INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2242, 18 February 1897, Page 13

INTERCOLONIAL.

| Mblboubne, Fabruaiy 9. ( At the mayoral luncheon to-day Mr Seddon responded to the toast of " The Visitors." . He said he felt proud of tbe manner in which the women of New Zealand had done tbeir duty by the franchise. Refurring to Federation, he said he hoped it would be treated an a national question, and that a Constitution would be framed for all time. The floods in the Gippsland district are spreading. February 10. The general elections in Victoria will be held in October, and, with a view to saving expense, Sir Q. Turner suggests that it is desirable to take the Federal vote at the same time. A movement is on foot to form a company to take over the remaining assets of the English and Australian Mortgage Bank, the Mercantile and Federal Bank* of Australia, and the City of Melbourne Bank — now in liqnitiaiico. The assets consist mainly of j city and suburban buildings and building j sites, which at present cau hardly.be given away, but are likely to pay if held for a future market. With tbe oonsent of the official receivers in London it is proposed to form a separate company under the control of one board of managej rcent, but the assets of each institution will I be parmarked for the benefit of the creditors of each. February 11. Sir J. Thurston's funeral was largely attended. The Governor and Premier of New South Wales were among those present. The Marine Board found the captain of the County of Antrim justified in running the vesßel ashore, bur. thought he might have taken more precaution to obtain assistance before adopting that extreme course. February 12. Information has been received from a reliable private source that the Duke and Duchess of York will probably visit Australia daring the present year. February 13. As a result of the inquiries into charges of /alleged misconduct on the part of certain officials in the Telegraph department, the Public Service Board have recommended a reduction in the salary of the inspector of telegraph works for a period of two years and a reduction in grade of one of the operators. The authorities have decided to cancel the registration of the pastor of the Reform Church of England. The pastor is a member of an undertaking firm, who on the strength of representations that he had obtained the signatures of 40 householders nominating him their paster, registered his residence as a new church. Uncier the title of reverend he conducted weekly meetings, marriage and burial services in conjunction with the undertaking business. Tbe inquiries of the police showed that excepting the family of the undertaker and tbe employees, the 40 householders were non-existent', and the new church never could boast a congregation. February 14. A railway employee named Holland, with his son and another boy, were drowned at Dandenong. The boys got into difficulties while bathing, and Holland went to tbe rescue. February 15. Mr Seddon leaves for Adelaide to-morrow, aud proposes to return on tbe 26th iner. He will then leave for Wellington, via Sydney, two days later. Sydney, February 9. The mail steamer from the East brings; news of a terrible disaster at Foochow. Theatrical performsneel were being held in the Temple of Kwang Tot/, when an outbreak cf fire occurred in the building. The crowd became panic-strioken, and tried to force their way through two small doors, which were soon so blocked that there were no means of egress from the burning building. Counting women and children, quite 300 people perished. Of the 40 actors only four escaped. DuriDg the last trip of the Miowera to Vancouver one of her boilers burst through shortness of water. The Marine Board here has held an inquiry, and found that the stop cock connected with the water column had been unaccountably closed, and also that by the wrongful act or default of the fifth engineer the feed check valve had been closed, preventing the requisite inflow. The board regretted they had no power to punish the engineer as he did not hold a certificate. The second engineer, who was on the watch, was not altogether blamelets, and was cautioned. The damage to the boiler was between LIOOO and LISOO. February 11. The lambing returns show that the average last"year was a little over 59 per cent., an increase of 9 per cent, as compared with the previous year. The breeding ewes increased by 650,00*0, and the lambs 784,000. Thomas Carroll, the vitriol thrower, has been remanded to Auckland. The Hon. Jacob Garrard, Minister for Education and Labour, is a paseenger by the Rotomahana for Auckland. Pie will spend several weeks in New Zealand. Nominations for tbe Federal Convention closed to-night. There are 49 candidates in New South Wales and 30 in Victoria. A large meeting of Protestant ministers strongly deprecated Cardinal Moran's candidature, but as tbe Primate and several leading clergymen refused to take any action the proceedings were robbed of a good deal of interest. Lord Glasgow, on being interviewed, said that he had noticed a good deal of improvement in New Zealand during the past few years, especially in regard to commerce, which had made some strides. In reference to Federation, he said that he had not taken up the subject personally, but he did not think that New Zealand would come into the proposed union of the colonies. But for Australia Federation was greatly to be desired. New Zsaland was too far away, and could not well be included in any defence scheme — in fact, her interests were in every way, not what he called separate, bat at tbe Bame time they were cot identical

with those of the continent. Lord Glasgow refused to be drawn on any subject verging on politics. February 12. The yacht Sunbeam arrived to-day. Owing to head winds she bore up for Sydney instead oE for Melbourne. The Colonial Secretary states that a misunderstanding has arisen in connection with the Government assistance to ths mounted troopers who will visit Eagland. The previous promise of LSOO has not been withdrawn. February 13. As a part of the scheme for the consolidation of the Crown lands and settlement ot the people on the land, the Government have arranged to exchange with the Banking Company a large area of pastoral oountry for a similar area of agricultural land, capable of settling 60 families. February 14. Walter White, cook on the steamer Tarawera, disappeared some days ago. His body has been found floating in the harbour. February 15. In tbe course of an interview an expert declared that ticks were carried in bags of bonedu*t, and that the action of New Zsa-' land in prohibiting the importation of bonedust was a wise and- necessary precaution. New South Wales wonld have to follow the same example. The Government have received an offer from Mr Mitchell, who is backed by English capital to any extent, to manufacture steel rails in the colony at a price considerably below Mr Hoskics's tender. News by the China steamer states that a French detachment en the Red River, Tonquin, fell into an ambuscade formed by Dacoirs. The adjutant and two tirailleurs were killed, 12 tirailleurs beiqg seriously wounded. Adelaide, February 9. The imports for the colony last year are valued' at L 7,160,000, an increase of L 1.595,000 aa compared with the previous year. The exports are valued at L 7,177,000,, 177,000, an increase of L 417.000 as compared with last year. February 12. Thirty-three nominations have been received for the Federal Convention. February 15. There was a tremendous downpour of rain yesterday in the city and suburbs, the fall being the heaviest ever known in the district. A large amount of damage was done, and the country is inundated for miles. At Mitcham a man named Moyee and a woman named Hooper wera drowned. Many narrow escapes are recorded. The intercolonial railway traffic has been interfered with. Brisbane, February 9. The Brisbane Rifle Association are sending a team to England to compete at the Queen's Commemoration Rifle Competition. February 10. The court has sanctioned the rearrangement of the National Bank of Queensland reconstruction scheme. Pjbrth, February 10. Sir John Forrest has received a wire from the party searching for the two missiog members of the Oalvert exploring expedition, stating that it has been ascertained that the natives had killed the men and a camel supposed to belong to the missing explorer?. A strong party is proceeding to the place to inquire. February 13. The Ealgoorlie Corporation have accepted a tender for lighting the town by electricity.