INTERCOLONIAL. Melbourne, September 3.

Otago Witness, Issue 2168, 12 September 1895, Page 20

INTERCOLONIAL. Melbourne, September 3.

The Minister for Agriculture has communicated with the pastoral and agricultural societies with a view to obtaining their opinions on the formation of a trust for the development of meat and produce export. Thß proposal is to empower the trust to levy a tax of 2s per 100 sheep and per score cattle for the purpose of erecting freezing works in Melbourne and other large centres, the money to be raised by the Government or by guaranteed debentures, and repaid out of the proceeds of the tax. The majority of societies are opposed to the scheme for various reasons, and others are doubtful of its feasibility. The Full Court has upheld the conviction of the brothers Abrahams, and decided that there was no mis-trial through the absence of the dafendants at certain stages. [Kininuel, Louis Alfrcl, and Edward Abrahams, trading iv Mel l onrne a^> Abrahams IJio'hiiis, were in June oi.vietod of contrary in connection with th" Gio^ncr gun fiuiuls T>cf ro the jury ha>! fdven th'-u \vi irt t*vo uf U<e pri-otiers wire tei/iel with epileptic fit*, mi 1 had to be removed from the precincts of the court. While th?y were absent the jury returned with a verdirf of gjiliy against the four prisoners, aud Jtultfc Willkim pan°ed sentence then and there on ihe two who were present, reserving, at Mr Gaun^on's rpqtiest, a point aa to the invalidity of the triil. The Full Court have now decided tbat the absence of some of the prisoners did not vitiite the verdict J The conference of fire underwriters bas come to an end. The principal resolutions

agreed to at the conference are to be hold binding on all offices carrying on business in New Zealand. It was decided that an underwriters' association, consisting of one representative from each of the companies represented at the present conference, be formed in Auckland, Napier, Taranakl, Wanganui, Wellington, Nelaon, Canterbury, and Otago ; and it was further resolved that the various associations bring into operation on the Ist October next the tariffs adopted by the conference. September 4. Henry Jennings, solicitor, has fil-dd his schedule, with liabilities at L237.7G7, and assets set down at L 59.511. A deputation from the Council of the Ch arches asked the Chief Secretary to legislate for the suppression of Sunday trading and gambling in tobacconists' shops. The Secretary replied that the Government intended to deal with both questions. The police had been instructed that betting must be stamped out. Betling shops were already suppressed, and a bill would be introduced to put down betling in tha public streets. The recent heavy rains have exposed a 3fc Gin seam of excellent coal near Cape Patterson, iv Gippsland. Three other seams, ranging from 2ft to 3ft Gin, were struck at a depth of 50ft in the same locality. A large area has been taken up. In consequence of the continued drought fodder and produce are becoming scarce, and prices are advancing. Large quantities of fodder are being sent from Sydney to some districts which never before had to import it. Within the last two months meat has advanced Id to l^d per lb. It advanced a £d this week. Dean, who claimed LIO.OOO in connection with the Redfern accident, was awarded L 3245. September 5. A Bum of L 174 has been subscribed for division among the Chinese crew or the Catterthun, in recognition of the manner in which they acted in their endeavours to save life. Louis and Eraanuel Abrahams have been sentenced to 20 months each, and fined L 250 each. The Abrahams are in a state of collapse, and had to be carried from the court on a stretcher extremely weak and excited. Louis is in a critical condition, and apparently unconscious. His illness results from a persistent refusal to take nourishment. September 8. A boilor exploded in oonnection with the works at the Eaglehawk Alliance mine. Portions of it were carried 150 yards, and one piece struck and killed a Chinaman. The engine and retort house were wrecked. | Depositors and shareholders in the Australian Deposit and Mortgsge Company have adopted the new scheme of reconstruction. Diamio, winner of the Grand National Steeplechase at Flemington and Caulfield, will be shipped for England in February, to compete for the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase. September 9. In the Insolvency Court a certificate was granted to an ex-sharebroker's clerk dispensing payment of 7s in the pound in debts, which amounted to L 2570, due on share calls. The evidence showed that at the direction of his employer, and without a full knowledge of what be was doing, the debtor was in the habit of signing as transferee numerous parcels of shares in banks and companies, numbers of which have since become insolvent, for which he was made liable. It was also adduced that it wan a common practice amongst clerks and effice boys in sharebrokers' offices to sign share transfers, and that they dare not refuse from fear of losing their positions. Judge Molesworth severely commented on this practice. Walsh, an ex-railway employee, murdered his wife at West Melbourne by shooting her, and then committed suicide with the namo weapon. His wife had summoned him for assault. Walsh had lately been of dissolute habits. Sydney, September 4. The greatest storm on record in the Gambulla district was experienced yesterday. The residents, fearing that their houses would be demolished, fled to the fields. Nearly all the houses were unroofed, numbers of chimney 3 were blown down, verandahs were torn away bodily, and many of the buildings in the town (which were none too substantial) came down. : The New South Wales Government have under consideration the necessity of assisting the miners on some of the gold fields, where there are no private batteries, by the erection of small batteries, charging a Email fee for the rae of the same. Harrowing accounts of the stato of the country through bush fires and the scarcity of feed continue to be received in Sydney. September 5. The fire in block XI, Broken Hill, has bo far subsided that it is intended to open one of the shafts next week. Efforts are also beinpr made to reach the seat of the fire from the underground workings. Bush fires are unabated, and are devastatirg large areas in all partp, assisted by the prevailing high winds. The south coast dairying districts wore swept. Berry and other townships were encircled by fire, and were only saved by the residents organising and fighting the flames day and night. Several outlying houses and schools were destroyed. Miles of mountain ranges are blazing, presenting a magnificent spectacle. Fifty square miles have been devastated by bush fires in the Kempsey district. During a recent visit to Japan of a Sydney merchant he succeeded in inducing the Russian merchants who supplied the Russian naval and penal stations at Vladivostock with meat to give Australian beaf a trial. He has just forwarded an experimental shipment by the Charg-«ha, and believes it possible to establish a large trade. Up to the present supplies have been obtained chiefly from Afiic?. , The fi-virri il ccli'or of the Sydney Morning Herald e-jeV no purpose to be served by commenting on the Bduk of New Zealand other than that it is well to make the best of a bad busines?, and conveit it as quickly as possible into a good one. " ! September G. The Roy. Mr M'Swain has been appointed moderator of the Federal Assembly. Another claim has been decided in connection with the Redfern railway accident,

Mr Fallick claimed L2OOO and has been awarded L 740. The schooner Sir John Franklyn has been sold to Mr T. E. Smith, of New Zealand. Cardinal Moran has instructed the clergy to pray for rain. September 8. There is intense heat in the city, which is full of smoke from the surrounding bush fires on the shores of the harbour, and in the outer suburbs the smoke is very thick. Shipping is delayed, masters having a very anxious time, as the whole coast line is hidden by smoke. Harrowing accounts of devastation and losseß of stock continue to be received from all parts of the colony. In most of the churches to-day prayers were offered for rain. Mr M'Millan adopts a critical attitude towards the New South Wales Government, as he considers that the removal of duties in September will be done at an inconvenient period. A subsidence has taken plaoe in Block XI, Broken Hill, and a strong body of steam and smoke is being emitted. Repressive measures have been taken. The use of gas, owing to the numerous vents, has hardly realised expectations. Exploring parties visited the 300 ft and 400 ft levels without being interfered with by the gas. News has reached Oooktown from New Guinea of the murder of Mr Clarke, leader of the Cairns prospecting party. Clarke was in a boat minding the arms, and was being towed up the Clyde river by his comrades, who were ashore at the time. The natives clubbed Clatke to death and destroyed the arms. The remainder of the party escaped. The Government party was also attacked by the natives. I September 9. The losses of stook by the drought are the more severe owing to the fact that for the last few years exceptionally good seasons i have induced owners to stock heavily. Riveiina is the only district, bo far, not seriously affected. The Government astronomer has prepared a plan defining the iceberg region of the ; Southern Ocean which ships coming to and going from Australia pasß through. Several steamship companies in London have agreed to send steamers to Australia by what is called the safely track, a»d it will be well for those interested to know that the so-called safety track runs through a space which, it has recently bean shown, has a large number of icebergs in it. The new track is said to converge on 40deg Eouth and 30deg east, thenco to 47£deg south at 90deg east. Grainger, who claimed LIO.OOO for injuries in the Redfern railway accident, has been awarded L4OOO. Sir George Dibbs has been nominated for the position of one of the managing trustees of the New South Wales Savings Bank. The position requires to be confirmed by the Govtrnor-in-Council, and practically entails his retirement from politics. Adelaide, September 8. The South Australian Government adhere to their decision respecting Nurse Graham, and have informed the Hospital Board that they would offer her leave of absence on full pay or a temporary appointment in another hospital until the board have reinstated her. The Government added tbat they had no intention of interfering with the present board's tenure of office. The board replied that they refused to believe that any future board would be dictated to by the Government. September 9. A strong syndicate of members of both Houses of the Legislature has been formed to develop the gold mineß at Angepana, on the Great Northern railway. Biusbane, September 4. A large public meetißg here resolved in favour of an international exhibition in Queensland in 189 G. The drought and bush fires are assuming a most seiious aspect in the Logan district. The crops are being ruined, and many cattle are dying from starvation. September G. Bush fires swept the Mount Oalton district, where 25 acres of bananas, a large area of orops, and many cattle were burned. Owing to the drought, the wheat crop on the Darling Djwns will be a failure. Th« Governor has booked his passage to London by the Ruapehu, which leaves Wellington on November 28. September 9. Mr Wragge, in the course of an interview re the drought, states that the position of high pressures is such as to prevent Antarctic and tropical low pressures making headway over the districts where tain is needed. While these conditions last, so long will the drought last. His firm belief is that some Antarctic factors, of which we .know little, are in operation, and cause the present abnormal seasbn. Oa these grounds he makes an urgent appeal for an Antarctic expedition.