INTERCOLONIAL.
MELBOURNE, October 23.
Mrs M'Kinley, the victim of the Ballarat tragedy, is a native of Port Chalmers.
October 24,
At the meeting of the Colonial Mutual Life Society, the report congratulated members on the satisfactory operations of the quinquennium, disclosing a surplus of £278,879. The investment fluctuation fund had been increased to £102,776. A special reserve was made to reduce the valuations to 3£ per cent. The sum of £175,910 was available as bonuses.
October 26.'
Crop reports are unsatisfactory, and rain must fall to ensure anything like good crops. Some districts, even with rain, will be unable to yield more than a fair crop of wheat.
William Wright, a financier, residing in Carlton, quarrelled with his wife. The latter shot him twice in the breast with, a revolver. His condition is hopeless. The victim, in his depositions, admitted that ■he aggravated his wife.
The Premier, in a lengthy defence of the Government's old-age pension scheme, characterises the lavish expenditure of New
Zealand as a warning of the abuse of such a sj-stean, and the danger which Victoria> lias to avoid. The New Zealand scheme, he says, subsidises incomes up to £52 a year ; the Victorian proposal is only up to 10s 6d weekly.
SYDNEY, October 23.
News from the Gilbert group states that the Norwegian barque Sirrah-, bound to Europe with copra, went ashoro at Butaritari. She was got off, but the crew ■mutinied, refusing to go to sea in the vessel.
The Daily Telegraph says that the political conditions in the New Hebrides are less satisfactory than eyer. It is evident that the relations between the two colonis-
ing races are strained, and that the general state of government is as unsatisfactory as it was at Samoa a couple of years a-go. It would be an act of unwisdom on, the part of the Imperial Government to surrender the islands to any other Power, and any further attempt on the part of France to annex the group would provoke a niueh, stronger protest than that made some years ago.
October 24. The Select Committee of Inquiry into
military affairs met with a reverse at the 'lands of the military authorities. The latter, sheltering behind the Queen's regulations, refused to state what quantity of ammunition and arms were stored in the feolony. Tthe committee re-call them tomorrow, , hinting at pains and penalties if H'ecalcitrant. At the Rifle Association meeting Mathieson, of St. Leonards, won the Queen's Prize, with a score of 264. Byron, of TVollongong, was second with 262. The A.M.P. Society's referendum on the proposal to extend the business resulted as follows: — For, 95,262 votes; against, 104,786. . The iboard announces that no further steps will be taken to confirm the resolution in favour previously carried. October 25. Four hundred and thirty Japanese labourers arrived under contract for the Noumea mines. A difficulty arose about their landing, pending transhipment. It ■was got over by locating them at Shark Island. It is stated thab 5000 more are coming to Sydney for transhipment. A Pacific Cable Enabling Bill has been introduced into the Assembly. The Military Select Committee did not meet to-day.' Octobei 26. Mr Crick stated that though the contract for the Pacific cable has not yet ibeen -accepted it will be next week, and its (construction be completed in about 18 months. The Postmaster-general's assurances assisted the Enabling Bill to pass through committee without amendment. The Pacific Catole Bill has passed the [Assembly. October 27. Three competitors — Matheson, Byron, and Harrington — tied with 438 points each for the rifle championship aggregate. In the shoot of): Byron won 'by 7 points. Mr J. Sweeney, the well-known actor, is dead. The Government have entered into a contract with Burns, Philp, and Co. for a monthly steam service to the New Hebrides, Norfolk Island, Lord HoAve Island, the Banks group, Santa Cruz, and the Solomons, for a period of 10 years, at a subsidy of £1500 a year. HOBART, October 26. A bill affirming the principle of free education passed the Assembly.
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