INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2455, 3 April 1901, Page 13

INTERCOLONIAL.

MELBOURNE, March 26. Over 12,000 old-age pensions have already been granted. It is anticipated that considerably over £100,000 will be required to meet the claims for the half-year. Only £75,000 was provided by Parliament. March 27. The value of meat products exported last year was £334,547, as follows -. — Frozen beef, £4300 ; mutton and lambs, £108,000 ; preserved meats, £28,500 ; frozen rabbits, £145,000 ; preserved, £38,750 ; poultry and game, £7500 ; eggs, £2500. The value of products sent to the United Kingdom was £285,000, and to South Africa £32,000. The ldlter hhows a large increase. March 23. At a meeting of the directions of Goldybrough, Moit' and Company a resolution was adopted reducing the capital by £887,000. The butchers have increased the price of meat by one penny a pound all round, owing to the high price of stock. The Premier, Mr Throssel, has outlined the Government .policy. Its essential fea-

\ tures nre the straightening out of the finances, a ■« i.se development of the le-i-ouices of the State, an extension of land settlement and its fuither liberalisation, an agiicultural bank, and the abolition of pliual \otmg. In order to complete the do1 vernment -uoiks programme an additional loan of £3,950,000 is lequircd. The Premier al=o favours a substantial reduction in the number of members of the State Legislatuie The Government will stand or fall by the retention of the sliding scale provided under the Commonwealth Bill. SYDNEY, March 27. The Government have prohibited the importation of sw ine from New Zealand for 12 months owing to the alleged existence of swine fever. Sll W Lyne has resigned the State Piemiei>hip. Sir John See, who succeeds him as Premier, will not reconstruct the Ministry till after the Federal elections. Many of the police and civilians are searching for the half-coste Lock and the ,girl who was kidnapped in the Riverstone district. They were seen several times together on Monday making in the direction of Penritb and the Blue- Mountains. They asked for food at one house, where Lock stated that he, was going to shoot another half-caste, and added that the police would have a hot reception if they attempted to take him. The girl Wood has returned home, apparently unharmed. Lack is Btili.-juncap-tured. The New Zealand Federal Commission have finished their inquiries in Sydney for the present. They embark to-day for Tasmania, afterwards proceeding to Vic-' toria and South Australia. The chairman of the commission (Colonel Pitt) wrote to Mr See (Acting-Premier) expressing his sincere thanks on behalf of the commissioners for placing a convenient office at j their disposal and for the other courtesies extended to the commission. They expect j to be in Sydney again for a day or two in about three weeks' time. The Federal Commission has sailed for Hobart. The evidence was taken of the principal of the Agricultural College with reference to agriculture in New South Wales, and the probabilities of a market in tne future for New Zealand products in New South Wales. March 28. A fire at Parramatta destroyed Pollock's large store and a portion of the Cumberland Mercury office. The damage amounts to £6000. y The search party came upon the halfcaste Lock and the girl Wood. The former fcolted at sight of the pursuers. The burlesque actress Billie Barlow, suing as Mrs Minnie Stuart Menzies, has commenced an action against the Bulletin, claiming £5000 damages for an alleged libellous comment on her stage dress while appearing in the pantomime at the Tivoli. The alleged libel was contained in a paragraph published on January 12. The jury visited the theatre last night, when the plaintiff appeared in the dress forming the subject of action. The jury returned a verdict for the Bulletin. March 30. A daring robbery has been perpetrated at the Hotel Australia, by which two lady guests were robbed of jewellery valued at £1000 and £300 respectively. The thieves used duplicate keys of the rooms during the absence of the owners. 1 Grenfell, for the bant robbery at Woodfull, was sentenced to 18 months' hard labour. March 31. A fire at Temora destroyed a hotel, three shops, and the post office. The loss is not stated. The half-caste Lock, who was concerned in the recent abduction of a girl and was previously wanted for a criminal assault on another young girl, has surrendered to the police. April 1. Owing to ill-health Sir Joseph Abbott has resigned his seat in the State Parliament. Mr Friend, of the New South Wales Hansard staff, has been selected to form a Federal Hansard staff. ADELAIDE, March 28. An interesting discovery of phosphate deposits and fossil remains has, tteen made in the Far North. The inquiry into the loss of the ship Glenpaik at Wedge Island while carrying a cargo of wheat from Port Pirie has resulted in the captain having his certificate j suspended for two months. i BRISBANE, March 26. Splendid rains have fallen in the Wmton and Longreach districts, and the drought is completely broken up. March 27. A girl named Nellie Shearer, attending the Mount Gravatt Public School, was found to be suffering fiom plague. The school has been closed. March 28. The importation of New Zealand sheep and swine has been suspended for a further period of six months. The Treasurer has accepted tenders at £99 for the unallotted portion of the local loan. March 51. A boy named Gardiner is found to be suffering from the p4a-gue. April 1. The Chamber of Commerce discussed the ill-effecls of the American shipping laws on Australian trade, and decided to refer the question to the Associated Chambers' Conference in Melbourne in May, and get the Federal Parliament to take action. HOBART, March 29. The Government having purchased the 1 railway of the late Colonel North's com-

pany, they are now able to make an exten sion to the Comstock mint."-