INTERCOLONIAL. MELBOURNE, December 11.

Otago Witness, Issue 2805, 18 December 1907, Page 26

INTERCOLONIAL. MELBOURNE, December 11.

Myriads of locusts invaded the Bendigo line, and tied up tbe traffic for two hours. The divorce 6iiifc Pappens v. Pappens has commenced. The husband, who is the petitioner, claims £5000 damages from the co-respondent, Prendergast, the leader of the State Labour party. December 12. At the Kauri Timber Company's annual meeting, the chairman stated that the j period was one of the best in the existl ence of the comjjany. The debenture debt

i had been reduced to £46,000, and the profits amounted to £37,398. A dividend* I of 50 per cent. (?) was declared and £8148 i carried forward, while a 10 per cent. ' bonus was allotted to the salaries of the ! staff. December 14. The additional Estimates to be submitted to the Federal Parliament next year provide for £120,000 for the Postal and Telegraphic services. < SYDNEY, December 11. The Lithgow Smelters' Union has adopted a resolution asking the' Ironworkers' Union to consider a proposal to acquire an interest in Messrs Sandford's works, investing £50,000 therein. December 12. As a team of 12 bullocks was passing over apparently hard ground near Maitland the ground collapsed to a depth of 4ft. A fire was smouldering beneath, and eight bullocks were burned to death, while three others' were burned severely. The driver's feet were scorched while he was rescuing them. , December 14. A large outcrop of stone has been discovered about 40 miles to the south- • wesj. of Jervis Bay. The "samples assayed yielded 40oz of silver to the ton, 50 per cent, of lead, 33- per cent, of zinc, and 17 per cent, of copper. The committee of the Royal Shipwreck Relief Society urges that more frequent visits be paid to the Auckland Islands. The Premier has made representations to the New Zealand Government on the matter. December 16. The Hawke's Bay has arrived from New York. For three days the vessel threaded her way through a field of icebergs of great size. It is estimated that she passed between '400 and, 500. The steamer was 500 miles southward of her usual course. An attempt was made on Saturday to detail the Adelaide express near Horsham. Five sleepers were placed on the rails, but the engine, which,was travelling' at a high speed, cut through the obstruction without leaving the rails. I BRISBANE, 'December 10. ' ' A cylinder of ammonia exploded onthe wharf at Cairns, - and the Customs officer and two others were injured, having to be removed to the hospital. It is believed that the explosion was caused by the intense heat. PERTH, December 12. Lewis, a tramway employee, while repairing an overhead wire, was electrocuted near Boulder City.