INTERCOLONIAL.

Southland Times, Issue 1814, 4 November 1873, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL.

Melbourne, Oct. 28. Specimens of excellent tobacco, grown at Colae, have been received in Geeloug. The Mining on Private Property Bill has been thrown oat by the Legislative Council. An infant was found on tbe doorstep of the Rev. Dr Cairns's residence, Eaßt Melbourne, and subsequently adopted by a married young woman who had no children of her own. Several other cases of child abandonment are reported. An experiment at making gas from petroleum is about to be tried at Geelong. It is said that 7uO ft of gas can be made from 15d worth of petroleum. Plans for the new theatre at Sandhurst are almost complete. It is estimated to cost £15,000. A miner named Robert Alexander was killed in the shaft of the Llanberris Company, BaUarat, byfallingfromthe chamber on the 200 ft. level to the 600 ft. chamber at the bottom of the shaft. At the inquest the jury gave it as their opinion that the fall of deceased was caused by the neglect of the mining manager, John Lewis Pritehard, in not having proper and safe appliances for caging the trucks at the 200 ft. level. The coroner at once issued hia warrant for the arrest of Pritcbard on a charge of manslaughter. Hector Wilson and Michael Pender, two scions of " the wealthy lower orders," hare been sentenced to one week's imprisonment for assaulting Mr Wilson, proprietor of Scott's Hotel, in his own house, the landlord having incurred their displeasure through having having given them notice to quit on account of their ungentlemanly conduct. The third spring show of the National Agricultural Society was opened on the 23rd, The exhibition was the best ever held in the spring in Victoria. A fine sample of coal has been obtained near the Moe, Gipps Land. Tbe opening of the North-eastern railway to Wangaratta was celebrated by a banquet and ball on the 27th. A clerk in the Land Office is reported to have left his post rather suddenly for New Zealand. An examination of his books shows discrepancies amounting to £20, but these are supposed to be merely inaccuracies in book-keeping. Four hundred and eighty entries have been received for the Intercolonial Rifle Matches. New Zealand sends twentyfour. Syditet. The ship Border Chief was struck by a heavy sea off the Cape of Good Hope, and the second mate, carpenter, and sailmaker were drowned. The steamer Ballina picked up a small empty yacht at sea, which is supposed to belong to IS ewcastle. The ship Samuel Plimsoll has been chartered to bring the first batch of immigrants from London. Mr Roberts, formerly a resident here, has been murdered by natives at Espiritu Santo. The whaler Fanny Fisher has arrived with 73 tuns of oil and 20001 bof bone. At a meeting of over 1000 ironworkers, it was resolved to maintain the demands which they had made. Only one firm

has offered compliance. Several shops have struck already, and others will on Ist November. Three hundred and fifty-nine candidates have passed the University examination. Clay, draper, of Newcastle, has filed his schedule, with debts £6000 In the Assembly, the secon<i reading of the Permissive Bill was moved, and the debate adjourned for a fortnight. The pubHeans hare formed an association to oppose its passing. The police at Dalby have captured Garbett, the supposed perpetrator of the Taroom murder, after a d< sperate res s tance. Several shots were exchanged. A laborer named Fitzmaurice was drinking in the but of a man named Callum at Bogolong Creek. A quarrel ensued, when Fitzmaurice shot Callum, who was killed on the spot. Telegrams from the Palmer Jiiver report that there are fair gold prospects, but no food. The wet season is driving numbers away. Flour is Is 6d per lb. The blacks have speared three diggers. Augustus Miller has been sentenced to death at Bathurst for rape, without hope of mercy. Eichard Fitzmaurice has been committed for wilful murder at Gundagai. Ashcroft, the horse-stealer, who was lately captured after a chase of 1,000 miles, has escaped from Dubbo Gaol. Russell's foundry has conceded to the ironworkers' demands. The A.S.N. Company's men are still out. Cable, Tickle, and Co., warehousemen, have been forced into the Insolvent Court by the pressure of English creditors. The liabilities are not yet ascertained, but are supposed to be over £30,000 The Waratah Coal Company pay a dividend of 10s a share, and £1 per share of the capital is returned. The commission on the Buckley will case has obtained important documentary evidence here. A private letter from Fiji says that Mr Thuxstou has 2,000 armed natives round Levuka to enforce his authority. The French residents have asked for a man-of-war for the protection of their property, and to compel the restitution of French mission lands. The Government refuse to pay their debts or give authority *o be sued. Captain Chapman's conduct was strongly condemned. Adelaide. A new flax pulling? plough has been invented by Mr W. F. Gray. A telegram from Yam Creek reports that the Kapunda Company have 6truck water in the reef. They are getting i splendid stone for crushing. Breadstuff's are unsettled ; wheat has I been sold at Gs 2d. Satisfactory progress is being made towards the collection of a fund to secure a visit from the English cricketers. Fears are entertained that the harvest will be very small. A dispute has arisen among the Good Templars. The recent fault in the cable near Hong Kong was caused by its being wilfully cut with an axe. The Hong Kong Government are offering a reward for the discovery of the perpetrators of the act. The early crops in the northern area are fair, but the late crops are a failure. The foundation stone of cottage homes for the poor was laid on the 27th. Hobabt Town. The Council rejected the Income-tax Bill by a majority of nine to six. The Treasurer said that. he was desirous of avoiding a collision between the two Houses, and obtained from the Assembly a Treasury bill for £27,000, promising to remtroduce the Income-tax Bill next session, doubling the tax, and remitting customs duties. The Assembly has approved of all the Ministerial measures, and the Council, after much discussion, granted the Treasury bills for covering deficiencies. The Appropriation Bill has passed the second reading and through committee. The third reading is fixed for the 28th. A Central Pastoral Association has been successfully established in Launceston.