The Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, FRIDAY, 7th APRIL., 1865.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 249, 7 April 1865, Page 2

The Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, FRIDAY, 7th APRIL., 1865.

Oue intelligence from Auckland per Prince Alfred is to the 3rd inst.* The public excitement on the Opotiki tragedy had by no means abated; it had rather increased, in consequence of some ill-advised attempts on the part of a certain pars to gloss over the conduct of the Rev, Air Grace, and to cast a stigma upon the character and detract from the doings of Captain Levy. . It, however, was of no avail, and only tended in the end to bring before the public a great deal that for the credit of Mr G. had much better have been kept from its notice. Our readers are aware that some steps were being taken to call a public meeting for the purpose of acknowledging the services of Capt, Levy and the crew of- the EclipseThis did not suit the book of the Grace party, of whom it would appear that the Superintendent of Auckland is oue, and although no time was lost in guesting his Honor to call such a meeting, it seems he thought that a little delay might tend to allay the excitement; and it was not until the 29th ult., and after several letters had been publiihed in the papers on the subject, that such meeting was at length called to be hold on Friday, the 31st. Even then his Honor preferred To be away from the town at the Hot Springs to filling his proper place as chairman of the public meeting. To an outsider such conduct on his part is almost inexplicable, for the public well know that it is not so long since he himself was the hero of the people, occupying as lie did some such a position as that now 'filled by Capt. Levy_ The public will, of course, not fail to draw its own inference.' Well, the day of meeting arrived; it waa held in the old Supreme Court House, and was, as might be supposed, a very large meeting. There was no slight disappointment felt at the course taken by his Honor, and some difficulty in obtaining a president, which being overcome, Air Levy came forward and imparted to the audience several particulars additional to those already given to our readers in his diary. We shall take an early opportunity of transferring this address to our columns, remarking, meanwhile, that it exposes Mr G. to welldeserved contumely, and is corroborated in all its essential particulars by eye-witnesses. It has transpired that although Mr Grace, when pressed by the public on the fact of his having neglected to allude to Mr Levy in his letter of thanks, excused himself on the ground of forgetfulness, that there was another and more powerful motive, and that was, he did not feel any gratitude, and if he had manfully taken this stand and told the public why, his position would now have been far more like that of a man of honor. At the time we read his apology, we could not help saying, “ This does not improve matters.” Allowing it to be possible for him to have forgotten to acknowledge the services of his preserver while writing, not a hurried, but an elaborate document such as that, this very fact will more prove his ingratitude even than studied neglect for a sufficient reason would have done.

After tbe speeches of Capt. Levy; Tiwai, the native; John Moore, the mate of the Eclipse; and Mr S. Levy, the captain’s brother, ah three of whom corroborated the captain’s statements, the following was the concluding business of the meeting, which we give to show the state of feeling of the Auckland public, and which needs no further comment: —>• Mr French moved the first resolution" Resolved that the heroic conduct of Mr Levy, the master of the schooner Eclipse, in effecting the rescue of the Hev. Mr Grace from the power of the Pai Marire fans tics at Opotiki, is deserving of the highest commendation, and merits the strongest esteem of the ihhabltanta of Auckland, and the citizens how assembled hereby tender to that gentleman their best thanks for his recent noble and gallant services in delivering a fellow-being tro m an ignominious death.”—He said that the object of tbe meeting was to afford the citizens of Auckland an opportunity of expressing their thanks to Captain Levy for hig naW '„

and successful efforts ia saving the life of Mr Grace. It should not be understood that they were at issue with the Maori as a man of different color or race, hut only as a rebel. They were not there upon grounds of religious difference, but on the broad ground of humanity, oa which Jew and Gentile stood equal an,d alike.

‘Mr Eastwood seconded the resolution. 3Je said the full expression of public opinion on an occasion 'pf that kind was a public duty. It was not necessary to recapitulate the facts. He thought those who advised their suppression had been guilty of moral cowardice. It was a merit in Captain Levy that the character of Mr Grace was well known before these occurrences. His selfishness was nothing new, and his ingratitude could have been predicted. He congratulated the meeting that they had the opportunity of recording their sense of the conduct of this most disgraceful person. (Cheers.) Mr Biarae moved—“ That tlje cordial thanks of this meeting are also <*ue to the aboriginal native Tiwai, and also to the crew of the Eclipse, for the very valuable assistance they rendered ia the rescue of Mr Grace, and the inhabitants of this city, now assembled, hereby tender to them their most sincere thanks for the noble services they performed on that occasion.” Mr Sansom seconded the resolution. The following resolution was also passed That a copy of the resolutions just now agreed to be forwarded to Mr Levy, and that the same be signed by the chairman for and on behalf of the meeting.” This concluded the proceedings. The meeting then called for three cheers for Captain Levy, which were given with protracted emphasis; also, for the native Tiwai which call was also enthusiastically responded to. Three groans were called for for Mr Grace, hut the Chairman hoped that whatever opinion they might entertain of the cond 'ct of Mr Grace, they should not take that mode of expressing it. Notwithstanding this, however, a knot of persons at one end of the room gave repeated groans on their own account.

A gentleman got on one of the forms, and hoped that the meeting would not separate without giving Mr Levy some substantial proof of their sense of the services he had rendered. He would put down his name for £5, and he hoped others would follow the example. The Chairman said that he had been informed that his Honor the Superintendent was in communication with the General Government on the subject, and he doubted not that the propriety of doing something in that way would not be overlooked,

A vote of thanks was passed to the chair, and the pro' ceedings terminated.