MEMORIAL TO THE GOVERNOR.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 280, 26 June 1860, Page 2

MEMORIAL TO THE GOVERNOR.

To His Excellency Colonel Thomas Gore Browne, Companion of the most Honorable Order of the Bath, Governor and Commander-in-chief in and over Her Majesty* Colony of New Zealand, and Vice-Admiral of the same, &c, &c, &c.

We, whose names are hereto attached, beg to state to ; your Excellency our regret that the Militia should, have been called out in Nelson, a province in which Natives and Europeans are living in peace with each other; nor is there any likelihood of such peaceful relations being disturbed. A meeting was held at the Court HoUSe, Nelson, on the evening of Saturday, the 7th of April, to which the public were never invited, either by advertisement or otherwise. At which meeting (consisting of some sixty or seventy individuals) the following resolution was passed:— " That iv the opinion of this Meeting, the proper time has arrived for calling out the Nelson militia in order that in case of danger, the province may be somewhat prepared, and that the Provincial Government be requested to take the necessary steps to carry out this resolution." •

Upon which resolution we understand your Excellency has directed the -Militia to be called out. ■-. Your Excellency has thus, by-assenting to the prayer of a few individuals, unintentionally seriously incommoded a kirge body of the Nelson settlers. Having spoken as citizens, we now make bold to - speak to Your Excellency as Christians, and to inform you that as followers of Christ we cannot, under any circumstances, take up arms to destroy the life of our fellow-men.. We are aware that for our non-compliance the penalty of the law hangs over us: but wo trust we shall not be considered disloyal subjects because we are not permitted by. our religion to disobey tho command of our Lord, and Master, who says, " Love your enemies." Volumes have been written upon this subject (peace), much of wbich we presume _ your j Excellency has read: we therefore do not feel it our duty to ur^o more upon your kind consideration than that we hope you will order us to be liberated from an engagement which as Christians we cannot fulfil. In conclusion, we desire for you and your family the blessing-of God, and for-your Government, peace ! aud prosperity. , ,-.,•' And your petitionsrs, aa in duty bound, will ever pray. . Yy (Here follow the signatures.) Nelson, June 21,1860, . Accidents. —On Monday the 18th instant, _ William Patton, second mate of the steamer Airedale, met with an accident on board that vessel which required his removal to the hospital, where he is being treated for fracture ofthe neck of the scapula. On. Thursday, Mary Farr, about 30 years of age, met with a fracture of the thigh in a place called Shakespeare's walk, which runs by the side of the river between Hardy and Nile strdets, and in. consequence of its being somewhat unfrequented, the accident, which occurred about 7 o'clock, was not discovered until the poor woman had lain where she fell upwards of an hour. This path is generally rough and neglected, and the inequality of the ground was the cause of the accident, it being dark at the time of the. occurrence. Both the sufferers are doing well. Neison Habmonic Society .—The following circular has been issued by Mr. Connell, the Secretary to this Society:—" lam directed by the Committee to request your attention to the subjoined extracts from the 20th and 21st rules ot the society, under which only are any persons, except members or subscribers, admissible to the practice meetings. Rule 20.—That ladies ofthe families of r Members or Subscribers shall be admissible, by order ofthe Committee, to attend and assist at the practice meetings. Rule 21.—That the Committee shall have power to invite to the practice meetings of the Society such persons as they may consider desirable, but who shall not be residents of the City of Nelson/'.

The Royal Charter.—Amongst the multitude of valuables lost in this ill-fated vessel, was a consignment of Mr. Oxley's, containing photographs aiid a.collection of insects embracing some ofthe most rare and beautiful specimens of the New Zealand insecta : many specimens feeing entirely new to science. Mr.} Oxley <wili send to England again on the 4th of July, and we advise all who wish Ito save the heavy expense of postage, and gratify their friends at home with .a portrait, to pay him a visit. ,

Presentments. —We are glad to find that this old practiced not quite extinguished. -It will be in the remembrance of some of our readers that two fine children were drowned in the premises of Messrs. Travers and Oldham, brewers of Canterbury, through the neglect of filling up, or fencing round, a large hole which had been dug. We extract the following from the Lyttelton Tims;—. " The late case of drowning in Christchurch.— The following presentment was, in the course of the day, handed by the Coroner to his Honor the Judge,ln open Court:—' Christchurch,fMayf 21, 1860. The jury empanelled' this day to. inquire into the death of James Christopher William Purvis, and Richard George Grant Purvis, present that the pool or pond situate' W: thej section now occupied by Mr; Oldham, being open jand unpror: tected, both in the direction of the -road, and the adjoining section, and deep to the edge, is highly dangerous, especially to children, as,evinced by the drowning of the children whose deaths form the subject of the present inquiry .'—George Gould, foreman." "" ' -

- Ball.—We observe that extensive preparations are in progress at the Freemasons' Hall in order to prepare suitably for the ball which the members of that fraternity have arranged to take place this evening. The judicious arrangements that have hitherto marked similar occasions under the auspices of the Masonic Or<ier will ensure an evening of extreme enjoyment to those friends who possess an entree on the forthcoming occasion. ""•"■"' ''"'"''

Naval Artillery Company.—A meteting of this Company Was held at the, Trafalgar Hotel on Tuesday last, when the rules were confirmed, a committeewas elected, the drill ground selected by the Committee appointed for that purpose approved of, and other matters connected with this force were settled.