(PER WAKATIPU.) Brisbane, May 3.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1885, 11 May 1878, Page 2

(PER WAKATIPU.) Brisbane, May 3.

A meeting was held at Cooktown last night to petition the Government to take off taxes on the Chinese, and pass a Bill prohibiting them from working on new gold-fields for three years. Withorington, master, and Munro, one of the crew, of the schooner Ottawa, have each been sentenced to six months' hard labor for causing ths wrock of the vessel through drunkenness and neglect. Melbourne. The Cable Conference is fixed for the 9th inst. In a trial of Woods' brake, in a descent of 1 in 25, a train was stoppod in 37f sees in a distance of 2165 ft. Tito train was running Q 6 miles per hour. The will of the late Judge Fellows hfti been proved at L 25,000, and that of Edward WiUon, one of the late proprietors of the " Argus " at L 23,000 in Victoria. A deputation of booksellers waited on the Postmaster-General with a view of obtaining a reduction of postage on magazines sent to neighboring Colonies, and the adoption of a uniform rate on newspapers. Minister replied favorably. Adelaide. The Queen has conferred the title of honorable on Mr Colton, late Premier ; and on Mr Curr, late Commissioner for Crown Lands. By cable from London, dated April 29, it is reported that the barque Cleopatra, bound for Melbourne, was stranded on March 22nd, nesr Pernambuco, and that armed natives plundered the cargo. The crew were rescued, and taken to Liverpool. m __ m ___ m _ mm __ im^____ mm