. The House, after a long debate, adjudged Mr Hogue guilty of contempt, and committed him to the custody of the Sergeant-at-arme, but subsequently a motion was carried formally releasing him. February 2. During last night's sitting of the Legislative Assembly the galleries were twice cleared at the direction of the Chairman of Committees. The point was raised as to whether the Chairman of Committees had power td order the galleries to be cleared, and Mr Speaker ruled that he had no such power. Some amusing scenes have taken place at Sydney owing to the enforcement of the provisions of the Imperial Passenger Act. Many passengers begged to be allowed to proceed by the Hauroto, which left on Wednesday for Wellington, but; the officials were inexorable. One man, who intended to ship a number of horses by that vessel, was debarred from doing so, as the act does not provide for the shipment of Euch animals. Though the act only legislates for 400-ton vessels, the Mararoa was surveyed under the act prior to her departure, and was unable to take her full complement of passengers. Dr James Jefferies, formerly pastor of the Pitt street Congregational Church, Sydney, has accepted the pastorate of the North Adelaide Congregational Church. February 4. In response to a request from Mr Davip, captain of the New South Wales team now in New Zealand, Newell, an intercolonial bowler, is endeavouring to obtain leave to go to New Zealand to strengthen the team in the match against All Ntw Zealand. The Government have decided to oilier LIOOO as a bonus for the discovery of a payable alluvial goldfield Mr Bruce, chief inspector of stock, who is at present ia England, has been instructed to prolong his stay in order to .obtain all possible information likely to aid in the opening up of fresh markets for preserved meat, butter, fruit, and other products. February 5. It is understood that H.M S Goldaoch wi.l leave for Samoa shortly, her visit being due to the critical position of affairs there. It is probable that tbe outcome of the visit will be the general disarming of the Natives in all parts of the group. February 6. The Broken Hill Consols mine has struck a fine pocket consisting almost entirely of pure silver. At the half-yearly meeting of the Bank of Victoria the net profits wer£ shown to bo L 31.000. A dividend of 5 per cent, on preferential shares and 5 per cent, on ordinary Bhares was passed, and a sum of L 4900 carried forward. The liabilities o£ the firm of Phipps, Turnbull, and Co., importers, are set down at L 16.800, and the "assets at £3000. Newcastle, February 5. The Timaru Harbour Board's dredge No. 404 has arrived here en route to Timaru. Captain Robertson is very , ill with dropsy, and has been taken ashore. The chief officer has also been taken to the hospital Buffering from Java fever. Brisbane, January 31. Steamers have been sent to tbe Gulf of Carpentaria in search, but none of them have found any trace of the Kanabooka's boat (in charge of the first mate) or of the captain's party, who were supposed to have landed. -. Fearful gales are ragtag along the cost of Queensland. February 2. Terrible weather is still being experienced in tbe Gulf of Carpentaria. The barque Waratab, loading at Rocky Islet with guano for New Zealand, was wrecked. Her crew are safe. A steam launch , and cutter were also wrecked, one man being lost. The barque Ganymede, loading guano, is reported to have come through the hurricane safely. February 3. News has been received of Captain Campbell and party, who landed in a boat after tbe steamer Kanabooka foundered in tho Gulf of Carpentaria. They journeyed a considerable distance along the coast, swimming rivers and creeks. Felton, the engineer, died from exposure. Captain Campbell wa3 drowned crossing the Nassau river. The other two — a fireman and cook — were picked up by a stockman and taken to Mentina station. Tbe fate of tbe boat in charge of the mate of the steamer is still unsolved. February 5. One of the search steamers has returned to Normanton without any tidings as to the missing boat belonging to the Kstnabooka, which foundered in the GulE of Carpentaria. The second steamer sent in search of the survivors of the ill-fated vessel Kanabooka has returned. One hundred and twenty miles of coastline was searched, without success. Heavy weather has been experienced in the Gulf oE Carpentaria. A further search is to be made. February 6. The shipping has been warned of a depression off the coast of Tasmania, which is sure to affect the Taeman Sea between Hobart and the Bluff. Thubsday Island, February C. The British India Company's steamer Dorunda was discovered on lire at sea by the s.s. Duke of Argyle. The latter stood byu her for 2(5 hours, as it was feared the vessel would not be saved, but the fire was eventually got under. While the Dorunda was burniDg a steward jumped overboard and was drowned; and a sailor, who went mad witn excitement, was knocked down and atunned for the safety of tbe others on board. Adelaide, February 1. Tbe Victorian liquidator of the Federal Bank has applied to the Supreme Court for an order to compel the local liquidator to

remit the moneys collected to assist him in paying a dividend of 2s Gd in the pound. The local liquidator pointed out that 3a 7^d in the pound had been collected in Melbourne, ts 9£d in Sydney, and 10s 9.id in Adelaide. The judge characterised the Melbourne liquidation as extremely unsatisfactory and dilatory, and refused the order with costs.

The banks in South Australia have reduced deposit rates per cent., bat no alteration is made in discount rates.

in reply to a deputation of unemployed, Mr Downer, Premier of South Australia, 6aid that material would be supplied for stonebreaking, bo that men might get rations for a fair amount of labour at this class of relief work. Members of the deputation ridicnled the idea as an insult.

The registrar estimates the yield of wheat in South Australia at 14,042,000 bushels — an average of eight bushels per acre.

Hobart, February i. Arrived, 1.30 p.m. to-day, the Gothic, from London, via the Cape. She sails at 8 o'clock to-morrow morning for Wellington. The Gothic has 41 passengers for Australia, and 130 for New Zealand. February 6. The Ministry intend to make next session entirely a financial one. They will probably ask for supplies for a year, and hold a second session in July or August. Ifc is generally believed Sir E. C. N. Braddon, the leader of the Opposition, will move a vote of want of confidence in the Government on the Address-in-Eeply.