INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2210, 9 July 1896, Page 16

INTERCOLONIAL.

Melbourne, June 30.

The retiring railway commissioners have presented a report showing that during the two years and a-quarter which they held office a saving of £270,000 was effected, whiob, in conjunction with the reconstruction and retrenchment introduced by the previous board, resulted in an Minual reduction of L 945.000 in the working cost of the railways sinoe tbe end of the old regime in 1892. The liquidator, in giving evidence before the Ghaffey Commission, said the company had bean crashed through excessive financing, and gave an instance where 68 per cent. bs.d been paid for small loans.

July I. In tbe Assembly the Factories Bill was reintroduced at the stage at which it was rejected by the Council last session, and the Assembly passed it.

The revenue returns show a decrease of L 2 51,000 compared with last year, and are L 342.500 below the Treasurer's estimate. The railway receipts show a comparative decrease of LlB6 000. List quarter's revenue decreased L 117.000 as compared with the previous oorresponding,qnarter.

A cablegram received from the British Consul at Monte Video announces that a man has' been Srreited there who answers tbe description- of Ge*ke, the Dayiesford fugitive solicitor. The person . in castady arrived by the Ruahine, which left Lyttelton for London on June 11.

Tha patentees of the cyanide process intend to\ make a further appeal to be allowed to amend their patent rights in Victoria. The proposed amendment will, it is understood, be on different lines to the application which was recently refused. July 3. The Supreme Oourt has given consent to the initiation of proceedings against four directors and auditors of the City of Melbourne Bank in connection with the issue of balance sheets that are alleged to be false.

The annual report of the Postal department shows the revenue to be L 659.000, and the expenses L 525.000. Savings bank deposits decreased by L.83,000, and the withdrawals by L 12.000. The number of withdrawals exceeded the deposits by 28,487.

The liquidators of the City of Melbourne Bank have sworn an information against four ex-directors and the auditors on a charge of issuing a false balance sheet. A new gold field has been discovered in the Alexandra district. Two brothers raised five tons of stone, from whioh they got over 290z of gold.

Sydney, Jaly 1.

Customs duties will be remitted from to-day on the • following articles ?.— Butter, cheese, chicory, chocolate, cornflour, cocoa, coffee, fish, preserved milk, rice, salt, cement, and timber. The duty on kerosene and other oils will be reduced by 3d per gallon. *' The Government are inviting tenders for 150,000 tons of steel rails to bs manufactured in the colony from iron and other requisites produced locally. *

The Oivil Service Board made over 200 retrenchments in the Post and Telegraph department, which it is believed will effect a saving of upwards of L 51.000 per annum. By a fire at a dwelling house at K'tfcoomba to-day four children named Buchncer were burned to death.

Recantly the Joint Stock Bank submitted a scheme to tho deferred dcpjgit-holderc, proposing to pay off lOj in the pound of such deposits, tho balance to be repayable in 190G, bearing 3 per oent. interest. It was proposed to deal with L 1.000,000 deposits, but the response only came up to LBOO.OOO. The bank in July next will therefore pay off L 400.000, and issue new debentures to a similar amount.

Divers are still at work endeavouring to secure the gold which went down with the ill-fated steamer Catterthun. The first attempt to blow open the steamer's strongroom failed, but it is fully expected that the treasure will be recovered in a day or so.

Very severe frosts are experienced on the northern river?, and it is estimated that L 20.000 damage was inflicted on the summer crop of sugar along the Richmond river in one night.

As a precaution against the introduction of tick from Queensland the Government, has prohibited the importation of all hides from that colony excepting under the most stringent conditions.

Adelaide, July 2.

The revenue for the year exceeded the previous year by LBI.OOO, and was 158,000 above the Treaurer'e estimate.

July i. Three delegates (Messrs Clay. Storer.

and Jones) of the 00-operative Wholesale Bociety of England have arrived hero. Their miision is to tour the colonies with ft view to promoting direot export in the matter of butter, tallow, cheeße, and fruit. The delegates were entertained by the local Co-operative Society, and replying to a toast said that those whom they represented, were anxious to do business with Australia and the people of their own race.

Bbisbanb, July 1.

In the Assembly Mr Curtis moved an amendment to the effect that no Federation Bill would be acceptable to the House whio^ did not provide for a popular vote. Tbt Premier said that if this were carried hi would have to introduce a now bill. Thdebate was adjourned.

The revenue is L3,Gi1,000, an increase of L 228.000 over last year; and the expenditure L 3,568,000, an increase of L 260.000 Lant quarter showed a comparative increase of L 35,500 in the revenue. * JuJy 6. A stsamsr has arrived at Townsville frorr Japan with several haudrads of Japanese labourers for the plantations. Perth, July ft [ Exceedingly heavy weather iB reporter' along the coast, At Fremantle 13 steamer were compelled to steam up to their anchor all night for safety. Hobabt, Jnly 2. Sir E. N. O. Braddou, the Premier, replyicg to the request of the Premier of New Zealand asking for tbo removal of the restrictions upon importations from New Zsaland, - say*, seeing how little disposition tbe NowZealand Government have shown to relieve Tasmaniao fruit from heavy restrictions, ' there is no reason why Tasmania should exeroise any speoial indulgence towards New Zealand. Jaly.3. The revenue for the six months shows an increase of L 2300 compared with the oorrefr ponding period of last year.