INTERCOLONIAL.

Southland Times, Issue 1705, 21 February 1873, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL.

Melbourne, Feb. 13. ' A summer storm of unusual severity visited Melbourne and suburbs on 6th February. The rain is described as a deluge, and accompanied at times by very beavj hail. Tbe thermometer at tbe time was 82 in the shade. Bourke and Elizabeth streets were flooded. At the foot of Elizabeth street, ntar the Hobson's Bay Railway station, there was a torrent of water rushing down the spacious gutters. An unfortunate cabhorse, while backing to the pavement to take up some passengers, lost its footing, and was carried down some distance, cab and all. Three or four men went to the animal's head, and held it out of the water to prevent it drowning. When it was released from its harness, the rush of water carried the horse right under the footway, but on coming out below tbe bridge it managed to get on its legs again. A nugget weighing 150oz has been found at Smytheedale. Tbe will of the late Walter Montgomery has been proved in the Equity Court. The amount was sworn to be under £2500. The sapphire ring given by H.E.H. the Duk« of Edinburgh on board the Galatea to the testator is left to Mr John Forsyth. The massive gold chain, made to tbe deceased actor's order by Mr Crisp, tbe jeweller, of Queen street, is bequeathed to H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh. It was offered to him as a gift daring the testator's lifetime, but His Royal Higbnesß declined to deprive tbe owner of it. Thirty-six cases of machinery have arrived for tbe Albion Woollen Mills, Geelong. A portion of this machinery consists of four of Platt's reversible loons, tbe first of tbe kind imported into the colony. Further Jarge instalments are expected. The Government have instituted an examination of tbe coal seams in the neighborhood of .Cape Otway, of which good reports bave been received. Tbe larrikins of Melbourne have taken to tbe use of a murderous weapon, composed of a stone slung in a handkerchief. Tbe population of Melbourne and suburbs now amounts to 200,000. Tbe Melbourne Gas Company offers to supply the southern suburbs with gas at 5s 10d per 1000 cubic feet, in order to drive the South Melbourne Gas Company put of the field. Mr Justice Fellows, the newlyappointed Supreme Court judge, donned the ermine tor the first tine on the occasion of tbe sitting of the Maryborough Circuit Court. Tbe event elicited

a complimentary address from the Mayor and Town Council of tbe borough. During the first eight months of 1872, no less than 139 inquests were held on the bodies of male persons in Melbourne and subuibs. Whittington, who killed a man named Young, alias Finniijan, at Alma, on the 7th October, has been acquitted. Deceased had seduced prisoner's wife, and was attempting to enter the house by force when Whittington struck him with a gun-barrel and killed him. At a meeting of Freemasons, a resolution was carried unanimously that it was desirable to form a Grand Lodge of Victoria. It was also agreed that a memorial should be sent home to the three grand lodges of England, Ireland, and Scotland, pointing out the necessity of having a grand lodge, and praying the home grand lodges to recognise it. Sydney. The coal companies are likely to agree, if asked by the men, to make 10| hours a day's work, provided that no further demands are made during the year. James Davies has been committed for trial at Maitland for child stealing. Bail has been refused for the prisoner* under committal for the murder of Dynan at Bathurst. At Carroll and Beard's mine at Hillend tbe crushing has averaged over 70oz. to the ton. The gas company have declared a dividend of 15 per cent., and added £4500 to the reserve fund. The depression in the wool market continues. The strike at Newcastle has terminated, and work is again resumed. The inquest on tbe late fire in Georgestreet has resulted in an open verdict. Captain Daley has been committed for assault on the high seas. The coal companies have raised the price of coal to 12s. A splendid collection of opals from the Abercrombie mine, in the "southern dis trict, is now on exhibition. Last year's gold yield shows 97,0000z. increase. There were 778,6000z. of gold coined at the Sydney Mint last year. Lloyd's agent has returned from the wreck of the Polonaise. He found 19ft. of water in the hold at high tide. The back of the vessel was broken, and she was working heavily. The deck was opening, and the cargo had become sub merged, and wan much damaged by the surf. The foremast, niaintopmast, nvzentopmast, and rudder were gone. The wreck has been purchased by the insurance companies for £1305. The Conference on the 12th held a long sitting, and discussed the Border duties question, and the subject of a customs union on the basis of a common tariff, also the maintenance of Somerset Island, and the question of the Patent Laws. Committees were appointed to sit during the Conference, and on the 14th all the delegates were to assemble at 9 o'clock to conclude business. Adelaide. It it proposed to plant pines and other descriptions of trees along the railway lines. The South Australian Insurance Company's report shows a profit of £11,000 for the year. The Commissioner of Crown Lands purposes proceeding by the next mail steamer to Ceylon, in oder to obtain information about the pearl fisheries which may be of use in connection with the fisheries on the North Australian coast ; from thence he will go to Batavia and Timor to arrange for a supply of coolie labor, and ascertain about the delivery of mails at Palmerston. He will afterwards visit the Northern Territory, and bring the new Land Act into operation there. Seamen's wages home have risen to £9 and £10 for the voyage. The January land lales reached to 22,000 acres, of the value of £25,000. The Natal papers ppeak highly of Mr Anthony Muograve's action on constitu- | tional questions. During a monsoon an inch of rail fell at Port Darwin in a quarter of an hour. Two seamen, belonging t<> H.M.S. Clio, have been committed for trial for stabbing a policeman in a house of ill fame. It is reported that orders for 20,000 tons wheat have been closed for. A telegram received from Port Darwin, reports a German, who had been engaged as a digger in Victoria, and who went there by the Claymore, had reached Palmerston with 220z. of gold, all alluvial ; and a further telegram, of date 10th inst., says that the sample is in lumps varying from 15dwt to 25dwt. The gold was obtained close to the Priscilla Reef, and the man says that he sold several extra ounces for rations. The Government has received a telegram, dated February 10, from Port Darwin, which states Cleland and party had just returned from the Daly River, per boat. They ascended the river for over 100 miles, and describe it as being finer than the Adelaide. It was 200 yards wide at the point they reached, and was navigable for small vessels. The country they considered the finest yet seen in the North. The submarine cable laid between Singapore and Penang (400 miles) has become interrupted, and communication with Europe is therefore temporarily suspended. The nature and extent of the interruption is not yet known. Corn&acks, 14» lid. Wheat firm at 4s s£d to 4s 6d. Flour, £10 10s to £11. Laukceston. A number of the navvies on the main line of railway have struck work, and demand 7s per day wages. Tbe new wheat is commencing to arrive in town The yield and quality are good. The prices asked are from 4e to 4s 3d. Mr Tallerman has addressed a letter to the Governor, advising the preservation and exportation of rabbits, which are a nuisance in the midland districts. Official returns show that over £16,000 worth of Tasmanian gold was exported i last year ; but the Launceston Collectoi

of Customs states that a considerable quantity was taken away privately. A trout, weighing 81b 70z., was caught in the Clyde river, near Bothwell. The Tapmanian Turf Club has passed a resolution disqualifying John B. Wallia from ever appearing on the course under its management.