THE PUBLIC MEETING TO-DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 125, 3 June 1870, Page 2

THE PUBLIC MEETING TO-DAY.

While we are going to press our citizens, or those of them who have at heart the welfare of this city, are assembled in consideration of the most vital question that can affect the future commercial interests of Auckland. The strenuous efforts that are being made elsewhere to divert the San Francisco mail boats further from the direct course, require something more than a mere passive eoneiousness of the strength of our position, if Auckland is to hold its own against the combination. The vile calumnies that have been uttered against our harbour by men who know that they are calumnies, show the unscrupulous lengths to which opposition will resort; and in the absence of rebutting evidence, and exposure of wilful falsehood, it is not in man to say what may be the result on mercantile circles elsewhere. That the superiority of Auckland over every other harbour in New Zealand as the port of call requires to be but fairly presented is self-evident; and whether we regard its being the nearest city to the straight coui'se between Australia and Honolulu, the smoothness of its seas, as compared with the stormy passage of Cook's Straits, its facility of ingress and egress, for distribution of New Zealand mails, and for coaling, the case of Auckland, if fairly presented, must command success. But it must be fairly presented; and it is the work cf the citizens to day, in public meeting assembled, ignoring all consideration of selfish advantage, to let Auckland's voice be heard, and indignantly repel the calumnious charges against our noble harbour.