The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1868. PUBLIC MEETING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 31, 7 February 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1868. PUBLIC MEETING.

In accordance with the terms of a requisition, both numerously and itiflu.ntially signed, presented to his Honor the Superintendent, a public meeting (which bad been adjourned from Tuesday. last in consequence of tbe inclement state of the weather), was held yesterday evening, at the Provincial Hall. The meetiug was well attended, although very mauy of those who signed the requisition were absent. On the motion of Sir David Monro, his Honor the Superintandent took the chair, and stated that he had conveued the meeting in compliance with the requisition, which he read. He said that he was not aware what were the present arrangements for the royal visit to this colony, but as far as he was acquainted, no places had as yet been mentioned as likely to be honored by a visit from the Priuce save Wellington and Auckland. It had, however, been stated that he would also go to Otago and Canterbury, and it had been thought that Nelson should not be the only province iv the Middle Islaud not similarly honored. No doubt the gentlemen who had organised the meeting would be prepared to explain the object it had in view. Mr A. Pitt, M.P.C. moved the first resolution: — 'That in the event of its beino* the intention of H.R.H. the Duke of Edin- i burgh to visit any portion of the Middle Islands during his sojourn in New Zealand, this meeting is of opinion that H.R.H. should be solicited to include Nelson in the list of places he will honor with his presence.' He then went on to say that i there could be no question of the propriety i of inviting the Prince to visit Nelson* if he visited the Middle Islaud at all. The very name suggested tbe propriety of a visit from our sailor prince. They need not give him a very costly reception, for it would not only be unwise to attempt it, but his Royal Highness would not expect it. He must have had quite enough of demonstrations and addresses lately, and would probably infinitely prefer seeing the beautiful scenery of this province. Such a reception as would insure his doing this in a rational way, would at once be more acceptable to him and be within the limits of our resources. Mr Elliott had much pleasure in seconding the motion, which was put from the chair, and carried uuanimously. Mr W. M. Stanton moved the second resolution, which, lie said, was sufficiently definite in itself, and required no further comment at his hands :— ' That the following gentlemen be nominated as a Local Reception Committee, and that they be instructed to communicate the wishes of the inhabitants of Nelson to H.R.H. the Duk«i of Ediuburgh, and to make the necessary arrangements for entertaining his Royal Highness, should he pay Nelson a visit . —Sir David Monro, Mr Justice

Richmond, Dr Renwick, Mr J. Sharp, Mr Henry Adams, Mr James Graham, and Mr Robert Burn, with power to add to their number/ Dr Irvine seconded the resolution. Sir David Monro then rose and said that j as his name with that of other gentlemen had been suggested as members of the Reception Committee, he thought it quite requisite that they should know what funds might be relied upon. It was quite plain that tbe proper reception of so exalted a personage would involve resort to " the 'sinews of war.' It was not necessary at that moment to ascertain thi? exact amount of what those in authority would be inclined to contribute towards the decent and proper reception of the • Prince, — an event which but few of us mi^ht ever see asrain, — not to be expended- in useless ostentation or excessive parade, which would unquestionably be siliy, but in theadoption of all proper measures. He would suggest that the Provincial Council should be called together, not only to vote the requisite funds, but also, as the organised representative body ol the province, to prepare a suitable address for presentation to his Royal Highness. His Honor the Superintendent said that the subject of funds had not yet been taken into consideration by the Government, who had waited for the present meeting in order to ascertain what was the state of public opinion on the matter. If that opinion proved to be what he expected it would be, in favor of obtaining a visit from the Prince, and H.R.H. accepted their invitation, the Government would be prepared to provide such a sum as would procure a decent and proper re- \ ception, without indulging in extravagance out of the funds placed at their disposal for such purposes. He scarcely thought it .would be possible to call the Council together, now at the close of the financial year, and when they met about the first or second week in April it would probably be too late for the purpose. But he felt coufident that if it was the public wish that the Prince should be invited, the Government of their owu motion, or with the advice of the Council, would be prepared to find sufficient funds for the purpose. He could not believe that the people of the province, after expressing a wish that the Prince should come here, would object to the outlay of a certain sum of mouey, not on needless or expensive ostentation, but on the decent and fitting reception of his Royal Highness. Mr Pitt enquired whether any part of the sum voted by the General Government for the Prince's receptiou could be appropriated for this purpose ? The Superintendent stated that it was understood that as far as travelling expenses were concerned, that £ urn would be divided amongst the various provinces visited by the Prince. The second resolution was then put to the meeting and carried unanimously, and after passing a vote of thanks to the Superintendent for taking the chair, proposed by Mr Elliott, the meeting was brought to a conclusion.