INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Volume 02, Issue 2420, 2 August 1900, Page 16

INTERCOLONIAL.

MELBOURNE, July 24. With reference to Lord Brassey's proposal of Australian reserves, Mr M'Lean

considers the loyalty of the colonies is sucH that they would readily raise help when* ever the Empire requires it without the expense of keeping a standing army. Sucbi help would best be secured by means of citizen soldiery trained to ride and shoot.

July 25.

The Government geologist reports thafi at the Mount William rush some claims arei giving a fair yield. There is nofc room fotf a large number of men there. So far noi reefs have been discovered.

The Royal Humane Society have awarded 'bronze medals to Wm, Haines, of Danne* virke, and Charles Jacobsen, of Lower) Takaka, New Zealand.

July 27;

A bill raising a local loan of half a mil-* lion for railway construction passed th.o Legislative Assembly.

July 28.

In connection with the Drouiii tragedy^ the man O'Keefe has been acquitted of tha manslaughter of his brother-in-law, Cohen.j SYDNEY, July 24.

Mr Frank Parnell, ex-member of the Legislative Assembly, has been 'appointed, honorary magistrate at Lord Howa Island.He visits there in a few weeks.

The Full Court; hare decided thcifc all ex-civil servants whose offices have been abolished by Government after serving a certain term are entitled to superannuation allowance. The case was a lest one, and the decision involves a large amount.

The schoonei Empress of India was wrecked at Port Stephens. The crew, nmn-

Bering five, attempted to land in a boat,.

which capsized. Captain Peter Williams, the cook (John Crleeson), and Seamen Ber->" nard acid Dowling were drowned.

The Daily Telegraph, commenting on the Pacific Cable Board's estimated annual loss of £15,009, says that this only covers, the cost of cables to Canada, beyond which there are other charges amounting to about Is a word. Probably the estimate of receipts was made without adequately allowing for the traffic that would go to the new Cape cable. It "deprecates the laying; of a single line, as it is always liable to a break, although a double line would mean a proportionate addition to the colonies* expenses.

July 25.

The Assembly threw out the bill in favour of the abolition of capital punish-

rnent. Bishop Courtney, of Nova Scotia, arrived by the Warrimoo to attend the jubilee of the Anglican Board of Missions, to be held in Sydney next month. The Empress of India sprang a leak in a heavy sea and smashed her wheel coming into the harbour. She then drifted ashore. The survivors clung to the bottom of al, boat, and were rescued by the pilot boat. The Empress of India is a total wreck;. The vessel was insured with the National Insurance Company of New Zealand for £500.

As mediator in the threatened trouble in the coal trade, the Premier had an interview with the coal owners. He suggested! that they should grant an increase of 2d on the hewing rate, as asked by the miners, from September 1, on the understanding that it should be refunded for the first four months next year on a basis of the promised increase in the selling price to 10s a ton. The owners agreed to this proposal, and the conference then adjourned to enable Sir W. J. Lyne to see if the miners would accept the suggested terms.

' July 26. Mr Macdonald, war correspondent of the Herald, was welcomed by the mayor 'on his return from Ladysmith. He visita i New Zealand to recount his story of tha siege. I A special meeting of the A.M. P. SoI ciety policy-holders decided by a large ( majority against the proposal to adjourn till October 10 the meeting fixed for tomorrow to consider the extension proposals. A deputation of employers asked Sir W. J. Lyne to allow the Industrial Arbi-

tration Bill to stand over until the Federal Parliament could deal with the subject. They complained that it was too drastic, and condemned the compulsory clauses. One speaker said that the compulsory portion of the New Zealand Act had proved a failure. Sir W. J. Lyne, in refusing the request, said that if the New Zealand act) had failed it was very extraordinary that} since it became law there had been no serii ous strikes in that colony. July 27. The report submitted at the half-yearly meeting of the Joint Stock Bank recommended that, after providing interest on the various deposit accounts, absorbing £88,000, the balance of £2057 should bo j carried forward. -

The Hetton miners adopted a resolution opposing the Premier's recent suggestion of raising the hewing rate, and demanding an immediate advance of Is, or a fortnight's notice of a general strike.

July 28. The Daily Telegraph says that whatetfß

Ifche result of the conference of the A.M. P. directors and Mr Want may be, the directors cannot in any way recede from the proposals which are supported by such an overwhelming vote.

July 29. Mr Taylor defeated Mr Smith in the fresh election for Canterbury. There is little prospect of the miners accepting Sir W. J. Lyne's hewing rate compromise. There are indications that unless an immediate substantial advance is confceded a general strike is probable. July 30. Dr Green, Bishop of Grafton, has accepted the bishopric of Ballarat. The increase "of population for the last half-year is the smallest of any half-year since 1860.

-ADELAIDE, July 24.

Mr Warren, manager of the Eastern [Extension Cable Company, states that everything has been arranged for the laying; of the cable from Cape Colony to Glenelg." The landing station has been chosen at Cottlesoe Beach, near Fremantle. Tenders will shortly be called for preparing ' the South Australian landing station. It is expected that the laying will be completed 'by the end of nexb year. BRISBANE, July 24.

Two brothers, named Smiley, descended a; mine after firing a charge of dynamite, and were killed by 'the fumes. •

Mr Stewart Macpherson, Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music, has arrived here for the purpose of conducting musical examinations. He visits New Zealand after finishing Queensland and New South Wales. July 25. Obituary: Mr W. A. Hodgkinson, exJMinister of Mines.

PERTH, July 25.

During a violent gale at Hamelin on Sunday the barques Nor'-wester, Loveepring, and Kintinka were driven ashore. The mate and four seamen of the Kintinka •were drowned. Miles of telegraph lines were destroyed by the storm.

July 28,

The Coolgardie Chamber of Mines have tabled to London .asking the mining companies there who are interested in Western 'Australia mines -to subscribe £2000, .as it is "urgently wanted to conduct the federal campaign. 'They state, that if federation as rejected disaster „wili - result, and the market value of their property will be reduced.

PORT "DARWIN, July 25.

Ivan Eggoreffe, engineer of the launch IWunyullah, was picked up on a drifting dingey at sea. He states that he and another European named Larsen, and three blacks, formed the crew of the launch. The blacks wounded him with a tomahawk, and threw him overboard, but he managed to get .ashore. He found the dingey, but the launch had disappeared. It is believed that the blacks murdered liarsen. The police are searching. HOBART, July 28.

The directors of the Mount Lyell Company have closed down for an indefinite period two out of their three furnaces, jfhis reduction in the working plant is in consequence of the strike caused by their having dismissed an employee for insubordination. About 60 men are thrown out of work.