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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2649, 14 August 1871, Page 2

Masonic Hall. —As previously announced, Miss Dolly Green will make her appearance this evening at the Masonic Hall in her drawing-room entertainment. We have little doubt but that this old-estab-lished favorite will meet with a hearty reception at the hands of the many friends she numbers in this City. The English Census.—The census recently taken in Groat Britain gives some astonishing results. Manchester’s present population is 533,000, or an increase of 72,572 in ten years ; Liverpool, 488,845, or an increase of 44,907 ; Leeds, 359,200, or an increase of 54,946; Glasgow, 560,000 , showing ■

the great increase of 165,136, or :44£ per cent in ten years. Princess-Theatre.—There was a fair attendance at the theatre on Saturday evening, the bill of fare consisting of “The White Horse of the Peppers,” The Rough Diamond,” and the burlesque of “ Mazeppa.” The first of these is an Irish drama of the Williamite period, not less improbable, and quite as amusing as the general run of the school. The chief character (Gerald Pepper) was sustained by Mr Martin Forde with some success ; and on the whole, the drama was fairly presented, Miss Anna Forde, in the part of Agatha, introducing two songs that aided not a little to the general good. This evening the burlesque of “Mazeppa" will be played for the last time, preceded by the drama of “ Daddy Gray.” To-morrow evening Miss Billy Forde will take a benefit, essaying for the occasion the r6le of Mrs Dismal, in the comedy of “ Married Life. ” Romance in Real Life. The Pleasant Creek News tells the following story:—“ Romances in real life are not always to be met with, and the adage that “ truth is. stranger than fiction” is not, after all, very frequently borne out by every-day experience. One of these cases, however, did occur in the family of a wealthy squatter on the Wiramera recent’y—aservant engaged to attend on the children having stepped into a title and a property of L4O,OiJO, under the name of Lady Elizabeth Morton. It would appear that the lady, while acting as servant for the family, very frequenty assured those around her of her aristocratic connections, but no one credited her tale. She came out, it appears, to this country without an education adequate to her position, and it is not improbable that but for the efforts of an able lawyer in Melbourne,. Lady Elizabeth Morton would have remained in a dependent position to the day of her death.” An Active Governor.—A writer in the Australasian makes the following remarks about the Governor of South Australia :—Whilst in aristocratic company, let me note that the Governor of South Australia seems to take more than an appearance of interest in furthering the producing interest of the Colony he rules. At one time he sends South Australian wines to the Go-vernor-General of India, and uses his influence to secure a fair test of their suitability for that climate. Again, he is endeavoring to expand the Indian trade in South Australian horses. He lately stated that he had directed the use of Australian dried fruits in his own household. Yet, again, he is permanent chairman at the meetings of the Adelaide (hamber of Manufactures, and makes sensible practical speeches thereat. These things are not so much in themselves, but they show, I think, a reality of sympathy, with Colonial affairs worthy of imitation, Mr. Bathgate’s Meeting. The Oamaru Times discourses upon this subject as follows : —The “ unrest ” of the people of Dunedin—a characteristic which has rendered Otago almost powerless—has been again remarkably displayed. A few weeks ago Mr J. Bathgate was the favoured of the people. He was elected a member of the Souse of Representatives on the “ popular card” over men who have served the Province honestly, if not always wisely, for years, and can now scarcely obtain a hearing at a meeting of his own constituents The meeting held at the Masonic Hall, a full report of which appears in the Otago Daihj Times, we cannot but view as degrading to the city and injurious to the character of the Province. We are no admirers of Mr Bathgate as a politician ; we look upon him as a well-intentioned man, with liberal instincts, but of slight range of ideas —a man of long talk and circumscribed thought, but a painstaking politician, who, if he could learn to know Avhen to speak and when to hold his tongue, could do good service. The people at the general elections evidently thought so too, but because he has not done all that was expected as a member of the Provincial Council, he has—all politicians are—been blamed by writers in ths papers, and charged with inconsistency. In full faith in his “ good intentions ” and confidence in the “ oily” utterances of an experienced tongue, he challenged his assailants to meet him and hear his explanations. What has been the result ? Mr Bathgate although supported by a majority of the people present, was hooted at and even derided by almost an equal number. From this event his influence at Wellington will be considerably diminished, and bis power for good impaired. When we look at the political apathy of one class, and the erratic manifestations of feeling of another, is it matter for wonder that New Zealand should be the heaviest taxed and most expensively governed colony of Great Britain ? The Committee of the Jewish Philanthropic Society of Otago return thanks to the public for the liberal patronage accorded at their late concert and announce that the nett proceeds amounted to L 43 4s.