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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2487, 4 February 1871, Page 2

A Good Ra.ce,— The ships White Eagle and Collingrove, both of which sailed from Plymouth on the 2pd November, arrived at Adelaide together on January 1.3, ,the White Eagle being about thj;pp hours ahead.

Volunteers. Lieut.-Colonel Harrington inspected the Port Chalmers Naval Volunteers and Cadets last evening and expressed himself highly satisfied with their evolutions, and especiilly with the proficiency of the cadets in their cutlas exercise.

A Masonic Fracas.—ln the Police Court, Auckland, recently, a Mr Cohen (who charged Mr Lipstinc with assaulting him with a whip) stated in his evidence that the defendant “threatened him masonically,” viz., that he would “cut my throat from ear to ear, and tear my breast out.” Burns’ Anniversary.—The annual supper, in commemoration of llobert Burns, took place at Wain’s Hotel last evening. We are unavoidably compelled to hold over Mr Callendar’s address and further details through unexpected pressure upon our time, it will appear on Monday. For the present it must suffice to say that the evening was passed most pleasantly. The Mail Services. —The overland mail via Brindisi, and the New South Wales and New Zealand mails, via San Francisco for October were delivered in London on the same day, thus affording a fair opportunity of contrasting the relative merits of the two routes. As regards New Zealand, the result is in favor of the American route, but as regards the whole of the Australian Colonies the overland route is shown to be superior.

The Superintendency.—A very influential sub-committee was formed in Caversham a day or two ago, for the purpose of securing the return of Mr James Macandrew, as Superintendent, when the following resolution was passed:—“ That this committee pledges itself to use its utmost exertions to endeavor to secure the above named gentleman’s return as Superintendent.”

The San Francisco Mail.—lt would appear from the telegraphic summary of news by the Suez mail, that the mail via San Francisco was in future to be despatched thence to New Zealand on the 15th instead of the 10th of each month. Assuming that the regulation came into force with the Jan. mail, it will not be due at Auckland till Feb. 18, according to the average passage made by the boats now employed in the service.

Gaol Return. —The following is the s l ate of H.M. Gaol, Dunedin, for the week ending the 4th February, 1871 Awaiting trial, 2 men, 0 women ; under remand 0 men, 0 women ; penal servitude, 92 men, 0 women ; hard labor, G2 men, 21 women; in default of bail, 1 man, 0 women ; debtors, 2 men total, laS men, 21 women; Received during the week, 9 men, 0 women, discharged, 10 men, 0 women. Handkerchief Flirtations in Canada. —Every day we see young ladies flirting their cambrics to young men who are in the street. We have also been satisfied that these “ flirtings ” mean som thing, and in an exchange we find the following solution to the mystery, and publish it, that those living in ignorance may be thoroughly booked-up, and. able to read the signs thus given Drawing across the lips—desirous of getting acquainted ; drawing across the eyes—l am sorry ; dropping-*-we will be friends ; twirling in both hands—indifference ; drawing across the cheek—l love you; drawing through the hands—l hate you ; letting it rest on the right cheek—yes ; letting it rest on the left cheek—no ; twirling in left hand —I wish to get ri 1 of you ; twirling in right hand—l love another; folding it—l wish to speak with you ; over the shoulder—follow me; opposite corners in both hands—wait for me; drawing across the forehead--you have changed : placing it on the right ear— I have a message for you ; letting it remain on the eyes—you are cruel; winding it round the forefinger—l am engaged ; winding it round the third finger—l am married.— Toronto Globe.

Princess Theatre. —We were glad to see Mr Willis’s appeal so substantially responded to ; the performances last evening, which were for his benefit, were witnessed by a house well filled in every part, the dress circle being especially so. Watts Philips’s drama of “Nobody’s Child,” was produced for the first time. We did not see sufficient of the play to enable us to sketch the plot. The most prominent character appeared to be Joe, a half-witted fellow, who having been found on the beach after a shipwreck, had been allowed to grow up untaught, and uncared for in the family of Peter Grice, the village postihaster, a vindictive old miser, This Grice is in league with a polished scoup- ; drel, Captain Lazenby, to rob a defenceless girl of her inheritance, but their machinations are defeated by the watchfulness of Joe, through whose efforts, the piece ends ; satisfactorily, as usual in the triumph of virtue and the discomfiture of vice. Coming ; from the pen of so able a dramatist as Philips, we expected to find the playa better written one than it is. Too much attention has beep given to the necessity of creati g situations, some of which are sensational .enough, but the reverse of natural. They are .even excelled in their improbable character by the ■ surroundings. The idea of one whose idiocy makes himself the laughing stock of a village, indulging all times in high flown sentinraent, and by a stroke of a magic wand as it were, . becoming a hero, such as you only read about, and the most rational of beings, is simply absurd. But these matter# apart, the piece was capitally played, considering it was the first aright of representation. Miss George played with her accustomed care, as Patty, Joe’s guardian angel, while the part of the idiot was made a great deal of by Mr Lawrence. The garrulous old miser found »u excellent representative in Mr Musgravc, and all the subsidiary characters were respectably tilled. The afterpiece was “My precious Retsy,” in which the acting of Messrs Hill and Musgrave was provocative of much laughter. We understand that Miss Colville and Mr Hoskins, who are to play a short engagement at the Priness’, may bo expected in a few days.

We understand the Kev, G. Evans, from South Australia is still occupying |the pulpit in Moray place. The Heverend John Williams will preach in Hanover street Baptist Chapel, to-morrow evening, on “A pppular mistake ; about conversion.” A public meeting of the Dunedin Al/staipcrs’ Union will be held in the ConHal), Moray place, on Monday, the 6th inst., at 3 o’clock. '•The fortnightly meeting of ,t)je Commercial Building and Mutual Investment Society for receiving subscriptions, &c., Will be held on Monday evening between 6 and § o’clock. ’ "