AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 696, 3 April 1852, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

The New Zealander of the 18th of February, gives an excellent report of one of the largest Public Meetings ever held at Auckland, for the purpose of expressing the hostility of the Settlers to the proposal of Lord Grey to charge the debt of the New Zealand Company on the general revenues of the colony. The New Zealander says : — “ But as it was thus almost, if not altogether, unprecedently numerous, so it w-as 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 the crowd who did not usually take a prominent part in political movements, and who, it indeed may be said, engaged in this not as a movement connected with politics in the party sense of the term, but as bearing some analogy to the resistance 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 tbe meeting, however, was its unanimity in the 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 undoubtedly 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 free from the responsibility of disturbing the 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 reso-

lutions; no irrelevant question was mooted, and the proceedings commenced, progressed, and terminated, not only without opposition, but with warm and unmistakably evinced cordiality of agreement. We are warranted then in attaching special weight to this demonstration, and in regarding it as likely to command un. usual 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.”

Moved by Mr. William Connell, seconded bv Mr. Newman,

“That in the judgment of this meeting, the primary a id most legitimate point of view in which the New Zealand Company should be regarded, is that of an ordinary Joint Stock Company ; and that therefore this meeting lias learned with surprise and deep regret that her Majesty’s Government were induced to concur in so unjustifiable a scheme fur the benefit of the Company as that contemplated in a measure introduced by Mr. Hawes at nearly the close of the last Session of Parliament, by which—had the original intention been carried into effect—an enormous sum claimed by the Company as compensation for its losses would have been charged on the General Revenue of tbe Colony as well as ou its Laud bund ; thus—in addition to the o'her objectionable features of the procedure, interferimr in an unconstitutional ma iner with the rights of the Colon al Legislature.— That while this meeting may not be prepared to deny that tbe “Land Fund ’ of the “ Province of New Munster” may be chargeable with so much of the Company’s claim as represents the fair value of their Assets, taken and held by the Crowu for the benefit of the Settlers of that Province, it can have no hesitation in declaring its conviction that to saddle tbe General Revenue of New Zealand with the losses incurred by a Trading Association in its mercantile speculation—and to do this without consulting the Colonial Legislature if the Settlers—would be an act diametrically opposed to tbe principles of the British Constitution, and to the immutable principles of justice.” Moved by Aiderman Mason, seconded bv Mr. J. S. Forsaith, “ That whatever may be the conclusion arrived at respecting the justice of charging a portion of the Company’s claim on the Southern Settlements, there cannot be even the shadow of an equitable reason for imposing any part of it, however fractional, on the Northern Settlements. The sphere of the Company’s operation was, by arrangement with the Government, limited to the Province of New Munster, and the Settlement of New Plymouth. Not only have the Northern Settlements derived no advantage, directly or indirectly, from the Company’s schemes, but, on the contrary, they have been the constant objects of open or insidious attack from the Company’s Directors, agents, and advocates, through t'ne ftessj from which amongst other evils, it has fvsulte^--fe r -xmany of the Company’s settlers have come out to tfie co’/iny with strong prejudices against the Northern SettlemwAs and their inhabitants, tending to excite aud foster feelings w? jealousy andsuspicion, which this Meeting earnestly deplores, desiring, as it does, that the most amicable relations should subsist between the several settlements, and regarding with sincere sympathy tbe sufferings which the colonists in the Boutl> have endured, and are still enduring through the faithlessness and cupidity of the Cornpany. That this meeting ngards it as the conclusion of common sense and common justice, 'hat the Northern Settlements should not be i taxed in any form for the losses of an association from which they have received only reproach and injury. On behaif of ti e natives also, the meeting would record its especial and emphatical props' against any arrangements which would subordinate their interests (as the proposed charge of the Company's Claim on the general revenue obviously would) to the interests of the Company. It is therefore the deliberate judgment of this meeting that a respectful but urgent appeal be made to the Imperial Legislature, praying not only that any future attempt to saddle the New Zealand Company’s claim or any part of it, upon the general revenue of this province, may be rejected, but also that, if the terms of the Act x aud xi Victoria, c. 112, already renders the Land Fund of New Ulster liable to the charge, a supplementary measure may be adopted releasing this province from all such liability, which was imposed without any reference to, or communication with the settlers, and without the attention of the Colony having been iu any way called to the matter.” Moved by Aiderman O’Neil, seconded by Dr. Bennett, “ That a Committee to consist of five be appointed to prepare a Petition in accordance with the foregoing resolutions, with powers to add others to their number for the purpose of obtaining signatures.” After several names had been suggested for the Committee to prepare the Petition, it was finally and unanimously agreed that the duty should be entrusted to the Mayor and the four gentlemen by whom, as a Sub-Committee, tbe Resolutions had been drawn up, viz., Mr. Abraham, Dr. Bennett, Mr. Burn, and Mr. T. S. Forsaith. Mr. Connell was then called to the Chair, and thanks having been voted by acclamation to the Mayor for the manner in which he had conducted the proceedings, the Meeting separated, having first given three hearty cheers in expression of their cordiality of agreement in the proceedings of the day.