THE ELECTION OF GOVERNORS OF NELSON COLLEGE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 16, 22 March 1866, Page 2

THE ELECTION OF GOVERNORS OF NELSON COLLEGE.

The election of candidates to supply the two vacancies in the Governorship of tins College took }>lace , this morning, in the presence of the Resident Magistrate, who adjourned the Court for the purpose. Mr. Kingdon proposed Mr; David. Jennings, Jmt there was no seconder. Mr. Benjamin Jackson nominated; and Mr, Thornton seconded the nomination of Dr. Irvine. " Mr. W. W. Wells proposed Mr. John Sharp, and Mr. H. Adams seconded the nomination: Mr. Burn nominated, and Mr; Kingdon seconded the nomination of Mr: LevienMr. Kingdon agaia nominated Mr. Jennings, and ;Mr. JBurn!6econded.--Mr. Biggs shoemaker said he was anxious to ask jtbe various candidate!«if fclieyv would use precautions i(o prevent the ap&Qijifjjßfiat' in future, of'aifraudulent stonrard, the last jijfeffwi^ toWng^eatea fiim,• aM

oilier tradesnteft 4n the town. With the «bnseirt' df the Resident* Magistrate, he put this questiohHbthe vaWohiicarididates..' '• ■ ■; :: ; »••• Dr^li'virfe t said i he was of opinion, that any person holding a responsible situation -in -the college, shotild be required to enter into the securities which persons in situation of trust, were usually required to furnish. . Mr; Levien said he would take care that an honest i man was appointed, and he thoughit t desirable.tbe public should be made aware, by advertisement, whether the steward or the governors were responsible for the expenditure he incurred. Mr." Sharp thought he could not do better than express his concurrence in- the sentiments of the previous speakers, ; On a show of hands being taken, the numbers were declared to be— For Dr. Irvine, 10,-forMrc Sharpe,-ll; for Mr! Levien, 2; and for Mr. Jennings, 1. The choice of the electors was, therefore, stated by the returning officer, to have fallen: on Mr. Sharp and Dr. Irvine. - • • _ Mr. Jennings demanded a poll, for the purpose of making a few remarks. Mr. Webb suggested that a poll ought not to be taken 1 unless six electors demanded it. A contested election, at the suggestion of a candidate who had ; n6 chance of being elected, would put the College to 1 a great expense, and was a very improper thing; The Resident Magistrate said if a poll was demanded by a candidate, it was not for him toobject to it. If he were wrong in the law he would be- - happy if Mr. Webb would set him right. - . ■; - ■ Mr. Jennings then ' addressed the meeting in a speech of considerable length, stating that one of the great inducements that led to his immigrating to.thia colony 17 years ago, was the prospect of obtaining a good education for. his children in Nelson College... He had now r six' sbiis,' for 'whose education he felt" deeply anxious. He then commentwl on -the past; v administration of the'iiflairs of the College, and con-" tended that' the endowment, supplemented by. the funds of the public in a community fast increasing ia' population and prosperity, ought to furnish a firstcla'ss education to the children of the settlers'.- Heshowed that in England men of the highest rank and' influence had received their education in similar institutions, and there was no reason 1 why Nelson College should not take a high position among the institutions of the country. He had too great a regard for the interests of the College to put the electors to the expense "of a contested election, his object being : . only: to make the above remarks. ■■ The Resident Magistrate then declared Mr. Sharp, and Dr. Irvine duly elected. Mr. Sharp in addressing the electors, said he had come forward as a candidate at the. request of several electors with whom- he agreed, that there had been considerable mal-administration of the ' funds of the College ; especially in reference to the erection of the present buLlding out of the capital of the institution, instead of waiting till the interest had accumulated. No doubt, past mistakes might be., attributed to inexperience, and it should be the dutyof , ! the future directors to profit by the mistakes of the - past, and he for one would use his best exertions, • that the college might be conducted with the greatest possible efficiency in future. This must be the case, if the institution was to maintain its position in this and the other neighboring provinces, without' which', it would fail to attain- the- obfects the : promoters had in view. ■*•'•' • > • • • •• ■'•• ' !••■'■ Dr. Irvine, whilst concurring in much that had been advanced byih'e- previous speakers! said, he was anxious to remove the 'apparent antagonistiithat existed between -the system of eduwiiioiv-as^supported by the Government and that- which wasftirnished by the College. He would rather see inducements held out both by the masters and pupils of the common schools, so that they might regard the latter as the means of laying the basis of a good education, which should be improved upon and completed at the institution which furnished the greatest advantages. - Whilst not intending to say a word in disparagement of a classical and mutfiematical education as a . training of the youthful mind, he would be glad to see atitied to t\w wlucation now given at the College, some scientific training, without which, the minds of the pupils could not be considered well furnished or well balanced, lie would therefore, like to see provision made for the teaching of astronomy, chemistry, and natural history, or at all events, for as much of the rudiments of those sciences as would lay the basis . of further knowledge ? .n after life. Mr. Jennings proposed, and Dr. Irvine seconded, that Mr. Sharp be elected a trustee of the Trust l"unds. There being no other candidate, the Resident Magistrate declared Mr. Sharp duly elected. Mr. Sharp thanked the electors for this renewed and Unexpected mark of their confidence. He would endeavour to administer the funds as economically as possible, though unfortunately there was not much* left to administer now. A vote of thanks to- the Returning Officer tertni--nated the proceedings. • -