INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2325, 22 September 1898, Page 13

INTERCOLONIAL.

\ MELBOURNE, September 14. There was a special call of the Legislative Council to deal with the Women Franchise Bill. The galleries were crowded with ladies. A petition signed by 30,000 women favouring the passage of the bill was presented. Sir H. Wrixon delivered a strong speech against the measure, which, he declared, was a delusion and a mistake, and would have a prejudicial effect on domestic life. The Hon. Mr Campbell i said that the bill was the outcome of an agitation by a few faddists. He had been advised from New Zealand that the granting of woman suffrage had created a tremendous amount of discord among families there. The second reading was negatived by 19 to 15. The occupants of the galleries hissed some of the speakers. September 17. The Argus estimates th& exportable wheat surplus of Victoria, South Australia, and New South Wales at from 400,000 to 500,000 1 j tons if the present crop prospects are i realhc-d. I September 19. > A &e-vere storm, accompanied by a heavy j fall of hail, swept the country from Portland , to Gabo. Many buildings were either un- \ roofed or damaged. Trees were destroyed, and the ba ; ]stones lay to a great depth. SYDNEY, September 14. 'A conference of Postmasters-general is being held here respecting the Pacific cable, but so far nothing definite has resulted. September 15. j The annual report of the Government La- j bour Bureau shows a distinct increase in the number of unemployed, anjl the report ! sounds a warning note against the increasing ! influx and the competition of aliens. Mi' G-. H. Reid has arranged with Ihe leader of the Opposition to close the censure debate to-night. September 15. There is much excitement over the election contest between Messrs Barton and Smith. Mr Young, Minister for Works, who is stumping the electorate in favour of Mr Smith, came in for some straight talking in the House. It is now suggested that the Minister should be impeached for his action in leaving his department and using his posi- i tion to assist Mr Smith. j Several leading Oppositionists have gone ' to Mr Barton's aid. « Tbe election takes place on Friday next. j Mr Lyne's motion of censure in connec- ,' tion with the federation proposals was nega-

tived by 58 to 54. Three Ministerial supporters were absent. Mr Reid, the Premier, considers that the result gives him a fair majority. He states that the Opposition, having raised no objection to the federal resolutions, but only to the method of procedure, will now be able to see their way to give their co-operation to the federation resolutions, which will be proceeded with next week. September 17. Eastern news states that a typhoon swept over the island of Formosa. The river Tamsin overflowed, and the city of Tai-pei, or Bangka, the capital, was submerged. A thousand houses collapsed *o,nd many persons were killed, immense damage being done. September 18. While Mr Eeid, the Premier, wus being driven to a political meeting at Kempsey, a bolt broke on a sharp decline, and the horses bolted. It was dark at the time. Within a short distance of the river bank, Mr Reid seized the reins and dragged the horses to the side of the road. The buggy overturned on top of tho Premier, who escaped without injury. News from New Guinea states that the bush tribes living on the slopes of Mount Suckling raided the village in Collingwood Bay, and killed a chief favourable to the British and 15 men. _ At the amateur cycling meeting a terrible accident occurred in the Two-mile Handicap, illustrating the folly of setting a big field on a narrow banked track. A rider fell on the winning post, bringing down six out of a field of 27. Tooher was killed, and Eogers received concussion of the brain, while others were severely bruised. September 19. The steamer Express, which recently sailed for Napier, has returned to port leaking. The leak is not serious, and is supposed to be caused by a broken pipe. BRISBANE, September 16. During 1897 the cattle in the colony decreased by 418,000, due to the drought and tick. Tho number of sheep decreased by 1,795,000. y September 17. The Premier, Mr Byrnes, is* suffering from measles. ADELAIDE, September 16. The secretary of the Royal Geographical Society has received a letter from the editor of the "Wide World" magazine, asking for particulars of the explorer Gibson, who waa lost when out with the Giles expedition in Central Australia in 1873, and for photos of Giles and other members of the expedition for the purpose of illustrating the sensational story told by a Frenchman, who states that he found Gibson dying, and got from him full details of his adventures whilst residing amongst the blacks. The Frenchman referred to is supposed to be Rougemont.