The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1867.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 268, 12 November 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1867.

We understand that the Rev. C. L. Maclean has tendered to the Governors of Nelson College his resignation of the Head Mastership, of that institution, which resignation has been. accepted by them with an expression, of their regret at the termination of his connection with the College. We are. informed that Mr Maclean will not retire/until May next. In connection with this' subject we may; mention that an election, of four vacancies in the Board of Governors will ; shortly take place. One <f these was caused by the retirement of the late Superintendent on his departure for Eujrlaud, and the rest by the retire- | .'m>nt in. rotation of Messrs Barnicoat, binclair, and Cusack, all of whom are eligible for re-election. Amongst others ■who are mentioned as likely to be candidates for the vacant governorship are Mr Nathaniel Edwards, Mr Bennett, and Mr Jennings of Motueka. "It was remarked as being a singular coincidence by many persons who attended the Morning Service of the Anglican Church on Sunday last, that the first pro per lesson for the day (Habakkuk ii) contained the following verse; — 'Behold, is it not of the Lord of Hosts that the people -shall labor in the very fire?' We are happy to be able to state that, after four hours' labor the strong room at the Union Bank was* opened yesterday afternoon, when nil the deeds contained in it were found to be totally uninjured. Owiug'to the intense heat to which it was exposed the outer iron door had become much warped, and the tumblers of the lock were consequently deranged: hence the difficulty experienced during the process of opening it, which was watched with no slight curiosity and anxief.y by a considerable number of persons who were present. We have received'a communication from Mr James Wilkie, in reply to a letter signed 'Inquirer,' which appeared iv our issue of Saturday with reference to the inadequate supply of water at the late fire, and which Mr Wilkie characterises as containing very gross missfcatements. He says that whep, the small engiue arrived at the corrier of Trafalgar "and Hardy-streets the first thing done was to send a man down the well to ascertain what water there was, and .-that he reported there was three inches' depth of water, and 15 to 20 minutes elapsed before there was sufficient water to cover the rose. As to the statement that' the engines were all sucking air, Mr Wilkie states that had 'Inquirer' or bis informant, attempted to unscrew-. the connections on the suction-hose of the little engiae without the. aid of spanners they-, must have failed, as others did, for they were never, altered until half-past one p.m. ; and that they were all right was proved by the fact that the engine , drew as soon as the - water came' down- the sewer. Mr Wilkie- : justly remarks -that it shows very bad taste ' on. the part of any person, to make such ill-founded ' statenieuts with '.reference to the^ proceedings of a body of men whose services .are altogether gratuitous, and whpse .exertions, present. a;very. striking •; contrasted.' the conduct 'of; those who con-^ tent- themselves 'on ; such occasions with .smoking. Lh6ir .pipes aiid drinking the beer •

provided, for the refreshment of. the men who are working the engiues. During the last few weeks a fine specimen of the Pawlownia imperialis, a native of Chili, which seems to have become tho oughly acclimatised iv this place, and which is growing in Mr Epps's nursery garden on the Maitai, has attracted the notice of a large number of visitors. The tree, which is about ten years old, and was procured from Sydney, stands about 18 feet high, and has presented a splendid spectacle, covered with its long spikes of purple blossoms, crowning a mass of large spreading leaves, some 20 inches broad. We understand that the Pawlownia, which until recently was always treated as a greenhouse shrub, bloomed last year iv Battersea Park, for the first time in ihe open air in Englaud. This is the third year that the tree iv Mr Epps's garden bas flowered, but this season the blossoms •have beeu far finer and more abundant. We are informed that no difficulty is exr perienced in the propagation of this highly ornamental addition to our horticultural resources. We are glad to learn that the subscriptions to the fund for the payment of the men who worked at the engines at the late disastrous' fire have been most cheerfully and liberally contributed. Apropos to this'subject, we are anxious to expres3 our .hope that no residents in the city, who, be it remembered, have each an individual interest in the preservation of property on such occasions, will so far forget themselves as to apply' for remuneration for assistance which every citizen ought to be proud and happy to render. ■ The case is different with mere temporary sojouruers in the city, who caunot be supposed to feel any individual interest in the fortunes of the community, and to whom such remuneration might also be very acceptable. A correspondent ' from Massacre Bay writes that a meetiug was held ou the evening of Saturday, the 2nd of November, at the house of Mr M. Mansou, and it was well attended, Mr Steel being in the chair. The followiug resolutions were passed nem. con. — ' 1. That, in the opinion of this meeting, it is highly desirable that a minister should reside among us, and that Mr R. Ray be requested to draw up a subscription-list, so that it may be ascertained what amount of stipend can be offered to one of the Wesleyau persuasion. 2. That the residents in the Takaka district be asked to contribute towards 80 necessary an object, and that Messrs Moulder, Steel, and J. W. Sigley be requested to meet them and ascertain their wishes.' A committee was then elected and the meeting separated. A meeting of the Board of Works took place on Friday afternoon. Present: Mr Burn (in the chair), Messrs Hooper, Burns, Webb, Carter, and Field. The consideration of Mr Burnett's letter relative to repairs required in Hampdeu-street, was postponed until next meeting, as was also the report of the committee on the memorial from the ratepayers in Washington Valley. A considerable discussion arose as to the question by which local journal the printing and advertising of the Koard should be executed, Mr Webb advocating the claims of the Examiner, as having the largest circulation amongst the ratepayers, Mr Burns proposing the Evening Mail, as haviug'the largest general circulation in the city. It was ultimately settled that the matter should be left in the hands of Mr Burns and the secretary. The subject of the right possessed by the Government to break roads for water-pipes, etc., without previously apprisiug the Board of their intention, having been mooted, a general opinion was expressed that a due courtesy had not been shown towards the Board' by the. Government iv the matter, especially since the construction of the waterworks had been first pi'oposed by the Board. The collector having placed in the hands of the secretary a list of upwards of 50 ratepayers who were in arrears, the secretary was instructed to issue summonses forthwith, A letter was read from the Provincial Secretary, stating that the plans and specifications for the Nile-street bridge over the Maitai were in preparation, and that lenders for its erection would shortly be advertised for. An application from Mr Alexander Adams : for £45, on account of the" kerbing of Bridge-street, and also from Messrs Cockrara and Dunlop, for £60 14s 6d, the balance of contract for the repair of the Wainiea-;i-oad and the wattling at Gardiner's Ford, werereceived, and ordered to be pai-cl. Some other letters, were read,

of no public importance, aud it was then proposed aud carried that the Board adjourn until half-past 6 o'clock on Friday, the 22ud iustaht. The anniversary of the birthday of the Heir Apparent to the throne, which had been postponed from Saturday last, was celebrated yesterday as a public holiday, but with the exception of the prbcessiou of the members of the Band of Hope, with the festivities which followed at the Tem-perance-hall, and some indulgence in that essentially Nelson institution ' kiss in the ring,' on the Parade-ground during the evening, in* which a large number of young people took pa~t, there was little indication of public rejoicing. The calamity which had so lately visited the city was doubtless a primary cause of the unwonted gloom which rendered the celebration of the day almost a misnomer. The postponement of the review, with the presentation of colors to the. Cadet Battalion, naturally created much disappointment amongst both adults and juveniles, in which a large number of 'country cousins' \yho had visited town in the expectation of witnessing so novel a spectacle, also participated. We are glad to learn, that a reply has been received to the letter addressed to Major Morse by the captains of the Cadet Companies (and which was endorsed by Captain M'Tavish and Captain Pitt) requesting him to name some day during the next fortnight for the presentation, which states that he will be happy to take part in the ceremony on the day mentioned as likely to «be most convenient, namely, Tuesday next, when it will probably take place in the evening, so as to permit of all the other Volunteer Corps being present on the occasion. This arrangement will at all events serve to allay the irritation which the ill-advised postponement of the event had provoked very generally throughout the community, aud we have no doubt that everything will be done which can add eclat to the ceremony. Amongst the many sufferers by the late fire none, probably, have so large a claim upon public sympathy as Mr Florence Josephs, whose newly erected premises adjoined the Masonic Hotel, and were wholly uninsured, several of the Insurance Offices having declined the risk. We understand that Mr Josephs has lost property to the amount of £700, and is conspquently unable to resume his business. Thfre are also other circumstances which combine to render his case one of peculiar hardship, and we are glad to learn that his friends, anxious to give him a helping hand in his misfortune, have commenced a subscription which his Honor the Superintendent has generously headed with a donation of five guineas. We need hardly add that we wish every success to so benevolent an undertaking. The members of the Band af Hope held their festival yesterday with all the usual accompaniments which render these celebrations epochs of such lively anticipation to the juveniles of this city. At 11 o'clock a long procession of children, carrying banners with appropriate devices and mottoes, and closed by a large waggon crowded with.themost dimiuutive members of Mr Crisp's Band, started from the Temperance Hall, and paraded the town, headed by the Volunteer Band, playing inspiriting music, as usual, in excellent style. At 2 o'clock they partook of tea to the number of 600, iv the Temperance Hall, and we need hardly add, did ample justice to all the good things provided for them. At o o'clock the members of the Total Abstinence Society met at the Hall and took tea together, about 500 persons sitting down. The tables having been cleared Mr Burn, M.P.C., took the chair, and the meeting was addressed by Messrs B. Crisp, I. Hill, Husband, and J. Smith of Stoke, a vote of thanks being given to Mrs Crisp for the admirable decorations of the Hall, and for the excellent arrange-, ments which had been made for the entertainment of so large a party. The dissolving views were then exhibited, and the meeting separated, highly gratified with the amusement provided for them. The Hall, we must not omit to state, had had been, very tastefully decorated with flowers and evergreens by Mrs Crisp and her, assistants; aud the whole affair passed off with a success which must haye almost recompensed Mr Crisp for his indefatigable labors in the cause of temperauce. In consequence of an extensive bush .fire having occurred between Picton and White's Bay yesterday, the communication by telegraph is still further circumscribed. Business with Christchurch and the Southern stations has been suspended

siuce the 6lh instant, operations being now confined to Harelock and Picton. We understand that five telegraph poles have been burned down, aud considerable! damage to the wires has also been incurred. The press of local information upon our space to-day precludes the possibility of ou'" mentioning more than the bare fact that H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh arrived at Adelaide on the 30th ult. from the Cnpe, and made his public entry into that city on the following day. We shall hope to find room fur the particulars of the Prince's reception iv South Australia to-morrow. The inquest on the late fire, takes place this afternoon at the Courthouse at 2 o'clock. Mr N. Edwards is the foreman of the jury, and we have every guarantee that the mysterious circumstances which, at present surround the origin of the fire will undergo the strictest scrutiny. The competition by the No. 1 Cadet Rifle Company for one of the prize rifles offered by the Provincial Government, took place yesterday morning at the Butts in the Maitai Valley. The weather was tplerably propitious, and the shooting at 100, 150, 200 yards' distance, and at a 6 feet by 4 feet target,- was very good, the lowest score being 24, whiUt the prize rifle fell to Lance-Corporal Thos. Nicholson, who scored 48, followed by Private Percy Adams, who made 45, Corporal Gully and Private C. Sharp 43, Sergeant Blacketfc, Corporal W. Adams, and Private C. Edwards, ties for 42, aud Sergeant Wintsrbourne 40. The scoring of the youngsters on this occasion may be considered very good, when " it is recollected that they shot with carbines, whilst the highest score yet made by the adult Volunteers of the province, with Enfield rifles, is 36. The Artillery Cadets and No. 2 Rifle Cadets compete to-morrow. The firing for the Championship is postponed until Tuesday the 3rd December.