MISCELLANEOUS.

Evening Post, Volume LXIX, Issue 118, 20 May 1905, Page 9

MISCELLANEOUS.

Mr. Watson, Leader of tho Federal Opposition, says the signs of success for the Labour party at the South Australian elections this month are exceedingly encouraging. The impression that he obtained from conversations with prominent men in Adclaido was that Mr. Reid's meeting was by no means a triumph from a party standpoint. Indeed, ho sawno evidence, he says, in South Australia that the anti-Socialist movement would prove a formidable factor in Federal politics.' * Owing to the existence of potato disease a proclamation has been fssued preventing the introduction into South Australia of potatoes from New Zealand and Norfolk Island. The Consolidated Marine Boards of Tasmania have affirmed the desirability of erecting a lighthouse at Port Davey, but as it will cost probably £7000 financial difficulties bar present action. Opinions vary on the equity of the Tasmania ability tax that is now being collected. At a meeting the ex-Attorney-Geueral (Mr. Nicholls) spoke adversely. Referring to tlie trade of Manila and tho Philippines, the New South Wales Commercial Agent in the Far Eust states that tenders are being invited for about £2,000,000 worth of works. " Australian products," he adds, " have estabbshed an excellent roputation, and, in her position, Australia should control tho trade of the Philippines, and also of tho Orient."

Mr. Hall Caino's dramatic version of his own novel, "The Prodigal Son," to be produced by Mr. Arthur Collins at Drury Lane next autumn, contains four acts, threo in Iceland and one in Riviera, and nfc tenst eight good acting parts (states a London paper). , The original plot has been somewhat altered by the author, who, as concession to public taste, has provided his story with a happy ending. The incidents of the abduction of tho child and tho digging up of tho musical compositions have also been suppressed, while tho comedy element has been given a much moro prominent position m the play than it occupies in tho novel. ■ Recently "La Belle Marseillaise," a new drama by Pierre Berton, was produced at the Paris Amblgu with such success as to induce Mr. Charles Frohmau to secure tho English and American rights in tho piece (says the London Telegraph). Tho action of the story begins in Paris in the year 1815, and is concerned with tho adventures of a fascinating lady whoso husband, having lent his clothes to a fellow conspirator to enablo him to escape from the anger of Napoleon, is supposed to have been killed. Subsequently "La Belle Marseillaise" is ordered by the Emperor to marry one of his aide-de-camps. But full of tho fact which she cannot declare, that Monsieur sou Mari is still alive, the dilemma in which tho poor woman finds herSelf may bo imagined. The part is said to bo one of the most humorous and effective seen upon die Paris stage since tho days of Madame Sans-Gene.