Mail News.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1941, 24 March 1875, Page 4

Mail News.

The French Government has recently shown its appreciation of preserved meats by entering into contracts for 1600 tons. 1300 of these have been contracted for by South -American importers, the other 300 falling into the hands of an Australian house. The Australian Meat Agency (Tallerman's) have recently delivered, or are now in course of delivering, a parcel of 600 tons of Australian meat of various brands to the same Government, and that portion of the contract delivered has given perfect satisfaction. It is said that apart; Of this lot is iniended for New Caledonia. The chief insurance offices in London have raised their rates £ per cent, to all j Australian ports, alleging as a reason, the impracticability of doing a safe business at the rates hitherto ruling. Better terms are, it is sai£, to be obtained at some of the colonial offices, but it remains to be seen whether ©Id rates will pay. .It may fairly be taken for granted that the old offices would not run the risk of losing business, if they "could do it profitably, and the chief shippers are paying the new rates.

An ■interesting, relic of a byg«ne time* has lately disappeared from among us with death, on December 22, of Lord Byron's valet, Palcieri, at the age of seventy-eight. After the poet's death, in 1854, his friend fcir John Hobhouse, afterwards Lord Broughton, took Falcieri into his employ as courier. Before long, however, the courier returned to his former calling, and continued to serve as valet with Isaac Disraeli, author of the "Curiosities of Literature," and fatlier to the present Prime Minister, until his master's death.

The Marquis of Eipon, who prior to his perversion was engaged in building a large church in connection with the established religion, has, in a very proper -spirit caused it to be finished, and is about to hand itover-rnot to the communion he has lately joined, but—to that which he so unhappily left. The Pope has received an Irjsh depu* tation. The rector of the Irish College read an address expressing Ireland's devoted afleetiqa, : and his Holiness, in reply, praised the sentiments and fidelity of the Irish: laity, and: ; requested them to tell those from whom they came that if they entertained a warm affection for the cornman father of the faithful he loved them no less' dearly in return. A present of 16,000 francs was brought by the deputation.

Addressing a deputation pf Catholic youth, the Pope is reported to have deplored the grievous effects of marriages of consanguinity, which, ho said, had quadrupled in number, and denounced the civil marriage law. He complained that the military service deprived the Church of tfre services of many acolytes.