INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2320, 18 August 1898, Page 18

INTERCOLONIAL.

MELBOURNE, August 9

The ketch Secret, wrecked at Port Albert, was in charge of Fred Lund and his mates, whose names are unknown. The bodies of the crew have not been recovered. She left with two of a crew a fortnight ago for Desolate Island fishing ground, being then short of provisions. She started eight days ago to return with provisions. The condition of the men on the island is considered to be precarious.

Harry Trott, the -well-known cricketer, has had two epileptic fits, and his condition is now serious. Later.

Trott is rapidly recovering. A fire in Elizabeth street destroyed the stock of Mr Harris, fancy goods merchant, doing damage to the extent of £6000. August 10. Later medical reports state that Trott is not .suffering from epileptic Qls, but from nervous jiroslration.

In the Legislative Assembly the Plural Voting Abolition Bill passed through the Committee stage. An attempt to introduce the Hare system was negatived.

August 11. In the Legislative Assembly the Women's Franchise Bill was read a second time by 62 to 29, and it then passed through the Committee stage.

August 15. Sir G. Turner supports Sir E. Braddnn's scheme to send a federal rifle team to England yearly if the men are chosen as the result of competitions, and each colony pays in proportion to the number of its representatives.

Mr Nicholl, chief officer of the Union Company's steamer Moinderry, formerly third officer of the Waikare, committed suicide by cutting his throat. No cause is assigned. SYDNEY, August 9. Noumean news states that the CouncilGeneral has been dissolved. The elections are now pending. The number of members has been increased from 15 to 19 to meet the increase of population. Rich gold has been struck in the Fernhill mine. August 10. The mail coach was stuck up by two armed men near Bungendore. The robbers secured eight mail bags, one containing a number of registered letter*

The two men who stuck up the mail coa'jh were masked. One kept the passengers covered with a gun while the other compelled the driver to hand over the mails. The coach was near Bungendore at the time. The mails contained about £2000, mostly cheques. The Herald considers Mr Seddon's Budget continues to show marked evidences of progief-s in its measures as forecasted. The surplus is comparatively larger than even the bountiful excess now being obtained in England, and if it has been obtained it must represent a large amount of prosi perity amongst the people. As far as can 1 oe seen, the outlook for the future fully warrants the Treasurer's anticipations. August 11. Mr r Cook, the Postmaster - general, says that too much importance should not be attached to the -recent- informal Pacific Cable Conference in London. He believes that a settlement will soon be arrived at. The Premier state? that the Imperial Government military authorities are not keen about preferring the Cape cable route. A conference of Premiers will be held on j Saturday week to consider tho New Guinea land grab, and probably the Pacific cable question. An official attached to the Pastures and Stock iioa,rd has disappeared, and is bej lieved tn have gone to San Francisco in a I sailing vessel. His defalcations amount to ! £1100.

j A man named King has been arrested in ; connection with the sticking up of the mail ; coach at Bengendore. Some bank notes » found in his possession have been identified as forming part of the stolen mail bags. August 12. The Daily Telegraph, reviewing New Zealand's progressive legislation and finance ! with the condition of things seven years ago, says that the success of the Radical new departure has been most pronounced. An unbroken series of surpluses, a large contribution to the public works fund from revenue, and a revenue in every part elastic s^eak i'or themselves. On the whole the demociv ' stands justified by its works in New Zealand. A toy pi&tol was found on the man King, arrested for the coach robbery. It is alleged that he used this in the sticking up, and that the other man presented a short stick. A verdict of manslaughter was returned again- 1 Captain Savage and Faucett, the chief ouicer. of the steamer Cintra, in connection v» ii.li the running down of the ketch Ivorunah, whose captain was drowned. Mr Cook, the Postmaster-general, has published the correspondence with the Eastern Extension Cable Company in reference to a proposed reduction in the cable tariff to 4s. It concludes with a letter dated June 9, in which the manager of the company informs Mr Cook that the company cannot offer any opinion or advice respecting the proposed reduction till the Australasian Governments definitely decided I whether they will or will not take part in the Cape cable. Should they decide to negative that proposal his company will then , be prepared to consider the question of reduction August 13. Mr Cook, the Postmaster-general, says that even if the colonies agreed to subsidise the Cape cable there would be no substantial j reduction in the rates, the Eastern Extention Company having distinctly declined to agree to a reduction on ordinary messages because the construction if the Cape cable would swallow up the profits the company is now making. The Sir John Franklin, which left Newcastle for Napier on the 7th, put back in a leaky condition and partly disabled as the result of several days' knocking about in the late rough wo-ither. The cook was injured. ADELAIDE, August 9.

The German Consul has prepared a return showing that during 1896 the Australasian colonies sent goods to Germany valued at £5,151,000, including woo! valued at £4,637,000. In return the colonies imported German manufacUires to the value of one million and a-half. August 12. The woman Simmons was found not guilty of murdering Woodling, her husband's paramour, on the ground of insanity. She was ordered to be detained during the Governor's pleasure. ADELAIDE, August 15. By a fire at I'unta two young children named Osborne were burned to death. The mother was badly scorched in rescuing the baby. BRISBANE, August 11. Mr Byrnes, the Premier, states that Queensland is prepared to contribute her share of the four-ninths of the cost of the Pacific cable, which Australia was required to provide. ALBANY, August 12. The Duke of Manchester has arrived by I the mail steamer. ! PERTH, August 12. At Kanowna Father Loan informed a gathering of 6000 miners that the " Sacred Nugget " which was discovered by fishermen was now lying untouched at Kanowna. It weighed between 951b and 1001b. and was

1 found a

luarter of a mile this side of the

nearest lake on the Kurnalpi road. Immediately the rev. gentleman indicated the localo a wild stampede was made from the gathering to the scene of the discovery.

August 13. The bodies of three infants have been un-

earthed in a yard in West Perth. HOBART, August 12. Sir E Brad don has written to the other Premiers urging them to provide funds to send annually a team of colonial riflemen to Bisley.