INTERCOLONIAL

Otago Witness, Issue 2667, 26 April 1905, Page 23

INTERCOLONIAL

MELBOURNE, Apiil 20. Mr Irvine, ex-Premier of Victoria, proposes to enter Federal i^olitics

April 21

The police are tracking the man Edwards, the mate of Skinner, who is suspected of taurdering Skinner

In connection with the mysterious removal of £2000 from the Bendigo branch of the Bank of Australasia some time ago five criminal summonses have been served upon Grey, the teller, charging him with embezzlement and falsification of the accounts.

SYDNEY, April 19.

One of the plague patients is dead

The Australian Jockey Club has amended its miles so as to exclude bookmakers from membership.

To-day was judging day at the Koyal Agricultural Show. The exhibits number over 1100 above those of any previous year, and are generally of excellent quality. The championships resulted as follows : — Blood stallion, Mr Browne's Sir Foote ; mare, Mr Dean's Chesilbank ; trotting stallion, Mr Playfair's Ribbonwood ; mare, Mr Becket's Julian ; coacher's stallion, Mr Charley's Baron. The official opening by the Governor takes place to-morrow.

Giving evidence before the Old-age Pensions Commission, the Acting Government Statistician estimated that a Federal scheme, based on the New South Wales rate of payment, would -cost £1,476,000. Instead of decreasing since the Old-age Pensions Act came into force, there had been a large increase in both the number of patients and the revenue available for Jistribution by charitable institutions.

Mr Watson, in a speech dealing with the Socialistic tendency of the Labour movement, and replying to Mr Reid's recent criticisms, said that while Mr Reid was agreeable to proceeding halfway towards the attainment) of his ideals, the Labour party would be satisfied with nothing short of legislation of a decided Socialistic character. He (Mr Watson) favoured the collective ownership of monopolies and the extension of the industrial and economic functions of the State and the municipality. That was the present aim of the Labour party. The securing of complete Socialism must, however, be a matter of slow development.

April 20.

The quarterly banking returns show that the proportion of cash to deposits and notes is 3s 9|d>, a slight decrease. For the year ended March the deposits increased over two millions.

Another plaguo patient is dead, and two fresh cases are reported.

After the shipping inspector had given evidence that the Brynhilda was in perfect sea-going order, 14 of the crew were "sentenced to 12 weeks' imprisonment on a j charge of combining to refuse duty. | Mr Deakin, addressing the New South ! Wales Alliance, said that- if ever a country j had been baptised in alconol it was Ausj tralia. The drink problem was one of

tnose great issues which the Federal and State members could tight side by side. The fight called for a united and determined effort. Despite the good work done by the temperance bodies, the consumption of liquor had increased in New South Wales and Victoria during the past 10 years. Mr Deakin took the progress of temperance :n New Zealand as .an example of what they should strive for in Australia.

The Agricultural Society's show was opened by the Governor. The main topic of the speeches was the returning prosperity of the agricultural and commercial interests. There was a large attendance. At the cattle sales in connection with the show two young shorthorn bulls sold for 525gs and 320gs respectively : five shorthorn bulls, the property of Mr John Grant, of New Zealand, brought 130gs, lOOgs, 75gs, 65gs, and o2gs respectively. Prices generally were good.

April 21

There was glorious weather for the holiday, which was semi-religiously observed The show was the cnief attraction. There

was an enormous attendance

April 22.

The weather was fine at the show yesterday. About 50,000 persons were present, which is a record for Good Friday. The New Zealand-bred Prince Charlie was

April 23. " Towns has accepted Stanbury's challenge to row for the sculling championship and £500 aside, the time and place to be fixed later.

The steamer Fultala, from Madras, via Fiji, has arrived with a case of smallpox aboard. The victim is a coolie. The vessel and crew were quarantined.

Apiil 24.

The Lord) Mayor yesterday entertained 1077 of the poor peoj)le of the city to an faster dinner in the Town Hall.

At the stock sales in connection with the, show three Ayrshire bulls belonging to Mr J. Grant, of New Zealand, sold at 15gs, 21gs, and 32gs respectively. The milking test was won by Mr Wedlock's cqw (a Durham and Ayrshire cross), which in three- days'- milkings yielded 199.91b of milk, containing 8.641b of butter.

There are two more cases of plague reported.

Mr O'Sulli'van, ex-Minister of Works, is a passenger by the Waikare. He goes to New Zealand) to inquire into the working of State insurance, compulsory aibitration, closer settlement, and the unemployed questions.

Tlyj Fultala, which recently took a shipload of 'coolies from Madras to Suva, was strictly quarantined before resuming her voyage to Sydney.

A shock of earthquake at Malo Pass (New Hebrides) at the end of March, followed by a tidal wave, lifted the schooner Lola, which was ashore, into deep water.

AUELaiDE, April 19

The Inter -State Conference of Licensed Victuallers, now sitting here, decided to form a Fedeial organisation. It was re-

solved that local option without compensation was a gross breach of faith, and tantamount to repudiation.

April 21

A deputation from the two lacing clubs asked the Government to compel the police to assist tne clubs in removing bookmakers from courses. The Chief Secretary promised if it was found impossible to vindicate the law to introduce legislation to check the evil. Clubs had made several etiorts to remove it. but failed owing" to the police declining to assist.

HOBART, April 19

The. landlord_oi a hotel was fined) £50 for having in his possession portion of the cigars and cigarettes smuggled from the warship Cadimus. The man who induced the landlord to purchase the goods deserted) from his ship. THURSDAY ISLAND, April 24. Japanese smugglers recently successfully got away with two pearling luggers.