INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2622, 15 June 1904, Page 23

INTERCOLONIAL.

MELBOURNE, June 8. H. K. Jamieson, late accountant in the Vacuum Oil Company, was committed for trial on a charge of larceny as servant. He acknowledged his offences, and stated that his defalcations were between £2000 and £3000. The Methodist Conference decided to make an appeal throughout Australia for a church Federal capital. The following exchanges were settled : — Rev. Mr Prior (New Zealand) to Victoria, and the Rev. Mr Hudson (Queensland) to New Zealand. At the conference the Rev. Mr Williams moved that the conference affirms their judgment that the proposed union of the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches is eminently desirable. This was unanimously carried after the words '' provided a satisfactory practical basis can be found " had been added. The recommendation of the Appointment Committee to deal with the question was also earned ; also a motion in favour of the New Zealand Conference appointing a committee for the same object. June 9. Mr F. M. Bromley, for health considerations, has resigned the leadership of the State Labour party, ,and Mr G. M. Prendergast has succeeded him.

The Methodist Conference resolved that, if practicable, before union with the Presbyterian"? be consummated a scheme be deviled for giving students for the ministry from their respective churches a united theological and university training. A motion by Mr Lawry (Xew Zealand) to allow laymen to take part in the final stationing of ministers was remitted to tho 1907 Conference. June 10. The King has approved the grant of £100 per annum from the Distinguished and Meritorious Service Fund to General Hutton. At the Butter Commission inquiry two witnesses admitted receiving considerable sums., in the shape of presents, from export agents. Owing to the New South Wales Association refusing to contribute towards the expenses of the Victorian Athletic Association, the latter has decided to abandon the idea of .sending representatives to the Olympian games to be held at the St. Louis Exhibition. A copy of the Anglo-French Agreement was tabled in the Senate. In regard to the New Hebrides, the agreement provides for an arrangement which, , without involving, any modification of the political status quo, shall end all j difficulties arising through the absence | of jurisdiction over the natives*, and also for the appointment of a commission to settle all land deputes. The Methodist Conference appointed a committee to deal with the question of the union of the churches, Mr A. Caughey and the Rev. Mr Lawry representing New Zealand. It was resolved to adopt the new hymn book issued by the British Conference. A minute presented from the Committee en Tongan affairs, deploring that the Bi&hop of Honolulu Had deemed it necessary to establish a branch of the Church of England in Tonga, was considered. It was staled that such action was calculated to stir up dissension, and prove detrimental to the cause of Christianity. After discussion, the conference adopted the minute, and empowered the president to send copies to the Primate of Australia and the Bishops of Wellington and Honolulu. June 11. j A deputation or Queensland members ; asked Mr Mahon, the Postmastergeneral, to sanction the construction of an additional post office at Cairns, m the ground that the Europeans object to doing business alongside of kanakas. Mr Mahon promised to give the matter consideration. Spotted fever has broken out in the Yarrawonga district, and there have been j several deaths. | It is reported that a departmental in- j quiry has just concluded in connection wiUi an alleged scandal in the Customs Department, relative to the importation of New Zealand blue cod and other fish. From certain fact^ brought to the notice of the Minister of Customs, he ordered an investigation. Meantime, the three Customs officers concerned were su^-j pended, nominally charged with negligence of duty. It is alleged that the c e | officials, whose duty it is to check the cases containing New Zealand fish, whether influenced by consideration for the importers or owing to negligence, allowed, in a large number of instance^, duty to be paid on short weights. This had been going on since October, 1901, till quite recently. Though the amount of duty is not large, it is understood that when the report of the Board of Inquiry reaches the Minister in a few days further steps will be taken. June 13. The Federal Customs return shows that the total amount of sugar grown in Queensland by white labour during the years 1902 and 1903 is 36,660 ton<=, and by black labour 131,000 tons. During the years mentioned £75,000 was paid in bonuses. It is estimated that this year, out of 129,000 tons grown, black labour "will be responsible for 97,000 tons. SYDNEY, June 7. In connection with the mysterious tragedy in Castlereagh street, the note stating that the girl Pounceby intended to kill Walker, previously identified as her handwriting, is now identified as Walker's disguised. Two men named Hill and Bell have been committed for trial at Malparinka for robbery. The driver of the coach stuck up gave evidence that Hill was standing at a gate with a handkerchief over his face and a gun in his hand. Under threat of shooting him he compelled witness to hold the horses while he took the mail bags. Hill called the second man to assist. That man he believed to be Bell, who replied, ''I am coming directly," but tcok no actual part in the robbery. Bell afterwards joined the coach, and accompanied it to Whitecliffs. The police gave evidence that they arrested Bell as soon as the coach arrived. They rode to Hill's camp, and, while hiding, saw him throw a bundle into a shaft. They arrested him. The bundle contained the missing mail bags, but the contents were gone.

June 9. The Government Commercial Agent ia the East asks for quotation* for tvra million railway sleepers. Aft or a lengthy Cabinet meeting today. Sir John Sec, the Premier, to-night issued a manifesto to liis constituents announcing that he does not intend to seek re-eloetion. He gives as his chief reason for retiring from politics the uiv-atisfactorv condition of Iris health. Ju.w 10. A discovery of diamonds is leporlec from Oakey Creek. dune 12. District Judge Murray declares that if the State stopped the sale of liquor there would ?oon be very little for the criminal courts to do. Drink was tho source of nearly all crime iv the community—at Ica'-t, of all really sericus crime. The Farmers and Settle w Conference lias adopted an election platform. "It includes a State land bank, closer settlement, water conservation, local government, and a progressive railway^ policy. The conference recommended the Federal Government to offer a reward of £100,000 for the successful introduction of a disease to exterminate rabbits, while being innocuous to human life. June 13. The theory i? advanced that the socalled spotted fever in the Albury district is really phosphorus poisoning. Rabbit destruction is largely carried on iv that district, and it is thought that the poison, which is laid in the burrows-, is subsequently washed into the creeks and water holes during the heavy rains, and so aftects the water used in drinking. ADELAIDE, June 10. The estate of John Angas has been sworn at £800,000. The bequests, which are chiefly to local charities and religious institutions, total £17,000. These Include £1000 to provide annual prizes foi the agricultural show. A codicil desires that the station properties be carried on as at present, at lea^-t for a decade. The statement is made that but for charitable bequests while the testates' was alive the estate would have bom nearly double. BRISBANE, Juno t\ The Convention of the Federated Master Builders of Australasia adopted resolutions that the training cf Australian workmen was tmsat and advocating a reversion to the indenture system and technical instruction. June 9. The debate en Mr Cripp^ censure motion stands adjourned. E. A. Hunt, manager of Renter's Agency, Brisbane, has been committed! for trial on a charge of embezzling £625 of the company's money*. FREMANTLE, June 10. A contract, has been let to install electric trams and lighting in Fremantle, at a cost of £80,000. NORFOLK ISLAND, June 10. The forty-eighth anniversary of the colony was celebrated with great rejoicings. The festivities were very largely attended, and the Bounty pagean, which was revived, proved highly successful. The MelAiiofeian. Mis-ion students wero entertained. NOUMEA, June S. Lloyd's agent, returning from the wreck of the Ville de Saint Nazaire, met a cutter containing the crew of the French barque Tourville. in ballast from Hokabate to Thio to load ore. They reported that the vessel was wrecked on a submerged reef at the north end or Mare Inland, and was. considered a total \o^. Everything salvable had been landed. The Ville de Saint Nazaire hanss on a reef up to the foremast, with '25 fathoms of water under the steru.