INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3197, 23 June 1915, Page 16

INTERCOLONIAL.

MELBOURNE, June 17. The Australian High Court has declared the Federal land tax valid. The main point involved was whether the Federal Government had power to levy such taxation on State property. Mr Hagelthorne, Minister of Public Works, has resigned his position to go to the Panama Exposition. Drummond and Co. are offering a reward of £2OO for information leading to the conviction of the thieves and the recovery of the stolen rings. June 18. The Victorian State Cabinet has appointed a Royal Committee to inquire Into the export of frozen meat. June 20. The High Court has delivered its reserved decision respecting the application of Alexander Reid, of Stratford (New Zealand), for a commonwealth patent' in

... I August, 1913, for an improved milking machine pulsator. The court made abso- ! lute an order nisi for a mandamus direct-, ! ing the Commissioner of Patents to hear . and determine the appellant’s application. ‘ June 21. ! Mr Alfred Farthing, a member of the > Victorian Legislative Assembly, is claim--5 ing £SOOO damages from the Rev. Henry * Worrall for alleged libel contained in tFe 1 words: “I have no hesitation in saying that Mr Farthing secured his seat by the . ■ three ‘E’s’—Rascality. Rum, and Rome.” The Mount Lyell returns from May 13 to June 9 show that the converters pro- > duced 594 tons of copper and 34,6030 z , of silver. The quantity of gold is not • stated i SYDNEY, June 15. The Hon. Mr Carmichael has been api. pointed a commission to inquire into the administration of the Yanko irrigation area, as allegations of corruption have been made by the settlers. His report will be , a guide as to the future irrigation policy i of New South Wales. The passengers on the Moeraki had an exciting experience. They noticed a strong smell of ammonia, the ship being filled with it, and it was believed that a fire had broken out. When the men descended j into the bold they discovered 'that a drum j containing chemicals had started to leak. They were for a time overpowered by the ■ fumes, but succeeded in getting the drum on deck. | The press contains appreciative refer- 1 ' ences to Mr Audley Coate, the cable pro- : moter, who died at Riverstone, aged 78 years. The body of a man, supposed to be \ John J. Park, was found suspended from ; a bridge over a creek at Lismore. The deceased was a stranger who had recently arrived, and is believed to have been a New Zealand gumdigger. An old fellow | lodger and he were penniless. June 16. j The New South Wales State criminal returns for 1914 show 92,467 cases —an increase of 2203. The metropolitan cases decreased by 1077. The report indicates that crimes of violence are increasing, | I while drunkenness' is decreasing. The death is announced of Lady Harris, ! wife of Sir Matthew Harris, ex-Mayor of j j Sydney. j j Archdeacon Boyce estimates the New South Wales 1914 drink bill at £8,012,118, J ■being an increase of £525,241 over the I previous year’s figures. The total con- | sumption for 10 years' is valued at £59,783,088. ‘ | June 17, Owing to the war the meeting of the Australasian Science Congress, fixed, for |

Hobart in has been postponed till 1917. June 18. The Minister of Public Instruction (Mr Griffith), replying to a prohibition party deputation asking that school children be taught the injurious effects of liquor, said : “If I were Czar in this country I. would abolish the sale of intoxicants altogether.” He addqd that a text book was being prepared that would meet the deputation’s request. The mineral output of New South Wales in 1914 was valued at £10,409,702 —a decrease of £1,595,365. The chief decreases were in lead, zinc, tin, and copper, as a '■ result of the war. June 21. 1 After a strike lasting 13 months, the Whitbourn colliers resume work to-day. , ADELAIDE, June 18. The Government is importing frozen meat for supplying direct consumers. The first shipment will arrive next week. BRISBANE, June 9. ! A mass meeting of the Colonial Sugar Company’s employees passed a resolution protesting against the proposed importa- ■ tion of refined sugar. Mr Hamilton has been sworn into the new Cabinet as Minister without portfolio. It is stated that he will administer the Department of Mines. The Rev. Henry Newton, of New Guinea, has been unanimously elected Bishop of Carpentaria, i June 15. < The Minister of Education has decided to abolish home lessons for children, excepting for those studying for examinai tions. June 21. ! Passengers by the Marsina from Rabaul state that the natives are troublesome in parts of German New Guinea, arid it is reported that they have murdered a white trader. PERTH, June 16. Starting with a credit balance of £3955, the Westralian Turf Club ended the year with a debit of £3855. The falling off is largely attributed to overracing. The club voted £4OOO to the war funds. j June 21. The Control of Trade Commission has fixed the price of chaff at £l4 per ton.