The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1867. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE NELSON SCHOOL SOCIETY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 95, 25 April 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1867. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE NELSON SCHOOL SOCIETY.

The anniversary of this society was celebrated ou Tuesday evening, at the building generally known as Mr. Campbell's School-room, and the occasion was accompanied by circumstances of peculiar interest. A very considerable number of ilie friends and parents of the pupils attending the society's school partook of tea at half-past 5 o'clock, and at the conclusion of the repast, the tables having been cleared, his Honor the Superintendent took the chair, and the Eev. J. Davis having opened the meeting with prayer, followed by a hymn, said that he had consented with very great pleasure to take part in the celebration of the 23rd anniversary of the society, which had been formed at a time when the community was indebted to private and insufficient, means for the education of the rising generation. Not only had the society achieved a great deal under its own especial auspices, but it had also done, what he considered of still greater importance, it had prepared the way for the adoption of the present system of education, for it was the practice of encouraging the meeting together of children of all shades of religious opinion for educational purposes, that gave rise to, and suggested the introduction of the present " Education Act." He had always been a warm supporter of the principles upon which that measure was grounded, and it had therefore afforded him sincere pleasure to take part in the celebration of their anniversary that evening. The Nelson School Society had now been in operation twenty- three years, and although much work had been taken off its hands, much still remained to be done. It owed its origin to Mr. Campbell and the other gentlemen who had exerted themselves in concert with him in the cause of educational progress, both in this city and in the country districts. Amongst those gentlemen who had been Mr. Campbell's coadjutors, he would particularise Mr. Fox and Mr. Tuckett, who had now removed to other spheres of usefulness, and the Honorable Mr. Dillon and the late Mi'. Superintendent Robinson, who had been taken from them by death. His Excellency the Governor bad referred in feeling terms to Mr.JDillou's disinterested unselfish character a few days ago, and he (the Superintendent) thought he could not do better than read to them an extract from a letter from that gentleman, handed to him by Mr. Campbell, and written in January, 1846, which thoroughly embodied his own views on the subject of education. The extract was as follows : — "I congratulate you sincerely for having persuaded the people that Christ's religion may be taught without adherence to any church or sect. I trust that, under Divine Providence, you may be the means of guiding our scholars to a more enlarged and spiritual sense of Christ's love, and whilst they exercise reasonably the power He has given them of judging for themselves, may they most strictly refrain from doing that which He has positively forbidden; — judging other men. May they take Christ's command of loving one another in its most enlarged sense, and believe that as God never created anything to be wasted, we shall find in another world that His worshippers, of whatever sect, are acceptable before Him, and that each has its use and combines to form that one glorious body whose head is Christ. To you, Sir, who have been so zealous in promoting the welfare of this settlement, by the education of the rising generation, the thanks of its inhabitants are especially due. I can only say, for my own part, how truly I hope that your efforts may be crowned with success." He (the Superintendent) would not detain them from the more interesting part of the entertainment, by any further remarks, and as he had other pressing engagements to fulfil that evening, he would request them to nominate some other gentlemen to relieve him of his duties as chairman. The Rev. Mr. Davis was then moved into the chair, and a vote of thanks was given to the Superintendent by acclamation, who then left the room. Another hymn had been sung, and four recitations given very, creditably by female pupils of the school,

when the arrival of his Excellency the Governor was announced. Sir George was received with the warmest manifestations ou the part of the people present, aud occupied a seat below the platform, his visit being altogether of a private character, aud we believe, intended as a mark of regard for JVIr. Campbell especially. The Governor was accompanied by the Hon. Major Richardson, the Aide-de-Camp, Major Gray, and Mr. George Richardson. The report was then read by Mr. J. M. Hill :— "It is with pleasure yonr committee can report upon their operations, and with thankfulness we mention the many mercies of the Lord which have been vouchsafed to your society during the past 23 years. "It was a happy thought which called iuto existence the schools that have been established under your auspices, seeing they maintain the career of usefulness for which they have so long been conspicuous. " The operations of your society during the past twelve months can be summed up in a few words. "You have six schools, one at each of the following places, Stoke, Ranzau, Hope, River Terrace, Upper Wakefield. and Town ; these schools contain 346 children, who are instructed by 44 teachers. " Of the proficiency of the schools we can speak favorably j indeed, there is a marked improvement in them, most observable in the teachers who are worthy of your encouragement and support in the difficult work in which they are engaged. " A library is attached to several of the schools, and has been found to be a valuable addition to the lessons of the teachers. "We think it well at this time to inform you of the intention of the committee to build a new school in town more suited to our requirements than the present one. "The building we at present occupy is fitted up with desks and forms adapted only for a day school, and we find the expense of moving them to suit the Sabbath classes, aud the inconvenience of them when moved, sufficient reason for this decision. The following is a statement of accounts : —

Mr. De Carle briefly moved the adoption of the report, which was seconded by the Hon. Major Richardson, who said that he felt placed in a very awkward position, in as much as he had entertained hopes that the mover would have said so much as to leave him very little to say. [Laughter.] It was a very gratifying thing to find an institution which had been founded some 23 years ago, still so enthusiastically supported. The sceiie which he had witnessed last Sunday at the Provincial Hall, had reminded him vividly of his early days, when he was learning the catechism of the church to which he belonged, and was privileged to be a teacher in the Sunday school of his parish. As regarded their meeting that evening, he had only intended to go there for the purpose of seeing the children enjoying themselves, hut he had been too late for that, and only arrived iu time to see the grown up folks devouring the cakes which the youngsters had left, Major Richardson then expressed himself very much pleased with the recitations he had heard, and quoted very happ'ly several verses which bad been sung during the evening, iu illustration of the attachment which the teachers had shown to their school, and of the catholic nature of the institution generally. In conclusion he gave utterance to his hope that they would allow no trifling differences to interfere with their action, but rather endeavor to drown them in union. If they found their steps faltering, they should not be dispirited, remembering that it was always darkest before sundawn. The hon. and gallant Major then moved the adoption of the report, and sat down amidst loud applause. A hymn was then sung, followed by other recitations, and Mr. Johns then nominated several gentlemen to form the committee for the coming year.

Mr. Songer, of Stoke, seconded the motion, which was put to the meeting, and carried unanimously. Mr. De Carle ' then proposed that the meeting should signify its thanks to the Governor for his presence on that occasion, characterising it as one " which had never occurred before, and could never occur again," and, with more than questionable taste, requesting the Governor to address those present, however briefly. The impropriety of this latter proposition, we were glad to perceive,- was immediately recognised by the meeting ; and Mr. Campbell, at the request of his Excellency, explained that there were associations, most painful to himself, connected with his last visit to Nelson, to which he would be compelled to revert if he addressed them, and that he had come there simply as a private individual, and not to take any public part in the proceedings. He also begged that Mr. Campbell would contradict the assertion made by Mr. De Carle, that a similar occasion to the present had never occurred in Nelson before, inasmuch as, 13 years ago, which mauy present would remember, he had come amongst them when they were all very poor, and done his best to show his sympathy with them in their patient efforts in the cause of education. Mr. Campbell described Sir George Grey as the nursing father of the society ; and concluded by expressing his sincere thanks for the honor he had done it by his presence that evening. Speeches were delivered by Mr. Haddow and others, which space will not allow us to report, and the proceedings were brought to a close shortly before 10 o'clock, when the Governor left, amidst the warmest demonstrations of respect and sympathy; for the ball given to his Excellency at the Pisjmncial Hall.

BALANCE SHEET. INCOME. £ 8. d, Eent of School Building 25 0 0 Collections 6 16 0 Balance last year 43 3 0 Collection Box 10 .0 0 £84 19 0 EXPENDITURE. Messrs. Lucas, printing 2 3 6 „ Nation & Co., printing... 0 9 6 Bible Depot 1 14 0 Hounsell, books 3 4 4 E. &M. Mullen, cleaning school 5 0 0 Mr. Salter. binding hymn books . 10 4 Sundries, Lights, &c 1 0 0 £14 11 8 Balance 70 7 4 £84 19 0