NELSON BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOL.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 62, 13 May 1843, Page 247

NELSON BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOL.

On Monday evening, April 24th, the committee of the above institution held their quarterly meeting at the School House. From the master's report, the progress of the school appeared to be satisfactory ; there being then 27 boys and 11 girls attending it. In order to place the means of instructing their children within the power of every parent, the following reduction of the fees was determined on. First class, from . . Is. to 6d. per week. Second do 9d. to sd. do. Third do 6d. to 3d. do. FOR OBPHy XSFirst class, from . . 6d. to 3d. per week. Second do 44d. to 2d. do. Third do 3d. to ljd. do. And in order that no inconvenience might arise from an accession of numbers, it was agreed that the whole of the building should be given up to the school. The money subscribed having been all expended on the building, and the committee being unable to provide many things which are required, for want of funds, the following resolution was agreed to :—: — " That this meeting beg to impress upon the committee, and the subscribers to the school in general, me propriety of making an immediate slight addition to its funds, and for themselves individually to undertake to obtain such assistance whenever practicable by their personal exertions.'' Subscriptions will be received by Mr. Cautley, Mr. A. Saunders, and Mr. Elliott.

Patronage of the Great. — The great are fond of patronising men of genius, when they are remarkable for personal insignificance, so that they can dandle them like paroquets or lap-dogs, or when they are distinguished- by some awkwardness which they can laugh at, or some meanness which they can despise. They do not wish to encourage or show their respect | for wisdom or virtue, but to witness the defects or ridiculous circumstances accompanying these, that they may have an excuse for treating all sterling pretensions with supercilious indifference. They seek at best to be amused, not to be instructed. Truth is the greatest impertinence a man can be guilty of in polite company; and players and buffoons are the beau ideal of men of wit and talents. — Hazlitt. Profitable Employmrnt of Prisoners. — The prisoners have been employed in the course of the past year in completing various necessary buildings, such as the Superintendent's house, apartments for themselves, barns, sheds, &c, as well as in agriculture and gardening-. They have raised a sufficient supply of wheat vegetables for their own consumption, and in the approaching season it is expected that they will have, besides the garden, twenty-one acres of land under cultivation. A lighthouse is now also in course of erection by them. This building will be of stone, the height of it to the top of the lanthorn will be above fifty-five feet, and, being placed on a hill, its elevation above the ocean will be one hundred and eighty feet ; so that it will be seen by ships at thirty or thirty-six miles' distance, and'will prove of important service generally in the navigation of these seas. — Extracted from a Speech of the Governor of Western Australia. Paper Money.- — It seems that a party of gentlemen were telling their " experience," while standing in front of the Gas Light Office, when a well-known genius come along, and breaking into the "party," told his story something in this wise : — '• Hold your horses," says he, " and if you want to hear the greatest shaving story that you ever did hear, just keep cool. I never hove, in all my life, had much money on hand at any one time ; but a short time before the suspension of specie payments by the Miners' Bank of Dubuque, I had 200 dollars of her bills, and when I heard the news of her failure, I thought she would rise again, so I held on to the money. After a few weeks I saw it was going to ruin, and I determined to get rid of.it ; so I took it to a broker's and exchanged it for Cairo, at thirty per cent, discount. This I look on as paying pretty dear for a shave ; hut the next thing I heard was that the Cairo Bank had blown up ; and I goes off to a broker instanter, and off comes twenty-five per cent, more, and then I had the product of my speculation in the State Bank of Illinois money. Next thing, away goes the State Bank — busted all to pieces, and hang me if I didn't lose thirty per cent, more in obtaining Shawneetown money! and then I thought I was safe with what little money I had got — but alas for all worldly affairs ! — down goes the Shawneetown Bank — refused to resume — panic raised — and to prevent the brokers from shaving me again, I went to a private individual, and gave him all the Shawneetown money I had for twenty dollars in Ohio money, and on offering to pass it I was told that it was counterfeit ! And now, whether you believe it or not, I tell you, gentlemen, it is a fact, there is the whole remains of my 200 dollars." Upon this he produced tt o ten dollar hills on the Geauga Bank of Painesville, exclaiming, " Yes, them two cursed counterfeit notes on the Bank of Geauga are the whole remainder of my money speculation." — American paper. * Compassion of a Judge in Texas. — A very learned and compassionate judge in Texas, on passing sentence on one John Jones, who had been convicted of murder, concluded his remarks as follows : " The fact is, Jones, that the court did not intend to order you to be executed before next spring, but the weather is very cold — our gaol, unfortunately, is in bad condition — much of the. glass in the windows is broken — the chimneys are in such a dilapidated state that no fire can be made to render your apartments comfortable ; besides, owing to the great number of prisoners, not more than one blanket can be allowed to each; to sleep soundly and comfortably, therefore, will be out of the question. In consideration of these circumstances, and wishing to lessen your sufferings as much as possible, the court, in the exercise of its humanity and compassion, do hereby order you to be executed to-morrow morning as soon after breakfast as may be convenient to the sheriff and agreeable to you." — Quebec Gazette.