NOTICES OF MOTION.

Colonist, Issue 24, 12 January 1858, Page 2

NOTICES OF MOTION.

Tuesday, \2th~January. Mr. Mackay, to move-^ ■;■:. 1 . That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to furnish the Council ■ with a return, showing the date, Situation, and cost of erecting of the several pounds in the province, and the number of animals impounded in them, and also the amount of fees received by the Provincial Treasurer for each separately. 2. To ask the Provincial Solicitor, if it is the mr tention of the Government.to introduce a "bill this session to amend the Impounding Ordinance. Mr. Elliott, to move— That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to furnish the Council with a copy of any correspondence that has taken place between the Government of this. Province and the Govern-; ment of the Province of Wellington, relative to an arrangement forthe transmission of ; the English mailsto Nelson on their arrival'in Wellington ; and also the copy of any offer received by the Provincial Government from any shipowner or shipmaster for the conveyance of such mails. The Provincial Secretary to move— That the Council resolve into committee to take into consideration the Address of his Honor the Superintendent. Mr. Mackay, to move— 1. That a Select Committee he_appointed^_a,con_> i^ihMtat^SSarfi^'iilemSt of allthepiiDlic 'departments ofthe Province, with power to call for persons and papers; the committee to consist of the Speaker, Dr. Monro; Mr. Wells, Mr. Curtis, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Kelling, and the mover. 2. (When the Estimates are under consideration) That the items under the head of Provincial 1 Council Establishment for pay in consideration of services by members of the Council, be struck . out.. . '. ' 3. For a return showing the number of acres of land sold in Massacre Bay in 1857, with the amount received for the same; and also areturn showing the amount of money expended by the Provincial Government in the said district during the last three years. 4. For a return showing the amount of passage money owing to the Immigration Commissioners '■ by assisted immigrants,. with the names of the defaulters and their sureties. Dr. Monro to move— For a return showing the amount of land sold in the province, and the value received for the same since March, 1853, the returntobe made; up to the Ist January in each year, excepting; wnere a change of system was introduced, and to be so drawn up as to exhibit the class of land sold in the district in which situated, and the consideration received, whethei**_ash or scrip., Mr. Elliott to move—The appointment of a Library Committee, which shall^ be instructed to frame regulations for allowing the books contained in the library of the Council to circulate among the members: the committee to consist of the Speaker, Dr. Monro, Mr. Saunders, the Provincial Secretary, and the mover. The Provincial Secretary to move— For leave to bring in " a Bill to provide for the sale, letting; disposal, and occupation of the waste lands of the Crown in the Province of .'. Nelson." Also, a Bill to regulate the occupation of the Gold Fields in the Province of Nelson. The Provincial Solicitor, to move— For leave to bring in " a Bill to authorise the Superintendent of the Province of Nelson to raise a Loan hot exceeding i.29,000 by the issue of Debentures." Also, "a Bill to authorise the Superintendent to borrow the sum of £'3000, to be appropriated by the Central Board of Education in building schools and school houses. .

[Communicated.] Who has not heard of Ceylon, with its balmy air and spicy odours, its fragrant perfumes, and sweetscented flowers, where the cocconut and cinnamon tree flourish in all their luxuriant vegetation, and every tropical fruit abounds in the utmost profusion ? . Yet, it was in Ceylon that one of the darkest and most melancholy events occurred, that I was called upon to witness during the whole period of my naval career. .;.■'.'■ It Was in the commencement ofthe year 184— that her Majesty's ship I——-— was lying in the harbour of T rincomalee; the day had been intensely hot, and the sea breeze had set in, cooling the heated atmosphere, and affording that delicious sensation which only those who have been in the torrid zone can justly appreciate, when I embraced the opportunity of going ashore with a much esteemed brother officer. As I was passing over the gangway to descend the ship's side, struck with the death-like paleness of young P , one ofthe midshipmen. He was naturally of a fair complexion, but the expression of his countenance was the cold rigidity of marble, the fhastly hue of the shrouded tenant of the toinb.'roceeding on: shore, I thought no more ofthe circumstance. I returned, on board, and had just stepped' oh deck, when instead ofthe noisy burst, of hilarity and mirth one is accustomed to hear of an evening from a healthy, buoyant man-of-war's crew, there was an unnatural silence, a profound stillness, that seemed inexplicable,. when one of the midshipmen stepped up-and half whispered, P has shot himself. The remembrance of what I have related involuntarily occurred to my mind, and. I descended the steerage ladder half prepared .for the tragic scene that presented itself. A hair mattrass had been placed on the deck, at the side of the main hatchvvay, to catch the current of air that came in faint, languid draughts at intervals, and on it lay poor P—*—, propped up with pillows.- The ward room officers had lately left him, while sitting on the chests that were placed around, sat 'soriie of his young messmates, absorbed in grief. He had been gently interrogated as to the manner it had occurred—had he done it accidentally? which way did it happen? was he much hurt ? An ominous silence was maintained. He refused to answer. Not a sigh or a groan indicated the fearful agony, the terrific conflict that was raging in his bosom, and racking that youthful, yet muscular frame. Occasionally he would be seized with an attack of vomiting, which was tinged with blood, and he would then, in a calm, low tone of voice, request a little cold water to quench his thirst. The surgeon had examined his wound previous to my arrival on board, and pronounced it mortal. A small dark livid spot on the left breast, contrasting fearfully with the almost femenine whiteness of the skin, alone .revealed the fatal injury. Internal hemorrhage had taken place, and little was to be seen externally. Some time had elapsed when the First Lieutenant approached the couch of the dying youth, who .was fast hastening to that world where earthly distinctions are unknown. Suddenly he turned his eyes towards him, lit up with the fire of youth that even the film of coming death did not quench. " Mr. G——," said he, " have I not always done my duty ?" The Lieutenant, whose natural sternness of character was increased by years of naval discipline, appeared deeply affected, and in a voice scarcely audible, replied, " Yes, P___ • you have always performed it." A faint smile of recognition passed across his pallid features at the testimony of his superior, when he again spoke*. " I have one request to make; take care of young L—»—■■'■. (this was a boy who had been : placed in the same watch with him, and whom ho had endeavoured to teach the numbers and sig-

nification of the various signals.) After this h.e scarcely spoke, and lay perfectly sensible until hear ten o'clock in the morning, when he cast his eyes upward, gazing intently for a few seconds, and all was over; his spirit had fled.' - Thus perished poor P . , Alas how unfit, how unprepared, it is to be feared r to meet the Judge ot all the earth like that Marvellous boy who perished in his pride. ' He was the victim of a morbid'sensitiveness that would not bear the slightest stain of reproach or dishonour, and while the observation of one of the old heathen, who says, "to disregard the praise or censure of our fellow men is the mark of a wicked and depraved mind," may in a qualified sense be ; true, yet who would wish to possess that highly wrought organizationofsoul which renders the material part unableto grapple and contend with the rude storms and vicissitudes of a brief and transitoryexistence, to have that exquisite perception and ' feeling as one beautifully sings when she speaks of the strange . Thoughts that went and came,' - -* . And shook as though a reed this thrilling frame. The circumstance which appeared to have influenced this misguided youth, and caused him to commit so determined an act of self-destruction-was, from what I learned subsequently, the refus2 of the commander to endorse a bill in his favour, he having complied with a similar request a short time previously, and consequently wisely concluded that it was for his moral welfare not to allow him at so dangerous and susceptible an age to have large means at his command. Stung by the denial of the captain, his fiery spirit sought the embrace of death, and secretly loading a pistol, he waited until the hour arrived for the sentries, to . fire the evening guns, so that the report ofthe pistol should not excite immediate observation, tie fired simultaneously, with-them, and immediately fell to rise no, more. On. & post mortem examination of the body, tlie ball was found to have entered in an oblique direction, narrowly escaping the heart, it passed throuph the lungs and diaphragm, and lodged in the opposite groin. The surgeon related that .in the whole of his medical experience he had rarely seen such a perfect and beautiful form of incipient .manhood, and dying ia J__g-4idLJJgsk^and vigour of youth. In so hot a climate, 'wherecfeccmlpsit.&li'^^ after the departure of life, it was found absolutely necessary to consign his mortal remains to the tomb the next day. On a plain white stone in Trincomalee Protestant burial ground may be seen the following inscription— \ , t In Memory Mr. P. R. X, Who died 1848, Aged 17 years. — From Reminiscences of Nasal Life by a resident in New Zealand.