INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 24

INTERCOLONIAL.

MELBOURNE, June 1. The Victorian State revenue for the 11 Joonths decreased by £422,651.

The prhe of milk has been raised to Is 8d per gallon. June 2. As a result of a conference between the Government and meat importers, the local price of meat has been reduced. Exports for the time are restricted, and when the present contract for the supply of the Imperial authorities is completed a revised scale of prices will be submitted. June 3. The Federal Executive has authorised the increase of the commonwealth rlote issue to £33,000,000. The commonwealth quarantine authorities have included venereal diseases in the list of diseases which the captains of vessels arriving at Australian ports are required to notify. June 4 Mr Mahon stated to-day that Sir Geo. Reid will not be reappointed as High Commissioner after the expiration of his present term. June 5. The Government Statistician estimates that the commonwealth population at the end of last year as 4,940,952 —an increase of 68,993 over that of 1913. The States represented at the Panama Exposition are not satisfied with the appointment of Mr Oughton as secretary of the commission. They, consider that the withdrawal of the commissioners has made Australia appear small in America’s eyes. The June Supply Bill for £2,023,000 was passed by the Federal House of Representatives. June 7. The State Government blames the sh s* age of meat to the shipping of large stocss to Europe, South Africa, British Ease Africa and India. SYDNEY, June 1. A tragedy has occurred in Riley street. A tailor named Harry Lewis shot his landlady (Mrs Annie Stern) and himself. Both are dead. Jealousy was the cause of the tragic finale to frequent quarrels arising out of Mrs Stern resenting Lewis’s undesired attentions. Sir James Fairfax has been appointed president of the Sydney National Art Gallery. The New South Wales State revenue for the past 11 months shows an increase of £337,383, as compared with the corresponding period of the previous year. June 2. The meat packers complain that the Wrr Office is turning down all Australian tenders for tinned meats without giving any reason, while it is placing huge orders with the Argentine and the United States packers at prices higher than the Australian packers are willing to accept. They point out Hiat as they are debarred from sending meat outside the British Empire, unless the position quickly alters, the packers will be compelled to close down.

The Government is appointing two women as police, chiefly for the protection of girls and women. If their services prove satisfactory further appointments will be made. A Cabinet meeting decided to separate the Departments of Land and Agriculture. Mr Grahame, recently Assistant Minister, has been appointed Minister of Agriculture, and Mr Ashford takes the Lands portfolio. The Broken Hill Company's steel works at Waratah have been opened. They are capable of turning out 120,000 tons of steel rails a year. The police are unable to trace the German responsible for the shooting at Richmond. A fire broke out in the lower hold of the steamer Suevic, lying at the wharf, and did slight damage. The facts point to incendiarism. Mr Hall (Attorney-general) - has obtained evidence that considerable quantities of fodder are being held back, justifying the seizure of certain stocks. It is believed that seizure would result in securing enough fodder to meet immediate requirements. June 3. Municipal the number of 153 have agreed to support and follow the King’s movement in abstaining from intoxicants during the war. There were over 200 applicants for the positions of women police. June 4. A mass meeting of the Colonial Sugar Company’s workers protested against the importation of refined sugar, which would result in closing the works and inflicting a hardship upon thousands of men. The dispute over Hie question of the conditions of work of the British crews in the State trawlers has been settled. ' ••June 7. Five of the Newcastle coal mines are idle through slackness of trade. The weather was fine for the King’s Birthday. The usual salutes were omitted. The various sporting events were largely attended.

BRISBANE, June 3.The population of Queensland at the end of last year was 676,707.