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Evening Star, Issue 2995, 24 September 1872, Page 2

Political,— Mr Macassey has resigned his seat as representative of the Waikari district in the Provincial Council. Princess Theatre.— AYc would remind our readers that Miss Willis takes her benefit to night, when we hope to sec a good house in recognition of her merits as a careful and painstaking actress. Government Life Assurance.— Captain Baldwin has lately visited Lawrence and the neighborhood, where one hundred and seventy proposals for life policies were submitted for acceptance. We understand he intends lecturing in Dunedin next week, when no doubt he will be able to shew the shallowness of certain recent statements on the subject.

Mornington. —The usual fortnightly meeting of the Mornington Band of Hope was held in the schoolhouse, Morniugtou, on Monday evening ; Mr Hardie in the chair. The attendance, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, was good; and the programme, which was a good one, was well carried out. Af the close of the meeting the chairman intimated that a concert would be held on the 14th October next, for the purpose of aiding the Dunedin Baud of Hope in procuring a suitable uniform for their fife and drum baud.

Kensington.- -The ratepayers to the number of about thirty of the Kensington and Forbury Township met in Haye : s Hotel, last night, to consider the advisability of subdividing the district. Mr Cluleo occupied the chair. Mr M‘lndoe explained the object of the meeting, and the effect of subdivision. On the motion of Mr Durden, seconded by Mr Uren, it was unanimously agreed to that a subdivision of the district was not desirable, and that as Mr Smith did not represent the opinions of the district he should be called on to resign. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings. A Singular Coincidence. —There is a curious circumstance in connection with Mr Trollope’s visit to the various Colonies worth noticing. His arrival in Queensland was followed by a Ministerial crisis in that Colony. When ho arrived at Sydney the Martin Cabinet suffered a defeat, and was superseded by Mr Parkes’ Government, On the same gentleman reaching Melbourne, a

Ministerial crisis occurred there, Mr Duffy giving place to Mr Francis. At Hobart Town there was also another Ministerial crisis, which resulted in a dissolution; and shortly after his arrival in this Colony, the Government of iMr Fox Ims had to give place to one formed by Mr Stafford. Found Drowned. —At half-past six o’clock this morning, information was given to Constable M'Kinlay, by a boy named Perriman, that the body of a man had been found off the new jetty. The c instable, on proceeding to the end of the wharf found the information to be correct. At a distance of hardly ten feet from the wharf the body was. It was then bolt upright in the water, which did not come up to the hair, the face looking towards the opposite shore, and the man’s bauds stuffed down into his coat packets. The body was taken out of the water, and removed to an office next the Pier Hottl, and was shortly afterwards identified as that of James Arroi, a farm servant, a native of Helensburgh, Scotland, and cousin to Mr A. Arroi, gardener, Albert street. The deceased was lodging at the Times Restaurant, Princes street, and left there last cvenipg, between seven and eight o’clock, being under the influence of liquor, and was not seen again alive. An inquest was held at the Pier Hotel this afternoon, when a verdict of “ Found Drowned” was returned, it was elicited in evidence that deceased had said he expected to receive LIOO that was due to him, but only got LlB, which caused him lo go on the and that he intended to leave town for the iaien this mo ning. The San Francisco Service.— Writing to the Colonial Secretary on June 20, the Agent-General says that he and the Agent General for Vicctoria had addressed the Secretary for State for the Colonies on the subject of the service, and that he had reason to Relieve that their joint proposals, which were for an annual subsidy of L20,()00 during the continuance of the Duffy-Vogel contract, would be agreed to with the following modification, viz., that the subsidy should only be granted for three years. Since that despatch was written news will have reached Home of the rejection by Victoria of the contract; but we are informed that the Government were of opinion that Dr Featherston, that fact notwithstanding, would succeed in securing a contribution from the Imperial authorities. Perhaps it may help to convince our contemporary the Dai y Times of the falseness of the alleged Congressional debate when we reprint Jrora a letter, which shows that Mr ebb’s application for a subsidy has not yet been disposed of by the American Congress. Messrs Vogel and Duffy, it will be remembered, addressed the XJ. S. Postmaster-General, expressing the hope that the service would receive a subsidy from that country. Mr Cresswell, the Postmaster-General, replying under date the 10th June last, refers to his own recommendation to Congress to grant Mr Webb “a moderate money subsidy, in addition to the mail c unpen sation paid by the Colonies under the existing contracts and to the fact that “ the President also, in his annual message to Congress, recommended suitable legislative action in aid of this important service, Mr Cresswell adds ; I exceedingly, regret that, notwithstanding these recommendations and the earnest desire of the President and the Cabinet, that the necessary steps should be taken by Congress to secure the permanent establishment of a regular and rapid steam communication with the countries of Australasia, that body adjourned without perfecting the desired legislation. I trust, however, that the friendly disposition of the Government of the United States towards this important commercial enterprise will be evinced by favorable action in support of the existing service at the next session of Congress. It is well known that the members of the committee on Post Offices and Post Roads of the United .States Senate, who have carefully considered the subject, have recommended the passage of a Bill granting a money subsidy in aid of this mail steamship service. We fancy that this extract, coupled with Captain Harding’s letter, and the extracts from the Alta California, which we publish elsewhere, will prove beyond doubt that the grossest falsehoods about the service have been circulated in the Colony by interested persons.

The quarterly meeting of the Alexandra Lodge, 1.0.0. F., will be held in the Lodge Loom, Wain’s Hotel, to-morrow, Wednesday evening, at 8 o’clock, when P.G.M. Bro. Haggitt will deliver a lecture.