INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2179, 28 November 1895, Page 14

INTERCOLONIAL.

LIkLBOunNJJ, November 19. 1 Tii3 Government have dooidad to intro-

duce a bill at the present session to assibt the sugar beet industiy. They will make further advances to the companies to a total amount of LIOO.OOO. Owing to the determined opposition of the public to use post curds beating tho advertisements of cartain brands of beer and tobacco, the Cabinet has cancelled the contract and refunded the money to the advertiser?. The owners of Trenton are likely to regret the refusal of the offer made by Mr Wilson (son of Sir Samuel Wilson) for L7OOO. He subsequently declined to repeat the offer, and another gentleman with whom the syndicate were n^gotiatirg has since declined the terms asked. The press referring to the Victorian Rifle Association meeting says it has resulted in a triumph for Whitney's Colonial Ammunition Factory. Many of the competitors used Whitney's cartridges in preference to the English made. November 20. In dismissirg Mr Speight's application for a new trial in tho libel case, the Court held that the Age articles respecting the prevalence of political influence in the Railway department contained abundance of facts which the jury might consistently have believed upon the proofs adduced to them, and from which an honest man might faiily have inferred such influence had been established. If the estimates of the Victorian harvest are correct, 330,000 tons will bo needed to supply Jocal requirements. Mr M'Coy has been elected for Castlemaine, vice Sir J. Patterson, deceased." Iv the legislative Council, Mr Melville referred to the drought, and asked this Government if they would consider the expediency of suspending the duties on imported cereals, with a view to mitigating the hardships of the people and saving the herds from destruction during the winter. The Minister for Defence, in reply, said that the Government did not' consider the po«ition so bad as to justify the course proposed. November 21. At a meeting of the Board of Health the chairman strongly urged the necessity fur concerted action on the part of all the colonies for the establishment of federal quarantine stations at Albany and Thursday Island. It was decided to again ask the New Zealand Government to take action in the proposed conference on the matter. The half-yearly -report on Block X mine, Broken Hill, shows that the net profits after allowing for depreciation, was LI 1,000. November 22. The Presbyterian Assembly has received L 12,000 as the result of Dc Pa^oa's efforts in collecting on behalf of the New Hebrides misaion. ■ Mr Sakers, of the Melbource R'fle Club, was the winner of the Qaeen's prize at the R Be Association rneetiog. The original proprietors of the Londonderry Mine have brought an action against Lord Fingall claimicg a sum of L 30.000 at present deposited in the Union Bank. Tho judge allowed Lord Fingall 80 days within which to defend the action. The Premier, Mr Turner, has informed the Governments of New South Waleß and Queensland that a bill will be drafted providing for tha compulsory inspection and branding of exported meat, and suggesting that all tho colonie3 should adopt a common Australian trade mark. November 23. A bill for the better management of tho railways is being considered by the Cabinet. It will provide for the appointment of a board of trust to be absolutely independent of political influence, and for the abolition of unions of railway empl jyeos. November 25. Mr Turner, the Victorian Premier, has introduced a bill fixing the income tax ab the game rate as last year. Owing to the scarcity of water, 2400 gal are being sent daily by train to Wjcherproof, 190 miles north-west of Melbourne. Sydney, November 19. A light bridge thrown across the river near Bourke impeded the traffic on the river, a&d prevented the river steamer passing. The captain of the steamer requested the contractors to remove th-3 obstruction, but the latttr slated that the structure had been handed over to the Goveruinon'., and declined to interfere in the matter. The captain thereupon attached a towline to one of the supports of the bridge, and unceremoniously hauled the whole structure down, and when the debris had been washed away quietly proceeded on his journey. Robert?, the Gunnedau selector arrested on a charge of having thrown poison in a floor bin, has been discharged. The girl Wiight'a confession alleges that her uucle put strychnine in the flour and threw vitriol over her;- then, under threats, he forced her to lay a charge against Roberts. The Sjdney Legislative Council haa insisted on its amendments is the Land and Income Tax Bill, and ha 3 appointed a committee to draw up reasons. November 20. The girl Wright has made a fuither confession completely exoneiating her uncle. She now says that she put the poison in the flour,

and burnt her right arm with acid herself. Glasa has been ditchnrgjd. The girl has broken down and refuses to sat or chink. The oaptain of a coastal steamer has discovered the sunken rock oa which it is believed the Citterthun etruck. It ia visible at low water at a depth of three and a-half fathoms. An extensive gold reef, which ia estimated to yield 19 z to the ton, has been.dlscovered near Haiden. November 21. The drought in the back country is having a disastrous effect on the overland oattle trade between Queensland and Vic'oria. Drivers state that the atock routo for hun-' dreds of mi'es is completely bare of feed and water and lined with dead cattle which have peiished from want of food and water. Oattle en route to any distance in the north never reach their destination, and no Queensland bu'locka may be expected in the Yiciorian market for at leas*i the next 12 monthi. Fine weather greeted the arrival of Viscount HampdeD, the new Governor. The main thoroughfares of the city were gaily decked with bunting and ferns, and every vantage point throrgad with sightseers. Mr P. W. Russell, a ny mber of a wellknown local engineering firm, has presented a sum of L 50,000 to the SyJney University for the purpose of establishing a school of engineering in connection with the university. The Agent-General has advised the Premier of Mr Chamberlain's approval of the appointment of a commission to inquire into the Pacific cubla route. Mr Rfid was sslied to communicate with the Premiers of the other colonuts, whic'i he immediately diJ. List night ho received a communication from Mr Seddou as>kiDg him to suggest a course of joint action to be pursued by the -colonies interested ia the election of: delegate?. The Postmaster-Geueral (Mr Cm k) states that the commission is the outcome of general representations made by the Premiers through the Agents-General, Rod he is highly pleased at Sir Chamberlain so j readily taking the matter up, November 22. Ssawill, caretaker of the " British Medical Institute," was sentenced to seven years' impri-onment on a charge of being accessory after the fact to the murder of the gill Jes-ie Nichol. M'Lelland, second mate of the ship Canada, was charged with having treated one of tha crew with such feaiful bruti lity on the high seas that the man dud. The magistrate, after hearing the evidence, referred the que'slipn to the authorities whether the captain shoald not also bo indicted as accessory. The Government statistician, reporting on the growth of sugar beet, siys regarding the tests of the roots grown for experimental purposes in different districts that the experts pronounce the yields unparalleled in the history of tha cultivation of beefc, and that there is a general development of cropping where the soil is nnsuUe:! for sugar cane. Should the'caltivatioa fulfil but haif tbo exf/cctations of the promoters, there i» little doubt it will greatly modify the agriculture of the oolony, and add another profitable staple to its resourcss. Mr C >ghlan also reports that there are very largs areas suitable for the growth . cf the beet. November 23. The liiv. Mr Ohrke was fiaed for assault and ueiog insulting language in'connection with bis resistance to the reopening of St. Stephen's Church at Kogarab. Mr Clarke denied making use of the language complained of, and said plaintiff had commenced the assauls, and he responded by driving a straight one under hu opponent's guard. He wanted to make it a fair fight, but he was not allowed to do so. In reply to the solicitor for plaintiff, Mr Clarke intimated his willingness to give him proof of his knowledge of the arc of bjx'ug. He denied the right of the Primate to cancel his license, and he did not recognise his action, as he contended once a priest always a priest. The drought is again very severe."" In the Southern and Western districts grass and water are extremely scarce, and in many instances the ci-op3 are ruiued. Tho fruit crops arc a failure. Persistent rumours are current in Nawcattle, New South Wales, that the Broken Hill smelters are to be removed to that place from Port Pirie, owing to the conveniecca of coal. Nigotiations are proceediDg for the purchase of the copper smelting works, which have been idle for a long time. November 24. A Mrs M'Namara, of Warialda, gave her two childrea a mixture of what she supposed to be honey and sulphur, and took some heraelf . The children are dead and the woman is seriously id. It is believed the sulphur was a poisonous sheep dip. November 25. Sheridan has made a written statement, witnessed by bis solicitor and tho governor of the gaol, exonsratinghis partner Thomas. Ho alleges that the latter knew nothing of j the oircumst&noas of the death of the

woman Nicholls, and that Thomas bad only been oonneoted with tbe "institute" a couple of weeks. Sheridan adds 1 that Thomas entered into partnership in the full belief that it vt&a & legitimate medical practice, and that he remained without; being enlightened. The confession also stares that Nicholls was the only patient received for treatment. Mr Kuld, ex Postmaster-general, ha3 began an action cgainat W. J. Collins, who is alleged to havo publicly stated 6 that Mr Kfdd al'owed his friends to travel Tfith his parliamentary railway pass. Oiptain Munro, of the vessel Canada, has been arrested on a similar charge to tbac on which the ohiof ofiker, M'Le biid, was arrested — viz , cpuiing the deatli of*a seaman on the high seas. It is stated that Recording to present appearances the four colonies comprising tho eastern half of Auatva'ia will this harvest; secure between them 1(3 million bashelit of wheat, which is 10£ million bushels lets than last year, while their consumption as food and seed ctnr.ofc be lees than 21 million bushels. This points to having to import at least fiva million bushels from the west cor.ist of Ambries, and beyjnd that Western Australia and Tasmania will probably need additional supplies. Oaiell/ as tho result of the droughfc, tha railway rev cuue last week decreased L 22.250 compared wit.h tho corresponding period of last year. For the- current year to date, however, the comparative decrease is only L 14.600. Affer df3bursiog LIOOO in expenses and prize money, the Cycling L« i agne netted LI7OO over the recent carnival. Z.mmccman is sufiEeiing from malarial foyer, contracted at Colombo. BniSBANE, November 19 It is now anticipated that tbe wbeafc crop will bo almost a total failure, and arrangements aro -being made for large importations from- California. The Government have decided to cancel the meat and dairy produce taxes in tbe soiub&ru and Carpentaria districts for the next y ar, and only half taxes wi 1 bo, levied in the central dislrlcb. November 21. In addition to tho decimation cf flocks by the drought, tick* ars unusually troublesome in tho north, and many cattle are auccambiDg to their attack*. The heavy mortality, according to some experts, is duo to a disease known ag " red water," bub oth*r experts comb, t thin theory, and hold tha*, the death is caused by fev«r induced by the Rfctacko o£ myriads of ticks.. The symptom*, they contend, are quite dis'inct from those of the " red water " disease, which they allege is urjknown in the north. The burning of the grass ha& bsen found to be a good check to the pest, and largely reduces the mortality of stock. Adelaide, November 2 If The new manager of the Angipioa Treasure goldmine has made d«rbag»rg charges against several parsons origlnally'intereeted and vendors of the property. He sta f e» that a man has made confession implicating himself and a prospector,. which sets out that the alleged mine was salt el as the ihaffc went down, and the company wa3 floated by a parliamentary syodscate of 40 motaberr, who received 10,000 fully paid-up shares. The public took up 10.000 shares, while tha prospectors received other 10,000 fully paid-up shares and L7OO cpmU in addition; The dirt c'ors have suspended operations in the mine pending an irquiry. Tiiui'SDAY Island, November 22. Tho schooner Myrtle brought from Port Moresby 23 natives, survivors of a party o£ 45 (inoludii g two while men) who left Ntw Biirain for the purpose of exploring German New Gaiuca. The remainder died of hunger and privation. The whole party underwent fearful sufferings. November 23. Sir William Ma. Grcgor, Administrator of New Guinea, had a narrow escapa of being murdered recently under the following circumstancts : — After dispersing a ncmadic murdering tribe of natives and capturing their cane C 3 he paid a visit to a friendly triba, who, however, were incensed at the punishment inflicted on the others. SirW.MacGregor was returning to bis boat, accompanied by Mr Green (one of bis staff), when the latter turned and saw two natives wil.h uplifted ppears ready to shrike Sir W. MacGregor. Mr Green instantly shot one, and the other being frightened and hesitating to throw tha spear, he also shot him dead.

The Railway department is beirg memorialised to run the Catlins tram in future to the O « aka bri Jge. Mr Poynbon, S M., h»s caused (ho following notke to be pcsled in tho. Invereargill ccui-i room fcr the guidance of soli sitot-e : — "la the conduct cf ca ci in this court the following rules raual te adhered to :— (1) No comment shall bft made while a witness is giving evidence ; (2) obssrvations and remarks concerning e&ch other must not bo exchanged directly between those engnged, but must be addressed to the court." TO DARKEN GREY HAIR. Lockyer's Sulphur Hair Restorer, quiclcea t safest, best; re3tore_s the natural colour. Lockyers, the real Euglish Hair Restorer. Large bottles Jbi 6d, everywhere.— [Ady%