INTERCOLONIAL. MELBOURNE, February 25.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 26

INTERCOLONIAL. MELBOURNE, February 25.

.Senator Best announced in. the Senate that the Imperial Government had aTeed to allow the Common-wealth to coin its oh n silver. February 27. Just before the chief event of ths C'amawatha races a masked man stuck up the gatekeepers, and, presenting a levolver, demanded the takings. The gatekeepers tried to secure the robber, and in the struggle the robber deliberately fired his revolver at one of the keepers, but missed him. He then escaped. MELBOURNE, February 28. Mr Deakin, addressing the first of a series of meetings that are intended to stimulate interest in the Government defence proposals, said that the scheme was one of defence, not offence. It meant cocperat'ion with the Imperial Navy and the development of the beet-trained forc.es in j close alliance with the Imperial Army, i Thers was jk> intention to check the , Volunteer movement. February 29. At the half-yearly meeting of the Met- ! bourne Steamship Company Mr Read, the ; chairman, said that over £12,000 was , annually pa-id among the companies in claims for theft from the wharves. Referring to the Navigation Bill, he said that it was calculated to destroy the trade of Australia, and if passed would debar some of the finest steamers in the world from coming here. v March 2. The arcival of the s.s. Suevic attracted ' a large crowd of sightseers, who were i baffled in their attempt to discover the j point of junction between the after part and the new fore part. SYDNEY, February 25. The City Electric Lighting Committee I has discussed the expert's report. This showed that the engines were in urgent need of an overhaul, and in some cases unsafe to woi'k. The committee decided that immediate repairs be carried out. \ February - 26. Lord Roberts has accepted the honorary colonelcy of the Royal Australian Artillery, offered to him by the Federal Government. February 27. The Government is issuing £580,000 of funded stock at 3£ per cent. Before the Coal Mining Court the representatives of the coal-owners gave evidence to the effect , that much foreign trade had been lost and numerous laTg« cortracts cancelled owing to the December , strike. j Archdeacon Abbott, of Tamworth, in . sending his resignation to the Bishop of Tne diocese, pointed out that in five years' he had received £1952 from the parish' and had expended £1750 on its woTk.He had been unable to save any moneyout of which to replace necessary things winch, after five years' wear and tear, were almost worn out. A lad named O'Brien, who was work- ' ing in Druitt street, Sydney, has beeni ! attacked by plague. February 28. j The Government will appoint a Roya 1 ; Commission to report on the beat means of improving traffic facilities in Sydney and of beautifying the city. The municipal, professional, and commercial inter- • ests will be represented. I February 29. | A.t a banquet at Newcastle the Premier j foreshadowed a Wages Board Bill. The i Government, he 'said, should see that the j necessary machinery was provided for con- I tinuity of work in every industry. He ; asked the assistance of all sections to remedy the existing ineffective arbitration . legislation. It was a necessity of that tribunal that, to deal with promptness on all questions, it be presided over by a man engaged in the industries concerned. '"• Mr P. Howells has, engaged the Royal Artillery Band to visit Australia and New Zealand to give a series of concerts commencing in May. ' March 2. The report of the Committee of Inquiry into the use of electricity in mines, in its general conclusions, states that with proper precautions electricity may be 6afely employed in collieries. The Union Steam Snip Company has bought the Miowera. She will be placed in the New Zealand trade. She sails on the 14th inst. PERTH, February 28. The harbourmaster, reporting on the wreck csf the steamer Windsor, says tlhat owing to the heavy sea tihe vessel was steered badly. The helmsman probably gave too match weather helm, and t-ne course set, if followed, was too fine. He commends the efforts towards rescue, and considers that the brave attempts of the chief engineer (Jenkins), who perished whilst trying to carry a lifeline ashote, should be recognised. February 29. ' Colreavy's party has returned aiter six months' prospecting in the Mackay Ranges. The nlaitives were found very hostile, and once the party was surrounded and the oamp threatened with spears. The party fired, killing two. The rest fled. March 2. Mrs Crawford, a leading English suffragette, has arrived here. She comes as the agent of 11 other women of means who intend taking up land in Australia. They are attracted to Australia by the fact of women being enfranchised. They also intend to establish a sanatorium for AngloIndians. KALGOORLIE, February 25. l A cxclone t accompanied by heavy rain,

swept over the town, and levelled several dwellings. The damage to the Town Hall, now in course of • erection, was £2000. The storm demoralised the electric light and tram services, and v the town was for several hours in darkness. At the hospital some of the patients were washed out of their beds. February 27. A miner named Hutchen fell down, the Golden Horseshoe mine and was killed. His companion, Griffiths, on going to his assistance, met with a similar fate.