INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2200, 30 April 1896, Page 18

INTERCOLONIAL.

Mblbouknb, April 21. The P. and O. Company are makirg strenuous efforts to retain the export butter trade, and Jaave invoked the assistance of several well-known agents who have hitherto financed the factories. A* a counter-move, the Aberdeen and Lund's lines have agreed, if necessary, to advance to producer a on their shipments, thereby taking the risk of the cargoes they carry.

The Premier (Mr Turner) has cabled to the Agent-general to purchase five Maxim guns and 50,000 rounds of ammunition. The cost is estimated at about L 1250. April 23. The Hospital Committee admitted two of the successful lady candidates as resident medical officers. After a long discussion it was urged that they had no power to reject them, and there were a large number of female patients to whom they could devote* their attention. Tbe Crown haß notified Messrs Rappipoit and Baiter of its intention to file a criminal prosecution against them for conspiracy in connection with the Lormer report.

Tbe half-yearly report of the Colonial Bank shows a net profit of L 2564. A sum of LIOOO had been added to the balance carried forward for the last half-year, and makes a total of L 3587, which goes forward.

April 25. The Minister for Agriculture has prepared a report showing that for tbe nine months just ended Victoria exported 16,410,0001b of butter, valued at L 752.000, compared with 23,684,0001b, valued at LBBB.OOO, for the corresponding period of last year; 82,600 carcases of frozen mutton were also exported and 645,000 rabbits, the total value of perishable product)) exported being L 847.000, a decrease of L 65.000, for which tbe bad season is responsible. Darirg the same quarter New South Wales, South Australia, and Queensland combined increased the export of butter by 2,458,0001b, being an increase in value of LI 13 .000.

Mr Reid, the Premier of New South Wales, who is on his way to Broken Hill, bad an interview with Mr Tamer, the Victorian Premier, at which they discussed Federation, federal defence, and a number of intercolonial matter?, including tbe question of a uniform railway gauge between Sydney and Melbourne. Negotiations on this latter subject have been proceeding for some time. One proposal ib to relay Victorian liceß on the New South Wales gauge. Another is to build new uniform through lines, each colony to bear half tbe cost in either case. April 27. The Premier is preparing a bill, which he intends to introduce next session of Parliament, providing for the establishment of a State bank on the Credit Fonoier system. He states tbat he is fully convinced of the practicability of a State bank within certain limitß.

April 27.

As the result of inquiries in England, Colonel Harman, military adviser, has advised the Government, at a coat of L 30.000 to L 35.000, to establish a cordite factory in Australia. Tbe previous estimate of the colonial authorities was from LGOOO to L7OOO. Sydney, April 21. The annual report of the Mutual Life Association shows that the new business for the year totalled L 508.000, an 'increase of over LI 00,000 on the previous year. The new annual premiums represented L 13,660. The total funds of the association amount to L 1.088,000 as compared with L 1.049.000 Afcfchneadoiim

H.M.S. Pjlades has sailed for Auckland!* Captain Castle, naval officer In charge of the reserve*, is a passenger for the benefit of bis health. Agents have raised the price of batter Id per lb. Sir H. Parkea is In bo precarious a fltat# this evening that, detplte the doctor's orders', he took farewell of several of his old colleagues and supporters. Later, Sir H. Parkes shows sfgns of improvement to-night, and there is no immediate danger. April 23. Tbe Bishop of Goolburn, in an address to the synod, regretted the lamentable increacs in the number of divorce cases in the colony* He said that great evils threatened owing ta tbe recognition of two sorts of marriages— those which the State made legal and fcho*p which tbe church looked upon as lawful. He deplored the faqf that civil legislation -should have deliberately set aside the obligations of the Divine law. Sir H. Parkes is progressing favourably. Four members of a family named Hoy were poisoned at Gunnedah through earing putrid-meat. Two of them died. Twenty-nine thousaud bags of floor arrived by the Wartimoo. The barque John Williams is 38 days oat from Lyttelton to Sydney, and, anxious Inquiries are made as to her safety. ■ April 2*. Sir Henry Parkes continues to improve., ' April 25. The quarterly banking returns show fcha total assess .to be L 48.303,000 as compared with"L48,417,000 for the December quarter ; total liabilities*, L 32,540,000 as compared with L 32,037,000 for-the previous quarter. Deposits have increased by L 498.000, the increase in fixed deposits being L 84.500, and on current account L 4 13,500. Advances have decreased by L 595.500. Coin and bullion has increased by L 527,000, making the total' holdings by the banks L 5.037,000, equal to 20 1 of the total liabilities, which is the highest ever recorded. April 27. At the annual meeting of tbe Mutual Llf« Association of Australasia the report was. adopted. Adelaide, April 21. Tbe vicMms of the railway acoident mentioned yesterday, wherein a train collided fa tbe dark with a vehicle at Day crossing, are yourg men named Hall and Thompson, a married man named Sheridan, and a single man named M'Oombe. The sight, was « eiokening one. The bodies were completely out to pieces, fragments beiog scattered alosg the line for a distance of a hundred yards. - April 24. A singular bequest has been made with regard to city property valutd at close on LIOO.OOO. All this has beea left by the owner to tbe lessees. One firm thus rooms a windfall of between L 70.000 and LIOO.OOO throagh being the original lessees. The revenue for the quarter ended March has increased by L 31,000 compared with the corresponding quarter last year. The expen* dltare has decreased by L 4.8 000. Pbkth, April 2#. A loud explosion, followed bjrsevere earth tremors, has taken place at Karridale, Buildings shook perceptibly. Up to the end of Maroh the revenut showed a surplus of L 4 74,000. April 25. Joseph Atkinson, a seaman belonging to tbe steamer Macgregor, was charged at the Esperance Police Court with the attempted murder of the second mate, and, along with another seaman named Fallner, with assaulting Captain Sale. The evidence showed that after the steamer left; Albany the men refused duty. Fallner attacked the captain with a knife, and was only prevented using jit by tbe steward. In tbe meantime Atkinson had seized the mate by the throat, and bad him nearly overboard when he was rescued. The case was remanded. April 27. The richest gold ever discovered in the Great Boulder mine has been broken into in a lode at the 200ffc level. Massive gold pieces as large as hen's eggs occur in the lode, which is between 15ft an 3 16ft wide at the point.