INTERCOLONIAL. MELBOURNE, April 5.

Otago Witness, Issue 2665, 12 April 1905, Page 26

INTERCOLONIAL. MELBOURNE, April 5.

The barque Sophocles, which left Ad-e-laide on March 25, wheat laden, was towed in dismantled. Her fore-topmast and foreyard and other top hamper were carried away in a heavy blow, rendering her unmanageable.

The Cabinet has decided that New South. Wales on a population basis is entitled to an additional member in the Federal Parliament, making in all 27, and that Vie-

toria will have to lose one, making 22. Th.3 representation of the other States is unchanged. It is expected that the decision will meet with strong opposition, especially in Victoria.

April 6.

Mr Reid (Premier of the Commonwealth), the Loid Mayor, and many prominent men were at the leception given by the Union Steam Ship Company to Sir Joseph Ward in his official capacity as Postmaster-general of New Z-ealand.

At the Tariff Commission a representative on b°half of the workers in woollen mills advocated increased duties. Samples of locally-made flannels were exhibited, which, according to the city analyst, contained from 29 to 81 per cent, of cotton.

April 7.

Mr Bruce Smith declined to attend th© meetings of the Government party timing the recess owing to the Government policy of passive resistance to Socialism. He says that the Government do. s not go tar enough. An active policy should be fo> loweck

Fifty more disciples of Dr Dowie are leaving for Zion City.

The British Empire League is i?sumg an appeal throughout the Commonwealth with the object of securing the celebration of Empire Day on May 24.

Before the Tariff Commission C Lane, mercer, advocated duties of 75 to 100 per cent, on woollens to cause an inflow of capital to start mills. "One thousand persons were employed in the tailoring trade in Collins street, yet not one yard of Australian tweed was made up.

April 8

O'Brien, formerly manager of the Coinanercial Bank of Maffra, pleaded guilty to larceny of the bank's money. The judge, on the grounds of prisoner's previous excellent character and the manly way he had owned to . his guilt and tried to make reparation, deferred sentence. O'Brien •was released under sureties for his good behaviour.

The Postmaster-general states that as a result of his conference with Mr James Mills, the Vancouver service will be extended for three months pending further .consideration of proposed changes.

- At- a meeting of the Commonwealth Old 'Age -Pensions' Commission, Mr Coglan's report tois read.— It is estimated that the cost on the 2«f£w South Wales basis of an 8s weekly pension would) be £1,630,000. It was suggested by Sir G. Turner that a twopenny tax on the weekly wages of the ■workers would provide £428,000 to supplement the £800,000 from the tea and kerosene taxes to meet the expenses of .the system.

April 10.

The .Administrator of New Guinea has furnished a report on an expedition to part of the interior hitherto considered) inaccessible from the south coast. The journey was very successful. The country is mountainous, well watered, with fine forests. The natives are strikingly fins specimens of the Papuan race, both intellectually and physically. Friendly relations were established.

SYDNEY April 4. Slattery, in his statement before being sentenced to three and a-half years' imprisonment for misappropriating the money of Mrs Scanlon, said that from the first moment he touched the Tyson money it seemed to have cursed him. He never had any luck since. He appealed to the judge in. kindness to give him the full sentence. •He was strong andi bffeve enough to bear the passing of the sentence. Mr Justice Pring said that he regarded horse-race fretting as one of the most cursed vices in the community, and responsible for more crime than any other vice. He hoped that one result of the ease would be to send such a shock throughout the community that the vice might die ont. If it did not, he didi not know what they would come to in Australia. Betting was sapping the life of th.3: country.

April 5.

A Syrian hawker was murdered near Cowra. A man came in a waggon late at night and asked to be supplied with a shirt. When told to wait till the morning he smashed the Syrian's head with a stone.

The Administrator of New Guinea reports that he has re-established friendly relations with the natives of Goaribari, and recovered the skull of the murdered missionary, Dr Chalmers. The rains have assured good winter feed. The rain throughout drenched the wheat belt, and famiei's are jubilant.

The relieved crews of the Penguin and Wallaroo have sailed for England.

The property of the late George Adams, in New South Wales, was valued for private probate at £50,000. The assets are given at £187,000, and the liabilities at £137,000.

A patient in the Sydney Hospital has developed plague. Prior to admission he .•was workless and wandered) in the streets, lodging in various places. Plague rats yreiA found in Kent street.

April 6,

The Government Statistician's report on factories shows that during the year there has been a slight though satisfactory increase in employment and production. A ieature is the increasing tendency to eni--ploy women. The number of males employed increased by 1027 and) females by 1314.

A second case of plague is reported in the City.

Mr Carruthers, the Premier, announced that -nrh.en the year closes he will have paid £350,000 off the sinking funds, and have a surplus of at least £100,000.

Anril 7.

The factories' report shows that the "irages paid) last year were £5,003,000, comipared with £5,080,000 in 1902, though a, larger number of people were employed last year.

Experts .estimate that there were 59,000,000 sheep in New South Wales at the end of 1904.'"

.Negotiations are practically completed for the sale of the Lyceum Theatre to the Methodist Mission. The price paid is over J830,000. The front portion will be transformed into offices, and the main portion used for mission purposes. Seven miles of the Parkes-Candioblin rail-" .way are under water. Many washaways (have been caused by the floods. Traffic is stopped. j

Judge Owen has been appointed a conianissioner to inquire into the recent disclosures connected with land transactions.

Mr Carruthers, the Premier, has received advices from Lordi Jersey that there is a marked improvement in New South 'Wales stock. The market is buoyant, and

the prospects of the loan are mucii improved.

April 8,

The American authorities at Manila are inviting tenders for the supply of 600,0001b of potatoes and 120,0001b of onions.

Mr Carrutbers, speaking at Mudgee, denounced Socialism as an element of class bickering, class differences, and tyranny. The Socialists misdirected their energies, but their enthusiasm was dangerous, and if not fairly faced was fraught with disaster.

April 10. Three cases of plague were reported today. All were traced to Darling Harbour. One victim, a member of the rat-catching staff, has the disease for the second time.

The Postmaster -general states that arrangements for the mail contract have been finally settled, subject to Parliamentary approval.

The new mail contract is from April 4 to January 31, 19&8. It provides for white crews. The Orient Company may determine the contract in the event of any new Commonwealth legislation affecting its finances. The company may determine the contract, but not suspend it, in the event of the declaration of war.

ADELAIDE, April 6.

1?u.9 public 'library, art gallery, and museum will benefit to the extent of £65,000 under the will of the late Dr JMorran Thomas.

BRISBANE, April Y.

A new meat company, with a capital ol £50,000, has been formed at Townsville tor the purpose of acquiring the Alligator Creek Works.

In connection with the death of Manday, who was stuck up on the road to Toowong on the 24th ult. and 1 shot, the bullet passing through his arm into 'vh'j abdomen, Wharton, who was arrested for the offence and identified by Munday, has confessed that he murdered Munday. He alleges that at the time he was out of control of himself, and had' no intention of injuring Munday. The revolver went off while trying to prevent Munday seizing him.

April 8

The Government is seeding a shipment of produce to London for advertising purposes.

PERTH, April 5.

General Booth, accompanied by Commissioner Nicol, Colonel Lawley, and Major Keys, arrived by the steamer Victoria. He had a trying passage, but is in good health. He received hundreds of congratulatory telegrams. The General proaeeds to Melbourne, and thence to New Zealand, where he remains three weeks, opening his campaign in Invercargill.

April 10.

During. Mr William Redmond's visit to Kalgoorlie £1500 was spontaneously subscribed for the campaign funds of the Irish party. .

HOBART, April 5.

It is reported that £150 worth of cigars and cigarettes were smuggled from the British warship. The Customs recovered 1000 cigars and 10,000 cigarettes.