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Evening Star, Issue 2937, 18 July 1872, Page 2

Caution.- Depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank are cautioned that in sending deposits by young children they are doing to at their own risk. The Telegraph.—An additional regulation recently published states that all original telegrams will be safely kept by the General Manager at Wellington for the space of five years from their several dates, after which period they will be burned in the presence of such General Manager, Dunedin Mutual Improvement So-ciim.—-The usual fortnightly meeting of the Dunedin Mutual Improvement was held last evening in the hall below the Athenamm. Owing'to the night, and the miserable state of the streets, there was a small attendance, Mr Tait read an interesting essay on the “Theory of evolution,” and a short discussion followed. After the essay, about a dozen ladies were admitted members of the Society.

Shag Valley Reefs.—The Waikunaiti Herald learn from private sources that prospecting on these reefs is being carried on with vigor, a large area of country along the supposed line of the reefs having been taken up, and the most encouraging results arc anticipated. No reliable information as to the probable yield of go’d per ton has, as yet, been made public, although a quantity of quartz has, wo understand, been crushed from the Perseverance and Duncans’ Claims.

Lecture. —Lust evening the second of a sci’ies of lectures in connection with the Loyal Alexandra Lodge, A.1.0.0.F., was delivered by Bro. George Bell, who selected for his subject “Proverbs Illustrated.” The attendance was good, considering the inclemency of the weather, and included several members of the sister lodges of the Order. N.C. Brother J. Druimn occupied the chair. The lecturer treated his subject in a very able manner, and at its conclusion a unanimous and hearty vote of thanks was accorded to him.

Telegraphic Communication- wmr Australia. —There cannot be the slightest question that when the line of communication across the Australian Continent is complete, 'Mew Zealand merchants, trademen and the public generally, will be placed at a orcat di-advantage as compared with those of Victoria, New, South Wales, Queen-land, South Australia, and Tasmania ; and that if we in this Colony arc to hold our own in the race of progress, no time must 1)3 lost in following the example of Tasmania in Joining to Australia by means of a submarine cable. 1 lie LjiUlvtou '/’lim* thinks there will be plenty of offers from persons or /inns interested to lay down a cable, apd counsels promptitude of action in such a pase, We may Ipse more by timidity and over-caution, by haggling ami huckstering, than by being judiciously bold, or as some people would say, precipitate. The subject is one for separate ami carcfu discussion, and flic suggestion is made that the Chambers of Commerce throughout tire Colony should take the earliest opportunity of bringing before the General Government the urgent necessity of laying down a submarine cable between Australia and New Zealand as soon as possible. Mr Buogden’s Navvies.—A number of navvies who arrived by the Shielnllion found their way ashore yesterday, remarks the Independent of the 18th in-t., and it appeared from their remarks that they had been crammed with all sorts of accounts of the present state and prospects of the Colony. One broad-shouldered fellow was heard to remark, “ We was told that the people here wur starving, but the country is all right! ” Another proclaimed from tbc door of a publichouse, with a thickened accent, “If Muster Brogden doesn’t give us nine shillings a day, he can send us hack again as soon as he likes, and we’ll pay un back his Lls on the nail ” A third was heard to say that Mr Brogden had treated them like a gentleman. The general tenor of their conversation, however, seemed to indicate they had by some means or other become imprcs'.cd with the idea that any number of men could find employment in any part of Mew Zealand at ten shillings a day. As far as bone and muscle go, the men arc well off, and reflect credit on Mr Brogdcn’s dcscrimination in selecting men suitable for the work cut out for them. Very few of them indeed seem to be of the farm-laboring class, and very many of them might be said, to use a slang term, to be “able to find their way about.”

Princess Theatre. Wo suppose it must have been tlic rain hist night that prevented the Princess Theatre being crowded, for on no other ground can we account for a thin house when the attraction was so great. Masaniello was played for the first time. Owing to an unavoidable engagement, we could not be present during the earlier part of the evening, and regret tins the more, as what wo did see justifies the belief that the whole piece had been put on to the stage with the greatest care. The scenery was most admirable, the dresses appropriate, and the acting of Miss Anstead, Mr Hydes, and Mr O’Brien, who sustained the loading parts in those scenes we were privileged to see, was really good. Miss Anstead had the character of Fenella to sustain, which is difficult, because it is the language of action mer.-ly, for Pencil a is represented as dumb. Such a character is a study both for performer and spectator, and higher commendation cannot be accorded than saying, she rendered the language of motion comprehensible. Interest in the dying scene of Masauiollo heightened in intensity by the accompanying terrors of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. This scene is splendidly conceived and equally well executed. In the middle distance is tho bay of Naples—in the back ground Vesuvius in eruption. The lurid glow with occasional darkness, tho belching forth of llcry currents of lava, the shouting up of columns of tiame aud throwing out of glowing ashes, with the

accompanying deafening thunders and detonations arc reproduced in such a way, as to give more than a faint picture of the re dity. The last scene is of itself worth seeing, apart from the beautiful scenery introduced in other portions of the play. It will be repeated this evening.

We have been requested to state that owing th the inclemency of the weather there will be no football match on Satuulay.' Mil Fish will address the citizens in the Masonic Hall this evening at 7.30 ; to-morrow evening at the Drill fShed, Water of Leith, at 7 o’clock ; and at the Royal George at 5.15,

We have to acknowledge the receipt from the Otago Licensed Victualler’s Association, of a copy of the proposed Licensing Bill, which is to bo introduced into the House of Representatives by his Honor the Superintendent. A resume of its provisions appeared in our issue of Tuesday.