BLUE SPUR

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 15, 23 May 1868, Page 3

BLUE SPUR

(From our Owj* Correspondent.) A meeting was held in the Schoolroom on Friday evening the 15th, to re-or-ganise the Mutual Improvement Society, for essays, readings, and debates for the winter session. There was only a thin attendance, it having been understood that the meeting was only to be preliminary, and for the election of officers and committee. Mr. M'Lelland took the chair. He said that he was very glad to meet his friends on the present occasion, as he had very pleasant rememj brances of the many agreeable meetings of last winter. Such a Society was then i new ; notwithstanding, they made such i progress, as not only entitled them to "sit" again, but which made them anxious to exhibit their prowess on the arena of debate. And in order to ensure a greater success than they had last year, he thought the School Committee should take the Society under its management. He would be glad to hear the opinion of th« meeting as to the btst method of conducting the 'course." Mr. Matthews, the Secretary of the School Committee, who was also Secretary for last year's course, was called upon. He said that he was favorable to the idea thrown out by the Chairman, and would }ike to see the School Committee take charge of it. Mr. Richard Williams, Chairman of I the School Committee, was of opinion J that the School Committee could hardly accomplish the duties they had undertaken ; and he could not see his way to support the Chairman. He thought it would be much better in the hands of an independent committee. Ultimately this was agreed to ; and the following gentlemen were chosen a committee for carrying out the object of the meeting :— Messrs. Manuel, Matthews, R. Williams, M'Lelland, Morris, Carey, Morrison^ Fulton, Ledingham, Bloxham, and Barclay. Mr. M'Lelland was again unanimously elected President, Mr. A. B. Matthews •vice-President, and Mr. T. F. Morris, t Secretary. It was arranged that the constitution of the Society be the same as last year, and that the terms of admission be 2s. 6d. for the course. The President was requested to give the inaugural address on Friday, the 22nd inst. This closed the business of the meeting. On Monday evening, a meeting of j members of the Presbyterian Church, under the pastorate of the Rev. James Copland, M. D., Ph. D., met in the School for the purpose of electing a Committee to co-operate with the central Committee at Lawrence, for the general interests of the Church. Dr. Copland presided, and opened the meeting with prayer. He stated the duties which would devolve on the Committee, in seeing to the financial position of the Church. But this (though necessary) was the least of their duties. He would expect a Committee (if elected) to strengthen his hands, by prayer, by their walk and conversation, that it should be such as becometh the Gospel, and by gathering into the fold such of their fritnds and fellow-laborers as should be living in the neglect of Christain privileges. He would call upon Mr. M'Lelland, who would state what he thought about the matter. Mr. M'Lelland said, that he considered such an organisation necessary in strengthening the hands of the minister, and otherwise commend the Gospel to those around them, and assisting to diffuse a healthy religious tone throughout the neighborhood. He was glad to believe that a good work was going on in that, and also the Wesleyan Church ; and he thought it both a privilege and a duty in Christian men taking a part in every good work. Mr. A. B. Matthews also spoke on the desirability of electing a Committee ; and there being no contrary opinion expressed, the meeting proceeded to take the election by ballot, wkich resulted in the following gentlemen being elected :— Messrs. Baydie, Matthews, Fulton, Ralston, White, Curregh, and M'Lelland. It was arranged that Mr. French, who is a member of the Committee at Lawrence, and who has been a very efficient Church officer, should be a member of our Committee, ex officio. Mr. M'Lelland was appointed Secretary, and Mr. Matthews Treasurer. Thanks being voted to the rev. Chairman, the meeting closed with the benediction.

A subscription list is going round here on behalf of the poor fellow M 'Bride, who, it will be remembered, met with a very serious acccident in Morrison and Co.'s claim some few weeks ago, and who haa since suffered an amputation of an arm ; he was otherwise badly hurt, .which has made him a cripple for life I did not hear whether he is a member of a benefit society or not, but I think not. However, he appears to be in very good hands, in this district at least. The two gentlemen who have undertaken to collect here have succeeded very well ; and if any one has been overlooked, I believe Mr Elliot, of Munros, will be most happy to receive their mite.