PUBLIC MEETING.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 258, 18 November 1848, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING.

Ever since the reception of the disastrous intelligence from the South, theie has been a veiy general ieelwg of sympathy manifested by this community and a define to aid the sufferers lrom the lute calamity. On the evening preceding the numerous and respectable meeting we ai c abouc to notice, a special effort was put forth by the Members of t!ie Wesleyan body and congregation, and a subscription list was opened,— which, ere the meeting terminated, amounted to upwards of j-GO, — for the puipose of assisting the Wesleyaus of Wellington t» piovide themselves with a place of worship; their handsome brick chapel having been totally destrojed. Tins effort, however, was not regarded us in any way in erfenng with or superseding tne duty ol ii moie general effort on the part of the public to s>mpathise with, and relieve »s far as possible, the suffLrers, at Wdmgtou generally. His Lordship the Bishop, actuated by tnose benevolent feelings, made it Ins business to communicate, on Wednesday, with many of the Townspeople on the subject, in Older to asceuuin the public mind, and found, as he himself ttated at the meeting, that his liews weie reciprocated by till clttssca. lie then Icuuit lhat o few ot tlio lending merchants and tradesmen had already issued a requisition convening a public meeting at the Hall of the Mechanics Institute on Thursday evening. In accord- : auce with the requisition, a very numeious and highly i respectable body of persons assembled. We have never witnessed, in Auckland, a more influeulidl ot more respectable public meeting. Besides the Bishop and several of the Wesleyan Ministers, and some of the Officers of Government, there were gatheied together all those who represent the wealth and respectability of Auckland. On the motion of W. S. Guahame, Esq., TiieoriuiiUS Heale, Esq., was called to the Chair. The Chairman opened the proceedings by briefly stating the objoct of ihe Meeting, expressing nis conviction that the inhabitants of Auckland regarded the misfortune which had befallen their fellow Colonists in the South as a general calamity, and that they would, by their united efforts that evening, ptove their sympathy with their suffeiing friends. He then called upon the Bishop to move the first resolution. His LoitDsiiir laidthat he legretted the duty imposed upon him had nut been entrusted to abler hands. No but that he felt a pleasuie in expressing his cordial concurrence with the sentiments expired in the resolution he was about to propose. Hib Lordship, in a long and eloquent speech, which we regiet our limited bpacewiN not admit ol bring fuly repoitctl, dwelt U|.ou the direful chaiacter of the calamity that had overtaken the settlement of Wellington und e^rcsscd the pleußWe whicu he duivcd from wit-

iiessmg such n gcr-eral m.niifv station ot cympathy anil Umd tecli.ig, ontbepaitoJ l'u^j conic ol Auckland.-— lie bad, on s;.P£ikhig to <.: 'e\r individuals on tin aulijoct of tailing tiu'i a meeting as the present, (libcovued that thcis «di but cue opinion, ;>ml that was that it was the duly of oil to unite for the purpose of icmlu •> ing aid to thesnueicis. OneßtiuleKum whom he iitul not name had already londcred the handscrnc subsfj i\\+ lion of i.lO, and he Iwt s.*ic th.it ihe i»p< Ui»^ v/cu'd follow up so youl an ex »nj»lu. His Ljidship co/.uiudud by moving the lollowmg H"-olutio)i .—. — That this meeting iv-> luv.rd \/il!i fuolniijfsol tLonio,!. painful Kind, of the cal.uiiitoiwu.MJi'.ni the Luilmj.shlm: which has been oxpeiuuml ia th. 1 i-'ist, u t-j ,'djacotit to look's btr.iils, more j\u tv tilarly >ii ;i>c settlement of Wellington, where several liu ik > ha.r Ive'i lust, ami a Lir^e umount of inopcity has been deslioyivl ; and ns our iellow-Co'otiists in all jnuts 01 New Zi'aU\ud, mregarded as brethren, bound together, in in ny losjn'Ctc, by a unity of intoiest, tln).i»h occupjiii" separate !(;- calities, icntlcriiiq, the well ue nail jiro^jerii} 1 ol o<Ki> com nmnity matters of Ronci-aledncoin, (his Meeting does most deeply ■synjp.itinzc with the I'.lia it<inl> or Uellina;ton, and Coo's. '^ fairait, iiudei llum pictieat great atriktioju. W. S. Grahame, Esq., ro^e to second tliis resolution. He said, attcr the veiy elofjuent appeal by wit eh Ins lordship the IM-hop had inUoduced it, lie folt that it would be unnecesbary fox him to detain the Meeting with any fuither ooeervations, but d;ould merely state that he most cordially responded to the scnthhents it embodied. Jieinjj put to the Meeting, by the Chairman, it wafa earrLd unauimoubiy, \.irh aLclamaUon. Dt. Caitcr then ms^, en 1, in a neat and appropriate speech, proposed the following :— That in ouler to give consistency to Vicicolin^oi sympathy so universally prevalent in this settle ment, this Meeting doth adopt the following Address, and doth request and empower the Chairman to sign and fonuud the same with the least posbible del iy :~

To the Inhabitants of Wellington and our FdloW' Colonists in Cook's Strait, generally. We the Inhabitants of Auckland and its vicinity, m public meeting assembled, do most siuc^iely tendei U> you our heat licit sympathy. The details oi tlieteiiihlo convulsion tha" lias devastated ynm lloiuisning wUiement, ha\e been read by us with deep emotioii ; l.ut while we lament ami depkiu' the m kueholy loss oi throe lives, and the vast destruction ol piopcit}, \vj feel, at tlic same tu.)e, that tlieic is cause ior tlianLi illness to the die.it Being, by who^e inscrutable Providence this vivtation has been permitted, und controlled, that tlie liveb or not mote than one adult and two chiMien have been lost ; and withoieiydi-pojtion to afford you the aid mid -instance you may need to the utmost extent of our power, we would cat tic tiy exhoit you to the continued manifest ition of tuatspint of resignation, and hopeful trust, which under various former trials and disappointments you have so signally exhibited, and which encourages us to believe lli.it you will, ere long, surmount the losses which you have now sustained, and be again in the foil enjoyment of the prospeiity you so much deserve. Mr. W. Brown seconded the resolution, which was also carried unanimously. M r . Cl'ghorn then ro*e to move the thiid resolution, and in doing so he siid that he thought it might be juoper to state that °-omu peisons had thought it advisable to defer calling upon subscribers for the amount of their subscriptions until it had been ascertained how, and in what manner the lelief fund should be applied. He should therefoie moye — That this Meeting, impic-sed with tl)e bel ef, that the sufferings of many of our feilow-Coli>im>tsin co'isequ°nce of the Lite calamity, aie of a nature to demand, and make acceptable, .some more substantial expression of good will than more s>mpathy, resolve,, that a subscription list he opened ou their behalf, and that the necessary step, be taken (o ascertain how, and in what manner, the funds so subsciLcd may be best applied Mr. Hyam Joseph Recorded the resolution in a warm nnd energetic manner. Having been a resident at Wellington for many yara, he said he felt unusu* ally in erpsted in the objects of the naretina 1 ; and with lefrrcnce to the specific design of the r> solution, he hoped there would be aLn» pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether. (Cheei s and laughter.) On the Chairman rising to put the resolution to flit mfcting. his Lordship the Bishop said he could have wished (he tetolulion to have bcea some^ hat more explicit, as ho felt thit it wou'd be perhaps unwise to sanction any unnecessary delay in foi warding the reqm'ied aid. Mr, Rout becged 'enve to remark that in moci rases to do a tiling promptly was lo do a we!} Help, if ut all necessary, phou'd be rendered opportunely ; he did not approve of the delay contemplated by the resolution. Mr. Cleghorn sail he snipjht explain thai it was Dot intended to delay (he nidng of a fund, but merely to asceitain how it oouM be best applied befoio the money raised waB forwarded. The Chairmen Raid, that pet haps one of the gentlemen would pioposean amendment. Mr. Forsaith said, he (bought that lln misappiehei sion which appeared to exist resohed itself in r single question, lie believed the mectirff was unanimously of opinion that ns lrrge a sum as possihl" should be immediufe'y raised ; the only qupclion at issue w<"3, shall the fund so raised be forwarded '•{, once in money, or shall the nufTercrs be informed that such an amount is avaihbie for their relief. lie did not sc,i much objection to this plan, as such a communication coining from such an influi'iili'd meeting would, in fact, be a letter of credit, and if necessary, money could bo mhed upon if immediately. Such li d been the opinion cf many who had interested themselves in the object of the nuH'tuii, hut if il»f meeting were of opinion tbat it would be better to send the money at once, be for one should not object. The Rev. W. Lawry spoke in support of the general object of the meeting, and sa\d that the only question of importance involved in the present discussion was, to whom should the money be sent, so as to ensure its fair and impartial applicalion. He trusted that whatever course was adopted, there would be no distinctions or preferences admitted. The Chairmnn suggested that the resolution might be amended by expun^in^ all the words following the word " behalf," and inquired if the alteration met the approval of Mr. Cleghorn. Upon that gentleman's signifying his assent, the resolution was put nnd carried as follows : That this Meeting:, impressed with the belief, lliat the toiflcrlngs of many o* our icllow-Colonisfc> in consequence of the late calamity, arc of a lutme to demand, and make acceptable, some more substantial expression of good will than mere sympathy, icsohc, that a subscription Usl be opened immediately on their behalf. The Rev- J. Watkin was called upan to move the fourth resolution. ll s expressed in lively tertna, the pleanue he felt at witnessing the coidiahty of feeling; on the part of the people ol Auckland, towards ihe people ol Wellington, among whom he lesided. lie felt assured that the spiiit maiufe-tod by the meeting would call lurth thu mos. vi itelul cuiouaiis. on ihv. P4t ot the settler, at >\ t,llttig.c- 1, aud biad thtm fw

ever, m the bonds of cffei-tion toward-* the p 'opU- of Arclhnd. It might be tlmi unkind words hiui bcon nt tirot't. cNclmn^cd betwicn tho Uvn commimtlW, but if Editors oi papers— pi overbially an mil able nee — had so in-iulgni, that w. s no proof of a gcneial feeling of the Hnd Ho knew that tbc people ot Wellington generally entcrUi.ied ii.o Kindliest sentiments towards TlKii fcllov rolcmSts, uud the proceedings of that twining would inert aie end rivet those feelings; he was "-la I liiu'i. tbc meeting had determined to send their contributions immediately. Chanty wag nrvei ralruldting :it did not creep, but fly. lie knew that thci'p was' f»rcat distress, and that it was not confined to thono who ini?,ht be considered as standing too high to he offered pecuniary aid. Many poor families were liuuspleEb and homeliss,— liib own house, which v, as not laist\ was nt the time or the latest rcciivrd intolhgrnc o , affo(din<j shelter to several families. He concluded by prop 3ing--Tint the following gentlemen he appointe I an bxcculive Committee to cairy ouuhe foreiroiirj lesdntion, via — \V. S. Gtahame, L"bq., !v. A. I il/.ger.ild, Csq., fir. Kotit. Mr. L>. Nathan, Dr. iVicGaiu.m, T. Ucalf, Esq , Cipt. Salmon, and iMr.McCair. Mr. W. Connell second >d thi3 resolution, which was rallied unanimously. Rh. Forbaith then rose and Baid, that as the oiiginal idei eutcrtuned by the piomorers of the unetmg hud been unproved upon by the determination to send the money thf^ might be tubsenbed foithwith, he had been optius'ed with a resolution which ww. intended to provide for the proper and impartial application of the fund. He felt sine- that the meeting would support him in abserting that it was their unanimous wi«h that tins fund shoulJ be applied lo the relief of sufferers of all classes, and creeds without di-t notion, who might etantl in need of cuch aid, and in oid.rto secure this object, the resolution which he was about to aubmir, proposed » Committee of gcrtlemcn. who were support ti by tho,e prebent, who by their intimate acquaintance with the people ol Wellington, were qualified to jud^e— to afford a certain guarantee that the necessities ot all parlies would he fanly icprcsented and attended to. He would thei chic proposeThat the funds subscribed be entrusted to the following ncntlo.nen, foi tlistiibulion to the sufleiois, vi 7. —Rev. Mr. Colo, Rev Mi. W.itkm, llov. Mi O'Reilly Rev. Mr. Inghs, Mi Voodw.ird, Cipt. Rhodes, Mr. P. M. limey, W. Hiekhon, Es>i , C ij't Siurpe, J. Johnson, Esq., Mr Hort, and Mr St. ITill, \.uh power to add to their numboi. Capt. Salmon seconded thia resolution. Upon the Chairnnn nsing to submit it to the meeting, his Lordship the Bishop begged to offar an observation. He thought that it would be beuer to extend the libt much farther. There were so many iei>pectable and benevolent men in Wellington with whom he was acquainted, that he thought it would be ungracious in that meetiing, to letter ita aid by any Kind of conditions. For hia part hs should prefer the adoption of the broadest possible habis. It might be the people of Auckland to tho people of Wellington, for such waa Ins confidence in them, that he felt convinced that if the money were only landed on the beach it would oe propeily ilistiibuted. He did not think that that meeting should nominate any specific number ot gentlemen as the persons who were considered worthy of tho trti3t, when there were so n>any others whose names were not mentioned equally tiustworthy. Mr. Forsait'i, in reply, said he wis sorry that a mis apprehension should have ansen relative to the spirit of the resolution, lie thought he had sufficiently explained it to the meeting Nothing could be more foreign to his wishca than the idea ot mailing invidious distinctions. The gentlemen who Uud iuggested the names that had been inserted in the resolution could not be supposed tj bnve intended a slight upon the many respectable inhabitants of Wellington whose nimes had been omitted. The difficulty was out of so many high and honorable names to make any selection at all, but it was thought highly nece sary to do so in order to secure an efficient committee; lor universal experience had proved that small committees were the best for all practical purposes. The greater the number of committee-men, the less work. Large committees had ever been found less efficient than binall ones, and the gentlemen named in the lesolution were believed to comprise a sufficient number to represent all denominations'of Chiistians, while at the name time they would not be too numerous to be eilectivc. His Lordship did not think that it was necessary to confine it to the gentlemen named, upon the plea that had been urged. Supposing that a Committee of one hundred had been nominated, he admitted that as a body they would be too unwieldy to act, but they would themselves appoint from their own number certain working men as a sub committee to carry out the objects of tho meeting, and certainly it must be allowed that a numbir ot gentlemen reading in Weilington would be even better qualified to appoint suitable pe. ~ons for carrying out the objects of the meeting, than the meeting i' self. Mr. Foiuaith begged to intimate that he fully concurred in some respects with the opinion of his Lordghip, but Btill it appeared to him that his Lordship had overlooked one great difficulty that would aiise out of the plan suggested. He (Mr. F ) had stated that it was the object of the meeting to secure an equal representation ot persons of all creeds and pervasions, as far as could bf- but it might so happen that the sub.committee when appointed would consist of uome tbree or four members, and those might be all of otse pet suasion — they might, for instance, be all Presbyterians, or they might be all We&leyans— ail Episcopalians, or all Roman Catholics, which would give a a sectarian character to the whole transaction— a result which tLe meeting wished above all things to avoid, Mr. Whytlavv thought that a larger numbei unuud advantages in the way of acqunmg information as to cases of distress, though he agreed in the opinion that small committees were the most efficient. _ Considerable discussion ensued, in which Mr Shepherd, Mr. Rout and others took part, when, on the suggestion ot the Chairman, his Lordship proposed, and Mr. Bum seconded, the following amendment :— That the Meeting be invited to name the residents in Wellington to whom the responsibility ot distnbuting the fund been trusted 1 and that all persons, so named in the jnesent Meeting, unless challenged by a majonty, shall bo invited to hold a mooting at Wellington to deteimme the mode of dutubution. The Chairman having taken Ihe sense of, the meeting fust upon the amendment and afterwaids upon the original motion, declared the original resolution to be carried by a considerable niDjority. A subscription li- 1 was then opened, which wan headed by hi 3 Lordship the Bishop putting his name do\rn for the munificent sum of £100. In the course of a short time about £ J 26G was subscribed, and after s ime details had been arranged for the local cvecutivo committee to wait upon the inhabitants for their subscriptions, and a vote of thinks had been tendered to Mr. Heale for hia able aud impartial conduct in the chair, the meeting separated. It was alio notified that subscription lis's would lit* at the Union Bank, and at the stores of Messrs. G,bson and Mitchell, D. Nathan, and T. S. Forsait i, at either of which places those parties wishing to contii. bute, but who might be ovei looked by the executive committcp, were lequested to call, and tender their aid.