INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2207, 18 June 1896, Page 20

INTERCOLONIAL.

Melbourne; June 10. The Sangster Marine Inquiry has closed, and the board will report to the Government shortly. Jane 11. The convict Butler has been committed for trial on a charge of house-breaking. He made a full confession. Jane 12. The first praotioal test of Professor Ront- . gen's system of shadow photography took place in the ' Melbourne Hospital to-day. The patient was one who bad bad a needle buried in his hand. Dr Symß and Professor Lyle photographed the hand, and the position of the needle being dearly ascertained an operation was performed and the needle extracted. The triennial Intercolonial Gounoil of the Youbg Men's Christian Associations have decided to establish a fund in each centre to provide an organising seoretary for Australasia. Lord Brassey, in the course of a speeoh to the council, said that the associations deserved every anpport and recognition. There were, he said, 5000 associations, with a membership of over half a million. . June 13. Tho Government have deoided to rigorously enforce, the law against art unions. This will destroy the prominent feature of the friendly society and Australian Natives' gatherings. A man named Gill accidentally fell from the gallery of the Tivoli Theatre last night, and injured a man named Nander so seriously that the latter is nob expected to recover. Gill's sole injury was a bruised leg. Jane 15. With a view of encouraging viticulture, the Cabinet has sanctioned a bonus of 3d per gallon on wine and Is per gallon on brandy made from Victorian grapes and exported. Tha Chief Justice has decided in an important income tax appeal case that a gift of money oannot be treated as the income of the recipient of the gift. Sydney, June 9. The Marine Board fonnd that the Karoola was lost by wrongful act or default, and Captain Riohards has been called upon to show cause on Monday why his certificate should not be snspended. The Government is appointing a commission of coal raining and shipping experts to ie quire into the cause of the fires whioh have been so frequent in ooal ships recently. June 10. - Hareford, supposed to be identical with Trudgeon, has been sentenced to two years for stealing a portmanteau. Love, who murdered bis wife with an axe, has been sentenced to death. Sir J. B. Tharston has left for Fiji by way of Auckland. General Richardson, late commandant of the New South Wales forces. News from Noumea reports the dteoovery of oil springs, the oil from whioh gives a brilliant light. The reported drowning of Stanbury caused a great sensation here and in Melbourne, with a corresponding feeling of relief when the second cablegram was received. June 11. The Metropolitan mine has been well known for its gassy properties, and special steps have always been taken to prevent ignition. Oatbursts of gas were frequent, but not serious ; in fact, the outbursts did the wcrk of hewing, and it was only necessary to tap the coal to cause it to crumble. The present accident was due, evidently, to a larger cavity than usual being filled with gas. which burst oat instead of leaking. Wil'iam Ager has been sentenced to two years for embezzling LBOO belonging to the Fire Brigades' Board. At a meeting of butter sellers the price was reduced 2d per 1b all round. Jane 12. Eight Sydney sailing vessels, fully loaded, have been lying in the Nambrioca river for six weeks past, owing to the river being blocked by a bank of sand. The Governi mwt are being urged to carry oat dredging

operations in order to allow the vessels to take their departure. . The Balmaln Rowing Olnb bavaohallenged the Victorian {towing Olub, who recently won the Intercolonial Four*.

Jane 15. The Marine Board has suspended th« certificate of Captain Richards, of thfi Karoola, for three 'months, and have found that the Condong, which went ashon In th« same gale as , the KarooU, was lost through a wrongful aot or defjudt. ancLhare there* fore called upon Captain Harris to show cause on Monday next why his certificate should not be suspended. The certificate of Captain Riohexdi, of 'the Karoola, has been suspended for three months.

Bbisbanb, Jane 9. Martin, the Amerioan cyclist, pao*d by % tandem, rode half a mile In lmin 1 4-s«eo and a mile in SJwln 3 2-saeo, breaking Zimmerman's reoord.

June 10. Mr Cleveland, assistant paymaster of H.M.S. Dart, was killed at Oooktown through being thrown from his horse. v Jane 11. Messrs Morehead and Barlew of the Lower House, have been raised, to. the Council.

June 12. The Meat and Dairy Produce Encouragement Board have made a grant of £8200 to the Oamptgole d'Alimentation of Paris tad Havre. The grant is made under an act authorising the board to spend money beyond the colony for any parpoie for -the encouragement of the export of produce. One condition is that prodaoe for stores must be drawn from the colony. '

. Jane 15. Mr Wragge predicts that stormy weather will be experienced on the west coast ©f New Zealand, and warns vessels bound to Australian ports that they may meet heavy weather crossing the Tasman Sea.

Perth, Jane 15.

The discovery of two distinct and enormously rich reefs is reported at Mount; Magnet. It is claimed that the field will rival the famous Londonderry olaim. Splendid specimens from an extensive find also brought in from the Baagewall field are literally scudded with gold.

COOLaABDIB, JUQ6 12.

Two goods trains collided in a fog, and both engines were wreoked. A man named Falter, belonging to Adelaide, was killed and the others were slightly injured,

Hobabt, July 15.' Heavy rains have fallen continuously for several days, and the lower portion of th» town is flooded.