TELEGRAMS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 394, 26 September 1874, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

(From the Dunedin Dailies. ) Auckland, September 22nd. The following are the weights for the Auckland Spring Meeting : — Handicap Sweepstake, 1£ mile. — Slander 9st 81bs ; Creeping Jenny, 9st 61bs ; Mount., Bst 71bs ; Warwick, Bst 71bs ; Bedouin, Bst. Hunt Club Steeplechase. 3 miles — Rustic, bg, list 41bs ; Lurline (Blenheim horse), lOat 51bs ; Rustic, b g. 9st *J\h B -, Highflyer, br g, 9st 81bs. Hurdle Race, 2 miles — Middy Ashore, lOst j Islesman lOst 41bs ; Sultan lOst 21bu ; Lurline (Blenheim horse) lOst 5 ; Mount, 9st lOlbs ; Warwick, 9st 81bs j Gaboy. 9st 81bs ; Louisdor, 9st 21bs. The acceptances are due on the 2nd October. Mr. Sannders reports : — Sales of Bank of New Zealand at £17 15a j Caledonian, £8 ; Fiji Bank, £2 14s j South British, £2 10b ; National Insurance, £1 8s; Bright Smile, £3 ; Royal Oak, 2s 6d. Sellers of National Bank, £3 lie ; Thames £2.

September 23rd. There has been a very severe westerly gale blowing all day, and £15,000 worth of damage has been done to the shipping at the wharf. The vessels Thames, East Lothian, Harriet Armitage, Nonpareil, and Mera have been damaged by grinding against the warf . The gale is moderating. Gbahamstown, September 22nd. The engine and battery and plant of the once famous Shotover Company was submitted to the hammer to-day, and all Bold but the battery. It is expected that the claim will be amalgamated with some neighbouring mine. Wellington, September 23rd. Mr. Borlase the Mayor, is bringing an action against Mr. Ludlam, of the Hutt, for a libel contained in certain words used at a recent meeting, and which, it is said, reflect upon his character and capabilities as Provincial Solicitor.

Napieb, September 23rd. The Diocesan Synod met yesterday. The Bishop delivered a long address upon the affairs o$ the church, and called attention to the spreading of intemperance. He recommended the consideration of the subject to the earnest attention of the Synod. New Plymouth, September 23rd. Controller Fitzgerald is now here, inspecting the books of the various Government departments. Land is changing hands at fair prices. Mr. Vavasour, of Wellington, has purchased Mr. Wm. Boyle's Tokaramaka property at £8 per acre. Mr. Drake, of Wellington, has bought Mr. Dwight's farm at Araroa, at £3 10s per acre. Some land in Devon street has been sold at £12 per foot, and in the centre of the town from £15 to £20 per foot is sßked.

"His Mask."— ln ancient times, the mark of the cross was not invariably a proof of ignorance; for among the Saxons the mark of the cross, as an attestation of the good faith of the person signing, was required to be attached to the signature of those •who could write. In those times, if a man could -write, or oven read, his knowledge was considered proof presumptive that he was in holy orders. The clencns, or clerk, -was synonymous with penman ; and the laity, or people who were not clerks, did not feel any urgent necessity for the use of letters. The ancient use of the cross was therefore universal, alike by* those who could and could' not write ; it waa, indeed, the symbol of an.oath, from its sacred associations, as well as the mark generally adopted. Hence the origin of the expression, "God save the mark," as a form of ejaculation approaching the character of an oath. The Rev. T. F. Bird delivered a lecture on the " Press and Pulpit " at the Indepdent Church Melbourne, a few days since. The lecturer traced the rise and growth of the fourth estate and gave illustratfiros of each, which he hoped would be brought into hannonius operation. Some of the brightest names in English literature had, the lecturer Btated, been newspaper men. The press was very powerful and very thinskinned, and to touch it as a critio or C9nsor was like touching the electrio fish. The lecturer gradully traced the rise and progress of the press since 1622, when Nathaniel Butter's Weekly News was published, which was satirised by Ben Jonson hi his comedy, Staple of News. He, however, stated that the press was the earthly weapon at the brandishing of which kings grow pale, cabinets trembled.and kingdoms tottered to their fall, While speaking of the power and influence of the '.press, he denied that the pulpit was decaying, either in style or tone. The character of the modern press was that of a wise and able teacher, and an invincible defender of the rights of the people. The criticism of the press had had a wholesome influence on the pulpit. Mr. Bird said that the pulpit was at its towest ebb now, but would assuredly be visited with the flood.