The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, APRIL 22, 1867. ANNIVERSARY OF THE NELSON SCHOOL SOCIETY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 92, 22 April 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, APRIL 22, 1867. ANNIVERSARY OF THE NELSON SCHOOL SOCIETY.

This Society celebrated its twenty- third anniversary on Suuday last, at the Provincial Hall, and an additional interest was imparted to the occasion by the pre. Sence of his Excellency the Governor, who arrived at half-past two, attended by the Hon. Major Richardson, the Private Secretary, and the Aide-de-camp. He was rceeived by the Rev. P. Calder, Mr. Campbell, and other gentlemeu connected with the society, aud immediately conducted to a seat on the platform. The hall was crowded in every part, the scholars occupying seats in the immediate Vicinity of the platform. The hymn, " Lift your voice to God on high," was then suug, Miss Carson presiding at the harmonium, and the effect of the large iiumber of voices present was veiy striking. Mr. Calder then offered up a prayer, appropriate to the occasion, invoking the blessing of the Almighty upon the society, whose anniversary they had met to celebrate, and upon all estates and conditions of men, especially for the Queen aud those who are put in authority under her. Another hymn, proper to tbe day, " Mary to the Saviour's tomb," was sung, and Mr. Calder then addressed the assemblage, and said that they had met there that day to celebrate the twentythird anniversary of the institution of the Nelson School Society, aud to make a public profession of their interest in the cause of Christian education generally, and in the progress of that society in particular. He perceived with no small gratification that all the various denominations of the Church of Christ, in Nelson, were doing their best to promote the cause of education, but the School Society made it their especial pride that they had been longer employed in this undertaking than any other similar institution in the city. He was happy to see assembled around him so many parents of children tvho were attending Sunday Schools either here or elsewhere, and he would avail himself of this opportunity to remind them that they possessed an influence which could not be handed over either to the Sunday School teacher, or to the Minister of the Gospel. Much, indeed, could be done by the parents to support the efforts of teachers and ministers, but it was impossible to overrate the influence of home. Mr. Calder then said that he considered himself justified in regarding the present meeting as a satisfactory proof that the labors of the society were not unappreciated by the community generally. They were especially honored mi- .that occasion ; the Governor had had other opportunities of meeting the citizens of Nelson since his arrival amongst them, but there was something special in the fact that his Excellency was present on this occasion, inasmuch as ifc was an earnest of the interest which he took in the cause of religious education. Obedience to " the powers that be " was one of the earliest lessons inculcated by the school connected with the society, and all would feel their hands strengthened by the fact that the Governor of the Colony had given his sanction to their work by his presence amongst them that day. Mr. Calder sat down after expressing his especial gratification at the auspicious nature of the occasion which had brought them together, and his hope that his audience Would bear in mind that the object of the meeting was not only to render the children connected with their school hereafter better and wiser men, but to promote the greater glory of God by winning souls to Christ.

Two more hymns, "Jerusalem, my glorious home," and "I would be like an angel," — the former a composition of some musical pretension, and very pleasingly executed) — were then sung, whilst a collection, amounting to £6 165., was made amongst the assemblage present. Mr. Haddow then addressed the meeting at some length, adverting in grateful terras to the encouragement given to the Society hy the Governor's presence, and illustrating with anecdotes the invaluable effect exercised on the youthful mind by parental influence, and the benefits in after life derivable from such influence ; instancing as an interesting proof that the attachment which subsisted between the Sunday School aud its pupils was no ephemeral one, that out of the sixteen teachers engaged in it, all, with only oue

exception, had been pupils. Two other hymns, "Must Jesus bear the cross alone?" and " Shall we meet beyond the river,'* having been sung, Mr. Calder pronounced the Benediction, and the meeting was brought to a conclusion shortly before 4 o'clock. Some disappointment appears to have been created in the minds of many of those present by the fact that the Governor took no active part in the proceedings on this occasion, aad this, we think, would v have been obviated had it been distinctly stated that his Excellency, who, we regret to learn, has been suffering from slight iudispesition during the last day or two, had stipulated, when he kiudly consented to sanction the anniversary with his presence, that he should not be expected to address the meeting. We must not omit to mention that at the termination of the proceedings, his Excellency walked down the Hall, shaking hands and conversing with all whom he met, with that genial bonhommie which seems so conspicuous a feature in his character, and which forms, doubtless, a satisfactory index to the wide popularity wbich he eujoys in Nelson. The Harmonic Society give their Concert this evening to his Excellency the Governor, which, we hear, will be very numerously attended. The programme is of a miscellaneous character, comprising, however, several selections from Maritana and other compositions of a popular description . We understand that it is not the wish of the Committee to enforce any regulation with regard to the adoption of evening costume on this occasion, but they desire to leave the matter entirely to the decision of the good taste of the audience. After the ball, Lady Monro gives a ball to his Excellency, at Newstead, for which a large number of invitations have been issued. His Excellency the Governor held an *'• undress" levee this morning at half-past 11, at the Provincial Buildings, which was attended by between 60 and 70 persons, including the officers of tho General and Provincial Governments, the clergy of all denominations, and a large number of private individuals, who were introduced to his Excellency by the Aide-de-camp. After these presentations had taken place, a large body of natives, numbering at least 70 or 80, were presented by Mr. Mackay, the Native Interpreter. The Governor was attended by the various members of his staff, and conversed with his usual affability with the various individuals presented to him, whose number would, unquestionably, have been much larger had the weather been more favorable. To-morrow afternoon, his Excellency the Governor will lay the foundation stone of the New Hospital, on the Waimea . Road, and afterwards, should time permit, will be present at the Annual Tea Meeting of the Nelson School Society. A ball will be given to his Excellency in the evening, at the Provincial Hall, which promises to be a very brilliant affair. Another source of amusement for our citizens will be found in the ball practice of the sailors of the Brisk, at a target on the Boulder Bank. We understand that the Governor was anxious to extend his visit until Friday next, and arrangements had been made for his reception at the Wakapuaka Steeplechase, on Thursday, but that he has reluctantly been compelled to fix his departure for Wellington, Wednesday next, at 2 p.m., in order to answer despatches from the seat of Government, hy tbe next English mail. Yesterday (Sunday) evening, at about 10 o'clock, a fire was discovered to be raging in the outhouses adjoining Mr. John Palmer's Hotel at Waimea West. The flames, which had attained such ascendancy that all efforts to save the outhouses were quite unavailable, extended across the intervening space between these buildings and the dwelling house, which at oue time seemed doomed to inevitable destruction. The neighbours speedily assembled, and, by dint of the most vigorous exertions, the fire was confined ultimately to the stables and outhouses. A large quantity of stores which, only a few days previously, had been removed into these buildings, were consequently destroyed. The damage is estimated at from £200 to £250, and we understand that the policy of insurance had only lapsed a fortnight ago. Much sympathy is felt for Mr. Palmer, the more especially as there is strong reason to believe that the fire was the act of an incendiary, for whose detection a reward of £50 is offered.

The great Christian festival of Easter was celebrated with peculiar solemnity in all the places of worship in this city yesterday. At Christ Churcb, the choir sang Nares's service in F., and an eloquent sermon was preached in the morning by the Rev. C. L. Maclean, on the Atonement ; his Excellency the Governor being present, with his suite, at both morning and evening services. At St. Mary's, the Rev. Father Tresallet preached an appropriate sermon from Psalm cxviii. 24. " This is the day which the Lord hath mnde, we will rejoice and be glad in it." Winter's Mass in C. was sung by the choir; and the sanctuary was richly and tastefully decorated. Appropriate discourses were also delivered in the other places of worship in this city, both morning and evening. A meeting was held on Good Friday, in the Wesleyan Chapel, Spring Grove, Mr. Henry Drew, of Nelson, in. the chair, at which a report was read by Mr. R. Lucas, from whicb it appeared that the debt incurred on the Chapel had been liquidated during the past year, and that the Trustees had resolved upon raising the roof, and erecting a gallery in the Chapel. The statement of accounts for the year showed the total receipts to be £28 15s. Id, against an expenditure of £25 55., leaving a balance of 10s Id. iu the hands of the Trustees. The Rev. R. L. Vickers, and several other gentlemen addressed the meeting ; about 300 persons partook of tea, and the whole of the proceedings passed off most agreeably. A match took place on Saturday afternoon between teu members of the City Rifles, No. 1, aud ten of the men of H.M.S. Brisk, at the Mailai shooting ground. The match commenced about half-past 1 and resulted about 5 o'clock, in the victory of the Rifles by 148 points/ A metch for £2 aside also came off this morning on the same ground, between Messrs. Catley and George Elliott, of the City Rifles, and Gunner Cox of H.M.S. Brisk, and Artilleryman Weston, which was won by the former by 20 points : Cox scoring 50; Catley, 48 ; G. Elliott, 46 ; and Weston, 24. At 8 o'clock on Saturday evening, we received one sheet of a telegram announcing the arrival of the Rangitoto at the Bluff, with the February Erglish mail via Suez. Immediately afterwards, however, we received a communication from the Telegraph Office, stating that, owing to an interruption upon the line between Picton and Blenheim, it would be impossible to furnish any further items of the English news than had already been forwarded, all communication being totally suspended. By the courtesy of Mr. Pringle, the Purser of the Egmont, who favored us with a copy of the Extra of the Wellington Adertiser of Saturday, we are enabled to furnish our readers with a general summary of the English news, which appears in another column. It seems that the Rangitoto arrived at the Bluff on Saturday morning, having left Sandridge on Monday afternoon at halfpast 2. While entering Bluff harbor she went on the rocks a little below the wreck of the Ocean Chief ; but from a telegram, subsequently received from Dunedin, we learn that she was got off at noo^, at the flood tide, and was to leave the Bluff for Port Chalmers the same afternoon at 4 o'clock. The s.s. Bombay anchored in Hobson's Bay on Saturday, the- 14th inst., at 9 a.m., having arrived on the day before her due date. On Thursday last we had the honor of presenting to the Governor a copy of the l\elson Evening Mail, of Wednesday, containing a description of the reception given to His Excellency on the previous day, and printed in gold letters on blue silk, as a souvenir of the event. Sir George Grey has been pleased to signify his acceptance of this offering in an autograph letter received this morning, and worded in gracious and flattering terms. At the annual licensing meeting held at Wellington on the 16th instant, Mr. Borlase applied, on behalf of Mr. J. R. Dodson, of Nelson, for a license for a house to be erected on Lambton Quay, under the uameof the Nelson Ale House, whicb, after some opposition on the ground that the house was not yet bnilt, and also that there were already sufficient ale-houses in the city, was ultimately granted. The proposed Cricket Match between the Nelsonians and the men of the Brisk did not come off this morning, in consequence of the inclement state pf the weather.

We learn by the latest telegraphic advisers from Dunedin that the enquiry into the late fire had resulted in a verdict of wilful arson against a certain person or persons unknown, but that a mau named Wilson had been arrested by the police on suspicion of being concerned in the fire. A requisition had been sent to Mr. Patterson, at one time a member of Mr. Stafford's Ministry, calling upon him to resign his seat in the House of Representatives. A soiree and ball given in honor of Corporal Chisholm, the champion, and the Otago men who took part in the late colonial rifle contest, had passed off very successfully} on Thursday evening, Mr. Macandrew, Superintendent of the Province, presiding. The enquiry into Switzer's fire was adjourned until the 23rd inst. The enquiry into the wreck of the South Australian was resumed on Thursday, and finished at three p.m. Captain Simpson, of the barque Affiance, was examined, and gave important evidence. The Court will report to the Government.