INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2201, 7 May 1896, Page 21

INTERCOLONIAL.

Melbourne, April 28. The 1 output of gold for the March quarter w^as 208,0000z, being a large increase over that for the corresponding quarter of last year. The Age claims that the colony's outpat is six times that of the much-boomed Western Australian. April 29. Mr Cl&rksos, the Government engineer for South Australia, who was deputed to make an independent examination of the steamer Wendouree oh behalf of the Sangater Inquiry Board, states that the bunkers were so thin that it was dangerous to carry coal in them. He could knock a hole through anywhere with a hammer. The frame was almost eaten through, and he found serious cracks. The combustion chamber?, boilers, and decks were very thin in many places, and all the boilers were leaking. April 30. The Sangster Board decided to ask the Government of-Soutb. Australia to permit Mr Campbell, engineering surveyor, to give evidence as to the circumstances under which he allowed the steamer Wendouree to proceed to sea. Prior to his departure for Albany to join tha mail steamer, en route for England, Parsons was entertained at a large meeting of cyolists and presented with a cheque for L 273, being the proceeds of the late benefit meeting 1 , and LI 13, the first instalment of the fucd started by Australian cyclists to defray the expenses of his trip to Europe. He received an enthusiastic send-off. ' May 1. The strike in Newcastle has caused a heavy rite in the price of coal. Prior to the strike Newcastle coal was selling in Melbourne at 15s 63 per ton at the wharf and 18s delivered. The price is now raieed to LI 0* 6a at wharf and 22s 6tl delivered, while the-snburban retail price is L 2 per ton. Victorian coal has advanced from lls 6d per ton at the trucks and 17s 6d delivered to 15s and 21s respectively. Geake, the fraudulent Daylesford solicitor, has been sentenced to two years' imprisonment. The liquidators of Ohaffey Bros, state that their collapse wa* in* to tha meagre proportion o2 the patd-ng. oagita&xMOiTOd la wwb,

> which burdened the company with dead- > weight interest and made it practically impossible for them to succeed. The report farther stated that the ' eagerness to obtain money at any cost ■ was ' a sign of recklessness in attempting ' to escape the necessity of liquidation. In ■ one case the company paid 18 per cent, to ' float a loan, and in another as high as 6& May 2. ! . When Mr Turner (the Premier) cabled Home for Maxim guns it was understood that the oost would be L2OO apiece, but the Government bave since received cable advice that they will cost L4OO. They are now. dubious about incurring the increased expenditure. The inter-univertity boat race resulted, as follow* :— South Australia 1, New South Wales 2. Victoria also Btarted, but their boat was almost swamped by a passing steamer, and the crew were practically out of the race. The South Australian's won easily by 10 lengths. At a cycling meeting the 25-mile championship of Viotoria was won by M'Lean, with Martin- second and Tumor third. Fifteea started, and, after an exciting finish, M'Lean won by a few inches. Time, 71min 34 2-5; cc. May 4. The Government have instructed the Victorian Agent-general to purchase the Maxim guns already ordered at L4OO apiece. In the libel action brought by Mr Mirams against tho Argun, the plaintiff admitted that hie personal transactions were of enormous magnitude. When the crash came after the land boom his liabilities were about a million. He got rid of L 700.000 worth by throwing the contracts upon the hands of the vendors. * Sydney, April 29. Speaking at Broken Hill, Mr Reid, the Premier, referring to the women's vote in Bonth Australia, said he favoured female suffrage, but there was no chance of a bill coming down this eeiraion. He supported deciding the question by the referendum sy&tem. April 30. HM. surveying ship Penguin, leaving to-morrow, takes the scientific expedition under the leadership of Professor Solaeas, vent out by the Royal Geographical Society, to the Gilbert group. The expedition will endeavour to solve the problem of coral reef formation, with regard to which eoientists hitherto have been divided between two theories. The Hons. Davies and Humphreys have been elected directors of the Mutual Life Association of Australasia. At the half-yearly meeting o£ the Colonial Sugar Company a dividend of 10 psr cent, was declared. The report was adopted. May 1. The Government notify that from July 1 interest on all deposits in the Savings' Bank will be reduced from 3£ per cent, to 3 per cent. May 2. Another attempt is to be made to recover the gold from the wreck of the steamer Oatterthun. The insurance companies have fitted up a steamer with a specially constructed diving apparatus, and hops to overcome the difficulty of the depth at which the vessel sank. The steamer will leave for the scene of the wreck to-morrow. May 3. Hospital Sunday in the city and suburbs was marked by success. The collections are not yet complete, but the total amount so far exceeds that of last year by several hundreds. May 4. Lewis, Megson, and Payne, leading New South Walos cyclists, have left for England. Both the rowing and tennis teams from New Zealand suffered from sea sickness. In the case of the latter they will be rather handicapped in having to play so soon after arrival. The championships begin tomorrow, but Miss Nunneley is unli&ely to be , engaged till Wednesday. The rowing men began training this morning. M'Oormick has secured Neilson, the sculler, as coach. Adelaide, April 28. A number of old members have been rejected, including Messrs Glynn, Hawker, and Henry E. Downer.. After an interesting contest Sir J. Downer was re-elected at Barossa, but he becomes junior instead of senior member. As far as can be gathered, the state of parties is as follows :— Ministerialists ... ... .„ 15 Labour ... ... ... .M. M 12 Opposition ... ... ... 22 Independent 5 .Bbisbane, April 30. The Cabinet has appointed Mr Robert J. Gray, principal Undersecretary of Railways, as successor to Mr Mathieson, who has been appointed Railway Commissioner in Victoria, at a salary of LISOO, and Mr Thallon, chief manager, la appointed deputy-commis-sioner at LIOOO. The office of undersecretary has been abolished. Brisbane, May 2. Mr Donald M'Kenz'e, a station owner at Taura, has been mur.ip>r,u by the blacks. A special train oarryujg a number of troopers has been despatched to the vicinity of the scene of the outrage. May i. At Bulimba an old man named Longlands went home drunk, quarrelled with bis wife, and shot her twice through the body. The woman is in a very critical condition. Longlands has been arrested. Later. Mrs Longlands has succumbed to her id juries. Perth, May 4. The murderer of Gonlan Mahomet was executed to-day, his death being instantaneous. HOBART, April 30. The Premier has written fo the Hon. Mr Seddon urging upon his- attention the uudesirable restriction placed on Tasmanian fruit in Hew Zealand. The Premier has also communicated with the Indian remount authorities, asking them to send an expert to Tasmania to inspect horses available as remounts. Mr J. W. A. Marchaat has been appointed chief surveyor for the laud district of Canter* bury. Most distressing cases of weakness and sickness invariably start from a cold or cough. Don't take the risk i take Woode's Great Peppermint Case— i* 6d md 2a 84 SalfiUsarjwliew.

April 28.

THE MATABELE RISING. Capetown, April 27. After the fight the Umguz river was red with blood. Four thousand natives are assembled at Maven. The garrison at Gwelo is waiting for reinforcements before attacking them? April 28. Three impis reinforced the rebels at Matoppo, and in attempting to curronnd Baluwayo to-day were repulsed with great loss, the Sekombi Induna being killed. April 29. The Matabeles have retired 10 miles. The larger chiefs are disposed to submit to tbe British. Ehama's brother conveys 50 waggons of flour to Baluwayo. April 30. Sari Grey, the reoently-appointed administrator for the' Chartered Company, bas reached Bnluwayo. '

April 30.

A Loyal Colonial League has been formed in tb.B Cape frontier towns.

Colonel Baden-Powell sails on Saturday as chief staff officer to Major - general Oarrington, the new commandant in Matabeleland.

May!. Bands of Mafcabeles are endeavouring to in tercept the Maf eking an d Salisbury columns, ' which are advancing to the relief of the beleaguered people in Baluwayo.

May 3. Oolurab defeated the rebels aear Gwelo, killing 30 of their number.

May 4. The Volksraad of the Orange Free State has notified Sir II Robinson that tbe extradition treaty with the Chartered Company la terminated.

Many of the Matabele are retiring into the forest country. Khama's soouts report that it is probable they will make north for the Zambesi, but that their women are opposed to it, being afraid of the hardships of the journey.

The rebels burned the houso of Mr Salons, the well-known hunter. Two white outlaws are directing the movements of the natives. Mr Rhodes is likely to be delayed several weeks at Q welo, the country round being Infested by insnrgents. Lisbon, April 28. Portugal has permitted Great Britain to convey arms through her territory at Beira, on the east coast of Africa.

Lisbon, April 28.