INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2412, 24 May 1900, Page 13

INTERCOLONIAL.

MELBOURNE, May 16. The captain of the steamer Federal j States passed the Sierra Nevada burning bin" I'ghts for a pilot. He remarked her closeness to the shore, and had she fired rockeid would have gone to her assistance. , May 18. J The Magnet x'emains in the same position. -An offer has been mr.de to drag her off for £3000. The demand for gold for South Africa has been renewed. The Nineveh took 200,000 sovereigns. ' ! A leading city firm have received the follow ing cable from New York: — "A rupture ha& occurred in the New -York freight pooL London is now acting indepen.dently; therefore three interests are at vcrk.'' May 19. Mr Derham, in his presidential address, at the Chamber of .Manufacturers, said that there seemed to 'be a disposition in some I quarters tfo encourage the making of bar- ' gains with the Labour party to enable the imposition of high protective rates by , process of law in. Australia. It would, be J very unwise of the chamber to make large concessions to this party in the direction o? Socialism merely to gain a temporary benefit. ; O'Keefe, who was found guilty of man- ' slaughter when Mrs McCarthy was charged , with the murder of her three children at ' Yarraville last year, and who was subse- ! queivcly adjudged insane, has been detained during the Governor's pleasure. May 20. Kennedy has been acquitted of murdering his sister at Kyneton. Severe rainstorms have been experienced in the Gippsland district, and from four to six inches have fallen. The river is in high flood, and has done great damage to property. * May 21. The Premier has received an outline of ths proposed Colonial Investment Stock Bill. The terms will shortly be made public. - SYDNEY, May 16. The Presbyterian Assembly have appointed a deputation to wait upon the Premier to tirge" upon him the necessity" of his strongty and actively exerting his influence with the Imperial Government in maintaining the joint control of the New Hebrides. The Government intend to introduce a Closer Settlement Bill somewhat similar to the New Zealand act. May 17. There is a good general rainfall, with heavy weather on the coast. May 18. The Full Court, after lengthy consideration, refused R. D. Meagher's application J for reinstatement on the roll of solicitors. Meagher was struck off in connection with the notorious Dean case. The Chief Justice, in delivering the unanimous judgment of the court, said, seeing how recently the public mind had been disturbed by the matter, how vivid the recollection must be, they considered the application premature. On that ground alone they refused the application. In a very few years a successful application might be made. May 19. The Stockton miners 'have resolved, in order to force the hands of the proprietors to raise the price of coal, that the number of working days for coal miners be restricted to four weekly. The idea is (that in this way they will receive as "much or more for four days' work as they now <lo for six. The resolution has been sent to the district lodges. [ May 20. Sfef. fiCtftliei'a cbal-ojvners bring the in- "

creased selling price of coal into operatioi at the beginning of the year. •ihe colonies have agreed to take a censu on. March 31. BRISBANE, May 15. There is a disastrous drought in ths Western district. Stock are dying whole sale. May V 7. A gocd general rain is falling. ADELAIDE, May 17. The members of the Southern Cross expedition have sailed for London. May 18. Good general rains have fallen in this colony and in Victoria. May 21. Mr C. 0. Kingston has been defeated for a seat in the Legislative Council both by Mr Stirling and Mr Gordon. The former was elected by a majority of 343 votes. PERTH, M.iy 20. The six Filipinos who belonged to the schooner Ethel, scuttled at Adoct, Tinimbei Island, have been committed for iiial ok charges of murder. Ihey are also charged with stealing the schooner Ethel.