Untitled

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 143, 19 June 1868, Page 2

The Provincial Council met to-day, at 11 o'clock, and was occupied in Committee, Mr Redwood in the chair, until halfpast I o'clock, in discussing the propriety of rescinding of the resolution passed on the 3rd of June last, to the- effect that such arrangements only should be made by the Waste Lands Board for the working of the Brunner Coalmine as would not prevent it becoming a portion of the Railway. On the motion of the Speaker, J. R. Dutton, Esq., the Warden at Cobden, was examined before the Committee, and gave decided testimony in favor of the motion before the Council, which was ultimately carried, (an amendment, by Mr Donne, that the Government should work the mine for the next twelve months, providing all necessary appliances for bringing the coal to Cobden, having been lost,) by a majority of 15 to 5, the Speaker, and Messrs. Wigley, Donne, Burn, and Wastney voting with the minority. The Council then adjourned until 5 o'clock this evening, when 16 notices of motion remained to be disposed of. It is confidently hoped that the business of the Session may be brought to a conclusion to-morrow.

We trust that we are divulging no secret in adverting to the fact that the late and present pupils of Nelson College purpose offering to the Rev. C. L. Maclean, the Head Master of that institution, whose resignation takes effect at the end of the present quarter), and also to Mrs. Maclean, a very gratifying and substantial proof both of their esteem and affection, and of the regret felt by them at the approaching termination of the relations which have subsisted between them. This will take the form of a handsome tea and coffee service, which has been specially ordered for this purpose from the establishment of Mr H. Drew, of Trafalgarstreet. We understand that it is intended that the presentation shall take place at a farewell party to be given at the College, to the Head Master and Mrs Maclean on Tuesday evening next, for which upwards of 200 invitations have been issued, and which promises to be a very brilliant affair. The election of four members of the Hope Committee of education took place on Saturday the 13th at the Ranzau School, to supply the places of Mersrs Beitt, Kelling, Smith, and Humphries. Mr W. P. Smith having been called to the chair, the , following householders were duly elected: — Messrs Lankow, Roberts, Harford and Humphries. The committee afterwards held a meeting and appointed Mr F. Kelling to be their representative at the Central Board, and Mr C. P. Kearns as their Secretary. Our readers will observe that the remainder of the consignment of books received ex Algernon, the first portion of which were disposed of on Wednesday last, and, we believe, gave general satisfaction, will be offered for sale by Mr D. Moore to-morrow at 11 o'clock. We understand that a ceremony which has never yet been witnessed in this colony, will take place on Sunday next at St. Mary's, immediately after the High Mass at 11 o'clock. We allude to the * blessing' of the fine bell which has lately been received from France. This rite of the Roman Catholic Church, which is frequently improperly styled ' baptism,' probably on account of the similarity of some of the ceremonies observed on such occasions to those of Christian baptism, and to the fact that the bell receives the name of some Saint, to whom it is dedicated by its two sponsors, is carried out in Catholic countries with great pomp and solemnity, and will, doubtless, be regarded with much interest by the Catholics of Nelson. A collection will be made at the conclusion of the service to defray the necessary expenses of putting up the bell, which will form a grateful addition to the tones which issue from our local steeples, reviving such pleasant memories of home. We are glad to learn that the young man, Boddington, who was accidently shot at Waimea West on Saturday week, is now in a fair way of recovery, having left his bed, and the whole of the wadding having been expelled.