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Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 46, 21 January 1843, Page 183

On Monday evening last, the quarterly meeting of the committee of management of the Nelson branch of the British and Foreign School Society took place at .the schoolroom, Tasman Street. It apeared that the number of children at present attending amounts to between sixty and seventy. The master reported very favourably of their progress; and as soon as the monitorial system can be brought more fully into operation, we have no doubt but it will be still more satisfactory. Some slight alteration was made in the rules, for the purpose of inducing the attendance of orphans. The sum altogether subscribed amounts to about £125; with this the school house has been built and furnished; but it appears that more funds are needed to make the school as comfortable and complete as its promoters desire. We therefore beg to call on those gentlemen whose late arrival prevented them from contributing to this Institution at its formation, to come forward and bear a share in the expense of promoting so great a benefit a 8 that of affording to the children of the working classes the advantage of a sound education. Any subscription^for the purpose we shall be happy to receive. While on the subject of education, it is gratifying to state that, independently of private schools, there is another public one, connected with the United Christiana, where, we, believe, j^a very large number of children %re taught. W There are also three Sunday schools numerously attended, which afford opportunities of learning to those whose parents are unable to ■pare them during the week.

On Tuesday night last, about hah 0 past ten o'clock, another fire took place, near the river, adjoining Bridge Street, which destroyed two houses, occupied by families named Burnet and Meadows. The houses being thatched, and adjoining each other, once on fire, there was but little opportunity of saving any of the property they contained. It was a most fortunate circumstance that the evening was a remarkably calm one ; had it been otherwise, from the number of thatched houses in the neighbourhood, many more must have been destroyed. We have not'heard how the fire originated. A robbery of a daring character took place early on Wednesday morning last on the premises of Mr. Reynard, butcher, residing at Auckland Point. It is supposed the robber was no stranger, as he took the opportunity of both Mr. and Mrs. Reynard being from home, to break into the house, and carry off eleven pounds in cash and three watches. No clue has yet been discovered to the thief. We announced in our last paper that the Royal Mail schooner had ran in for surgical assistance. As far as we have been able to learn, the following are the particulars. Captain Anglin, with part of his crew, had ascended a large river in a boat, somewhere on the west coast of this island, to collect green stone, or some other valuable mineral ; and while blasting, an explosion of gunpowder took place, which dreadfully injured the captain's hands and face, and more or less wounded two of the men. The captain immediately bound up both his eyes, and was conveyed on board the vessel, then at a distance of twelve hours' sail; and, on reaching the ship, started for Nelson, and arrived here in ten days. By taking every possible precaution, mortification was kept down unitl the schooner got here, and on the following day the captain had one of his fingers taken off. Although both his hands are dreadfully shattered, it is hoped that no further amputation will be necessary. The sight of one eye is entirely lost ; and one of the crew, it is feared, will lose the signt of an eye also. Captain Anglin reports that there is very fine white marble in the neighbourhood of the spot where the accident occurred, but, for some reason, is unwilling to give any precise inforj tnation whereabouts it was.