INTERCOLONIAL BREVITIES.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 23 March 1901, Page 4

INTERCOLONIAL BREVITIES.

During a storm at Grafton, N.S.W., the other day, no less than thirteen points of rain fell in the space of ten minutes. The Sydney Chamber of Commerce is drawing up a commercial curriculm, in response to a request from several schoolmasters.

The steam yacht Shemara, purchased for the N.S.W. Government in England, is a vessel of 810 tons yacht measurement built in 1899.

The Sydnej Labour Council has carried a resolution affirming the desirability of taking stops to abolish sweating in the tailoring trade. The Mount Morgan Company last month treated 18,740 tons for 18,088 oz of gold, being the largest and best average yield since September. The Victorian Cabinet has decided that 3rd Juno, the birthday of the Duke of Cornwall and York, shall be observed as a public holiday in lieu of the 24th May. The Federal Treasurer, Sir George Turner, states that the federal expenditure for the month of February including the Governor General and Ministers’ salaries, totals £IBCO.

The manager of tho South Australian Wine Depot in London reports that sales of wine from the depot during last year exceeded 100,000 gallons, and that so far during the presene year tho increase has has been well maintained. Tho nude remains of an unknown man were found on Yancannia Run, near Milparinka, in tho far north-west of N.b.W. Deceased had only just died from thirst when a heavy thunderstorm occurcd, leaving water all round him. The Minister for Mines and Agriculture N.S.W., has decided to construct at onco grain elevators and cold storage premises at Newcastle, at a cost of about .£(30,000. The Minister has £IOO,OOO under his controlo for the purpose.

Tho Federal Prime Minister is now considering the appointments to be made in connection with tho Commonwealth Parliament. Mr Barton proposes to go to Melbourne early in April, in order to make arrangements for the opening of the first session.

The total number of old-age pensions paid on the Ist inst. by the Victorians Treasury through the pay and Post Offices throughout the State totalled 8500. Tho pensions averaged a little over 7s 6d a week each, or at tho rate of about £170,000, a year. As all tho claims for pensions have not yet been dealt with, thso sum will be largely increased by the end of this month.