INTER COLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 17 April 1901, Page 13

INTERCOLONIAL.

MELBOURNE, April 9. With reference to the New Zealand Post-master-general's suggestion that Victoria should admit New Zealand penny letters without surcharge, Mr Drake says it would be wise for the Federal Ministry to consider the question of the Commonwealth penny postage before settling New Zealand's application. A new complication has arisen in connection with Victoria's negotiations regarding the Cape cable. The Federal Postmaster states that the matter has become a Federal subject and cannot now be settled by any one State involved. It is a big question of policy, and cannot be dealt with with undue haste. This practically puts an end to the negotiations so far as Victoria alone is concerned. April 10^ Captain Edward Marshall, of the South African Light Horse, has been arrested aboard the Australasian on arrival from the Cape on a charge of forging and uttering a cheque for £200, purporting to be signed by Lieutenant Mabeley, Paymaster of the Imperial Forces, at Capetown. April 11. Four hundred thousand sovereigns have been shipped to South Africa, making a total this year of 1,000,000, and since the war began of 3,425,000. April 12. Lord Hopetoun has been presented) with numerous congratulatory addresses on his appointment as Governor-General. Mi Fitzpatrick, chief office manager, has been appointed Acting- Commissioner of Railways since Mr Mathieeon's departure for England, where the latter had. accepted an important po&ition. SYDNEY, April 9. A labourer named M'Guinness, at Parkes, turned his wife out of their home. Later the house was ?oeu to be on fire. The wife went back and dragged her husband out, but after a detperate struggle the man got away suid rushed into the flames. The

house was destroyed, ori M*Gumntss perished. April 10. A largely-attended meeting held in the Tow n Hall adopted resolutions sympathising with and congratulating Dr O'llaran on the result of the late trial. A second resolution was carried that Roman Catholic citizens repudiated with abhorrence the infamous doctnnc attributed to them that perjury justifiable under any circumstances. £1900 has been subscribed in the city towaid* Dr O'Haran's expenses at the late trial. April 11. The New Zealand and most of the New South W^les representatives of the international boiling team who aie visiting England sailed by the Omrah. April 12. The half-caste Locke has been committed for trial in connection with the abduction of the girl Woods. Ihe banking returns for the March quarter show that the deposits had in&reased £1,203,000, and that the stock of coin and bullion decreased £756,000, compaied with the previous quarter. The imports for Sydney from January 1 to April were valued at £5,620,000, a decrease of £569,000, and the exports at £5.162,000, an increase of over £351,000 as compared with the same period last year. H.M.S. Mildura has arrived from Auckland and H.M.S. Blake from Plymouth with a relief crew foi the Royal Arthur. The Marine Court found that the Dove-dale-Silver Cloud collision on March 14 was caused by want of judgment on the part of David Morgan, the mate of the Dovedale, who is to be called upon to fhow cau c e why his certificate should not be cancelled or suspended. Ihe captain of the steamer Euryalus, on winch there were several smallpox cases recently, has been committed for trial for a breach of the Quarantine Act in making a fake answer to the health officer that there hnd been no sickness aboard during tne voyage. Advices from Colombo, subsequent to the arrival of the troopship Britannic, state that it was ascertained that altogether 30 Imperial soldiers had deserted during the visits to the Australasian ports. April 13. Mr See, in a speech aS the turning of the first sod of the Grafton-Casino railway, said that he intended to carry out the main lines of Sir W. J. Lyne's policy. He would either call Parliament together about June Bor dissolve. He favoured a reduction of members in the State Parliament, but thought that the people should be given an opportunity of expressing their views on the subject. A tragedy is reported from Mudgee, where Alfred Kent attacked and severely injured with a bar of iron his mother, wife, and two children. One of the children, three months old, succumbed to its injuries. The mother is in a serious condition. Kent had shown signs of insanity for some time. Kent's mother is a half-caste Maori. April 15. Henry Johnston, who was managing director of the Kauri Timber Company, in Auckland, was brought up to-day on a charge of misappropriating the company's money, and remanded till the 23rd inst. He did not apply for bail. ADELAIDE, April 10. The Conference of the Commercial Travellers' Associations have concluded their sittings. Considerable business, which will tend to benefit the travellers, was accomplished. It was decided that efforts be made to hold the next conference in Dunedin, but if this is not feasible Fremantle will be selected. A message was sent to New Zealand offering the association there the presidency of the .conference for the ensuing year, but so far a reply has not been received. BBISBANE, April 10 Mr Chatway, Minister of Agriculture, who has been ill for some time, has taken a serious turn, and there is little hope of his recovery. April 12. The Minister of Railways, replying to a deputation, said the year would probably end with a deficit of half a million. Owing to the necessity for economy, there would probably be no railway policy this session or before the general election, for the simple reason that such a policy would mean a fresh loan, and the Government were unable to pay the interest on a fresh loan. Mr Chatway, Minister of Agriculture, has succumbed to an attack of heart diseuse. PERTH, April 12. The preliminary inquiry into the wreck of the Karrakatta exonerated the captain and officers, and greatly praised the captain and the chief engineer for their cool behaviour. The evidence proved that she had .struck an uncharted rock. THE MISSING FEDERAL. THE BODIES IDENTIFIED. MELBOURNE, April 11. The six bodies which were brought from Gabo Island have been identified as those of some of the crew belonging to the s.s. Federal. It's football that works up the muscle, And gives a man plenty of dash ; It's kick, it's scrum, and it's bustle^ And a general looking for lash. In the good old hunt for the leather, If a cold you should have to endure, You will soon pull yourself altogether With Woods' Gbeat Peppermint Cube.