PUULIC MEETING. (From the New Zealand Spectator, Aug. 14).

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 132, 4 September 1847, Page 4

PUULIC MEETING. (From the New Zealand Spectator, Aug. 14).

A Public Meeting was held at the Britannia Saloon, or the purpose of considering and adopting an address of congratulation to His j Excellency the Liftntenant-Governor. The Meeting w<\» numerously attended, although many persons were prevented.from going by the unfavourable staie of the weather Jfc 4 Ou the motion of Mr. Caior, seconded by Mr. J. 11. Wallace, Captain Smith was called to the chair. Mr. Stokes, in moving the fust resolution, said he would endeavour to occupy as little of the time of the meeting us possible, in the few observations he had to make. The Meeting had been called, for the purpose of considering and adopting an address of congratulation to his E< cellency the Lieutenant Governor, on his arrival in this 'sett Jem-.'nt. About the ptopriety of the measure, there' con Id be no difference of opinion; that it had not been adopted previously to his Excellence's arrival, intent be accounted for on various grounds, hut chiefly from the diffeience of opinion w hicb prevailed as to thepioper time for presenting an address of this nature, as it was repotted hu E<cetlenc) hnd not been sworn in, and it was supposed, Mould not assume ihe duties of his office until the new constitution bad been proclaimed and put imo opeiation. But vha lever difference of opinion might have ez isted on this point in the minds of some pertons, the very general deshe that prevailed, that an address bhould now be presented to l.is Excel lencv, removed nil uncertainty on the subject. The* Address, which he would submit to the meeting, had fhe merit of being short, and of avoiding any topic v> hidi could possibly lead to discussion.- Other opportunities would shoitly present themselves to the settlers for the expression or their opinions, after his Excellency had l>een some little tune in «tti«. settlement, and had obtained information on the spot about the different question! which would occupy his attention. They were now met, simply to consider and adopt an address of congratulation to his Excellency, on his ariival amongst them ; to pay respect to consituted authority— to show those marks of com I esy to their newly appointed Governoi, which were usual on occasions similar to the present, and which the previous Governois of this colony had always received. To be wanting in them would be to fail in respect to themselves. Mr. Stokes concluded, by moving the following address : — To His Excellency, Edward John Eyie, Esq., Lieufenanl-Governor in and over Her Majesty's Colon) of New Zealand, and its Depoiiiient'ies, &«•'., &c, &«. W' ( , the undersigned, Inhabitants of Wellington, beg to oiler to your Excellency, our most sincere congratulations on your appointment to the office of Lieutenant-Governor of this colpny. We are anxious to take the opportunity afforded by your Excellency's arrival in this settlement, to renew our professions of loyalty and devotion to Her Majesty, and to express our earnest hope, that the efforts of your Excellency, in conjunction with those of the Goveruor-in-Cluef, under the new Constitution which has been granted to this colony, may be successful in restoring and maintaining peace and tranqnility, in promoting the best inlei esl« of both races, and in developing the resources of our adopted country j and w e beg to assure your Excellency, that our most strenuous exertions will not be ■wanting to promote the success of such measnres ai may conduce to the accomplishment of these important ends. We beg to offer our best wishes for your Ex cellencj's health and happiness, and for the prosperity of your Excellency's administration. Mr. Hart, in seconding the address, observed it was an act of common couitesy, usual upon such occasions. There were those who affVcted to think, that in being present on occasions of parade, they were acting a servile part, or assisting in a farce. But the fact was, that no more was meant by a proceeding of this kind, than to thew due respect to the Representative of Her M«>je*t\ — the same feeling that would be exhititud by one person towards another in the street, and which w at no less due to the Governor than to themselves. In answer to an objection which hud been made, that Mr. Eyre had not yet been sworn in, Mr. H. observed, there could be no doubt that Mr. Eyte hud his commission in his pocket, and only waited for the new constitution being proclaimed to read it. In courtesy, he wms fully entitled to be recognised a» overnor. Mr. Craw ford wished, before the address was „ ito the meeting, to say a few words about his Excellency, w horn he had the pleasure of knowing in Soinh Australia. The last time he had met Mr. E\re was, when he (Mr. Eyre) had just returned from one o( the most extraordinary journeys on record, — a journey from Port Lincoln to King George's Sound, a distance of about 2000 unit"* Many persons in the room had been to the Wairarapa, by the coast road, and had rounded the Mukamuka rocks; if they. could imagine a journey of snch a length performed on a road such as that, they could in some measure realise the difficulties Mr. Eyre must have encountered. Pining this journey, in which he was accompanied by an overseer and three bl/ick boys, two of the black boys shot the overseer, and decamped with hi* gun and provisions; and he performed the greater part of the journey accompanied only by the remaining black lo\. He traversed an arid and inhospiiable desert ; he was tv ice for seven days without water for his hoi&es j and during part of the time was obliged to subsist on hor&e-flesh. At length his peiseverence was rewarded by arriving at King George's Sound, after a journey of fourteen months' duration Thi» was sufficient to shew them that their new Governor possessed a character for energy and perseverence, and he hoped would receive at their hands, the privilege usually accorded by Englishmen— a clear fieM and no favour. (Cheers). Mi. Hoots pei feet l> a»reed in the propriety of piest-Miniff hii adiiies., io l.i* Excellency, hut wsshi'd in know w h\ i! had not been done hefo;e. Wl.i'ie u eie' those «ho hud always been iv forwiuu" on former ocwsio.ii* ? They were

not to be found. (Heat). They reminded him of Maeheath in the Opera, and no donbl " Could be happy with either Were t'other dear charmer away. " They had bolted from the course, and had sought other pastures to roam at leisure. On looking round him tie saw another set of men, and he had no doubt they would get on very well without the old ones $ but in a short time, when these last would come to soli.it their rotes, they would know what answer to give them. (Cheers). The address was then carried unanimously.