TO-DAY'S TELEGRAMS. LATEST EDITION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4572, 17 February 1893, Page 3

TO-DAY'S TELEGRAMS. LATEST EDITION.

tar ELECTRIC TBLEGRAPR.—COPYRIQHT.] [Special to Pbvss Association.] LONDON, Feb. 16. Railway Bates. The Hon A. 3". Mundella, President of the Board of Trade, replying to a deputation, consisting of -two hundred member* of the Souse of Commons, said if the Railway CornDames did not agree to a reduction of rates before Easter, Legislation would 1)e introduced to compel them to do ; so. He admitted that farmers were the worst sufferers. A Curious Case. A curious case is being investigated. A woman bought a child und imputed parentage to a gentleman named Coxob, who married her. Subsequently he was killed in the hunting field; and, the real mother having revealed the sale of the child, CoxoriV family brought an action ago-inst his ■ widow to recover the fortune left the : child by Goxon. A verdict in. favour ' of the family was returned. The Alcohol Bill, The money expended on alcohol in Oreat Britain last year amounted to £140,000,000. Imperial Penny Post. The Chancellor of the Exchequer jfcypnrj .an Imperial penny post; !

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16. Disorderly Legislators. The Democrats packed the Parliament House in Kansas, "but were de- > feated by their opponents, who were i armed and broke down the doors I with sledge hammers. The Governor of the State has asked for a battery i of artillery to be sent to assist him in maintaining order. SYDNEY, Fbb. 17. Press Excluded. In Committee of Ways and Means,, a resolution in favour of the introduction of an Income tax produced an exciting debate in tbe Legislative Assembly. Mr Carruthers was proceeding to criticise the aotion of the Government, when Mr Crick, baoked by five other members, called attention to the presence of Btrangera and the galleries were cleared. Mr Carruthers moved— "That the report of the Committee be taken into consideration after the House has been afforded further opportunity of giving effect to tbe resolution passed in October last in favour of the imposition of direct taxation on land." j He explained that this step was taken, ! not with a view of opposing the Income tax, but in order to bring about a Land tax conjointly. The amendment was rejected by 53 to 45, and the original resolution was carried by 73 to 10. The Premier disclaimed any parb in the exclusion of the Press. The Leader o£ the Opposition, in an interview, condemned the aotion of the Government in forcing the Press and the public to retire from the galleries of the Chamber when an important matter, affecting the taxation of the people, was under consideration, and thus bringing about a secret Parliament. BRISBANE, Feb. 17. Weather Warning* Mr Wragge, the Government meteorologist, predicts squally and unsettled weather, between south and west, between G ibo Island and New Zealand. Heavy Rainfall. Among phenomenal rainfalls recently, a fall of thirty-five inches in twenty-four hours was recorded at the Blackall ranges, about 625 miles north-west of Brisbane. This is believed to be the world's record. Heavy rain is falling at Toowoomba, and moat of the Darling Down stations expeot great floods. Tremendous floods are anticipated in Bundaberg, 272 miles north of Brisbane, and trains are in readiness to convey the inhabitants from North Bundaberg. Drought, If the drought continues in Central Queensland for another two months, most of the stock will be dead. .