INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2913, 12 January 1910, Page 24

INTERCOLONIAL.

MELBOURNE;, January 5. The Federal Customs and Excise revenue for the six months totals £5,783,000, an increase of £279,000 compared with the same period last year. The postal revenue was £1,801',000, an increase of £114,000. January 7. , The owners of the steamer Wakefield, which is leaving Durban for Adelaide at ' the end of the month, have offered to undertake the Waratah search for £3OOO. January 8. With reference •■to a London cablegram Sir W. J. Taverner reports that he is continuing his inquiries into the alleged Australian butler frauds. The general opinion, he says, among English mer- \ chants is that the rumours are unfounded. / January 10. The Government is throwing open 100,000 acres of the nxallee lands to provide homes for 150 settlers. SYDNEY, January 4. The death sentence passed on Alfred George Selby for murdering his wife has been commuted to nenal servitude for I life. January 5. A team of 12 riflemen have,been chosen to proceed to New Zealand to compete iri: the Empire. Match at Trentham next j month, including the following:—W. j Cutler, Kefford, Pigott, Jacobs, Draper, '■ T-iarrison, Bilton, Powitt, Fisher, Ettinghausen, Mathieson. Power, who murdered his wife at Tamworth and then attempted to commit suicide, is recovering from his wounds.

January 6. A private letter received in Sydney predicts that the two eldest sons of the Prince and Princess of Wales will make ah Empire tour next year. Probably a email fleet of warships; will form an escort. The visit will include Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, and South Africa. January 7. The purser's cabin on the s.s. Marama was entered on Wednesday, and the sum of £45, besides jewellery and other effects, stolen. The Herald's final estimate of the New South Wales wheat yield is 25,500,000 bushels, being an average of 14 bv.shels to the acre. BRISBANE, January 4. The State revenue for the six months increased by £113.000, as compared with the same period last year. January 6. It is reported from New Guinea that payable alluvial goldfields have been discovered at Williams River. 120 miles eastward of Port Moresby. Miners, however, are warned against rushing the field pending further information.