MAURITIUS.

Colonist, Issue 97, 24 September 1858, Page 3

MAURITIUS.

By way of Melbourne we have Port Louis intelligence to the 22nd July, the contents of which are thus briefly summarised by the S. A. Advertiser :—

The Secretary of Sfate had responded to the application of the Mauritius government, with respect to the construction of railways in the island, by sending out a railway engineer and staff to make the necessary surveys and estimates of the projected lines."

The withdrawal of British troops from Mauritius for India had excited the attention of the governor of the neighbouring French colony of Eeunion. Referring to the very large Coolie population of Mauritius, and the probability of their sympathising with the Bengal mutineers, his Excellency, in case of any danger, real or apparent, had offered to forward at once all the the available troops that could be spared. Offer gracefully declined.

On the 20th July, the Freemasons of the Lodges " La Triple Esperance".and "La Paix" attended service at the Catholic Church, where a mas 3 was performed for the souls of those Freemasons who had been deprived of Christian burial in. the colony. A similar ceremony, for a like purpose, had been performed in ; Franceby the Archbishop of Paris. These .proceedings were healing the discords which have been'so long prevalent between the Catholic Clergy and the Masons of Mauritius. ' *