INTERCOLONIAL MELBOURNE. July 22.

Otago Witness, Issue 2524, 30 July 1902, Page 21

INTERCOLONIAL MELBOURNE. July 22.

The representative of the Melbourne Age has returned from a vi-it to Japan. He states that the prospects for extending the export trade between Australia and Japan are by no mean- promising. The Japanese are thoroughly determined to protect themselves as for as possible, and to produce ever3'thmg they want.

Sir Malcolm M'Eachern has aNo returned from a visit to Japan. He speaks similarly in reference to trade, adding that the Japanese Ministry are greatly dissatisfied with the Federal Immigration Restriction Act, which they consider specially aimed at Japan, and a direct insult to a friendly people. This act will probably result in the withdrawal of the subsidy to the Japanese line of steamers trading hoie.

July 23

The Senate lias finished thotarifi. The proposals, to reimpo^e the duty on tea were negatived. The bill will probably be recommitted a^ain. In the Assembly Mr Irvine, the Premier, moved the second reading of the State Parliament Reform Bill. He proposes to reduce the Assembly members to 56, the Council to 28, and Ministers to ieven. The jyovision ptainst de_ad-

locks between the Houses provides that equal powers be given to each to ask for a dissolution. The bill also provides for women exercising the franchise.

July 24.

Lord Tennyson lias arrived and token up his duties as Acting Governorgeneral. It is stated that Mr Chamberlain had suggested that the Governor-general need not keep up two establishments in Sydney and Melbourne during his term of office, and it is understood that Lord Tennyson will act on the suggestion.

The Senate is considering the Excise Bill. The proposed amendments to the tea, sugar, starch, and tobacco duties were all negatived.

The Federal House struck out the provisions in the Electoral Bill requiring the voter to vote to the full number of candidates to be elected to the Senate and the contingent vote for the election of representatives.

July 25.

The State Minister of Agriculture promised a deputation to take legislative action controlling the breeding of cattle. It was stated that the loss to the Commonwealth under the present system was £200,000 annually.

A fire in the Beech Company's Timber Mills destroyed the valuable plant and a large quantity of stock.

The Senate- gave the final touches to the Tariff Bill, and passed the Excise Bill imamended. The House of Representatives' consider the Senate's amendments to the tariff about Friday.

SYDNEY, July 22.

Four bullets were found in the body of Constable Guilfoyle. who was shot by one of two men who were attempting to pass counterfeit coin in a shop at Darlington.

The Karrakatta during the search for the Quiraing will test the steaming qualities of the local coal.

Owing to the scarcity of prime cattle, best beef sold at 45s per 1001b, which is an easy record.

The Railway Commissioners have carried fodder to starving stock at the rate of \d per truck per mile. The concessions have already amounted to £51,000, and the other losses to the revenue through the drought amount to a similar sum.

The Cycling League is making a big effort to revive interest in the sport, .and is trying to arrange a visit from Major Taylor, the famous American rider." It is proposed to hold three monster carnivals in November and January, with prizes totalling £500 at each, and one in March, with £1000 in prizes. '

July 23.

The New South Wales banking returns for the June quarter show the assets to be £49,214,000, an increase of £100,000, and the liabilities £36,188.000, an increase of £218,000 compared with the preceding quarter. Interest-bearing deposits show a good increase.

In the Legislative Council the Methodist Churches Union Bill has passed. The union will represent churches with 600,000 adherents.

Constable Guilfoyle's murderers are supposed to be hiding in the bush in the Hornsby district. A large force is scouring the district. A letter, a false moustache, and a paper containing an account of the murder were found in a shed at Balmain, where one of the supposed suspects w.\s seen loaviug. The writer states that ho and his friends got a job stoking on the Westralia, leaving for Melbourne to-night, and had booked berths for two others (mentioned). He adds that a boat leaves; for "the old dart"' foui day-* after the steamer reaches New Zealand. Indirectly he refers to the crime, and warns the receiver that he is prepared to die righting rather than face the hangman.

July 24

The Karrakatta has- returned from a erui-c along and off the coa~.t in search of the Quiraing, long overdue from Newcastle to Dunedii), without finding any trace of the missing steamer.

July 25

L.ist year's stock returns show the number of horses in the State at the end of December to number 4o~),l'^ rr > 1 an inrrerise of W0; cattle, 1,188,000, an increase of 07,000; sheep, 41,^57,000, an incrra-.e of 1,ef.'30,000 compared with the previous year. The average lambing returns were fiS^ per cent. The tot.il wool clip is. c-timated at 245,105,0001b, an increa-e of 9,848,0001b. Pig, show a

good ineroji.-p

The Telegraph's Norfolk T-Jand correspondent writes that complaints have been tent to the agents in Sydney and the Government regarding the steamship service. I'nle-s a very material alteration is made it has been decided to get a small auxiliary boat to trade with Noumea and New Zealand, and transfer business generally to Xow Zealand.

The Rpv. Tremayne Dunstan, pa.stor of the Pitt Street Congregational Church, has rfsigiifd, and gives a^ a reason private financial difficulties.

The jury returned an open verdict in the case of Trooper Edgar, of Armidale, who was found shot with a rifle bullet in an imitation armoured train used on Peace Celebration Day ; also that both ball and blank cartridge were used during the sham fight, and that the captain's orders to fire high were in some instances disobeyed. They strongly condemned the taking of ball cartridge to such functions.

July 27

A tragedy is reported from Bannahyj near Goulburn. A selector named Lewis attacked his wife -with a hammer and then committed suicide by taking poison. The woman is in a critical condition. They lived unhappily together.

July 28.

The death is announced of Captain William Cargill, formerly in command of the 'Frisco mail steamer Australia.

BRISBANE, July 22.

The Government scheme for the re* duction of salaries has been tabled in the Assembly. It is proposed to reduce Ministers' salaries from £1000 to £850, members from £300 to £250, civil sei'« • vants not exceeding £100 by-5 per cent.,'* not exceeding £450 by 10 per cent., aiid over that 15 per cent. *-

July 25. '

'The trial of the KennifTs for the murder of Dalke and Doyle has 1 been commenced, and is expected to last several days. '; ' July 26. -

Thefe is some excitement in the maize market in consequence of a leading 'firm - offering to book orders for Argentine' maize arriving in a week or two at 4s 4d 7 , duty paid. The local quotation is os 7dt July "28. :' The Governor has announced his cfe*! sire that his salary should be subject to the same reduction as the other members of the public service. The reduction will amount to £750 yearly.

HOBART, July 22.

The French baraue Gael, from Mauritius, has landed 28 men, the crew of the French barque ViHe d'Orleans, which foundered when on the voyage fromf Utasgow to Brisbane .with n a ca-rgp of rails*. For 20 days' the men worked the > pumps till they were worn out, and as . the water continued to gain on them they abandoned the vessel 440 miles off the* South-west Cape, Tasmania. They took to the boats, and were picked up on the 13th.

Parliament was opened to-day. The Governor's Speech announced that the session would be chiefly devoted to financial matters. Direct taxation would: have to be imposed to counteract the heavy shortage from the remission ol Customs under the Federal tariff. The. Constitution Amending and Licensing Amending would be the most important bills. The Premier's proposals with re> gard to the latter, especially permitting the licensing of drinking saloons and vending liquors in boarding houses, have routed the indignation of temperance bodies.

SUVA, July 22.

The Marquis of Linlithgow, who is * passenger by the Miowera, is looking un< well. Ho was the guest of the Administrator during his stay, and was entertained by a gathering of residents. Responding to the toast of his health, the Marquis said he would convoy to England Fiji'« loyalty.