PUBLIC MEETING.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 21, 27 December 1843, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING.

ON Tuesday Morning, a Meeting of tbe Inhabitants took place at the Royal Hotel, Dr. S, M. D. Martin in the chair, for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of presenting an address to His Excellency the Governor* The Chairman opened the business of the Meeting by calling on Mr. Brown, who read along address (which we are sorry we have not room for) to his Excellency, congratulating him on his safe arrival, and calling His Excellency's attention to the immediate settlement of the Land Claims, &c. Mr. Brown concluded by proposing that the address which he read be adopted. Mr. Montefiore seconded it.

Mr. Mason then addressed the meeting, and said he did not attend there for the purpose of offering any opposition, but he thought it highly proper that an address embodying so much matter, and one of so much importance, should be deferred until auother day, and merely present a congratulatory address, and proposed that the first part of the Address,'read by Mr. Brown, be adopted. Mr. S. Kempthorn, said he quite agreed "with Mr. Mason, that a congratulatory Address was all that it was necessary to prnsent, and allow his Excellenny one quiet night after his arrival, and concluded by proposing the following Address

To His Excellency Captain Robert FITZROY> R.N., GorERNOB of New Zealand, §c. fyc. Bsc. We, the undersigned Inhabitants of Auckland and its vicinity, desire to offer our hearty welcome and congratulations to your Excellency, and Mas'. IYfZRoy, on your safe arrival in this Colony, an event which has been long and anxiously looked for hy us.

f Entertaining, as we do, unfeigned loyalty to our beloved Queen, and warm attachment to the Institutions of our Native Country, we trust (hat Majesty's choice of your Excellency as our Governor, we shall under Providence experience an intelligent, zealous, and well directed Administration of the affairs of this infant Colony.

We have strong confidence in the capabilities of this country and feel satisfied that this place ha s "been admirably selected asjjlhe Capital ; it only requires a judicious outloy in necessary improvp, ments, and a moderate inflax of respectable Colonists to secure its advancement. For the latter we learn with much satisfaction? that your Excellency has been the happy medium of arranging, fjf introducing into the settlement, and for the former, we trust that we may in due time rely for an equally satisfactory provision. That yonr Ex6ellency may be blessed with healt, grace and strength, for the arduous duties wbice devolve upon yon, is our earnest wish aud prayer. Mr. Falwasser seconded it, remarking that there was a time and place for everything. Mr. Kempthorn, said he did not deny that there was a deal of truth in the Address proposed by Mr. Brown, bul it was an epitomy of the Colony, and he thought the latter part had better not be adopted at present, but at a future time let it 6e presented should it be deemed necessary, Mr. Cleghorn, said he had heard both Addresses read, and would propose that ~the first part of Mr. Brown's Address be adopted.

Mr. Brown said that he could not submit to have his Address separated but if there was anything wrong in his Address it was, for not entering more fully into the acts of the late Government.

Dr. Martin, said the Address embodied the opinions of the People, and as he understood His Excellency was a man of business, and had gone to work by calling the Council together, he thought it right that the People should follow his example and make known to His Excellency their wants, and would therefore put it to the Meeting whether, the Address be adopted or not.

Mr. Kempthorn, wished his amendment to be put. \ .** Mr. Church, said he also thought the Chairman should put the amendment. The Chairman put the amendment, when the most numerous and respectable portion of the Meeting held up thsir hand. The original Address was then put and the Chairman said it was carried,

Mr. Hart, said he could easily perceive the animus of, the parties bringing forward

the original Address, there might be truth contained in it, but he contended that was not the time or place to do so, and concluded by remarking that the Chairman said the Address was carried, but which Address did he allude to ? Which of the Addresses was carried ?

The Chairman replied the original Address.

Mr. Montefiore, then proposnd that the Chairman should sign the Address on behalf of the Meeting, and that the following gent'emen present the address:— Messrs. Sinclair, Brown, B'ack, Martin, Campbell, Montefiore, Cleghorne, Rich, and Goodfellow. The Meeting then seperated.