INTERCOLONIAL

Otago Witness, Issue 2649, 21 December 1904, Page 31

INTERCOLONIAL

MELBOURNE, December 14.

Sir W. J. Lyne states tEat there is not a scintilla of truth in the statement attributed to Captain Bird that he (Sir W. J. Lyne) obtained £500 to get Captain Bird his position. He couits the fullest inquiry.

December 15,

The action of the New South. Wales Assembly in deleting Dalgety called forth an angry outburst from Mr Chapman, the member for the district in which the proposed capital is located. Mr Reid deprecated the use of language which, would make a difficult task more difficult, and in a temperate speech said that while the justice of the rights of New South Wales must "be respected, he would not forget his duty to the Federal Parliament. He thought tha choice of a site belonged more to the province of the Federal Parliament than to- any State P&rliament, and would strongly oppose any attempt to rescind the former's decision in favour of Dalgety.

The Orient S.S. Company will drop Adelaide as a regular port of call after the expiry of the mail contract. , The manager says that jprobafoly a number oi trips -nil]

be made via the Cape, in order to avoid the heavy Suez Canal dues.

Sir Thomas Sutherland's statement that the P. and O. Company would possibly replace mail steamers by cargo vessels raised a discussion in the Senate. Mr Neild pointed out that they were apparently degenerating into the position of a community whose only connection with the outside world would be by means of ocean tramps. Others regarded Sir T. Sutherland's statement as an attempt to bounce a subsidy. Sir J. Symons did Lot think they should take an alarmist view. He did not i|gard> the statement as bluff, but business. The Government would take every precaution to protect the interests of Australia.

December 17.

General Booth will arrive in Tasmania on April 13, and make a tour of the Commonwealth and of New Zealand. SYDNEY, December 13. The Closer Settlement Bill was read a third time in the Assembly.

Nineteen million passengers were carried on the Sydney ferries last year without a f-ingle accident.

Mr Norton created a sensation in the Assembly by stating that in connection with the bankruptcy of Captain Bird, harbourmaster, the latter had giv«n as one of the grounds of. his bankruptcy that he had to pay Sir William Lyne £500 for the billet. Mr Perry, a former colleague of Sir W. J. Lyne, said he had heard the rumour, and saw the chairman of the Harbour Trust and - Captain Bird,. They stated that there was nothing in the story, and that it was an absolute falsehood. The Premier stated that he would hold an immediate and searching inquiry.

Three men have been arrested for forging Bank of Australasia notes. Four hundred pounds' worth were found, which it is believed the men intended to Imload during Christmas week.

In the Assembly the Premier made a strong speech, in which he condemnedthe Federal proposal to take SOO miles for Federal territory. The Government had decided to submit the question to" the Confererce of Premiers.

The Assembly struck out Dalgety from the capital sites to be offered to the Federal Government. Thpse are now limited to Lyndhurst, Yass, and Tuinut.

The members of the Ministry voted against the exclusion of Dalgety, the Premier remarking that it would be an affront to th^ Federal Parliament.

It Mas decided to appoint a committee to co-operate with the Government in the negotiations with the Federal Government regarding fixing the site.

December 15

Captain Bird has written Mr Norton asking him to leave the shelter of his parliamentary: privilege and' assume the responsibility of his statement in open court.

To-day was the hottest of the season, the thermometer regist°r.ng 95 degrees in

the shade.

A wave of retrenchment swept over the Assembly when the Estimates came on. Members, reduced the salaries of all the high officials in the Council and Assembly. The President of the Council was reduced by £350. the Speaker was cut down by £170, and other high officers in proportion.

D-ecember 16,

Lady Onslow and her son and daughter sail for Wellington by the Moeraki tomorrow.

The Assembly passed the Estimates at great speed, excluding the reductions in the Parliamentary Estimates. The reductions in other departments only total £1000.

December 17.

Much-needed rain is falling over the greater part of the State. It is heavy in the western and northern districts, and. light elsewhere. Four and a-half inches have fallen at Tilpa.

December 19,

There have "been further good and widespread monsoonal rains. During a storm in Maitland several buildings were unrooted, and much daxnnge was done to ihe orchards.

Speaking at the opening of the Wool Exhibition at the Royal Exchange, Mr Carrathei'Sj the State Premier, stated that

he had received the report of the Government Statistician that morning, showing that 1,600,000 acres were under wheat. The yield would be 16,000,000 bushels, giving an exportable surplus of 6,000,000 bushels. As regards sheep, the ensuing season would "show" an increase of 4,000,000 animals. The clip this year was estimated at 230,000,0001b, of the value of £7,512,000 — an increase of 61,000,0001b in weight and about £2,000,000 in value 'as compared with last year. He announced his intention to place a loan on the London marketin January, which the Agent-general's advices showed was absolutely and already assured.

ADELAIDE, December 13.

Mr William Redmond, M.P., has arrived here. He thinks that Ireland will soon get Home Rule, and be also declares that Mr Chamberlain's preferential trade scheme is f. dead letter.

BRISBANE, December 19. There has been a useful monsoonal rain over a large portion of the State. PERTH, December 13.

A collision occurred last night between a ferry steamer with 250 Jewish picnickers aboard and a tugboat. The latter crushed a large hole in the ferry steamer. Three girls were thrown overboard, but rescued. Several persons were badly injured by thsa impact, Jbut there were no fatilities. December 14. It is estimated that the wheat harvest 'will yield, 1,890,000 bushels, or an average" of 32 bushels per acre.

SUVA, December 16.

The Government steamer ftanadi has arrived from Tonga with the Premier and 1 Treasurer. Under a guard from H.M.S. Clio the JETi^h Commissioner arrived at Tonga on the Bth hist., and landed. At the British .Residency the following morning he interviewed the King. On Saturday the secretary of the High Commis- ' sioner and the paymaster of the Clio audited the accounts, the Premier and Treasurer being present under guard. The investigation was concluded on Tuesday. Large deficits are reported. On Wednesday the c immissioner said : " You are deported to Fiji for your good and for the good of Tonga. I arrest and deportvou."