OTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Volume 14, Issue 2648, 14 December 1904, Page 24

OTERCOLONIAL.

in the proportion of 77 to 22 on the question of tariff xevision. December 8. Mrs Chadwick, wife of a Cleveland physician, said to be a millionaire, who obtained) heavy loans from banks and financiers on the strength of a specious story that she had securities to the value of a million in a certain bank, has been arrested at Cleveland on a charge of aiding a bank official to embezzle. Mr W. H. Taft, who is in Panama, announced that the United States hoped to build a sea-level canal. December 9. Mr Shaw, the United States Secretary to the Treasury, explains that the deficit of eight million sterling is attributable to paying 10 millions out of revenue for the Panama Canal. T. W. Lawson, a well-known stockbroker, headed a " b^ar " raid on certain trusts, especially the Amalgamated Copper and United Steel. There was wild speculative excitement on Wall street, followed by a heavy slump in shares and a partial recovery. The bankers of Texas are offering the farmers facilities to hold back their cotton crops this year if necessary. December 10. The survey of the Alaskan boundary has been completed. The alleged securities on the strength of which Mrs Chadwick succeeded in borrowing large sums of money from bankers and financiers have been proved to be worthless. OTTAWA, December 9. The Toronto Globe announces the ear'y withdrawal of the Halifax and Esquimalt garrisons, Canada assuming the responsibility. CAPETOWN, December 5. It is reported in Capetown that gangs of "Witboys and Hottentots have murderedi many German farmers and children, and outraged the women. December 7. -After a funeral service in the presence of a crowded congregation, the late Mr Kruger's body was entrained for the Transvaal. "> December 8. There iras been another gold discovery at Rangana Rand, Rhodesia. It is reported to be similar to the Black Reef at Johannesburg. December 11. Mr Paul Kruger's body was greeted at the railway station by wreaths and the singing of psalms. A uniformed bodyguard of the State Artillery and the police of the late Republic escorted the hearse to Pretoria. Ex-generals Botha, Smuts, De la Rey, and De Wet headed the procession to a hall, where the body is lying in state.

MELBOURNE, December 6. The Postmaster-general proposes to make a reciprocal arrangement to allow pictorial postcards, with the correspondence portion on the address side, -to pass through the post for a penny. A board has been appointed to inquire into the alleged firing on the Wodonga by the forts. The weather here is very hot. Destructive bush fires have raged in the Echuca district. A large acreage of wheat and grass has been burned). After a protracted stpnewall, the House of Representatives negatived Mr Watson's amendment to the Arbitration Bill throw- ' ing upon non-unionists the onus- of proving that applicants for preference of employment did not represent a majority of the trade. December 7. In the House or Representatives Mr Reid's motion, disagreeing with the Senate's omission of the proviso in the Arbitration Bill that preference shall only be given to unionists if the application is supported by a majority of those affected by the award was carried by 32 to 29. December 8. In the Senate Senator Smith pointed out that tinder the 1886 agreement between Britain and Germany the latter had no right to impose restrictions on vessels* visit* ing the Marshalls, and he asked the Government to take steps to have a status quo restored' while the matter was being diplomatically settled. The Senate amended the Papua Bill to provide for loc option instead of actual prohibition in ~ Guinea. December 9. The State Government intends to reserve 90,0Uu acres on Wilson's Promontory for the purpose of preserving indigenous plants and animals. The Senate, after strenuous opposition from the Labour section, decided not to insist on il& amendments to the Arbitration Bill, which, having received a few final touches, was returned to the House. After two years of fighting and causing the fall of several Ministries the bill now only requires the Governor-General's signature to become law. December 10. A fire has been raging since 1 o'clock in Romcke and Company's extensive timber yards, South Melbourne. There is a trei mendous mass of flame, which threatens to spread to the adjoining premises. Under the influence of a strong wind ' the fire spread to Robison's ironworks, I which were destroyed, with a large quantity of machinery, including harvesters and traction engines. The damage is estimated at £50,000. The insurances on

Romcke's amount to £26,000, in the Phoenix office, distributed amongst other

companies,

offices ; on Robison's, £16,000 in severa* companies. The wind dropped, and the fire was got under control. The Governor-General has cabled the Imperial Government in reference to the proposed French annexation of the New Hebrides. December 12. Dr Gresswell, president of the Board of Health, is dead. SYDNEY, December 6. Bush fires have swept large areas in the Tamworth and Gunnedah districts. Much, damage was done to the crops and fencing. A heat wave was experienced in the country districts and the temperature is very high. At Goodooga 111 degrees were registered. December 7. The Government appoints a Royal Commission to inquire into the long-delayed question of the disputed payments to South African contingents. December 8. Bush fires are very general. Much gras3 and crops and numbers of cattle and sheep have been destroyed. The heat wave continues unabated. December 9. The steamer Torgauten has been sold to a New Zealand firm, and leaves shortly to load timber at Oamaru. Captain M' Arthur is in command. As a result of the recent accident at Vancouver the Miowera was docked. Ten plates have come out. A man named Bonfield fell from a building a distance of 70ffc. He struck and knocked down another man named Ellis. Bonfield was killed, and Ellis seriously injured. George Dean, who, after a s-eries of sensational trials on a charge of attempting to poison his wife, was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment, was released today. He has served nine years. The balance of the sentence was remitted for good conduct. The Federal Commission on the Navigation. Bill has commenced its sittings in Sydney. In the Assembly, Mr Carruthers moved a series of resolutions that the State should not grant 900 square miles for a Federal capital site, but offer between 100 and 200 square miles, with the necessary catchment area for water supply at any four suggested sites. Mr Dick, in a Ministerial explanation, said the Government considered the Federal Government had no right to ask for 900 square miles. The resolutions were submitted with a view to overcoming a constitutional difficulty. The debate was adjourned. December 10. During a bush fire at Quirindi many wheat paddocks, large quantities of bagged wheat, hay, and machinery were destroyed. The man Ellis, who was knocked down by a man- named Bonfield falling on. him from a scaffold on a building 70ft above the ground, has died from the injuries fie received. Mr Ambrose Pratt, novelist and solicitor, waa awarded £250 damages against tne proprietors of the newspaper the Tweed Advocate for publishing an article impugning his scrupulousness as a solicitor in Pratt's book dealing with the larrikin. Much evidence was taken. The Chief Justice, commenting on the case, urged that steps be taken to purge the community of the larrikin pest. The Divorce- and Full Courts refused togrant a divorce on the ground that the man who suspected his wife of misconduct was guilty of connivance in watching her with a view to detecting further acts of misconduct. The High Court has now decided that this does not constitute connivance, and that the. applicant is entitled to his divorce. A similar decision was given in thJ3 colony by the Appeal Court. Mr Justice Conolly had declitied to grant a decree- nisi on the ground that the husband had connived at the offence by waiting with a friend outside a houae in whieb. the wife was residing until they: were in a position to detect the respondent and co-respondent in the casei That decision was overruled by the Appeal Court. December 12. The Assembly rejected a motion denouncing the Chief Justice in. connection witli his recent attack on the Arbitration Act by 32 to 22. PERTH, December 9. Mr William Redmond, M.P., has arrived here on a visit for the benefit of his health. He brings a message of thanks to the Irish National Association and to the supportersof Irish Home Rule in Australasia for the great assistance they have rendered the movement-. He declares that the prospects of Home Rule were never more hopeful. If his health permit, -he will deliver address&s on the position of the Irish movement. BRISBANE, December 7. The Minister of Agriculture has promised a Chamber of Commerce deputation to recommend the Cabinet to give a reasonable amount towards sending two commercial men to report on the possibilities of developing trade between Queensland and the Islands.

The son of a settler at Mangakaramea is reported to have convened an open-air meeting at Whangarei for Sunday, 4-th inst ; , where, arriving bare-backed on a horse, his trap having broken down, he addressed a> large crowd, and declared that he could remove a mountain by faith. Being finally ordered away by the police, he took steamer for Auckland, where, he said, he was going to shut up all the hotels. He professef to be ijisuived..— Auckland Star,