(From the Wellington Spectator, December 2.)

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 271, 3 January 1849, Page 3

(From the Wellington Spectator, December 2 .)

A Public Meeting wa^ held at the Britannia Saloon, Lamblon-quay, pursuant to an advertisement which appeared m lant Wednehday'i Spectator. Ihe Meeting wus most numeiously ami respectably attended, the room being crowded with lettlen. who appeared to take the greatest interest in the proceeding!. On the motion p\ Mr. W. Hickson, J.P., seconded by Mr. R. Waiit, the Rev, R. Cole wa» requested to take the chair. The Rev. Chairman said he had much pleasure in attending this meeting, whcthtr as a.private member of tho community or a member of the com niitee, the title or it being so evidently goodwill towmds men. The object of the present meeting mis to receive the Apdress of sympathy from the Inhabitants of Auck land, and to afford the inhabitant* of Wedmgton an opportunity of giving expression to feelings so ge .erally and so jus'ly excited. The Chairman then read the communication received from the Chairman of the Auckland Meeting, together with the address and ths resolutions pasted at the Public Meeting. Mr. Hort, J.P., in moving the first resolution, congratulated the meeting in having us their chairman a gentleman 10 unirei tally ebtcmed. It was also a waiter of congratulation to himself that he had not

left this colony until he had witnessed such an expression of sympathy from Auckland. The public of Auckland had with the utmost promptneis subscribed for the relief of those rendeied destitute by the earth* quake, and they were met to consider whether they c uld avail themselves of this assistance ; he believed if assistance were required it wni right they should first relieve their fellow settlers to the utmost extent of the rown means, and fortunately the caies requiring relief were not beyond their means. It mus*; be very pleasing to see the hand of benevolece extended towards them the Divine Bemjf never lendingafiic ion without at the same time tending the means of relief. He was sure that every one was endued with the feel-irig-f exprisaed in the resolution and trusted they would find the means of conveying their sentiments to their lellow colonists at Auckland. The Rev S. Ironside in brief and appropriate terms seconded the lesolution. That the address to the Inhabitants of Auckland to their fellow-colonists in this settlement has excited in our minds feelings of the highest esteem and the most unfeigned gratitude. Theresolunon was caired unanimously. The Rev. J. J. P. O'Rrily, in moving the address, said it was impossible not to express his hearty concurrence in sentiments so congenial to the Christian religion, and he trusted that these sentiments would be lasting between the two settlements, and that if it should ever please God to t.fflict our neighbours, we should he ready to render them our aid. He hoped this caLmnity would be the means of ama'gamoting together all the settlements in New Zealand. We had heard of the munificent donations of our fellowcolonists in Aucklund ; they had come forward most promptly, most cheerfully, and we could not but return them our warmest thanks for their sympathy. We have only to know one another to love one another. The Rev. gentleman than moved the following address :— To ova Fellow-Colonists in Auckland and its Vioimty. We, the Inhabitants of Wellington and its vicinity, in public meeiing assembled, retu|n you our most grateful and cordial thanks for the sympathy and benevolence you have displayed towards us under the recpnt setere dispensation of Providence wKh which this settlement has been visited. While we acknowledge that this calamnity has be j n, in some instances) attended with ureat distiuetion of property, we hive abundant reaion to be thmkful " to the Gieat Being, by whose inscrutable piovidence thu visitation has been permitted and controlled/ for his many mercies, particularly that to few lives have been lost, and that the injury sustained by the Settlement is ascertained to be so much lets th|n was anticipated. It is also a great consolation to us, in this trial we receive from our Fellow-C' lontsts at Auckland such ready sympathy, so noble and munificent a proot of their regard ; aad we trust tint the spirit of Christian charity, of which you ha^e&iven so ni-morla> c an example, may cve r iuflaencl thd Colonists of New Zealand, and join in the very bond of peace the different Settlements into one piospemus nnd united Colony. The Key. J. InglU, in seconding the adoption of the address, spoke in the highest terms of the deeo sympathy t>o fetlindy displayed, and the liberal assistance so promptly renderel, by our fellow-colonists in Auckland ; he said that while the intelligence received there had evident y produced an erroneous impression on (heir minds as to our actual circumstances, they had, under the purest feeling* of benevolence, acted up to the tall extent of these impressions, in expressing their sympathy and extending their aid. It was matter of thankfulness thai our neighbours had not suffeied, ready as they were to help us J and while we conld not be too thankful to a merci'ul Providence that our circumstince* were net in any measure, so bad as was supposed at Auckland, that^there was little, if any, real distress in the community — that in all other respects our circumstances were highly favourable, sickness of every kind being almost unknown — employment plentiful, and wages good — piovisims abundant and cheap— everything connected with the season and the settlement encouraging ; — while all this was the case, he was certain that the general feclini? was, that the conduct' of our ffllow-coloniBts in Auckland ought to be as highly appreciated and at gratefully acknowledged as if w< had been in the very severest distress in which they feaed we should be br fore iheir aid could arrive. Tiie addiess was theu put to the meeting, and carried by acclamation. Mr. Woodward, at the request of the chairman, explained to the meeting the views of the Committee. The Committee did not pledge themselves to any mode 01 proceeding, they left it in ihe hands of the meeting, bin they held themselves as trustees to the people or Auckland to appropriate the fuads according to the purpose named. Tue committee had held two meetings, and each member had been invited to mention any cases of distress under his notice. These cases were so few, that they were called on to return the money • That many persons have suffered severe loss the comm ttee well knew, but they had not yet heard ol any case of such extreme urgency hi would justify them in drawing on a fund given under the idea that we are in a state of extieiue deititution. The comj mittee, therefore, up to that time, weie of opinion that [ they shi.uld not be acting consistently with their tiust, if they at cfrice dutnbuted the money. They had not sent it b<ick, and were not prepared to do so; for it | any cases should appear beyond our own means of [ relief, they hold the fund as applicable to this purpose. They, however, felt the utmost reluctance in appropriating the fund to any purposes not strictly in accordance with ihose for which it was intended, as indicated by the resolution of the meeting in Auckland. It was open for any one to express his views on ibe subject. Mr. Roots (who was v«ry unfavourably received) disapproved of returning the money ; he thought it would be an insult to the inhabitants of Auckland, and moved that the money be placed in the bank until they could aiceitaiu iheir sentiments. — Ihe resolution was not seconded. Dr. Featherston rose to propose the next resolution. Jle said they h»d met for no ordinary purpose. It was one in which all classes took a deep interest, and desired to carry out their views in such a manner as to express their warmest sympathy to the inhabitants of Auckland for the generous manner in which they had come iorwaid on this occasion. He felt that it was extremely difficult to express these feeling* There had been great rivalry between the settlements; still, in the time of extremity, they had buried in oblivion every feeling of rivalry, and, prompted by the generous impulses of their hearts, had endeavouied to lend us their assistance under our difficulties. It was incumbeut on them to respond in the same spirit, and to show that the Bishop was ri<<bt when he said that he bdd such implicit confidence in the settlers of Wellington, that he felt convinced if the money were only lauded on the beach it would be properly distributed (great cheers). Before they decided as to the appropriation of the money, he would iuvite their earnest attention to the circumstances under which it was raised, and if they were satisfied that it vms under the

influence of unfounded or groisly exaggerated statements, he would ask them, as men of honour, whether they could do otherwise than return it, accompanied whh the same thanks as if they had been compelled to accept it. Dr. P., referring to the Lieutenant-Governor's despatch, said that the people of Auckland had been informed that the town was in ruins. Wai that true ? If it bad consissed of brick buildings only, then he would confess th^re might have been some grounds fir that statement ; but when they considered that the value of the buildings in the town wai not less than .£200,000, and that the damage was estimated at about i£15,000, be would ask them whether the writer was justified (ordei), even in the excitement of the moment, in hazarding an assertion which would do infinitely moie damaga to the settlement than all they had yet suffered. '1 here might be some amongst them who would have to begin the world again ; but the assei lion that the town was in ruins showed an ignorance of the resources of the settlers and the amount of the dan age that had been sustained. The subscribers had been further informed that a blow had been struck at the prosperity, almost at the very existence 6f the tetilement. There had been from the b< ginning of the settlement, and nearly up to the present, a continued succession of difficulties. They ha- 1 had to struggle against the difficulties occasioned by the unsettled state of the land claims, and the looses incurred by the fire, they hud seen the tragedy of the Wairau, they hpd fe t the inconvenience and loss of the l&te war, and were now suffering from the effects of the recent calamity. They had received blow after blow, and in spite of them the settlement would still go on. lust ad of their energies being paralyzed, they would expand, and these impediments, instead of inducing them 10 abandon the colony, would only stimulate them to use fresh exertions. The subscribers had been further told that the damage which had already occurred, and the terror which such a visitation produced, would drive from the colony all who could find means of getting away. He believed this statement would no more bear investigation than the others. He believed that ninety-nine out of every one hundred persons had too much interest in the colony to think of abandoning it, and that not more than forty or fifty soul*, including men, women, and children, ever expressed such an intention. Such being the representation on which the subscriptions had been raised, he could not believe that they would hesitate as to returning the money, he could not believe that they would degrade the colon ; by accepting money subscribed under such a misapprehension. He might also remind them, that until the facts of the earthquakes are fully stated, they might reit assured that the c mfidence ot the people ac home would be shaken, emigrants would cease to come, and consignments would be stopped. He urged them, therefore, to publish the liberality of their fellowcolonists at Auckland, and at the same time that they did not require to accept of their preferred aid. Such would be the best means of refuting these mis-state-ments, but if they accepted the money it would only substantiate the report, He would rest his appe .1 on the high estimation in which they were held, and he hoped the feelings of self-respect which they had ever cherished, and would continue to cherish, would regulate their decision (tjreat cheer-)- Dr. F. then moved the following resoluuon :—: — " That this meeting, bi ing of opinion that the effects of the late rahmity are not of such a character as our fellow-colonists in Auckland have been led to believe, and being also of opinion that they will best show their heartfelt appreciation of the prompt and munificent m-inoer in which aid has been afforded by refusing to take an impioper advantage of the kindness thus manifested, do therefore advise the committee to reiurn the money subscribed, coupled with the expression of their warmest thanks." The rekolution was seconded by Mr. Stokes. Mr Cirpenter moved the following amendment :— '* '1 hat tlih meeting instruct; the committee to accept the funds so kindly subsciibed by our fellow-colonuU at Auckland." The amendment was supported by Mr. Roots* Mr. Wttde s»id there appeared to him to be, on the part of the committee, a misapprehension as to their posiion. He held that the Committee had nut the power of appropriating the fund, that every man who had sutlered by the earthquake had a voice in the matti-r, and thought Mr. Carpenter's amendment shouid not be objected to. * Mr. Woodward explained that the committee, considering the money to be subscribed under a misapprehension, had come to tuk whether or not the distress existed which the money was intended to relieve. If so, they w<re prepared to apply the money ; but if it did not exist, then they were prepared to send it back. Mr. Fox said he wished to address a few words on the general question, whether the money be kept for the relief of the distressed persons, or whether it be returned, their being no distressed persons to receive it* Thy point was one of great impoitance ;it would depend on their decision whether numerous parties wtiu are looking for a mode of escape from those moral and political earthquakes which are now agitating Europe will come here or not. By accepting this money they would =et their seal to the report which had gone home, If they accepted of that suib ol £500, eveiy person hearing of it at home would believe that the town 19 in ruins. And would any persou come here, believing that report? If they accepted that £500, it would be believed at home that all persons were wishing to escape from this settlement. They would noc believe thai when the Sub.aon left she had only forty«five pass ngers, They would not believe that when that vessel was unfortunately wrecked most of those per ons made up their mind nut to go away. They would believe that this Prounceharf received " a blow from which it would not readily recover." He believed it had nlrendy recovered, in the increased energy with which the colonists set themselves to look the difficulty in the face. In leciprocal goodwill to their fellow -colonists, let them recommend the committee to return the money. If any distress existed, then let a subset intion be raised amongst ourselves. (Great cheers.) He, on behalf of the New Zealand Company, would head the list with what he was sure would be called a liberal subscription, and on his own private account with what he could afford (cheers). The Rev. S. lionside thought that at present they were not in a position to send the money back, as they h.d not had lime to ascertain if there were any casts of distress. Many of those persons who had suffered would be the last to allow their distress to be known. He thought that to send buck the money would be very premature (di -approbation). Mr. Woodward said tilat, having previously ex* pressed the sentiments of the Committee, he wished to have an oppoitunity of stating his own. If there were any such cases of dis'ress as this sum was subset ibad for, there was a fund which a public meeting could at once make available for the purpose. The committee had no desire to shrink from the labour, but they did not wish to appropriate the money to other than such ca-es for which it was subsctibed by our fellowcolonists. It' there are any sugu cases, is it not a reproach that we should not have done anything for six weeks. He protected against using the money, and would never consent to trespass on others for what we

were bound to do for ouiselvea When we had dono all we could, then, if necessary, let us appeal to them, but not before ; and then bye and by they would (eel thrit they could trust us, should we on any future occasion require their aid. He felt (hat ha could hoc honestly tmve anything to do with the money, and therefore he cordially supported the resolu ion that the committee be advised to return it forthwith. After a few words from Mr. Carpenter, the Chiirman theu put the amendment to the nreeting— only three hands were held up lor it; and the originul resolution was put and carried unanimously, amidst loud a)M)lause. Mr. Fox having 1 previously stated bis intention that,, in the event of the money being leiurne', he should propose that a subscription be set on foot by the Committee if required, beuged to move the following re-olution : — " That the same committee he requested to receive applications from parties who miy have Buffered by the earthquake ; and if they find that the case requires it, that they set on foot » public subscription in Welling* ton for the relief of such sufferers, and that the Committee have power to add to their number." The resolution was seconded by Dr. Featherston, and earned unanimously. The Chairman hating left the chair, it was takes by Mr. Hort. Mr. J. Smith then proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman, wliich was seconded by Mr. R. Waitt, and passed with acclamation.