INTERCOLONIAL

Otago Witness, Issue 2157, 27 June 1895, Page 35

INTERCOLONIAL

Melbourne, Jane 19. The report of the liquidation of the Mercantile B-uik of Australia shows that altogether L53G;000 was received, out of which L 418.000 was paid in three dividends, aggregating 5s lOd in the pound; The amount paid in calls amounted to L 235.000, and the losses during the year, owing to depreciation of property and other causes, were estimated at L 1.339,000. In the Viotorian Assembly, Mr Tucker, chairman of the Tariff Board, Btated that the result of exhaustive inquiries showed that high duties resulted in sweating, low wages, and disaster. June 20. A meeting of Central mine shareholders adopted a modified scheme providing that the company reserves from purchasers all kaolin and oxidised silver, lead, and smelting ores recently discovered, or to be discovered in future, with the right to use machinery and plant for raising and smelting ores. At Goulburn a meeting of Central mine shareholders by 33 to 22 confirmed the resolution to sell the mine. Negotiations will be concluded when the directors Bign the transfer. The application at Sydney for an injunction to prevent the sale was dismissed with costs. At a meeting of shareholders in the Colonial Investment Agency Company a resolution was carried empowering the company to dissolve. The report of the liquidators showed that the liquidation had produced 11 5-Gd in the pound. The statements made by tbe liquidators showed that for three and a-half years before the liquidation the directors did not sell more than L7OOO worth of land, and yet paid L 67.000 in dividends. The ringleader in the company's troubles could not be got at, as he had carefully manipulated the minutes, and so saved his own skin at the expense of others. Jane 21. A valuable gold discovery has been made in tbe Pyrenees Ranges, Western Victoria. L4OO worth of gold was secured in an hour. One specimen, taken Gin from the surface, weighed 420z. In the case of Rigg v. the Standard Bank a verdict was given for the plaintiff for L 43 10», the oourt also declaring him entitled to one-sixth of the Ricbmondvale estate. Some peculiar financing was disclosed by the evidence, The court found that documents between the parties w«re executed by mutual mistake, ttois being procured and induced fey

fraudulent action and concealment by the bank through its manager (Dillon), and ordered the documents' to be ratified. June 23. The Victoiinn Totalisator Bill provides that the machine shall not be UHed by proprietary cluba. This i 3 likely to give rißo to much debate. The evidence of the inquiry into the voyage of the Aberf oyle Bhows that the captain, tried, without success, to secure a second mate before sailing. He consumed 45 bottles of rum in 24 days-. The vessel narrowly escaped going ashore at Shortlands. The boatswain considered that if the captain had done his duty in shortening sail during the hurricane the mate would not have loat his life., The carpenter corroborated this, and added that the captain said that if he did not sign the log he (the captain) would' get into a lot of trouble at Molbourne. The captain said he would sail tho ship" to Heaven or Hell; and he also threatened to blow witness's brains out. June 24. Two men named Nettleberg and Myers have died at Port Molbourne of arsenical poisoning. They made a drink from a bag | labelled " cream ot tartar," and too late dis- I covered it was arsenic. Nettleberg's son i also had a drink, but with medical aid recovered, Sydney, Juno 19. The cases in which damages are claimed in connection with the Red fern railway accidents have commenced. Counsel for the commissioners admitted that the accident was caused by negligence, and tho only question to be decided was the amount of compensation. Mr 3 Coward claimed LIO.OOO for the loss of her husband. The jury gave a verdict for L 2750. A French steamer ha 3 arrived at Oooktowu with 150 Tonqainese labourers for Noumea. Clouds of grasshoppers are eating what little grass is left in the Northern Melbourne part of Now Caledonia, where not a drop of rain has fallen for six weeke. Professor Ramsay has reported upon the new process for treating silvsr sulphides at Broken Hill, which it is estimated will yield a profit of 50s per ton. N Juue 20. MacNaacara, another Sydney banking prisoner, has been released. Replying to a deputation which urged the Government to take immediate stops to eradicate phylloxera, the Now South Wales Minister for Agriculture said that the disoaso would have to bo treated a3 a national question, tbe expenge being borne by the Treasury. The representatives of a hoy named Halkett sued the Railway Commissioners for L2OOO. The lad was sitting in the train with his elbow projecting, and was struck by the open door of a passing carriage A verdict by concent was entered up for L3OO. In the Redfern railway accident cases Mrs M'Keiz'o, who claimed LSOOO for the loss of her husband, was awarded L2OOO. The cane in which the executors of Edward Jon<?p, of David Jones and Co., claimed L 30.000 is being heard. June 23. As a result of exhaustive experiments the Broken Hill Proprietary Company intend to erect immediately a concentrating sulphide dressing plant capable of treating 1400 tons of sulphide weekly. Experiments have shown that it ia possible to save 85 per cent. of the lead and over 60 per cent, of the silver. HMS. Penguin has sailed to take soundings in tho Tasman Sea. She then goes to' Auckland, arrivicg there on July 14, from Auckland she goes amongst the islands in connection with the Pacific cable route. Her commission also includes a survey of the Kermadec Islands. A mysterious jewellery robbery is reported from Stewart, D.iwaon, and Co.'s. A tray, with 43 diamond rings, valued at LISOO, was locked in the safe at night. In the morning Mr Kent, the manager, mis«ed several of the rings. Two brothers named Gill were arrested in connection with the robbery. One of the brothers was caught pawning a missing ring set with diamonds ; the others, broken up, were discovered in his possession, Those arrested are brothers of the man into whose death an inquiry is beirjg held. The latter died • after a severe struggle with the detectives who were arresting him in connection with a recent stolen jewellery oase. Percy Gill remains in custody. Hla brother was temporarily detained, but he- was released, as there was no evidence against him. June 21. The robbery at Stewart Dawkoh's was cleverly effected. The safe was not tampered with, and the goods must have been extracted in daylight in the presence of the employees 1 . The latter declare that no one answering prisoner's description, which Is somewhat noticeable, visited the shop. Only LI OO worth of property ha 9 been recovered. The Marine Board found William Anderson, captain of the Sydney, responsible for the Sydney-Cammery collision. His certifioatewill be dealt with on Monday. Adelaide, June 21. The Rev. Mr Biokford, the oldest Wesleyan minister in the colony, is dead. June 23. The will of the late Sit G. O. Hawker, of South Australia, is proved at under L 305.000. Brisbane, Jane 20. The Premier of Queensland has written to the Premier of Canada stating that Queensland is willing to co-operate in the appointment of a joint commission to investigate the details of the Pacific cable project. He also says that should the other colonies hesitate, Queensland is prepared to act without them and favourably consider the construction of a line jointly by Great Britain, Canada, and Queensland. June 24. It is understood that a Payment of Members Bill will be introduced this session. The amount will be fixed either at L 240 per annum or L2OO, with certain allowances. Reprißalo are taking place on the Palmer goldfield between the blacks and the Chinamen. One of the latter was killed in revenge for the Chinese poisoning a number of blacks with strychnine, which was placed in flour to deter them from stealing provisions. Hobabt, June 20. The trustees of the Bank of Van Dienwn's Land are about to make a call,