INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2258, 10 June 1897, Page 13

INTERCOLONIAL.

Melbourne, June 2. Afc the Richmond Court a man named Bingham, while giving evidence in a case, dropped dead in the witness box. Wilson, a restaurant keeper, has been sentenced to eight months for shooting and dacgercusly wounding his wife in. March last. Jane 5. At an interview between the Minister for Agriculture and representatives of the meat exporting firms ifc was agreed that there should be Ssate supervision and control over all meat exported. It was suggested that the Australian Governments should devise a scheme with a view of inducing the erection by private enterprise of cool stores at the different cantres of population in Great Britain. Juue 7. Mr Alcock, the well-known electrician, has perfected an artillery position finder, which not merely determines the position of every gun in one fort but can be made to signal at one time the range bearing of every gun in the whole of the batteries at the Heads. It is claimed to be the most complete known method of artillery concentration and to revolutionise big gun defence. Sydney, June 1. Mr Thompson, principal of Hawkesbury Agricultural College, has been appointed travelling advisory expert to the Agricultural department, and will visit various part* of the colony to give farmers advice aa to the

improvement of their stock and crops. Mr Valder, of the Wagga Wagga Experimental Farm, succeeds Mr Thompson. Over 20 more Hjokmakers have been fined for cash betting I/n a suburban racecourse. June 2, In connection with the tragedy on tha ship Westgarth, Johnson was found guilty of the manslaughter of L'arßen. . There has beea much dissatiofaction over the Taxation Commissioners claiming arrears of income tax. The Government obtained the opinion of the Attorney -general on the matter, and he holds that the commissioners have no right; to collect arreara. [What is evidently intended to be conveyed is that the Tax Commissioners a.>e. not entitled to collect the tax where the actual income has proved, as shown by the returns, to be larger than was estimated.] June 3. A small scientific expedition under the \ leadership of Professor David, of the Sydney University, has left for Fuaa Futi Island, in the Pacific, to continue toe work of the expedition sent out last year by the Royal Society of London under Professor Sollaa to ascertain the formation of coral atolls. The previous expedition failed chiefly owing to the inefficiency of the boriug apparatus. The cost of the expedition will be mainly I borne by private subscription, the London j society giving L2OO. The New South Wales Government supplied a powerful bor,ing plant, and scientists give their services free. ! Johnson, a foreign seaman, has been senfcenoed to six months' imprisonment, the judge acting on a strong recommendation to meroy on the ground that he received great provocation from his mate Larsen. The steamers Shaftesbury and Pacific collided in Newcastle Harbour. Both were severely damaged, and it is estimated that LIOOO will be required for repairs to each vessel. The Rw, George Grimm, ex-moderator of the Presbyterian Assembly and a well-known writer, is dead. In the Assembly a bill has been introduced to recoup the Federal Convention delegatss at the rate of two guineas per diem. Junß 4. The report of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire as to the extension of the railway through the city has been tabled. It favours the extension for the conveyance of passengers, but not for goods traffic. The report recommends the extension of the railway through Hyde Park, with a terminal station fronting St. James road. Ten acres of the park will be utilised, in exchange for which it is proposed that the old Davonshire street Cemetery be converted into a park, the cost to be met out of LIOO.OOO to be paid the commissioners as compensation. The report does not favour the extension of the railway right through to Circular Qaay. The Acting-Premier approves of the City Bail way Commissioners' report, and hopes to paua a bill this session. . \ June 7. Early this morning Constable Pearce found two men attempting to break into the residence of Mr H. Oxonham, the wellknown bookmaker, at Eandwick. A fierce struggle ensued. The constable succeeded in handcuffiog 1 one of the men, but the other approached from behind and shot Pearce through the flsshy part of the arm. He then escaped. Dr O'Dwyer was conseorated at Maitland as Bishop of Zoara and coadjutor Bishop of Maitland. Cardinal Moran officiated. The ceremony was an imposing one. Tribal wars are reported at the Bismarck Archipalaero, where head hunting is rampant, aad there is much bloodshed in consequence. Adelaide. June 1. A difficulty haß arisen in connection with Mr Holder, as a layman, occupying the posi- ', lion of acting Attorney-general. In the Criminal Court counsel for the defence in a ' case of false pretences raised the objection i that the information, being laid uy Mr i Holder, was bad, as the latter -was unlearned lin law. Tho question was argued at length, and Mr Jaßtice Bundey reserved bis decision. i June 2. ■ Two more savere sbocks of ea.-thtjuake i have been felt afc Beßchport and Kingston. | The people are greatly scared afc their con- ' tinuance, and are cpaping }a tonSs. | Tbe massacre oi" Dr Ifilliofc in Africa ia denied. He is rsportsd to be somewhere in Australia. A wire has baen received that tha captain . aud crew of the ship Dunkow, bound from | Paget Sound to Poet Pirie, timbar laden, , have arrived in a boat rtt Quse&ECliffe. They j abandoned the vessel, wnioh was waler- . logged, south of Kangaroo Island. A tug ; has goue out to search. i The Supreme Court jadgaa have givea I their decision in the Holder difficulty. * Justices Boucaub and Ru&eell held that Mr Holder, as a lay member of the Ministry, was i capable of laying a criminal information and the Attorney-general need nos be a membsr | of the legal profession. Mr Justice Sunday I disagreed. ! Jane 3 | Details show that the ship Dunkow, while on the voyage from Paget Sound to Port Pirie, timber laden, struck a reef off Kangaroo Island on Friday forenoon. The crew, 26 in number, lauded on the island after suffering considerable privations. Sir John Downer has been elected leader of the Opposition. June 5. A report has been received from Cape Borda that a tug passed with a ship in tow, [ supposed to be the Dunkow. With the excaptionof a very small' amount the whole of the Treasury bills, whioh fell due on June 1, have been dealt with. Holders of half a million worth of bills have taken stock in the new loan, while L 300.000 worth of bills have been paid off. Ifc has been decided to reduce the rate of interest on deposits in the Savings Bank from 3£ to 3 per cant. I June 7. I The ship Dunkow, which strnck on a reef off Kangaroo Island and wss abandoned, has been towed safely into port. She was found | anchored where abandoned. The captain | explains that she drifted within a few feet of the rocks and that he ran out the anchor. He expected to see the cable part every j moment. Considering that it would have ; been suicidal to remain on board, he abandoned the vessel.

Brisbane, June 8. The report of the commission appointed to inquire into the land laws expresses general satisfaction at their present working, and recommends a number of changes in the direction of extending leases, easing the conditions of tenure, and inducing a wider and more permanent settlement. It proposes the establishment of a branch in London to-, disseminate information to intending settlers. Perth, Jane 3. An interesting discovery was made by Professor Maryauali when examining what was apparently base metal at Bulong, near Kalgoorlie, whioh had been thrown away by diggers. The samples gave 88 per cant, of gold mixed with a coating of bass motal, the nature of whioh has not been discovered. This gold is so coated that it is impossible to amalgamate anything with it. Thubsday Island, Juna 2. Hongkong newspapers to hand nhow that the Taiyuan gold robbery was discovered five days af tier she left Port Darwin. The safe key kept by the ohief officer was missing and the door of the safe locked. A strict search was made on reaching Hongkong, but no trace of the gold or the thief could be found. It is believed the robbery was committed while the steamer was at Port Darwin. June 3. The Duke of Devonshire, after undergoing temporary repairs, left Thursday Island for Brisbane, but a plate gave way Bhortly after starting and the had to return. There is now 12£t of water In her hold.