INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2600, 13 January 1904, Page 19

INTERCOLONIAL.

MELBOURNE, January 5. The sm?rfc passage of the Manuka has raised the question of carrying the mails via the Cape instead cf by way of the Suez. By the latter route the average is 31J" days, while the passage from Southampton to the Cape occupies 14 days, and it is believed a 16-days' service could be maintained from the Cape to Melbourne. January 6. At the Coogee disaster inquiry the Italian captain stated that the chief officer of the Ccogee was amongst those who jumped aboard the Italian ship. He helped to get the boats cut to go to the assistance of the Cocgee. Witness considered that the Cooaee was travelling too fast, and she did not sound her whistle.

Owen, a seaman on watch on the bridge of the Coogee, testified to hearing the foghorn of the ship. He called out, r.nd the whittle was blown. The captain called cut "Stop the phip." The collision occurred at almost the same instant. He ?*w the first mate attending to the boat?. The only other time the whittle was blo^rn was half an ho-ir before the collision. January 8 Mr Tom Mann retire* from the public platform to take up farming in Victoria. January 11. The owners of the Fortunato Figari have issued a writ against the -owners of the Coogee claiming £6000 damages. Kempton's flourmills at Kensington were destroyed by fire. The damage is £10,000, covered by insurance. The Prime Minister has r->c3ived a communication from Mr Seddon in reference to Chinese labour in the Transvaal. He will lay it before the Cabinet to-morrow. SYDNEY, January 4. The tragedy near Singleton, where a young married woman named Bennett and her three children were found dead, was the outcome of the mother's melancholia. She administered strychnine to herself and her three children. January 6. Oversea freights are advancing. Offers of 2os hav a been rcfu c ed, and owners ask 275. The increase is partly due to the rite in the price of wheafc. January 7. Some members of the hostile tribe who participated in the recent massacres in German New Guinea seized a small steamers and compelled the native firemen to proceed to sea. Nothing has been reen of them since. It is believed thab the boiler exploded, and all perished. January 8. A mysterious murder near Werris Creek is reported. A girl named Hcbblewhite, while eiio^ecl in her household duties, was fired at through the kitchen window.

A boy named Ball, 14 years of age, ' step-brother to the girl He'bblewliite, was arrested, and has now confessed that he killed the girl accidentally. i January 10. | The first of three ocean races over % [

course of 10 miles each way between

Binnie's New Zealand-built yacht Bona, representing New South Wales, and Gollin's Victorian Sayonara resulted in a win for the Sayonara by 4min ssec, or 67sec over her time allov/ance of 178 sec. The Sayonara led all the way. The Boua's balloon jib carried away during the return journey, causing a delay of about two minutes. January 11. The gold production of New South Wales last year was 254,2600z, ( valued at £1,080,000, compared with 161,2550z, valued at £684,970, for the previous year. Including ores imported from other colonies, the total yield was 398,4160z, compared with 254,4350z for the previous year. The increased value was £611,000. ! ADELAIDE, January 5. The barque Ethel, bound from Delagoa Bay to Port Adelaide, is ashore near Cape Spencer. One of the crew was drowned, but the rest are safe. January 6. The barque Ethel, which went ashore near Cape Spencer, is believed to be a total wreck. One of the crew, a youth named Hcucrsen, who was drowned, volunteered to take a line ashore. After a brave struggle he almost reached land, but died from exhaustion while being hauled aboard the vessel again. KALGOORLIE, January 11. The residence of Frank Lee was destroyed by fire, and three boys were burned to death. The father made desperate efforts to rescue them, and was severely scorched. He succeeded in rescuing the other children.