The New Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 610, 18 February 1852, Page 2

The New Zealander.

Be lust and fe ir nut • Let nil thtti'iMs thon ainis't at, be thy Country's, 'iiij 6oi)'b, and Tmth's.

AUCKLAND, AVEDNEDAY, FEB. 18, 1852.

The Public Meeting for the purpose of petitioning Parliament against the infliction on New Ulster of the wrong which the charge of the New Zealand Company's monstrous claim involves, was held on . Saturday, as announced, in the open space before the Court House, and fully realized the anticipations which we had ventured to express respecting its character, conduct, and general importance. It undoubtedly was one of the largest Meetings ever held in this Province, including numbers far beyond the capabilities of any room available for such assemblies. At the same time we would not have the universality of the feeling which led to the Meeting judged of merely by the actual attendance, numerous though it was. That attendance would have been greatly increased if it had been deemed necessary to make a numerical demonstration against the imposition ; indeed we question whether there is a single settler in the Province who would not " turn out" to swell a monster meeting on the subject, if it had not been thought by many that tho proceedings were in safo hands, and that the signing of the Petition adopted by the Meeting would be on their part a sufficient manifestation of opinion and feeling. But as it was thus almost, if not altogether, unprecedentedly numerous, so it was also highly respectable ; every class in the community furnished its contingent of representatives, and the " old familiar faces' of the longest known and best known settlers in the district were seen mingled everywhere -with those who more ' recently have made New Zealand their adopted home. Not a few might be seen in tne crowd who do not usually take a prominent part in political movements, and who, it indeed may bo said, engaged in this not as a movement connected with politics in the party sense of the term, but as bearing some analogy to tho resistanco offered on a former occasion to the introduction of Convicts into the Colony, — a public Protest against a step morally unjustifiable as well as socially oppressive and unfair. The most gratifying feature of the Meeting, however, was its unanimity in tho promotion of its single and important object, and the subordination for the time of all matters on. which differences of opinion might subsist. Such differences there nndoubtedly are, on various topics, amongst those who prepared the arrangements, and even " amongst those who took part in the proceedings: some of them most probably ■would have been glad to introduce or append expressions of opinion on questions the magnitude of which cannot be denied or doubted : but they wisely and patriotically agreed to place their views on disputed points in abeyance for this particular occasion, and resolved that — if the apple of discord were thrown into this movement — they at least would keep themselves frco from the responsibility of disturbing tho harmony of a procedure which had gathered round it an unprecedented amount of united co-operation. In this honourable course they were imitated and sustained by the Meeting. No amendment was proposed or even suggested to any of the 'Kesolutions ; no irrelevant question was mooted ; and the proceedings commenced, progressed, and terminated, not only without opposition, but with warm and unmistakeably evidenced cordiality of agreement. We are warranted then in attaching special weight to this demonstration, and in regarding it as likely to command unusual respect for its conclusions, on these three grounds — the number of those assembled, — the respectability and standing in the colony Which the. Meeting included, and the unanimity with .which its decisions were adopted.

The very lull report of the proper;! tigs which wo this day publish, while it occupies so great -a portion of our columns as to restrict the space whicli we can devote to comments of our own, happily relieves ip from all necessity of dwelling' in any detail upon the geneial subject,— upon winch, indeed, we lave already, over and over a»iin, laid our \ iows before our readers, in connection with the documents raid other information bearing upon its several features It i-D enough that we commend the speeches to general perusal and consideration. They are far from containing all that might be fitly urged in exposure of the New Zealand Company's selfish and unprincipled career, and in' proof that the imposition of any portion of their claim on this Province would bo one of the most unmitigated acts of injustice ever inflicted by Piiiliamentary authority upon a rising, but still struggling. Colony. In various instances they give little more than hints of arguments and statements which there would be no difficulty in greatly expanding and abundantly fortifying. But we maintain that even within their compass may be found amply enough to satisfy every impartial and reasonable mind ; and we can only desire that the Speeches, and espec ally the Resolutions, of this Meeting may bo read with attention by those- at a distance whoso voices may have influence in the final determination of the matter at issue. The Committee appointed to prepare the Petition arc engaged on their work, and in a day or two the document will be ready for signature.

Missionary Tjca Mektino. — On Monday evening a Tea Meeting, given by the members and friends of the Wesleynn Society here to the Missionaries who are now about to return from this town to their lespcctive scenes of labour, was held in the school-room connected with the Wcslcyan Chapel. The Rev. Walter La-wry presided, and se\eral addresses were delhercd by the IVlinisters and lay fiiends during the evening. — The occasion was one of much hocial enjoyment, and the whole passed off in a very edifying as well as agreeable manner.