PUBLIC MEETING.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 213, 14 August 1847, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

A Public Meeting was held at the Britannia Saloon, for the purpose of considering and adopting an address of congratulation to his Excellency the Lieutenant-Goveruor. The Meeting was numerously attended, although many persons were prevented from going by the unfavourable state of the weather. On the motion of Mr. Cator, seconded by Mr. J. H. Wallace, Capt. Smith was called to the chair. Mr. Stokes, in moving the first resolution, said he would endeavour to occupy as little of the time of the meeting as possible in ihe few observations he had to make. The meeting had been called for the purpose of considering and adopting an address of congratulation to his Excellency the Lieute-nant-Governor on his arrival in this settlement. About the propriety of the measure there could be no difference of opinion ; that it had not been adopted previously to his Excellency's arrival might be accounted for on various grounds, but chiefly from the difference of opinion which prevailed as to the proper time for presenting an address of this nature, as it was reported his Excellency had not been sworn in, and it was supposed would not assume the duties of his office until the new Constitution had been proclaimed and put into operation. But whatever difference of opinion might have existed on this point in the minds of some persons, the very general desire that prevailed: that an address should now be presented to his Excellency removed al! uncertainty on the subject. The address which he would submit to the meeting had the merit of being short, and of avoiding any topic which could possibly lead to discussion. Other opportunities would shortly present themselves to the settlers for the expression of their opinions, after his Excellency had been some little time in this settlement, and had obtained information on the spot about the different questions which would occupy his attention. They were now met simply to consider and adopt an address of congratulation to his Excellency on his arrival amongst them ; to pay re-, spect to constituted authority; to show those marks of courtesy to their newly appointed Governor which were usual on occasions similar to the present, and which the previous Governors 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 ETRE, ESQ., LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR IN AND OVER HBJI MAJESTY'S COLONY OF NEW ZEALAND, AND ITB DEPENDENCIES, &C, &C. We, the undersigned Inhabitants of Wellington, beg to offer to your Excellency our most sincere congratulations on your appointment to the office of Lieutenant-Governor of this colony. "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 theGovernor-in-Chief under the newConstituiion which has been grantedto this Colony, may be successful in restoring and maintaining peace and tranquillity, in promoting the best interests of both races, and in developing the resources of our adopted country ; and we beg to assure your Excellency that our most strenuous exertions will not be wanting to promote the success of such measures as may conduce to the accomplishment of these important ends. We beg to offer our best wishes for your Excellency'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 courtesy usual upon such occasions. There ~ were those who affected 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 shew due respect to the Representative of Her Majesty — the same feeling that would be exhibited by one person towards another meeting in the street, and which was no less due to the Governor than to themselves. In answer to an ob]ection which had been made, that Mr. Eyre had not yet been sworn in, Mr. H. observed there could be no doubt that Mr. Eyre had his commission in his pocket, and only waited for the new constitution being proclaimed to read it. In courtesy, he was fully entitled to be recognized as Governor. Mr. CKAWFORD.wished, before the Address was put to the Meeting, to say a few words about his Excellency, whom he had the pleasure of knowing in South Australia. The last time he had met Mr. Eyre was when he (Mr. Eyre) had just returned from one of the most extraordinary journeys on record ;— a journey from Port Lincoln to King George's Sound, a distance of about

two thousand miles. Many persons in the room had been to the Wairarapa by the coast road, and had rounded the Mukarauka rocks ; if they could imagine a journey of such a length performed on a road such as that, they could in some measure realize the difficulties Mr. Eyre must have encountered. During this journey, in which he was accompanied by an overseer and three black boys, two of the black boys shot the overseer, and decamped with his gun and provisions ; and he performed the greater part of the journey accompanied only by the remaining black boy. He traversed an arid and inhospitable desert ; he was twice for seven days without water for his horses ; and during part of the time was obliged to subsist on horse-flesh. At length his perseverance was rewarded by arriving at King George's Sound after a journey of fourteen months' duration. This was sufficient to shew them that their new Governor possessed a character for energy and perseverance, and he hoped would receive at their bands, the privilege usually accorded by Englishmen — a clear field and no favour. (Cheers.) Mr. .Roots perfectly agreed in the propriety of presenting an address to his Excellency, but wished to know why it had not been done before. Where were those who had always been so forward on former occasions? They were not to be found. (Hear.) They reminded him of Macheath in the Opera, and no doubt " Could be bappy 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 he saw another set of nien, and he had no doubt they would get on very well vi ithout the old ones ; but in a short time, when these last would come to solicit their votes, they would know what answer to give them. (Cheers.) The address was then carried unanimously. Mr. Hort, sen., in moving the second resolution, said he had felt some surprise that no measures had been taken to do what might be considered an usual act of courtesy ; and in consequence had, in conjunction with Mr. Stokes and other persons near him taken steps, by calling the present meeting, to remedy what he could not help thinking had been an omission of the observances followed on these occasions ; he then moved — - " That a Committee be appointed to carry out the intentions of the meeting." Mr. Moore, in seconding the resolution, considered the appointment of a committee as very desirable ; it was necessary to have men who would exert themselves to give effect to the intentions of the meeting by obtaining the signatures of those who agreed in the propriety of an address to his Excellency. Mr. Vincent moved an amendment which was seconded by Mr. Re vans — " That the address be signed by the chairman, and addressed to his Excellency -.hrough the Private Secretary." but it was unanimously rejected by the Meeting. Other amendments were proposed but withdrawn, and the original resolution carried by a large majority. A Committee was then appointed, consisting of the Chairman, Mr. Crawford, Major Beker, Mr. Hort, sen., Mr. Bethune, and Mr. Moore. The thanks of the Meetingwerethenvoted to Capt. Smith for his conduct in the chair. The address was numerously signed in the room, and upwards of two hundred signatures were appended to it in twenty-four hours. The Deputation will wait upon bis Excellency with the address this day at two o'clock-

Accident. — Ojn Wednesday afternoon as a lad of the name of James Vial, in the employ of Captain Rhodes, was riding from Wade's Town, he was thrown forward with great violence over his horse's head and broke his thigh. The fracture has since beeu set and the lad is doing very favourably.

Wkllington Savings Bank. — Mr. D. Wakefield, Major Baker, Mr. Blyth, and Mr. Lyon, the Managers in rotation, will attend to receive deposits at Messrs. Johnson & Moore's btore, from seven to eight o'clock on Sati rday evening, the 14th Aug, 1847, and at the Union Bank of Australia, from twelve to one o'clock on Monday forenoon, the 16th August.