INTERCOLONIAL. Melbourne, April 14.

Otago Witness, Issue 2199, 23 April 1896, Page 14

INTERCOLONIAL. Melbourne, April 14.

The Cabinet has appointed Mr Mathieson, of Queensland, general manager ot Victorian, railways for a term of five years at a salary of £3500 per annum. The half-yearly balance sheet of the Royal Bank of Australia shows a profit of L 2099, which, with the balance of L 17.370 brought forward, is now carried forward. The j liabilities to the public amounted to L 259.479, against which are cash reserves amounting,] to L 89.981, while the other aisets totalled L 488.975. April 15. ! . The Adelaide express train was derailed early this morning at Dimboolat The passengers who were aßleep at the. time were much shaken, but none injured, The financial editor of the Argus, dealing with the controversy as to which city should be supreme in the South Sea Island trade, Auckland or Sydney, says it raises the question, Why should Auckland with its limited stocks be able to compete with so great an emporium as Sydney— or as Melbourne, if the latter would.only enter the lists 1 The Ministers for Agricalture from New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria will confer at the end of the month on the question of adopting a schema of Government inspection of perishable articles for export — particularly food products with a view to establishing what will practically be an Australian trade mark.' j A. report on the distilleries shows generally an increased ontput. The stock of Bpirits on January 1 exceeded the previous jeas 2»,ooQstl S^ments of brandy to

the United Kingdom increased by 15,000ga1, and the export to New Zealand increased by 802 gal. TUe total export of wine amounted to 318,000ga1, and 1,372,500^1 of beer was brewed. April 18. The Government contemplate purchasing five Maxim guna and 2000 Lee-Metiord barrels, which will be fitted with the Martini stocks. The Treasurer, however, fears ho cannot find the money. - The libel action Mirams v. the Argus has begun. The defence la that it was a fair comment. / April 20. Mr Trenwith, the Labour leader, who goaa Home to hare an operation performed on his eye*, sailed for London on Saturday by the Yarrowanga. Sydney, April 14. A sensational case of suicide occurred at ' Sonth Head to-day. A man, name unknown, called at a hotel and had a drink. He stated that a woman had promised to meet him, but had failed to keep her promise. He added that she had been the ruin of hfs life, and then coolly walked to the .edge of the cliff and leaped a- distance of 200 ft into the sea. The body was recovered. The approaching election for the position of a direotor of the Australian Mutual !' Provident Sooiety has again raised the question of the extension of the business to Great Britain. One of the candidates ia advocating the idea. It improbable that the subject will shortly be submitted to members in ' order to obtain from them a definite opinionas to the wisdom or otherwise of th« step. April 15. EBcent arrivals report heavy weather in the Tasman Sea. It was particularly rough between Melbourne and the Bluff. Daring the voyage of the Norwegian barque St. Oorm, from Delagoa Bay, fever broke out. A sailor and the third mate died, and four of the crow were taken to the hospital on arrival. The Borough Council intend to expend LIO.OOO in extending the electrio light to private' consumers, April 16. - Newa from Noumea states that at French warship has left there on survey work in New Hebrides waters. Her mission is said to be in connection with a proposal to lay a cable from Noumea to the New Hebrides. April IT. Monsignor Verdon, Roman Catholic Btehopdesignate of Dnnedin, and Bishop Murray left for New Zealand, to-day by the Wakatipu, April 18; Cardinal Moran joins the Mararoa at Melbourne to take part in Dr Yerdon's consecration as Roman Catholic Bishop of DanediDi Owing to' the proposal to increase the freights between Colombo and 1 Australia' by the mail lines, it is expected that the Clan line of steamers will run a three-weekly service from Calcutta to Sydney, via Colombo. April 19. As a protest against the senate prohibiting the carrying of banners and indulging in the usual pranks, the undergraduates refused in a body to attend the university commemoration parade. The honours men also left the hall as soon as the degrees- were conferred. Sir Henry Parkes is suffering from broafibltte ana iaa&mamiiaß M tto lungs,

His condition is critical, and is causing considerable anxiety to bis friends. _ ~ - The president of the Chamber of Commerce has received a reply to the joint protest against the Berne cable, code. The Postmaster-general of England refers to Mr Hanbury's (Financial Secretary to the Treasury) reply to the question in the House of Commons in August last year as an indication of the lines which the British delegates would adopt when the code was finally discussed. Mr Hanbury's reply was to the effect tbat the Government recognised the inadequacy of the code and its probable damaging effect on the interests of the country. He promises to give the fullest consideration ■to the arguments against its adoption. April 20. Sir Henry Parkas is slightly better to-night, but is still in a critical condition and very weak. Mr Reid, the Premier, had an affecting' interview with the aged politician, and a complete reconciliation was effected. Sir Henry's. residence is inundated with callers. The railway revenue for the March quarter shows an increase of LI 100 as compared' with the corresponding quarter of last year. The expenditure shows an increase o£ L 3370, owing chiefly to the damage caused" by floods. Adelaide, April 17. Fifty patients have left the hospital since last week. In one ward all who were able ta walk have left since the doctors ceased their attendance. Those awaiting operation havegone to private hospitals. Splendid rains have" fallen- throughout the colony with the exception of the northern districts, and have greatly improved, tb.9 agricultural prospects. April 20. A train collided in the dark with a vehicle containing fonr men at the crossing at Dry Creek. All the occupants of the vehlol« were killed. Brisbane, April 14. The Premier of New South Wales, wJio was on a visit here, expressed the opinion t after inquiry, that the late Queensland elections will strengthen tha federal movement;,* He also said that it was bis intention to push it on at the earliest opportunity! ApriLl7. The Department of Agriculture is to b« constituted a new portfolio aa soon an tht necessary enactment is pasted. April 18. The small steamer Arakoon has besa wrecked at South Barnard. The captain, a sailor, and a passenger were drowned. Pbeth, April 15. • The natives have been troublesome lately in the Murohlgon district. Several who were arrested escaped, and a party started in pursuit with a black tracker. The latter, went ahead, and was af texwnrds fatrnd with his skutl Split open and bis bsrfy a. mass ofi wounds. The Federation Bill will be introduced next-session. April 20. ' The population, of the; colony increased bj 16,000 during the March quarter.

The Nellie Brett took *w»j a cargo o£ fggft* from Auckland, valued at &V) t QQ%