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Evening Star, Issue 2929, 9 July 1872, Page 2

Princess Theatre. —“ We would remind our readers that Miss Anstcad takes a benefit this evening. This is the first appeal that has been made during the present management, and having already stated the claims for support possessed by the lady, who, to-night, asks for the substantial countenance of her friends, we content ourselves by expressing the hope that there will be a good house.

Knox Church. —A member of the Church Committee writes in reference to qur observation on Saturday, that the design now before the public was unanimously selected above all others by the committee, that the present committee had nothing to do with the original competitive designs. A fresh set of designs was Sent in under an extended limit of cost; and under that extended limit, the committee made unanimous selection of Mr Hunter's design. Dunedin Jockey Club. — At a general meeting of members last night, the office-bearers for the ensuing year were elected as follows :—Pro idcilt, Mr John Stephenson ; vice-president, Mt George Dowse; treasurer, Mr James Marshall; auditors, Messrs Stuart and Nicholson ; secretary, Mr Sydney James; committee, Messrs Taggart, Hutchison, Goilrlay, Reany, Pritchard, Dodson, Scott, Smith, Moore, Meenan and Hutton. It was stated that the affairs of the Club were in a very satisfactory position. Honesty the Best Policy.—A rare piece of honesty, under the circumstances, was exhibited in Auckland a few days ngo. A. purse containing L 25 was lost end then advertised for. 'ihe tinder gave it up, and was offered L2 as a reward for his honesty. The money was reluctantly accepted, the man stating that he was absolutely without a penny and without work. The next issue of the Evening Star in which the fact was narrated, contained a paragraph stating that if the finder of the purse called he would learn of two situations, which he could choose from.

New Zealand affairs in England. —A gentleman in London, writing under date May 2, contributes a very interesting letter to the Independent, from which we make a few extracts : Within the last eight months there has been a rise in price of from twenty-five to fifty per cent, in railway material and machinery, railway rails have gone up from L 7 10s to LlO 15s, and are likely to remain at about the litter figure, so that what cost L 50.000 will now cost L 75,000. It is not likely that the prices of iron work will recede to former rates. — that is fixed by shortening the hours of labour for some time to come. There are labouring men and mechanics who have saved a few pounds who are prepared to emigrate to New Zealand : but as a cla?s they are far from being as numerous as they were two years ago. The effect of this unusual and exceptional state of affairs may be to retard 1 he construction and completion of some of the proposed railways, in out-of-the-way country districts but it ought not to prevent the completion of those that arc situated within fifty or sixty or sixty miles of your large towns—the great centres of your population. It must be clearly understood that if your colony is prepared to receive tradesmen of all descriptions, and the idle, dissolute, or half employed laboring men, and sweepings of great town?, you can have abundance of that sort of flesh and blood ; but as your Agent General very properly insists of having the pick of the laboring class, and will only take a few good country mechanics, you are not likely to procure them in large numbers.

Telegraphic Communication with England. —Either the first or second day of the present month will be a red letter day in the history of Australasia, for on either the one or the other was telegraphic communication with England established. On June 22 the horse express intended to bridge over the gap on the overland telegraph line was established; and on the 24.h the first express started from Adelaide for Dalywaters, in order to connect with Port Darwin and open up communication with England. Now according to Mr Todd’s last report to the .South Australian Government, (ho express would be started simultaneously at both ends; and reckoning the overland journey at four days, and the time occupied in transmitting the messages through the wires at two days, the first batch of Australian kLgrams would be received in London on the evening of July 1. The first batch comprised 31 tele; rams, as follows Victoria, 11 messages, value LI 18 ; New South Walts, 10 messages, value L 10 7; South Australia, 10 messages, value LIOO. Total number of messages, 31 ; value, L 325. '{be South Australian Government sent a congratulatory me;-sage to the Queen; the American consul at Adelaide sent one to President Grant; and the German consul one to the Emperor William ; but the only notice taken by Victoria of the event was the sending of a message to the Lord Mayor of London by the Avoca Shiro Council. By the published list of rates we learn that a message of *2O words from Melbourne to London costs L 9 ils ; to any other part of Great Britain, 1.9 12s ; to New Vork, LI3 11s.

We notice that Mr unci Mrs Robert Glover, assisted by Mr L. Booth, will give a performance at the Masonic Hall on Friday and (Saturday next. An attractive programme has been prepared.