INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2273, 23 September 1897, Page 17

INTERCOLONIAL.

Sydney, September 14.

The Government have received a cable announcing the death of Sir William Windeyer at Bologna yesterday from heart disease.

The late Sir William Charles Windeyer, LL D., was the only son of the late Richard VTindeyer, barrister at law, and was born at Westminster on September 29, 1834. He arrived in New South Waleswithhis parents in 1835, and was educated at Cape's School, Sydney, and afterwardß at Kiag's Colleffe, Parramatta. He entered the University of Sydney on its opening in 1852, and took a general and classical scholarship. He carried off the English essay prize instituted by Dr Woolley during several successive years, and graduated with distinction in classics at the head of his year in 1856, taking also a first class in mental philosophy, being the senior of all Australian graduates, and admittedly one of the most brilliant students turned out by his Alma Ifater. He was admitted to the bar at Sydney in March, 1857, and became a contributor and subsequently law reporter to the Empire newspaper published in Sydney. In January, 1859, he was appointed Crown Prosecutor for the country districts of New South Wales. After resigning that position and unsuccessfully contesting Paddington against Sir D. Cooper, he was elected to the Assembly in August, 1859, for Lower Hunter, and subsequently represented West Sydney from 1860 to 18->2 and from 186S to 1872. He was Solicitor-general under Sir James Martin from December, 1870, to May, 1872, and having bean defeated in the latter year, he wa3 returned as first member for the University of Sydney in 1876. and

sat for that constituency until his retirement from politics. 110 heVd office in tho Parkea Administration from March to AiMcu*t, 1877, susd again in the P«vrkes-Roberteon Ministry from 3>ecemb«r, 15>78, to Aagasfc, 1579, when he was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of New South "Wales. Mr Justice Windeyer was elected a member of the senate of Sydney University at tho first convocation in 1865, and wsus a fellow of the univetsifcy, and vica-chancellor from 18S4 to 1887. As a member of the Senate he proposed the resolution resulting in the establishment of tke senior and junior public examinations in connection with the university. In 1878 he oarried i» Parliament the measure for the establishment of superior or grammar schools at Bathurst, Martland, and Goulburn, and the founding of exhibitions by niexins of which poor but clever boys were carried from the primary 6chool<s to the grammar schools and thenco to the univcrrity. lie was president of the Sydney Mechanics' Institute, trustee of Sydney Grammar School and Sydney I'ub'ic Library, chairman of the Council of the Women's College, was president of tha Public Charities Commission in 1573, aud originated tho Discharged Pii»oners' Aid Society. He was a warm advocate of the higher education of ■women, and with his wife supported the |H>litical enfranchisement of women. Among Uis other legislative achievements was the carrying of a measure which rendeiod colonial barristers eligible for appointment to the Supreme Court bench of New South "Walep, the Copyright Act (1879) and the Marrkd Women's Property Act (187*0. Last ytar he resigned his seat on tho hupreme Court bench of the mother colony aud proceeded to IS 'gland, but quite recently it was announced that be had temporarily been appointed to a judgenhip in Newfoundland.

September 15.

Reasfiaricg news has been reoeived regarding the Broken Hill fire. As the steam is rising, and there is very little foul air, is is believed that, the water has reached the point of conflagration.

The Sydney Presbytery examined the Rev. Mr Ratledge, the Wesleyan minister who made charges of drunkenness against a Presbyterian minister to the Rev. L. M. leitt. The inqvury w*a conducted with closed doors. Mr Rat ledge declined to make a statement in support of his allegations. He also declined to divulge the name or to Bay wlvsther tbe clergyman was within the jurisdiction of (.he presbytery or not. The presbytery regretted that in consequence of Mr Rutledge's reticence they were unable to pursue tbe inquiry further.

Both Bench and Bar passed a high eulogiurn on Sir William Windeyer.

The representative of the German Ne« Gainst*. Company, of which Vow Hog«n w&a the direitor-gwrieral, has received details o£ the latt-er's ra-nrder. It was comtaitvttd by a New Ireland trooper engaged by the German authorities on Augnef, 25. The same trooper had previously made himself notorious by murderirg Herr Elhor (a distinguished explorer and personal friend or tbe German Emperor) aad his lieutenant, m whose bodj'gaard ths trooper was included upon »a exulorirg expedition in the interior of New Guinea. The trooper was arrested for the murder of Elher, but escaped, aud while bo was being pursued he shot Hugen.

September 16

Tho seat of the fir« at the Broken Hill mine has been reached, and the men are now fighting it at tbe 300fc level by pouriftg water on the bmning timber.

September 17.

A court-martial found Assistant-paymaster White, of the warship Lizard, guilty of embezzlement and of making false entries in hia accounts, and sentenced bits to IS months' imprisonment and dißmiss.jvl him xih9 service.

The damage by r,he fire at tbe Proprietary mice at Broken Hill will be confined to the stoped-out area. No ore will be lost. The smelters resume work at an early date.

The manager reports that the fire is practically extinguished.

September 18

Efforts are beiog ncade to hold tbe next Federal Convention in Hobart. Melbourne bas the first call, but the fact that tbe session occurs there in midsummer may turn the scale iv favour of Hobart.

September 20.

The steamer Lubia became unmanageable in Newcastle Harbour, and successively collided with the barque Bundaleer, the warship Ripid, and the steamer Port Chalmers. The Lubra was considerably knocked about, but the others were only slightly damaged.

Newcastle, September 17.

The celebrations to commemorate the centenary of Newcastle began yesterday. Tbe town was brilliantly illuminated. Tha delegates to the Federal Convention arri?e to-morrow to take part in the festivities.

September 20

The centenary celebration was brought to i a conclusion by the laying of tbe foundation ! of a commemorative fountain. A large 1 number of Federal Convention delegates j were present, and they delivered speeches f strongly advocating federation. |

Melbourne, September 17.

A new political organisation, called the Victorian Defence, has been inaugurated by prominent Catholic clergyman and laity to act as a check on the Orange party, and to endeavour to Beeure tbe rejection of candidates at the forthcoming elections having Orange sympathies.

September 18.

In the appeal recently lodged against the conviction of a hotelkeeper for selling on Sunday, on the ground that Mr Lorraer, J.P., who formed one of tha bench, had persisted in adjudicating in spits of a protest that he was biassed in the temperance interests, the Full Court upheld the appeal, and ordered the case to be reheard.

The Chief Jostice, in delivering judgment, after referring to the finding of the board appointed some time ago to inquire into charges against certain honorary magistrates, said that if the objection were taken where there was tangible ground for suspicion the duty of tbe magistrate objected to was to retire at once. The court thought that there could not be a moment's doubt as to tbe impropriety of Lormer's presence in this case. Furthermore, in the face of the findings of ttie board and Mr Lormer's attitude in various matters, fakminded persons might come to the just suspicion that Mr Lortner was biassed, and such a suspicion made his presence illegal.

September 20.

Owing to an alleged breach of the agreement between the banks regarding the rates of exchange one bank has withdrawn from the agreement, vrhich now ceases to exist. In consequence the competition for exchange has been considerably accentuated-

The Women's Oh*i*ti*a Oeaierence Union adopted a resotatioc rogrftttfofc tbe injustice shown towards tbe women of Australasia by the Federal Convention delegates who voted against; adult suffrage, and the-dis-loyalty displayed by seven of the South Australian delegates towards the women of their own colony. Brisbane, September 14. A man named Werrill surrendered himself to the police, stating that he bad murdered bis wife. The »elf-accu««d man conducted the constables to his house, when a woman was found with a deep etab behind an ewe. She died in a coupls of hour*. Werrill arrived in Brisbane from Sydney y*ct*rdey a&d discovered his wife misbehaving herself. September 17. After a determined stonewall the Legislative Assembly, by 34 to 8, resolved in favour of Qu«en«Und being represented ' at the Federal Convention . The Government will await tbe return of the Premier before introducing a Federal Bill. Perth, September 17. N*WB from Singapore announces tbe outbreak at a native prison in Manila. Seventythree prisoners w*re killed aad many wounded before the prisoners were aubdued. September IS. A rich find haa b*sn made neat OooLgajrdie. Four prospectors struck a loader from 18in to 2ft thick. They bagged two ions of stone, which is lii«tfllly batvpiug together with gold. It is estimated that it will yield 2000:>z to the too. Tbe mice bas been n&raed the Bobby Djgxler.