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nfJRAN POSTAL SERVICE.
From further correspondence which ha3
been laid before Parliament it appears that
the Australasian Steam Navigation Company
wrote to the Government in January last,
complaining that the present contract with the
P. & O. Company was entered into without an
opportunity for tendering being given to a
Colonial Company. On this account the
Sydney Company was precluded from compet
ing. They therefore hope thelrcal Governments
will give notice to terminate the contract, and
they say :— 'In the event of this being done, I
am instructed by my Board to say that tenders
for the conveyance of the mails between Galle
and Sydney will be «ent in by this Company,
and that in these tenders they will undertake
to convey the mails at the rate of epeed now
stipulated for, and for a less sum than ia being
paid for the present service. This Company
has for some time had contracts with the
Governments of South Australia and Queens
land for the conveyance of their respective
English mails between Adelaide and Xing
George's Sound, and between Sydney and
Brisbane. And the Board think they are
justified in saying that the manner in which
these services liave been carried out affords a
satisfactory guarantee that any mail service
undertaken by this Company will be efficiently
and faithfully performed.' The reply of the
South Australian Government is that they
have already given notice to terminate the
contract, and that none of the parties to it can
be more 'lissatisfied than they are.
With the same correspondence there is also
published a letter from the Victorian Govern
ment, who are aiixiou9 to join with South
Australia in terminating the contract, and who
will be glad to see the ocean steamers touch at
Kangaroo Island ; but the coet involved in the
detention cannot be shared by Victoria. Mr.
McCulloch sajs in reference to this mattter : —
'Respecting the other points referred to in
your communication, I have to state that the
Government will readily agree to submit to
one daj's delay on the part of the contractors,
m consideration of the advantage to be auorded
to Sjuth Australia by the steamers caliing at
Kangaroo Island on the outward and home
ward vojages ; but I am to hold out no
expectation that any portion of the additional
subsidy of £15,000 required by the Company
For that deviation would be provided by this
solony.'
The probability is that no other Company
except the one now performing the service
would ask so large a sum for the additional
111 miles of steaming, and the thirteen hours'
detention. ?
The Prorogation.— The usual amount of dis
play connected with the prorogation of Parliament
took place on Friday, March 16. A Ixuly of the
metropolitan police, under the direction of In
spector I'eterswald, and a detachment of about 40
volunteers, under Captain Shawyer, occupied a
position opposite the Houses of Legislature, and
the approach of His Excellency to relieve the
members from the arduous duties of a protracted
session was announced in the customary way by
the Regimental Band. A salute of 17 guns was
also fired by the artillery, and tlie populace
gathered in considerable numbers to witness the
imposing outdoor spectae'e. Within the Houses
everything was ready for the arrival of the warrant
of dismissal. The members had completed the
whole of their business and talk, and were calmly
awaiting the ultimatum of the session when His
Excellency made his appearance.
Telegraphic Intelligence.— Our telegrams
this morning will be found to contain important
news from various quarters. In Melbourne the
Arguj has added considerably to the dramatic
interest of the crisis by an Eatonsville criticism on
Mr. McCulloch's Ministerial statement regarding
the resignation, which it characterised as bristling
with falsehood. A breach of privilege case is
likely to be made out of it, and the printer of the
Argus summoned to the bar of the House. The
Protectionists will now have an opportunity of
paying off the ' leading journal' for the two
columns a day of scolding which it has favourec
them with during the past twelvemonth. From
New Zealand we have a lengthy article by the
Auckland correspondent of the Sydney Morning
Herald, on the recent Wanganui-Taranaki cam
paign condemning; it as inciic-ctual. This must be
taken with a stain of salt, originating as it does
on the Auckland side, where General Cameron
was to the last considered a hero, and no good
thins could be allowed to come out of Wellington.
From Chili we hear that the prospects of the
ensuing harvest were tlie K-st that had been
known for years, and that trade U being freely
carried on notwithstanding tli'e blockade.
Public Makket.-A very large meeting of
citizens was held in one of the rooms connected
with the Town Hall, on riday evening, March 1G,
to consider the advisability «f establishing a public
market. His Worship the Mayor presided. A
resolution was carried by a conclusive majority in
favour of the advisability of establishing a public
market, and by a &inall majority it was affirmed
that the best site would be in the middle of
Victoria-square, comprising the Waketield-street
roadway and 25 feet of the square on each side. A
poll was demanded in relation to this last proposi
tion, which will be held on Monday next, opening
at_10 and closing at 4.
Extra Parliamentary Utterances.— Xow is
the time for pleasant meetings between consti
tuents and representatives. The first gathering of
the kind, we believe, is likely to be at Port Elliot —
the electors of the Encounter Bay District having
invited their members to a public dinner, which
in all probability will be a very agreeable enter
tainment.
KorthehnTerritortCommission.— This Com.
mission sat on Friday. The evidence of Mr. W
McMiim was completed, and a portion of that of
Mr. A. 11. Hamilton was ta^en. It had reference
mainly to the character of Escape Cliffs for a
settlement, to the grog-selling at the tents of the
Government Resident, and to the manner in which
the surveys were conducted. The enquiry adjourned
11 Wednesday, at half-past 10 o'clock.
The Far North.— From letters we have seen it
would appear that the rain in the North has been
somewhat partial. It seems to have been most
abundant on the eastern side. Westward, in the
neighbourhood of Moolooloo, there has not been
much, and without further rains no more stock
will be able to be put on the runs. Between
Moolooloo and Kanyaka there seems to have been
no rains. About Mount Margaret the blacks have
become very troublesome, and have taken to de.
stroying considerable numbers of sheep. They are
taking advantage of the fact that only a few whites
remain— and they are widely separated— and the
natives show a dexterity in thieving which the
superior race have hardly yet attained. Another
letter, under date February 2S, from Mount Decep
tion, speaks of the gras3 springing very nicely there,
and beinc still better further north.
The Camels.— We are glad to learn that these
'interesting strangers' are increasing anil multi
plyinc in a promising way. They have accom
plished the journey to Lake Hpoe, and are now on
their way bacK to Port Augusta.
Supreme Court.— In Murch v. Jackson, an
action for false imprisonment, a verdict for £10
was given for the plaintiff, and His Honor certified
it to be a proper case to be tried in the Supreme
Court In Mitchell v. Watts the plaintiff re
covered the full amount of his claim, after
deducting the amount proved to have been
tendered, the chief difficulty in the case being
to fix the price at which certain wheat had been
sold. Guley v. Newport was arranged to be taken
before His Honor on Monday next without a
Jury. The Full Court will sit on Tuesday next.
Adelaide Police Court.— The only case to
notice on Friday was an assault without serious
consequences, committed on a woman, on the pre
mises of a licensed victualler. A sensitive hus
band resented an imaginary liberty and was fined
5s., with Court fees, 25s. in all.
Theatrical.— Mr. A. J. Solomon has engaged
a company of about 21 performers for the coming
theatrical season, which will commence in about a
fortnight from this date. Amongst the actresses
are Miss H. M. Quinn, who, it will be remembered!
was a favourite on the boards of the Victoria some
10 or 11 years ago, when she was quite a child;
and Mrs. Jackson, also a favourite; MissWaddy
Deering, and Mrs. Mcdowan are strangers to
South Australia, but are spoken well of in the
other colonies. The actors include Messrs. Chap
man, C. Ward, McGowan, Gill Woolf, Keeley,
Shute, and some others more or less known to the
play-going public, either personally or by repute.
Victorias Volunteer Camp.— Colonel Biggs
intimates by advertisement that all Volunteer
Officers intending to avail themselves of the invi
tation received from Victoria to join the Volunteer
Camp at Sandridge; as guests should send in their
names to him without delay.
Willuxga Show.— The first annual Show was
held at Willunga on Thursday, March 15, in the
Oddfellows' Hall and paddock. The whole affair
was as successful as was anticipated, and a large
number of visitors attended throughout the day.
The weather was fine, and everybody appeared
highly pleased. A dinner was held in the after,
noon at the Bush Inn, when the prize money was
distributed, and toasts appropriate to the occasion
proposed and responded to.
Mount Pleasant Show.— The annual Show of
the Mount Pleasant Agricultural Society was held
at Mount Pleasant on Thursday, March 15. The
weather was beautiful, and there was a large
number of visitors. The show of grain, fruit, and
stock was very fine indeed, both as regards quantity
and quality. The other classes were very well re.
presented, except wine, which made a very meagre
display. A dinner took place at the Totness Inn
in the evening, and was attended by about 70
persons, and everything passed off satisfactorily.
'Photography.— Mr. Duryea has photographed
in one large sheet the ministers who attended the
Wesleyan Conference a few weeks ago — 11 in all.
The portraits are artistically arranged and
exquisitely finished, and no Wesleyan who can
afford a guinea ought to be without them. The
likenesses are not only faithful bnt pleasing,
which is not always the case with photographic
portraits.
Torrens Park.— A friend of Mr. R. R. Torrens,
informs us that he has received letters by the
late mail stating that a resale of Torrens Park had
been made to Captain Hughes,
A Stray PARCEL.-We hear that ajwircel con
taining samples of boots and shoes, apparently
drooped by some commercial traveller, was found
a few days ago. on the road between the Burra
and Claret and sent to the Police Station at
Redruth.
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