ADELAIDE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 14, 12 April 1851, Page 2

ADELAIDE.

[The following account of a meeting at Adelaide will be interesting to our fellowcolonists. Ed.] [From the Adelaide Observer, Feb. B.] "'A meeting", numerously and respectably attended, took place on Monday evening, the 3rd instant, at the Huntsman's Hotel, North Adelaide, to consider the propriety of proceeding to Canterbury, in New Zealand, and also the readiest and most economical method of doing so. Mr. Startling being called to the chair, opened the business of the meeting by stating its objects, and inviting explanations from all present, and a free discussion. Mr. Woods stated he was among the first to emigrate from England to South Australia in 1837 ; that partly owing to the insalubrity of the climate, and partly to the paralysed state of affairs in the colony,.he left it in 1841 for New Zealand. He resided there for several years. Was there during the disturbances with the natives, and was comfortable and successful whilst he remained there. The temptations of the gold fields of California induced him to leave from that place, from which he was now returned in disgust. The climate of New Zealand was particularly adapted to the European constitution. It was in the finest in the Southern —aye, after an almost worldwide search, he might say the finest in the world. Take a convincing illustration—that of the mental and physical superiority of the native population of New Zealand over the Australian natives. A hot wind never blew—dust was an unknown visitor. The country presented the diversified scenery of hill and dale, mountain and valley; there were never-failing streams of the purest water. The soil was very prolific. Two crops of potatoes could be grown in one year, of the finest kind, without taint or blight, and cultivation could be prosecuted with complete and invariable success on the tops of the highest hill. Bating that her rivers were not so large, it was a finer country for water than America itself. It abounded in wood and stone, •whilst coal as well as copper were articles of export. Fish, oil, whalebone, &c, were also important items of commerce. The speaker here drew a vivid picture of the dust, hot winds, and arid plains of Australia, and concluded by stating he should go back and take up his abode in New Zealand for the remainder of his days. r In reply to some questions put by a Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Woods stated that the remuneration of all classes of mechanics and labourers was much the same in New Zealand as in South Australia. On the other hand, vegetables were much cheaper. A basket of potatoes, weighing 60 lbs. could be purchased for Is. Mutton and beef fetched sd. per lb.; pork, 2d. per lb. Mr. Williams and Mr. Dumbleton also addressed the meeting at considerable length; but there was nothing in their speeches which had not been touched upon by the preceding speaker. Mr. Joy said they had, he presumed, heard sufficient as to the general character of the colony ; it remained to fix the locality of Canterbury, and the prospects it held out to the intending emigrant. The identical site of the new settlement seemed yet to be involved in mystery. As regards the prospects, by this time several ships from England may have arrived there, carrying many a sprig of her rich aristocracy, and—(a voice : " many a sprig of Puseyism,")—Mr. Joy—that, if true, did not alter the case with him. It was un-English to force the conscience; and what he (the speaker) looked upon as of far more importance was, that the new settlement of Canterbury was established under auspices that must ensure not only its own eventual success and importance, but that of every industrious working man who went there. It was not, neither, that they were going to a.place like South Australia was when the first ship arrived. Civilization, in most of its characteristics, dated from the departure of the future colonists from home: whilst the | proximity of the already settled parts enabled them at a cheap expense of transit to procure everything they wanted until they became a self-producing and self-supporting people. The meeting now assumed the form of a conversational discussion, which was at length stopped by, Mr. Boord, of the firm of Boord, Brothers, who had attended in the capacity of a ship-

owner. After an able and elaborate speecK tvom this gentlemen, sundry resolutions were proposed, seconded, and carried unanimously. After which several persons subscribed their names to the list to proceed to Canterbury. The Committee appointed, fixed another meetino- o f themselves ; and a vote of thanks having1 been voted to the Chairman, the meeting broke up. [In the same paper the committee advertise for tenders for the conveyance of 100 persons to the Canterbury settlement.]