SECOND EDITION. BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Evening Star, Issue 3683, 11 December 1874, Page 3

SECOND EDITION. BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Lawrence, December 11. The nomination for a Councillor for Middle Ward, vacant by the resignation of Mr Armstrong, took place to-day. Mr M. Fraer (late Mayor of Cromwell), was proposed by Mr J. Middlemiss, and seconded by Mr T. Arthur, Mr W. Quin (‘Tuapeka Times’ staff) was proposed by Mr R. Hill and seconded by Mr R Williams. The poll is next Wednesday. Mr Fraer, in a brief address to the Mayor, expressed his great indignation at being opposed, he having consented to test the electron with an understanding that no opposition would be offered. [Sent 1.47 p.m.; received.3.3o p.m.] Christchurch, December 11. Mr Bowen not haring time to'hold electoral meetings, paid a flying visit to several parts of the Kaiapoi district yesterday, and was met by influential electors. In answer to questions he •aid the Provincial system in a large part of the Colony had become obstructive, rather than a help to economical local Government. No economy was possible while the Colonial Treasurer had to find funds for the Provinces which'had no revenue to keep up their own establishments. The Provincial question had nothing to do with localising th» expenditure of land revenue. The object of the General Government was to secure such local expenditure, and the Provincialists in the North were the oude«t claimants for the Southern land revenue. With respect to Canterbury and Otago, Mr Bowen said he did not see any necessity for the immediate abolition of these Provinces, as they hud revenues of their own, which were well administered; but an alteration sooner or later was inevitable. though he held this view, he wished stinctly to bo understood thut, if it became necessary to secure the substance of local management, of local affairs, and local revenue, by altering the form of our local Government, he would not persist in grasping at the shadow. He would not agree to any legislation which would place the South in a worse position with regard to its land revenue than it was at present. The Public Works policy must be carried out. Even those

who opposed its initiation were agreed that it would be disastrous to drop works which must be completed before they can giv> a fair returm The introduction of population and the consequent development of the country was the only guarantee for lightening the burden of the Colonial liabilities. A unanimous vote of confidence in Mr Bowen was passed. His election is regarded as a certainty. [Sent 12.30 p.m. ; received 3.30 p.m.] Wellington. December 11. The sittings of the Presbyterian General Assembly terminated last evening. The report of the committee on church extension was adopted. The Rev. S. Paterson, the Rev. Mr Ross, and Mr‘James Smith, elder, were appointed deputies from the General Assembly to the Synod of Otago. The following motion by the Rev. Mr Elmslie was passed “ That the Assembly recommend the several presbyteries of the church to take such steps as they may deem fit to submit for the consideration of the various deacons and managers of Courts the whole question of maintenance and support, with a view more especially to increase the present minimum stipends of country ministers, and make their views on the matter known to the next General Assembly.” It was resolved on the motion of Mr Elmslie: “That this Assembly laving taken into consideration the state of religion in our Church in connection with tidings that have been reaching us of a great revival in Scotland and in other parts, express their heartfelt gratitude to God for so much encouragement in the work of the ministry, and agree to recommend to all the congregations of the Church that special prayer and a special effort be made, in order to bring about, under Divine blessing, a like time of refreshing amongst ourselves, and that they recommend more particularly that the first week of next year be agreed upon as a time of special effort throughout the whole of the New Zealand Presbyterian Church.” The next meeting of the Assembly 10 be held at Christchurch in December, 1875. [oent, 11 n.m. ; received, 4 p.m.] A curious accident happened in the house of the Resident Magistrate last night. Two servant girls, sleeping in the same room, upset a kerosene lamp, which set fire to their night dresses and to the room. After considerable trouble Mr Crawford, who was reading in the other room, hearing their screams, managed to save the girls from their perilous position. One is very seriously burnt. [Sent, 12.40 p.m. ; recsived, 4.50.]