WELLINGTON. THE CONSTITUTION. (From the Wellington Independent, Sept. 9.) PUBLIC MEETING.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 245, 4 October 1848, Page 2

WELLINGTON. THE CONSTITUTION. (From the Wellington Independent, Sept. 9.) PUBLIC MEETING.

k Pubmc Meeting of the inhabitant! of Wellington took place, in the Britannia Saloon, on Thursday evening last, called for the purpose of claiming from hit Excellency the Govemor-in»Chief, Rtipicsentative Institutions. The meeting was one of the most numerous and respectably attended, which it has been our lot to be present at, in Port Nicholson. On the motion of Mr. L)on, I)r. Dorset was called to the Chair. The Chairman briefly adverted to the objects of the meeting, and stated that a Menunitil would be read which he trusted would meet with the approbation of those present. Mr. Fiizherbert, J.P., said— The object of the meeting was to make a claim for Representative Institutions, to obtain which a large portion of the inhabitants appeared desirous. Many persons had, however, endeavoured to construe their siienco into an indifference on the subject, and it remained for the meeting to say whether such was the case or not. The Memorial was for signature, and if adopted, it was desirable that as many as coincided, should sign it once, in order to prove to his Excellency that unanimity prevailed on the subject. The Mumorial had been worded as respectfully, though as firmly, as possible. Mr. Fitz« herbert then proposed the following resolution— " That the following Memorial, or Letter, be signed as numerously as possible, and be presented to his Excellency the Governor-in Chief, by the Chairman, and as many of the inhabitants as feel desirous of attending." To hii Excellency Sir Georgr Grey, Governor-in-Chlet of New Zealand. Sir,— We. the undersigned inhabitants of Wellington, being deeply impressed with the advantage* that belong to a Representative form of Government, and fully aware of the strong claims to free institutions which we, in common with other settlements, possess j respectfully submit to you the following considerations — We beg to remind your Excellency that we at present exist under a form of Go-vernnitnt more absolute than that of any other dependency of the British I Ctown, with the exception of Norfolk Island. In saying this, we do not wish to assert, or insinuate, thut your Excellency has misused the exorbitant powers vested in voo. but, we mmt at the same time lUte our

belief, that it would be much safer that the exteniivc power* of Government fc'uould ba accompanied with, their usual salutary checks. Whilst we readily acknowledge the present prosperity of the Colony, as compared with its condition on your nrriviil union fit us, and attribute its due share to the circulation of Bntiih gold, yet we should be wrong did we permit your Excellency to indulge the belief that it had so utterly corrupted vi, as to render n% indifferent to the pobsession of Representative Institutions. We are aware that your Exrellency'B position , renders it extremely difficult for you, unasnisted by the Representatives of the main body of the settlers, to arrive at llieir genuine iwiiies ; hut we worn you againit mistaking for indifference their silence at your unexplained postponement of Representative Institutions—! silence, which has arisen solely from the hope Umt you would, ere this, h»ve volunteered lome intimulion to them of )our intentions. The prosperity of this Colony is daily rotarded, and labours under many disadvantnges, owing to the want of Representative Institutions : these impediments wo forbear to enumerate, under the iinprrsvion that, if your Excellency receives the present addresi, not uik favourably, you will court further enquiry of us ; but, should we be unfortunately mistaken, we must then beg you will at leait consider this Addresi ai a solemn protest on our part aaainst the longer postponement of a Representative form of Government. We have the honour to remain, Your Excellency's most obedient icrvanti. Mr, Fi'zherbert, in conclusion, said, their object wna to gain some form of Representation, hut he thought it belter not to do anything unless unanimity prevailed. Mr. 11. Hart, in seconding the mo ion, said— There appeared to him three questions:— lst. Whether we are lit for Representative Institutions : — 2ndly. Whether they are needful : — and, 3idly. Wether we want them, lie thought their Belt- esteem would enable them to answer the first question in the affirmative ; bui 1 , they had nlso the favourable opinion of Governo 1 * Grey himielr, on the mbject. As to tho second question, he thought no one could regard the large revenue of tlie colony, and its present appropriation, without a strong suspicion that it might be better laid out. He thought that circumstances which met their eyes daily proved that the mhabituntti should have some control over t\vi expenditure, as Englishmen they hud a right to have some control over their own afldiis. They might do right, or tluy might do wrong, but it was by experience only they could learn, atjd if they did not ohtuiu R presentntive Institutions, they would not 1m able to learn. It was too much for one man to take the (rehpoosibility of controlling their affairs. There was something repugnant in übsolute power, and if, to the poißC>sion of absolute power there be added ft great d gree of tact and dexterity in matters of business there is also a temptation to disguise, and he could exruse the man who .should fall into this temptation. It remained for him to a»k it we want Representative Institutions ? He thought we were fit for them, and that they were needful, and (hat they would be a benefi 11)1 1) Governor Grey himself, tor lie might be led on to the communion of acts owing to the possession of absolute power, whereby he might lose the good n nine he had acquired. He would tli ere/ore second the resolution. The Chairman then aiked if any gentleman present wished to makeuny remarks previously to putting ihtt m tion, when Mr, Roots ro-'C to propose an amendment. He said you have heard Mr. Fitsslierbert and Mr. Hart's speeches. They were all ve>y fine. They stud sonvtlung about absolute power. There arc", however, some person* looking for little plices, and he. thought they had be't -r leave Governor Gey to himself. (Applause.) They had had a eoipunUton, and whut w<u» the resu I ? Instend of auditing in January they diii it in June, they did not kn >w tho difleriuce. God knows how they made out their accounts; but were we to be humbugged again by tbe.se institutions. ll* thought Governor Giey hud done al that lay in his. power to promote tho interests of the Colony ; he woufd huve bin own way, and he (Mr. Roots) did not blame him, He would propose as an amendment that Governor Grey bo pleased to give us a Constitution when he thinks proper. (Applause and buses.) He would mk who got up the meeting ? (A voice ' Tho friends of tho people ') Ah 1 over n wine bottlu ; would they put the printers' names ? (Voices, ' Yes, here it is.') It was one of their hole and corner meetings. (Hisses,) No one seconded the proposed amendment. Mr. Vincent said Mr. Roots hud ca'led it a hole and comer meeting. On the ai rival of Captain Grey it hud been stated that if he did not < ome forward to give, a» promised, a Constitution, a public meeting would be ca'led. It wiis felt that such a meeting was required that the people might express to Captain Grisy their feelings. New Zealand was at prenent ruled by despotism. rlhar Iha revenue collected in the colony might be expended to the greater advantage of the Bettleri,and was it not reasonable that men who had to contribute the revenue should have Borne control over it* expenditure? They only asked for th«t which Govenor Grey had already expressed, it as hi* opinion the settlers were ready to receive. Earl Lincoln nnd other Members of the Mouse of Commons, and even Lord Stanley, that bitter enemy to the colony, had expressed but one opinion with regard to the fitness of the Southern Settlements to receive free institutions. Not only were they considered prepared to receive a conutitulion, but al»o that a constitution ought to be granted. It was stated in the Legislature that tha inhabitant! of the Southern Settlements were competent to manage their own affairs, and we now only claimed the fulfilment of the promises there made. Governor Grey in hi* ignorance (hiaies), he did not use the term with reference to general matters, but merely in reference to local affairs, and it would be acknowledged by all that great assistance might be rendered hi* Excellency in bringing forward measures, provided the wttleis obtained an Elective Assembly ; for it was not to be supposed that the Governor, with so many claims on his attention, could possibly ha fully acquainted with the peculiar local wants of the place. As it was, this could only be considered ai a preliminary meeting, for the Deputation who waited upon his Excellency would have to come before their fellow settlers to deliver the answer. It remained to be seen whether Governor Grey would grant their request. He hoped every settler would sign tho memorial. The Chairman was about to put the resolution, when Mr. Stokes directed the attention of the meeting to the fact that the chief reaton assigned for the suspension of the Constitution, was its effect with regard to the Native population, and the preient itate of the Land Question at the North, arising from the claims of the nurchaieri under CapUin Fitaroy** Penny an Acre Proclamations, which were still operating to the prejudice of the interests of the Southern Settlements. The object of the present meeting was to give expression to the general anxiety of the sellers for Repre■entntive Institutions, which Ins Excellency admitted we were well fiited to receive, uud which -the leadioir

members of all parties in the Imperial Legislature appeared desirous should be conferred upon them without any unnecessary delay. Mr. M'Donald propoied that the Memorial be read again. Mr. Hart read it accordingly. The motion wai then put from the Chair, and carried unanimously. The Chairman laid that due notice would be given of the preientation of the Memorial to his Excellency, «nd all those who wished to attend cou ddo so. The M moral was then laid on the table for iigna'ure. About 150 signatures wtr« attached to the Memorial, before the meeting t eparated.