LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 27, 3 February 1881, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[united press association.] Auckland, 2nd February. At the Presbjrterian Church meeting, Mr. M'Callum inquired whether, if a man married his deceased wife's Bister, or whether, if a minister solemnised such marriage, they would be committing an offence against the Church ? Although the Confession of Faith appeared to condemn such unions, he had not been able to find any sanction in the Bible for such prohibition. The Eev. E. Somerville explained that as the bill had not yet obtained Eoyal assent, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland passed a resolution against it. The Rev. Messrs. Maekay, Norrie, and Ranciman were appointed to represent the Presbytery at the General Assembly at Wellington. There was considerable difficulty in getting anyone to go, and the above-named reluctantly consented. The Auckland telegraphic team (6) was beaten by Wellington in the rifle match by 59 poiata. The Auckland men have since challenged Wellington to a match, four men a side. The Auckland Regatta Committee paid over .£5OO in prizes. Mr. and Mra. Lingard left by the mail steamer. The bankruptcy matters were arranged. „ ...... Napwb, 2nd February. * A party of prospectors leave to-morrow for the Buahine Ranges. A piece of quartz brought by a surveyor from Norsewood district some time since, was accidentally broken on Monday, showing rich gold. The quartz was in the possession of an old miner, but he never suspected it to be auriferous. The Customs returns for January amounted to .£3065 5s Bd, against .£2576 18s 5d oollected in the corresponding month of last year. An unoccupied house at Ormondville has been burned to the ground. There appears to be no doubt that the fire was the act of an incendiary. The police are making inquiries into the matter. The building was uninsured. The Governor was received at Woodville to-day with an address of welcome. Oamaeu, 2nd February. The amount of Customs revenue collected at the port of Oamaru during the month of January was -£1350 11s Bd. Three young men were fined by the Collector of Customs on Tuesday three time 3 the value of some tobacco they had brought ashore from a vessel lying in the. roadstead. •A lenient view was taken of the matter, as there was no evident intention to smuggle. The weather is fine for harvesting — the best experienced here for a number of years. Dtxnbojn, This Day. A correspondent of the Times reports the discovery of a reef in the Long Valley, Serpentine district. The stone is thickly impregnated with gold. Barney Callan, of Galloway station, has been drowned while crossing the Manuherika. He had been drinking heavily. At a meeting of marine engineers last night, it was decided that the proposed sliding scale of the Union Company was unfair to the men, who will leave the vessels as soon as they can do so legally rather than submit to the proposed classification. Christchubch, This Day. At a public meeting last night, it was resolved to establish a home for destitute dogs. At a meeting of settlers in the Waikari district, yesterday, a memorial was adopted praying the Government to continue the construction of the northern railway to Hurunui. The Customs revenue in Christchurch in 1879 was .£204,691; last year, .£205,247. The imports at Lyttelton in 187'J were £1,579,061; last year, £1,214,068. The exports in 1879 were £1,279,622 : last year, £1,525,416. Ihe fire in the Oxford Bush is still raging. The Australian cricketers leave for Wellington to-day. A public presentation is to be made this afternoon to Mr. J. L. Coster, late manager of the Bank of New Zealand.