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GENERAL NEWS
MindANTiLB Assistants' Association. — A
committee meeting of the Mercantile Assis
tants' Association was' held oh Tuesday, Mr
Holman in the chair,' ' The' secretary stated
: that he had received several donations, and a
vote of thanks i to ? the donors was paBsed. A
«rab-coinmit)tee was appointed to arrange for
an exouraion at nn. early date. The date of
the general meeting was derided upon.
ZOOJ-OQIOAL OOLLKOIION GlTV PAttK.— Capt.
If. Burgess, of the cutter Active, has presented
to.the Oity Park three slabe-oolored cranes,
which were only with difficulty captured, as
they are extremely Bh'y birdB. MaBter Shearn
presented a pair of young ringtail oposBums,
and MesBrs. Norris and Clarke a porcupine
ant eater.
Phess Telegrams. — In the current issue of
the Gazette revised regulations are published
under the provisions of Acts relating to
the telegraph, and telephone eesvicea. Th«
attention, of the ? Postmaster-General (the
Hon. B. S. Bird) was directed to the increase
in the ratea for intercolonial Press messages,
and we learn from our H -bart correspondent
that' Mr Bird has expressed surprise on
learning that such wa- the case, and has pro
misod to enquire into the matter at once.
Western Aqbiooltorai, Association. — A
competitive fiold trial of reapers and binders
will beheld under the auspices of the Western
Agricultural Association during the first week
: in January, 1891. Entries will be received by
Mr D, Burke, secretary of the Association, up
to 2 p.m. on Monday, December 29,
The Federal Council;— The Premier, the
Hon. Job, Munro, had an interview on Friday
(says the Age) 'with i Mr Bird, the Treasurer of
Tasmania,' :in I regard .tou.the meeting of tha
l^odoral rCounpil at Hobirt, convened for
January 20.-. Mr Birii. pointed out to Mr
Munro. that unless the South Australian Par
liament! renewed tb*eir Puderal Council Act,
that colony could not be represented at the
council. The Act expireB on January 10. Mr
Bird suggested to Mr Munro that he should
telegraph to Mir Playford, urging thnt im
mediate steps should be taken to secure the
representation of South Australia at the next
meeting of the council. Mr Munro adopted
Mr Bii d'a suggestion, , and wired to Adelaide.
The council will be asked to, consider the
resolutions, passed-. by the , Victorian Parlia
ment asking for new regulations in the con
duct of British trade and settlement in the
New Hebrides.
The Married Women's Pbopkutt Act, —
In a cabs,. Kebecoa, Winter rx partc Kumpff
which was recently argued in Chambers
.before Mr Oommiision'or' Waterhouse, the
question arose as to whether the new Act
passed lhst session by which onus of proof of
legal possession of property in a bankrupt's
wife's name was retrospective. The Com
missioner has decided in the affirmative. gSMJSS
The Rainfall.— The following is the rain
fall iu Tasmania for the weak ending Decem
ber 20:— Mount Nelson, 0 42 ; Hobart, 0-28 ;
Carnarvon, 125 ; Swansea, 0'59 ; Avoca, 0 18 ;
Falmouth, 0'17 i Mathinnn, 0'40 ; Gould's
Country, 0 28 ; .Swan Island, 0'52 ; Booby:. lin,
1-2B ; Low , Head, 0-30 j LauncBton, 017;
DoloraineY 0'19 ;' Latrobe, 030; Einn,Bay,
O-lSjlWaratah.ll'COj Circular Head.'O 47.
\ Tenders job Pdblio Wobks.— The follow
ingitonder. hoB been accepted fur public works :
— -Erection of police ,quarters,r.Patersonia, J.
Wjlson,- £100.. The following 'tenders have
.been corrected :—Ro id, Lymington to Potchy's
Bay'^r Contract 1 (Petchy's Bay end), T.
Strong, £86 to £93 5s 6d ; contract 2 (Lyming
ton end), Murphy and Peppard, £93 to £100
19s -d. The teider for contract 2, road,
Sploraine to Quamby Bluff, transferred in
Gazette, March 5, 1889, to Thomas Duncan and
and George Wrieht, has been oancellei ; also,
;. the ; tender of W. A. Jaekliu for contract 9,
. Wept. Oastra road, gazetted April 30, 1889.
The, tender for, cod tract 1, ro^dx, parishes of
Fras'er and Tulb'ot'.'vi'tnity of Dan'., liivulet,
leading to selections of W. Bnrfc and others.
leading n;rth, gazetted' October 28, 1830, in
. the names of Stuves and Clark, has been cor
rected to Steevesjanrt Clark;
?'? Remuneration of Bnoinksrs. — The
Pramier of South {Australia (Hon. T. Play
, lord) cent a cable- mesBngo to England last
week, says an exchange of the 17th inst.,
enquiring whether and on what terms Mr
-Oswald Brown would be prepared to visit
' South Australia to inspect and report upon the
various water schemes that are attracting
attention. A reply has been sent by Mr
Brown stating that he will come out, starting
from England next month, and devote three
:mbnths in th« colony to the work mentioned
for the sum of 3000 guineas. The offer will be
considered without delay.
Registration' of Bibths and Deathb.—
The Registrar-General (Mr R, M. Johnston)
is issuing forms to the various districts in
accordance with the provisions of the Act
passed last session to enable persons residing
at a distance from the office of n Registrar,
to effect registration by miking a deolara'.ion
before a J J?., police officer, or medical prac
titioner. Tbe forms are so arranged (says the
: Mercury) that after being filled up, they have
only to be folded' and addressed when they
are ready for transmission --y post, and as
they are marked ' On Public Service,' they
-will pass through the Post Office free of charge.
CopieB of the declaratian will shortly ba ob
tainable at all the Post Offices throughout the
colony.
Crown Lands Sale.— Messrs. W. T. Bell
and Co., auctioneers, held a sate of Crown
land at their mart, Charles-street, on Friday
19th inst. The attendance was not large, and
the competition wae anything but keen. The
first properties put ud wero lots which had
been-focfeited for default of piymentsin the
counties of Cornwall, Davon, Dorset, and
? Westmoreland, and a few town lot?. There
were no binders, and the whole of thobo sub
' mitted were passed in, The sale of lots in
town and country realised £101, five sales only
being effected. The lots for rental receiver
better atiention, but only two were disposed
of, and the9e were couutry allotments. A
number of islands in Bass StraitB were offered,
and three out of the four were disposed of at
the reserved rental. The following are the
particulars of sales and rentals. Where no
second price is mentioned the upset is the sale
figure :— Town LandB : Alford— Section B, lot
3, 23a Or 6p, upset £27 ; lot 4, 32a 2r 12p,
upset £39, Joseph Bird. Weldborouch— Sec-
tion M, lot 1, 4u 3r 34p, upset £20; lot 2, 4a
3r 22p, upset £20, Robert Davey. County of
Devon, parish of Winkleigh, lob 11,396. 47a
2r 6p, upBet £55. Geo. J. Smith. Crown
lands for rental — County of Dorset, parish of
Hurst, lot D61, 300 acr«s, reserved rental £3,
William Gurr. Parish of Patarsonia — Lot
521, 300 acres, reserved rental £3, John
M'Arthur. Inlands for rental— Bibb Straits
EaBt, Clarke's Islnnd, 20,000 acres, reserved
rental £100. J. H. Maclainp ; Passage Island,
640 acres or thereabouts, reserved rental, £6,
J. H. Maolaine; Rum Island, 100 acres,
? reserved rental £2, Emily Jane Brewer.
Intercolonial Mail Service. — The Vic
torian Government («ayH the Age of Saturday)
lias consented to' bear one-third of the addi
.JionaJ^postthat .will bo entailed in substituting
— a::tritweefily for' the -preBent~bi- weekly mail
:. » Service'! tbtweori ' this rodlbny; an'd'iTasmania.
'^'The^foiHiBoTwaB ibr'6'ight undefc'th'6 notice of
T jthe Bremier!Shortly_after;he!tbok' office, !by Mr
?^ Bird; TrbJfcufer j6fcT»iima'hia;t who 'Btated that
' th'e.Vcorrespotidouca ' passing 'between the two
? -colonies hrtiricreasfd to such an extent during
thevlant/few years that 'on extension of the
?'?' jOBtaMaoiliilies waa absolutely necessary.
Trades and Labor Confbrenoe. — A
meeting between members of the Northern
and Southern Trades and Labor Councils, at
which werp present: representatives of the
Fingal Miners' Association and delegates
from tho North- West Coast, was held at the
Workmen's Club, Elizabeth'-st'rebt, on Satur
day at 2 p.m.,'the president of the Northern
Council (Mr E. Daniel) in the chair, when
the question of amilgamiition was considered.
The result of the conference, which was of a
irivate nature, was the passing of resolutions
favorable to the amalgamation, and* arrange
ments were mad» for placing the whole of the
trades of tbe colony under one head at an
early date, After the transaction of other im
portant business the conference closed with
votes of til inks to the chairman and visitors,
amongst whom wore Motsrs. Jeff ? ey, ' Smith,
Filbee, and Cairns from the Southern Council.
In the evening the whole of ihe' delegates
dined at the Criterion Hotel, the Southern
representatives being thn guest* of their
Northern confreres. Mr Danml, p osidont of
the Northern Trades and L-ihor Council,
occupied the chair, and Mr Jeffrey (Hobart)
tho vice-chair. After tha toast of the Q.ieen had
boen duly honored, the health of the Southern
Trades and Labor Oounoil was proposed
and responded to ; also that of '? The Press,' ?
whioh was acknowledged by the two repre
sentatives present, A very plensant Booial h -ur
was spent, the tnast list being inteispersed.
with harmony, 'How Bill Adams won the
Battle of Waterloo,' being capitally given 'by
Mr VV. P. M'Mahon. Tho visitors left in the
evening for Hobart, the Northern members
of Ihp association accompanying them to the'
station. ' V
The Zeehan Kailway.— But little time ha ?
been lost (says the Wellington Times) in start
ing the Waratah-Zeahan ►urvey under M'
O. K, Sheard's' superintendence. Mr S-le,
accompanied by two nBsistantH and n party of
three men, left for Waratah on Monday mum
ing. His instructions were t'- pr.-ce*'i at onoi
to Heazlewood to meet Mr Bell. From that
place the pirty will proceed direct to Z-iehan
in order to examine the country laying between
the head of the Little Heuty ana tlin Pieman
at the junction of the Huskiasonand M'lnto-ih
Rivers. A thorough examination will then be
made of the Pieman aud M'lutosh Gorg -, to
arrive at Boroe decision where it is possible to
cross the M'lntouh with a reasonable amount
of work, to reach Mr Bell's track from the
iPiemau to Waratah. It ia at present c m
Bidered impracticable to cross tbe Pieman
where Mr Bill has suggested, owing to
their being an eluvatiou' of from 1100ft tu
1200fc to cross the dividing range botween
the Pieman and Henty watersheds. Mr
Sheard has given''inatrncti'ins for a cross
ing to bo examined and fixed before com
mencing to loctte any route, as this portion of
the country is tho key to nny successful route.,
Th« routo from the Hellyer, ou the E.B. and
M.B. railway, at the 40-mile, will also be
examined. Mr 8beird liaB been trying to
obtain the services of Mr T. Ferrall, who
knows all I he country thoroughly; to acoom
Einy the party. TJp to the present ho has nob
een snee ssful, ob Mr Ferrall is out in tho
bush, and cannot be communicat 'd with. Mr
Harw, od, nn experienced engineer, willBhortly
follow Mr S.ile, locating the route under his
instructions, as noon as Mr Hals h:is completed
the trial fur the location of the crossing from
one watershed to tne other. At the present
time ib if, of course, almost abau .d even to
conjec'-uro whioh c-Tursu th*- route will tuke.
Information on this point will b* forthcoming
from time to time, in fthb reports submitted to
Mr Sheard from Mr S lie. -
Pine Road.— Our North West Coast repre
sentative ri ports :—Settltmr-nt on this rond is
proceeding at a very rapid ran, and the
appearance of the country in thu district is
undergoing a complete metamorphosis. That
which a short time ago wat a dense forest,
rendered almost impassable by the luxurious
undergrowth, is now boing opined out anc
snttlod upOT as far as thn ro served township of
Rianna, wbichris torn') 10 miles from Penguin.
— Messrs. Bruce, Biggins, and Hall have estab
lished a sawmill here, and a- it is in thn heart
of a hrgo bed of good timber, consisting of
blackwocd, stringy bark, myrale, aud pine,
and as tho mill is furnished with n good engine
mid nil modern anrjlmncaH fnr facilitating
work, doubtlesH a large quantity of the timber
usually destroyed in clearing will in this neigh
borhood bo converted into a source of profit, —
Messrs. P. and J. M'Huwh are pushing on
with their contract for forming and metalling
towards Bianna, and the Messrs. O'Byrne are
also working energetically with their su jcon
tract for clearing and forming. The last
named firm had the misfortune last week to
lose a very valuable draught mure. The men
had turned to in the morning at 7 a.m., and
the mare was standing in the dray which was
being loaded, wnen suddenly without any
warning a large tree fell across the road,
crushing the mar.3 so badly that she died in a
fitw hours. W hilst here I met Dr. M'Call, the
member for tho district, who, with Mr Bruce,
was returning from a trip through Rianna,
into tho as yet unopened country beyond. The
doctor is evidently a man determined to know
all the corners of h'°s constituency, and to make
liimB'.-lf acquainted with its requirements, etc.
— I hear sumo decided steps will be taken at
once to Becure a tri-weokly mail to this
locality, a boon whioh will bo appreciated by
tha settlers, who have now to go to Panguin
for their letters and papers. — The annual
picnic in connection with the United
Methndist Free Church, Pine-road, mi held
on Wednesday, the sports taking p'.ace in a
paddock kindly lent by Mr Hooper. Lunch
and taa were provided by the ladiej aud
friends connected with the church, to which
ample justice was don ) by tho large number
of visitors. Some time since Mr R Smith
commenced a Sunday-school with a very few
children, and now has a good school, number
ing Borne 40 scholars. The Rev. W. H. Bjwo
was pra-ent, and joined heartily in the games,
giviug, as umal, a zest to the proceedings. A
number of friends from Bumie were present,
and a very enjoyable d -y was spent.
The Keoent Accident at the Forth. — A
correspondent writos: — The evil of having
public roads unfeaced at tho edge of dangerous
escapments was sufficiently m-inife*t in the
buggy accident at the Forth on F. iday last.
An eye witness a vys that having had his atten
tion attracted by the voice of the Rev. Mr
May, who was mildly trying to control bis
usually tractable horse as he waB driving with
hit: wi'6 on the main coast road he saw the
horse suddenly swerve and fall down tbe bank,
and the buggy bound upward with su:h force
that ohe occupants were thrown over the horse
and a five-rail fence. How Mr and Mri
May e-cuped with nothing more seriou-i than a
mere shaking and some bruises Beams miracu
lous, considering that they wore thrown from
a height fully 10ft above ? the level of where
they struck the ground. The horae, it sterns,
was only prevented from rolling on them by its
being intercepted by the fence, and would
probably have been killed and the buggy
destroyed had the fall not boon broken by a
dense cluster of brambles. Mr and Mrs May
seemed to forget the effects of their owu
mishap in their anxiety for the rescue of the
horse, and assistance arriving both horse and
buggy were soon got on to the road. The
horse is on a fair way to recovery, though- his
neck was lacerated by the broken end of one
of the shafts, and the buggy can be repaired at
moderate cost. Not very far from where the
accident happened there are other dangerous
escarpments, at one of which the writer met
with an accident from the shying of his horse ;
and about half a mile nearer the Forth is the
spot where Mr liouch was killed owing to the
horses he waB driving carrying the mail coach
against a stump, which, after it had been
grubbed by road men, -was careleBsly left' at the',
side of the road. ' '
Marine Board.— A meetiug of the Laun
coBtoc Marine Board was held on 19th inst.
for the purpose of electing a Masted
Warden. Excepting Wardans.Tullooh all the
members were ; present, and Warden R. J.
M'tionzie, retiring Master Warden, and
Warden R. Gardner were nominated for the
chair. A ballot be'na; taken, Wai den M'Kenzio
waB re-elected by six votes to two ; and after
he had briefly thanked the members for his re
election the board roio.
Devoni'ORT. — Our correspondent reports : —
The usual meetiag of the Town Board was
held on Tuesday when there were jjresent ;—
Messrs. W. Aikenhead (chairman), JO. Oocker,
A Gatenby, J. Henry, W. Hnlyman. R D.
Stewart, aud R. Wiuspear, Mr T. P. (Jowle
being absent in Melbourne, The principal
business was to d.cido about an office for tho
board, and the committee appointed for that
purpose brought up a report signed by Mr
Oocke -recommending that con -equjnt on the
Marine Board declining tu allow thi.m bo ro
main longer in their present office, rooma be
t»k«n :\t the Gibliu Memorial Hall at a cost of
£25 per annum. A heatnd discussion ensued,
and resulted in the report being rejected,
Messrs. Cocker, Henry, an I Stewart voting in
favor, and the chtirman wi.h M-iBsra. Gatenby,
Holyman, and Winspear against the proposal.
I understand the argutn -ma were reauwed
outside, and srjmiwarm language was use],
considerable feeling bung imported into the
affair, bui the action of the majority wou'd e
endorsed by th-i public, nnd again it U the
intention of th; Government to provide ac
commodation for tho Towu Board in tbe pro
posed P..»t Office builniugK at W.st Devon
port. — rue Beconn ot tno liibim la.iii conoe-rtB,
was given on Tuesay evonin^, when the
ludience was not so l.«- ge as on bae fi at
jeeasion, but quite us appreciative. Tile pro
?rammu was rendered with much spirit, and
bhe management had the asdiutance of Mr
Miller FruSitr, who reciived ho ,rty encores for
bis songs — I am informed the prospects of the
Mersey Regatta on New Year's Day are vary
promising, and it is expected to JTj the bint
we have ever had, whilst th.i side-shows aud
uxtra atlractionK will be especially numerous,
—A coronial enquiry into t!ie came of the
recent fires at E i»tj aud W,:st Devonport will
be held on tho 29ah inst.
The Abstralian Squadron. — Appliotion
has been made by the Imperial G ivernmont
for the first 6 intribution fr m this colony (-ays
the Melbourne Argus) in connection withi the
auxiliary squadron wliich is expected to arrive
in Australian waters early n°xr. year. The
colonies agreed to pay th-j in'orexb on the'eoso
of tho vessels, and alno the cost of maintaining
them. Th'i former am --uutw t - £35,000 a y'e.w,
aad the latter will coma to £i)1.000, making a
total of £120,000 per annum. Thi* tun will be
contributed by the colonies on the b.isis of
1 opulation, and the share to be borne by Vic
toria i« £41 .670 a year. The first moiqty of
£20,835 will be forwnrded by1 the Treasurar,
tbr -ugh the Agent-General, iu the course of a
fnw wdtka. Under the agreement entered into
with the Imperial Government the interest
waB limited to £35,000 a year, it being c n
Biriernd that the squadron would only cost
£700,000. Thia amount, however, has been ex
ceeded by £100,000 but thn Imperial Govern
ment will not a»k the colonies- bo pay any
interest, on t'.Ve excess, '
The Sidney Trades and Laror Codncil,— .
The amende I platform of the. Sydney Tradoe'
and Labor Council embraces thor following
pl4nks:— 1. Abolition of plural voting. 2.
Free, compulsory, nnd' technical education,'
higher 3s)wJIHs el'mintnr'jv to beextendodito'
all alike' !3.' Eight) hiiurs tu'!be'the maximum
working day in all occupations'' under1 the
WorkBhop6 and Factories Act.- 4. Tho
appointment of representative working men
as inspectors. 5. Greater protection ; to per
sons engaged in the mining industry. 6.
Extension of the franchise to seamen and
shearers. 7. Extension to seamen of the
benefits of the Employers' Liability Act. 8.
Supervision of land boilein and machinery.
9. An elective Upper House. '10.'- Any
measure that will secure lor the wage-earner
a fair and equitable return for hid or her labor.
11. Abolition of the Masters and Servants
Act. 12. Amendment of the Ma^bBrn and
?\pprentices Act. 13. Amendment of the
Trades Unions Act. 14. Repeal of the
Agreements Validating Act. 15 Prohibition
of the sweating system. 16. Establishment
of a Department of Labor. 17. Establish
ment of a National Bank. 18. Water conser
vation and irrigation, 19. Elective magis
trates, 20. , Abolition of money deposits in
Parliamentary ; elections. 21. Extension of
the principle of the Government as an em
ployer.
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