INTERCOLONIAL.

Southland Times, Issue 1681, 27 December 1872, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL.

(From files per Albion.) Melbourne, Dec. 19. The Rev. Dr Geddie, well known as a missionary, engaged for several years past in translating the Bible into the Anitum language, died at Geelong on the 14th, of paralysis. He was 57 years of age. At a meeting of the Victorian Beetroot Sugar Company it was decided to empower the directors to borrow money on mortgage of the company's property, in order to pay off the liabilities and carry on operations. A cricket match between a Victorian team and representatives of New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania comes off during the Christmas holidays. Swarms of locusts passed through the town of Stawell for the last three days. It is expected that the AttorneyGeneral, Mr J. W. Stephen, will be appointed Minister of Education. Parliament was prorogued on the 17th till the 3Otb January. His Excellency the Governor assented to 23 bills, the Marriage with a Deceased Wife's Sister Bill and the Church of England Bill being reserved for Her Majesty's pleasure. At a meeting of operative bakers the following resolutions were adopted : — l. That printed circulars be sent to all shops where non-society men are working, asking their co-operatiou in the movement about to be taken. 2. That 10 hours' labor constitute a day's work. 3. Tiut the time of commencing be left an open question until the employers have been communicated with. 4. That a more uniform rate of pay be established throughout Melbourne and suburbs. 5. That no member sleep or board at the shop he is working at. Mr Stephen George Henty died on the 18th, at Tarrington station, near Hamilton. At a meeting of the Executive Council on the 18th, Mr Fellows was appointed a judge of the Supromo Court, and Mr Bunny a deputy County Court judge to act during the absence on leave of Judge Forbes. Leave of absence was given to Mr Justice Fellows to enable him to visit New Zealand before entering upon his judicial duties. Mr Justice Fellows, in an address to the electors of St. Kilda, takes leave of his former constituents. In doing so he says : — " Jn severing the connexion which has bo long and so harmoniously existed between us, I may, perhaps, be allowed to express a hope that the universal kindness which I hate fortunately met with at the outset of my new career may induce people to look favorably on the efforts which I shall make to serve them, whether rich or poor,' without fear, favor, or affection.' " Sir Francis Murphy has been returned to the Legislative Council for the Eastern Province. A heavy gale passed over Melbourne and suburbs on the 17th. Diphtheria has made its appearance in Geelong. Within the past few days several cases hare broken out, adults ac well as children suffering from the epidemic. Stdnet. Parliament meets, after the Christmas recess, on 7th January. The Assembly negatived the vote of £2000 towards the London Exhibition by. a majority of three. Sir James Martin intends shortly to try- the strength of the protection party in the Assembly. Fiji adrices to the 27th November report that the annexation movement is spreading, but that the present officeholders are exerting their influence against it. A disturbance was threatened at some of the outlying islands, which the Government had despatched a steamer with a native force to quell. The schooner Kate Grant bad been wrecked off the coast of Fiji. The owner, named Hoss, builder, of Levuka, had previously been killed by the Drummond islanders. The Supreme Court has decided that the Imperial Act, winding up the European Assurance Company, is fatal to actions raised here. The Exhibition Committee have telegraphed to Sir Charles Cowper, the agent-general in England, to stop the building of the. New South Wales annexe at the International Exhibition, in consequence of the refusal of Parliament to vote the money. The Government have stopped the prosecution against Fallon for the Carl murders, and accept him as evidence against Mount and Morris. One of the senior boys on board the training-ship Yernon has committed a murderous assault on another lad in the same ship. Great floods are reported in the Bathurst district, and the town of Kelso is submerged. There are now no hopes of saving the crops. A large public meeting was held on the 17th to celebrate the jubilee of Dr Lang's

ministry, and several handsome souvenirs were presented. Advicea from New Georgia Island state that when the war steamer Blanche called there, Londo, the principal chief, hid himself in the bush until the vessel left. Two friendly chiefs afterwards caused his execution for authorising the Marion ttenny and Pearl massacres. The French transport, Virginie, with 200 Communist convicts, baa arrived at New Caledonia. Three tenders have been received for the Californian mail contract, two colonial and one English. The particulars will not transpire until a decision is arrived at by the Executive. Steps have been taken for the arrest of Warren, defaulter from the City Bank, at Auckland. The police here have in«, formation that he took £1000 in notes. Adelaide. At the annual meeting of the Bible ; Society, the speakers, in condemning the Carl atrocities, expressed satisfaction at I the course adopted by the British Go vernment for the suppression of the South Sea traffic. It is confidently expected now that the surplus of breadstuff's will reach over 200,000 tons. Locusts were flying about the etreets of Adelaide on the 14th. The Savings Bank's tender for £35,000 of Treasury bills has been accepted at 9s 5d above par. A cyclone is reported to have taken place between the Finnis and Adelaide rivers, during which 1,000 trees were blown down along the telegraph line. Sergeant Etheredge, of the metropolitan police, who was specially referred to in the report of the commission, has resigned. A rich gold leader, 18 inches wide, has been discovered on the Kapunda Company's claim, at Ham Creek. The Government have decided to retain Inspector Bee, but most of the other men mentioned in connection with the police inquiry will be discharged. The G-eraldine's cargo of sugars from Mauritius, was all Fold, browns at £27 ; yellow counters, £30 to £33 10s ; white crystals, £37 ; brewing, £35 ; snowdrop, £38 10s, Wheat has been sold at 4s 8d for delivery in December. Country flour, £12 ; bran, 10§d. Brisbane. Tenders for a loan of half a million sterling have been opened. The minimum was £86. Over £1,300,000 was tendered for, and £161,400 accepted, of which £139,100 was at £95. The Government will not reduce the minimum, but the balance is likely to be placed easily.