INTERCOLONIAL.

Southland Times, Issue 1795, 19 September 1873, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL.

Melbourne, Sept. 11. The mystery attending the disappearance of B. W. Wardill was cleared up oq the 4th, when his body was found in the river Yarra, near the Punt- road ferry. At the inquest, the jury returned a verdict that deceased committed suicide while in a state of temporary insanity. Wardill had kept a diary, in which full particulars of his defalcations, and betting and mining transactions, were entered. Mr D. B. Morrison (of Morrison and Co , wholesale merchants, Hargrave street), Donald M Couch (a man in the employment of the firm)j and Mr Hicks, coachbuilder, were sailing on the upper reservoir, Sandhurst, in a yacht which had been recently built and sent up from Melbourne. The wind was blowing hard, as it had been all the afterneon. They started from near Stratbfieldsaye, and sailed, with the wind, towards the embankment. When about 400 yards from the embankment, they tried to put the yacht about, when she capsized and went down. Mr Morrison and M' Couch sank with her, and did not rise again. The mild spring weather of the last few weeks has been exchanged for cold, boisterous winds, rain, and snow. The population of the Colony numbered on the 30th June last 780,105. A company has been formed to develope an extensive field of lignite at Lai LaL It is estimated that £1000 would be realised on " Hospital Sunday" in the •Sandhurst district. A shocking accident occurred at Sandhurst on the 9th, in the claim of the Carlyle Company, Garden Gully. James Hamilton, the head engineer, was in the shaft at the 200 ft. level, taking measurements of the pumps. He held out his right hand to pull the knocker, when the cage ascending, cut off his arm above the elbow, and the limb fell down the shaft. ( The prospects of agriculturists are at present highly satisfactory. Stock of all kinds brings good prices. The season for lambing has been favorable, and the produce is above the average. Grain crops were, for the greater part, sown in good time, have brairded well, and are looking healthy and vigorous. Pastures, both natural and artificial, are in' good condition, and as the rainfall has been plentiful, the daily increase of temperature cannot fail to ensure abundance of food for atock. Unfortunately, immense

numbers of caterpillars have made their appearance on the grass lands, and fears are felt of another visitation of locu.3ts, which are just coming to life in the { ground where the eggs have been found to exist in myriads. Sheepshearing, which has commenced in Biverina, and the warmer parts of Victoria, is expected to show «ood results. Bamlord, the common hangman, died in the Melbourne Hospital on the 9th, from dropsy and disease of the heart. In tbe Legislative Assembly the Chief Secretary alluded to the final rejection of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill by the Council, and explained what the intentions of the Government were with regard to the matter. Briefly they may be stated as follows : — That the measures before the House, together with the Land Bill and the Kailway Construe tion Bill, should be passed as rapidly as I possible, and sent to the Legislative ' Council, and that, the present session being brought to a close, bon. members, at the next general election, should consent to subordinate all other subjects to that of a radical reform of the constitution, so that these difficulties between the two Houses which are constantly occurring and obstructing all practical legislation might be prevented for the future, aDd tbe opinion of the country clearly expressed upon the point. The Ararat Agricultural Show was held on the 4th in a continuous snowstorm, which lasted all day. There was the largest number of entries ever made at an Ararat show, 85 in sheep and 30 in cattle. The squatters and selectors keenly competed. The arrangements were well carried out, and all the prizes I were awarded. There was scarcely any- j one present beyond the judges, exhibitors, and the committee. The mounts and hills round Ararat were covered with snow from base to summit. Sydset. The "Roman Catholic Bishops of Brisbane, Bathurst, Groulburn, Armidale, and Maitland, have inaugurated a new Catholic college at Bathurst. A new lead has been opened at Trunkey, with deep sinking, which is payable. The London liner Liberator has been bought here for the China trade. The Government astronomer is arranging to observe the transit of Venus at Sydney, Eden, and Mount Victoria. The Hill End miners intend striking, because their wages have been reduced below 50a a week. The brig Alarm, coal laden, it is supposed has been lost on the voyage from Newcastle to Wellington. The past year's wool export was 3,500 bales short of the previous year's return. The residents of Illawara are agitating for a railway to Sydney. The ship Aireyforce, which arrived on the 6th from Liverpool, whilst anchored at the quarantine ground, parted both anchors and went broadside on to the beach at Little Manly. Tbe tug Goolwa and the Government steamer Thetis towed her off and brought her up to the harbor. The weather wa-< stormy and a heavy sea waa running at the time. Wbfn moored the vessel was reported to be leaking in the fore compartment. A diver examined her bottom, and found the bolts bad started. Wallen, late cashier at the Union Bank at Brisbane, hos been* remanded on a charge of embezzlement. There has been some splendid shooting in the selection practice for the intercolonial team. The Governor of Queensland has released Captain Booth, of the schooner Jason, sentenced to five years' imprisonment for kidnapping in tbe South Seas. He has ouly served two ytars of the time. The fine of £50 has also been remitted. Parliament was opened on the 9th by His Excellency Sir Hercules Kobinson. There was a large attendance of members and visitors. His Excellency's speech congratulated hon. members on the increased prosperity of the colony and the improvement which had taken place in the revenue returns. It then went on to state that the Hon. Saul Samuel, who had been specially delegated to negotiate a mail be vice via San Francisco, had made an arrangement with Mr Russell in London, whereby the colony of New Zealand would join in the Californian contract, and pay half of the expenses, such contract. being subject to the ratification of Parliament. Larger boats would be secured for the service, as well as an increased rate of speed. Bills are promised for the construction of cheap lines of railway ; to remodel the Upper House, to re-adjust the boundaries of electorates, and to increase the number of members of the Assembly. Also for a reform of the Jurisprudence Code, to amend the Lunacy, Distillation, and Mining Statutes ; to simplify the tariff, and to secure to the squatters the right of waterworks erected at their own expense. When the principal measures mentioned have been dealt with, the Government intend to ask Parliament to amend the Land Act. At the adjourned meeting of the Mutual Provident Society, the new byelaws were unanimously adopted. The wreckage and binnacle found near the Seal Rocks have been identified as belonging to the missing steamer Maafu. The ship Callixene, from Liverpool, arrived on the LOth in charge of the chief officer, Captain Deaneby having died the previous Wednesday. Heavy weather was experienced during the voyage, and the second officer was washed overboard and drowned. Ten thousand ewes of mixed ages were sold on account of Messrs M'Culloch, of Colane Station, to Messrs M'Kellar and Holt, of Victoria, at 10s per head. Adelaide. The Rechabites in the colony number 1,900, and they have funds to the amount of £11,000. The Baptist Association have elected the Rev. John Price as chairman. A deputation has asked the Govern-

ment to import a skilled instructor in sericulture. Petitions have been presented to Parliament against the exclusion of the Bible from schools The Irish national books are to be used in schools, and gymnastics and singing are to form part of the educational system. The debate on the bill has been further adjourned. At the August laud sales, 34,000 acres realised £57,000. A woman named Ann Raven has died of lockjaw, the result of a garden fork sticking into her foot. Elizabeth Woolcock has been committed for trial, ou the charge of poisoning her husband at Moonta. The lighthouse at Glenelg jetty w.ns burned on the 7th and th. n cut down and thrown into the sea. The structure was of wood, and it is supposed that the fire waa caused by an explos> >n of a kerosene signal lamp placed there to warn vessels coming. Farm laborers are demanding 30s a week and their rations. The chairman of the Destitute Board states that there is not a single ablebodied pauper in the colony. Seven hundredweight of quirtz from the Outalpa reef, in the Far North, has yielded at the rate of 2ioz. to the ton. - The Supreme Court has awarded £100 damages against Dr Dashwood, of Kooringa, for unskilful treatment in performing a surgical operation. A sale of wheat has been made at 6s 4d. Cornsacks, 13s 6d.