INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2230, 26 November 1896, Page 18

INTERCOLONIAL.

Melbourne, November 17. At a meeting of the Victorian Millers' Association it was decided to urge that millers be allowed to import wheat and allow drawback on all flour, &c, exported up to the value of the duty paid on Imported wheat. A destructive wind storm has been experienced in many parts of the colony of Victoria. Great damage was done to the crops at Numurkah. Fry's large grain stores and a number of houses were unroofed, and several persons were injured. The harvest outlook in Victoria continues gloomy. There is no hope now of any improvement. The early sample of wheat shown is pinched, and a small quantity of the yield is still uncertain, but it is believed it will not be above four bushels per acre. In many cases early-sown crops have failed, but those sown later are much more promising. Splendid rains are falling in various parts of the colony. Over an inch and a-half has fallen in the Mallee country. _ The crops will be benefited to some extent, but the change comes rather late. The annual report of the Aborigines Protection Board shows that the blacks are rapidly decreasing, and there are now only 498 aborigines and halfcastes belonging to the various stations. The board recommends the amalgamation of stations for economy and greater comfort. The Presbyterian General Assembly of -Victoria discussed the -question of replacing tha Dayspring, and it was resolved that, recognising in the logs o? the vessel the occasion for reconsidering the whole matter of the mission maritime service, the com- , suit tee be iflfltruced. to consult with the other

I churches connected with the New Hebrides mission and report to the text meeting of the Assembly. November 20. The annual report of the Kauri Timber Company states that a portion of tho company's auriferous land has been sold to an ' English syndicate for L 37.500 cash and 31,250 paid-up shares. Forty-five thousand worth of debentures have been paid off during the year. The sales of timber totalled 271,500 ft, an" increase of 78,000 ft. The ■ profits for the year were L 129.000, an increase of L 23.000 compared with the previous year. November 22. In the race for the Amateur Sculling Championship of Victoria yesterday, Oarlyon had an easy win. In the Royal Yacht Squadron's Twentytwo Mile Race, Wylio's Alexa beat Palmer's Mira and Lord Brassay's Helen. At the Viotorian Rifle Assooiatioa meeting, Walker, of the Melbourne Rifle Qlub, won all stages oE the Queen's Prize, making a world's record of 291 points under the Queen's Prize conditions. November 23. Early this morning three masked armed burglars entered the Tramway Company's shads at Richmond, and bound and gagged the only two men working on the premises. They then began to open the door of the strong room containing the safe, in which was several hundreds of pounds. The door was fitted with an electric alarm, which started ringing, and the burglars decamped. The Rifle Association meeting has concluded. Bombardier Carter won the grand aggregate. with 383 points. Major Umphelby was second with 371. Sydney, November 17. The Federation Convention deolded to work on the basis of the bill drafted in 1891, and then issue manifestos to the Australasian people as the result of tha deliberations. After prolonged discussion, it was resolved to put 'the Commonwealth Bill through the committee stage, and the clauses are now being discussed seriatim. -The Atlaß Engineering Company has completed an order for five cannon for King George of Tonga. His Majesty's object in increasing the armament is strictly pacific. Up to the present thfl Tongan arsenal was not supplied with the means of replying to the salutes of viaiting vessels, and the King, desiring to establish bis dignity on a proper footing, has ordered the new guns for saluting purposes. They ara of the oldfashioned smooth-bore type, weighing, with the carriage, half a ton, and costing LSO each. At a special general meeting of tho Mutual Life Association of Australasia in Sydney revised and consolidated by-laws were adopted. The most important alteration is to clearly define the power of the director* in regard to branoh boards. This by-law places it beyond all doubt that the Sydney board are supreme. November 18. The Bathurst Convention disapproved of the idea of an elective Governor, but affirmed the principle of an elective Senate. November 19. Mr James Powell, New South Wales ohief commissioner of taxation and collector of has resigned both positions. Tne BAthurst Convention has altered a senator's residential qualification from five to 10 years, and for the Lower Chamber from three to five years. Armand Jerome, who was wanted some time back in connection with heavy forgeries and was believed to have fled, has been arrested within 20 miles of Sydney. Ho hid been residing quietly in tbe bueb. The Postal Convention has agreed to the establishment of telegraphic money orders between New Zealand and Australia. Four large sailing vessels and one steamer have been chartered to convey wheat from San Francisco to Australian ports. November 20. A reminiscence of the visit of Lord Sheffield's cricketing team was provided by the application for the discharge of a bankrupt Penrith publican. His Lordship appeared among the creditors to the extent of Llll. The applicant explained that he was mayor of Penrith at the time the team visited the town, and acted as chairman of the meeting which guaranteed LIOO for expenses. He financed the match, which, besides swallowing up the guarantee, resulted in a considerable loss, which was saddled upon him. He boarded and supplied liquor to the Englishmen. The applioant plaintively complained that they drank nearly every drop he had in the hotel and never paid a penny for it. The Federation Convention devoted the day to hearing speeches by a number of prominent federationists. Cardinal Moran and Mr Edmund Barton were amongst the speakers. - Jerome's alleged forgeries are said to amount to L3OOO. November 21. The intercolonial wool sales have been marked by keen competition. Prices have been strongly maintained, and have undergone little change. Better qualities of greasy merino show a tendency to further improvement ; scoured maintain their position ; inferior descriptions and crossbreds have a slightly weakening tendency. Tbe winter lambing returns for New South Wales averaged 54£ per cent., an increase of 24J per cent, on the previous year. Mr A. H. Simpson, Q.O.,has been appointed successor on the New South Wales Supreme Courb Bench to the late Judge Innes. November 22. The Governor (Viscount Hampden) returned in H.M.S Katoomba to-day from an official visit to Norfolk Island. November 23. Thß Mariposa, which sailed to-day for San Francisco, via Auckland, took L 350.000 worth of gold shipped by the Bank of Australasia, London Bank of Australia, and Union Bank of Australia. Prior to Mr D. M'Leod's departure for Auckland, his horses Osculator and Lord Vivian were sold by auction for 150 guineas each: The colt Sabretache was passed in at 200 guineas. The bringing of Norfolk Island under the new system of government was the occasion of much ceremony. Whatever the feelings of the inhabitants may have been, they made 09 outward manifestation of displeasure.

WOW I l>

The Governor wrs cordially received and entertained by the islanders. Adelaide, November 17. Wells, leader of the Oalvert expedition, In returning in search of his missing comrade*. Wells's party suffered severely from the intense heat and want of water, and only saved themselves by abandoning their scientific collections, personal effects, and most of the provisions. Five oE the camels died. The missing men had three camels and a fair supply of provisions and water. It Is believed that, according to arrangement, they are pushing on to the Fitzroy River. November 18. The Government are calling for tenders for 25,000 bags of seed wheat to distribute to distressed settlers. November 19. The Government have decided not to ask Parliament to incur any expense in connection with the Paris Exhibition. The Government" oxpacb to obtain seed wheat looally, but alternative tenders are invited for New Zealand long-berried and Californian November 20. The Government surveying party give gloomy reports of the pastoral country on the Queensland border. Over 10,000 square miles of country has been abandoned owing to tha ravages of the rabbit 3 and the drought. In many placas the rabbits have eaten themselves out. Much of the journey had to be done on camels, all the horses being dead or removed to prevent them starving. ' Bbisbane, November 17. Owing to the drought and heat tha ticks are again becoming bad in some of the northern districts of Queensland. November 18. An extraordinarily rich gold discovery was made near Georgetown by a miner named Hogan. He bottomed at 4ft, and obtained 300oz of gold from a smalt quantity of stone. A big rush has sot in, and the whole locality is pegged out November 19. One prospector at the Georgetown gold discovery obtained 2050z from lewt of stone* and several others struck rich patches. November 20. Cane crushing is practically finished, and. tbo season's output is not expected to exceed 90,000 tone. The drought and frost have caused a great reduction in the yield. Cooktown, November 18. The steamer Mako-tere, bound from Glasgow to Auckland, has arrived here, and proceeds to Brisbane to coal. She has been nearly three months out, having encountered adverse winds the whole passage. Pehth, November 17. The body of an unknown man was found near Fremantle partially oovered with earth on which wood had been piled and fired. ; A rioh discovery has been made on the Boneder miner on ' the main line of reef. A reef 4ft wide was struck in the 800 ft level, carrying 37uz to sOoz to the ton. Kaigooriie ix in a state of - excitement owing to a fierce tribal fight olose to tha town. The Pindinni blacks had a grievance because one of thsir women joined the Kalgoorlie aboriginals. After unsuccessful parleying?) the two parties, 200 strong, fully armed with native weapons, attacked each other, and the fight lasted two hours. It was eventually stopped by the police firing over the heads of the combatants and causing a stampede. Two Kaigooriie blacks were badly speared and gome others slightly wounded. November 20. Telluride gold has been discovered in tha Boulder main reef. Experts consider, that this proves beyond doubt tho permanency of. the fields. Splendid gold has also been struck in the Day Dawn lease. November 21 The discovery of rich telluride gold in the Boulder main reef makes it pretty certain that all mines) in which deposits o£ mustard ore have occurred in the upper lsvels have tellurium in the deeper levels. This form of gold is easy to recover. Recent developments point to the fact that the deeper the mines go the richer they become. A good supply of fresh water has been struck on the West Boulder mine. This is the first strike of fresh water within 25 miles o£ Kalgoorlie.