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Evening Star, Issue 2853, 11 April 1872, Page 2

Pout Chalmers Railway Jetty.— Messrs M‘Leod, the contractors for the Port Chalmers Railway Jetty, drove their first uile yesterday. The work will, we understand, be now vigorously proceeded with. The Southern Trunk Railway.— By the Warwick, just arrived, the Government has received about ISO tons of rails, fastenings, and plate-layer’s tools for the Clutha Railway, and also about 500 tons of iron girders for the Waitaki Bridge. Princess Theatre.—Notwithstanding the really excellent performance at the Theatre there was a thin house last night. This is the more remarkable ns Signor Donato’s performance is attractive each evening. He takes his benefit to-morrow* evening, when we hope the house will be crowded. Mr Morton Tavares and Miss Surtees, of whom fame speaks in high terms, appears on Saturday evening for the first time. Half-Holiday Association. A meeting of the General Committee of the Saturday Half-Holiday Association was held last night in the room below the Atheureum, E. B. Cargill, Esq., President, in tbe chair. The principal business consisted in considering the best way to counteract the giving way of one of the firms who promised to support the Association. It was unanimously agreed upon to use every legitimate means to support those who closed at one o’clock on Saturday. A little time is all that is required to overcome all difficulties ; and we hope the appeal made by tiro secretary to the shop-keepers and public will he largely responded to.

Police for Hongkong.— Mr Cray, the superintendent of the Hongkong Police, who came to Edinburgh a week or two ago for the purpose of engaging men of our police force to join the constabulary at Hongknog. has, we understand, now secured the number wanted. On the call for volunteers being made to the city force, 50 men presented themselves, of whom.lS were chosen, From the Leith Force 12 men were selected, and from the county ten men, making a total of 40. The men, who are all young and unmarried, have entered into an engagement to serve for five years, at an annual salary o£ LIOB. At the expiration of their engagement they will have the option of engaging for another term of five years, and all those who complete ten years’ service will be granted a pension. Twelve of the men leave Edinburgh for their destination on the 2nd of next month, a number on the 20th, and the remainder a week or two after.— Scotsman,

A Prison Governor on Australian Meat. —Mr D. Mynard, Governor of Montgomery County Prison, thus writes to a contemporary “ Having a desire to test the Australian preserved meat for the purpose of experiment in order to ascertain its suitability for consumption in this prison, and by the permission of the Visiting Justice, I procured some from the ‘ Victoria Meat Preserving Company, 24, Lawrence Pountney lane, London, £.0.,’ and thoroughly tested the same in a variety of ways of dressing, and it jiroved highly satisfactory. I only wish every poor family had such wholesale and nutritious meat. I willingly bear testimony as to its goodness, and by its general use in institutions, prisons, and households, a material saving in the annual expenditure would be realised. It may be observed that it is not requisite when a tin of meat is opened that its contents should be used at once. 1 have had a Gib. tin opened and kept for eleven days in the larder, and it was then perfectly good. 1 strongly recommend it to the public, especially the benevolent who distribute soup and meat to the poor during the winter season. It would be an excellent opportunity for them to try the value of it,” The monthly meeting of the Otago Kilwinning Lodge, 5.0., will be held in the Masonic Hall this evening at eight o’clock. We have much pleasure in drawingattention to tire programme of the Saturday Half-Holiday Association’s next concert, which appears in our advertising columns. Mr Justice Chapman will preside on this occasion. We are glad to notice that Mr Henry Clapcott’s name is put down for several readings, and can safely promise those who listen to him a rare treat. The programme altogether is well selected, and, from the names, we feel sure that a most enjoyable evening will be spent. Of the seventy-four United States Senators, fifty are lawyers. The Nebraska courtships are said to average three Imurs and a halt in length. A South Norwalk (Conn.) man stole a handsome Bible, to gladden the heart of his aged mother on Christmas, but becoming impressed with the enormity of the offence. ■ stole another to replace it.