PUBLIC MEETING.

Southland Times, Issue 883, 17 January 1868, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

\. WREGE OP THE "GENERAL GitANT." > A most numerous and influential meeting was 5 held at the Council Hall on Thnrsday evening. \ The hall was crowded, notwithstanding that no - public notice had been given that it was to be > held until within about an hour of its commencement. The object of the meeting was to consider the best mode to be adopted to ensure an im 7 mediate search being made at the Campbell's, ) Antipodes, Bounty, and other Islands, to ascertain if the' mate of the "General Grant" and hid companions, who lelt Port Ross, for the- inain land, i were still on some of these numerous islands, or [ thut other castaways could be found. On the mjtion of Mr Calder, Mr H- M'Culloeh, ' R.M., was called the tlie chair, y" '. ('■ '- The Chairman, in opening the meeting, cxi -plained that the object for whichit had been called was to express sympathy with the rescued mariners of the General .Grant, and adopt some; 1 jprompt measure for. the rescue of their brave • companions who were still missing— the mate • , and hU crew that left Port Ross in a boat with the [ hope of reaching the main land — and it was r thought might still be alive on one of the Islands, \ and notice should be lost in sending aid — not '. even a single day. i Mr OaLDEB proposed the first resolution, which was as follow 3t — "As it is urgently necessary that a vessel should be imin-)diately despatched to ' the Campbell Islands, the MQuarrie's, and adjacent islan s, in search of the poor sailors who left the Auckland Islamls with a view to relieve their fellow-sufferers, intending to reach Stewart's [sland.as well as any other castaways who may be on those islands, it is proposed that a Committje be formed, to act in co-operation with the Provincial Government, who have promised the sum ot two hundred pounds towards defraying the expenses, with a view of carrying out the above object." Ha said in bringing forward the . resolution he felt confident that the sympathy' of the meeting was with him. No one who had read the

published narrative of tha wreck of the ill-fated ship, and th& intense sufferings' of the survivors who had been rescued, and imagine that the others might still he living, could hesitate" to lend hUt ajs|> by supporting the resolution; ; ;and etocqinp'ishiu:i the object it was: infceded &>attain. (Applause.) Southland had never been backward when such claims upon its sympathies and and assist ar cc had been presented. The activity displayed in the " Grafton" ea-e, was a lasting credit to the Province, and from the efforts then nwlo, he had oonfijenco that the present movement would be carried out with spirit. Southland was the nearest, point for a s? wch ship to sail from, and he endorsed Jhe opinion expressed.- by, 4he Chair man. that no time should be, lost — not ev©a r a single day: 'He felt, satisfied that; the' General* Government would readi'y sanction the proceedings. , 7 Instructions had been received that every" attention shoull be paid. to the- castaways, and there could be no doubUhat the Governjnejits_o£the Australian*colomes would give their- share of support to the enterprise. It was just as well to state that there were -men in the Province that possessed intimate, knowledge of the most valuable kind} of I the numerous islands inthe,vicinity of the Auckland. lslands, and it was most desirable that such mejv should, accompany the expedition.^':. He considered that the 'efforts made by the crew of the Amherßfc v to rescue the suryivors, was most noble,' and not only deserving of the highest praise, but, also-ef-a testimonial of "a more substantial kind- . He had no hesitation in saying that when all the -facts of .the case were known, that none of the ;'. Australian.. Go vernments or the General Government of .New Zealand, would be backward, in suitably acknowledging '""• the services ,of the Amherst. (Applause.) What was wanted was despatch. The Amherst ought .to be sent away immediately. Mr M'Phkrson seconded. the resolution.' He felt it was unnecessary for Mm. to. u'-e any arguments to ensure its adoption." The entire sympathy of the' meeting, he knew, was with its promoters. (Applause.) ,->-..-.■■ - : ■"' CarrieS unanimously. '-".". ■ Mr Moore moved— "That a Central Committee be appointed for, the. above purpose, as well as for the collection of funds for defraying the expesnes • incurred in assisting the survivors from the wreck of the ' General, Grant,' and providing a testimonial to the captain and crew, of the brig ' Amherst,': and .th'at.subscrip.tion lists be opened in tins, and the adjoining Provinces of New Zealand and the Australian Colonies." He said he read the resolution previous to making any remarks, in order that it- might be thoroughly anderstood, and any suggeatious^nade that might tend, to render it more complete.- In bringing forward this resolution, he felt that all would agree that, in order adequately, to accomplish the object it seeks to achieve, expenses must bo incurred, which., it would be wrong- to expect the Provincial Government to. entirely bear. The Committee was a large one, and it had a large work before it. It would have to take immediate -action- to organise a. search expedition without delay, and then seek the assistance of .the other Provinces and the Australian Colonies to beat their share of tho cost, and unite to organise a regular service, with the aim of preventing sucli prolonged suffering_and .captivity-as the survivors of the " General Grant" were called upon tc experience. (Applause.) -. , Mr John MitcheMi seconded the motion. H( hadTgreat pleasure in giving his hearty support tc a movement of so important and philanthropic a character. There could bet no two_opjniQns_aj to ifc being"tlie"du<y'oT" everyone to aid in 1 this matter. The services rendered by the captair and crew of the " Amherst" were great, and h< hoped woul 1 be handsomely_ rewarded., .(Ap plause.) " They -"had "done good service, anc deserved the thanks of iot only the survivors but the whole of the Australian colonists (Applause.) r- - y '"T" .'. '■'"'' A vote of thanks- to the Chairman having beei -passedv-the meeting terminated.Before the audience left the Hall,"the Chairmai requested those gentlemen present, whose name: were~brTthe committee list a3 read, : would rema.ii to initiate proceedings. , .The. request was at one .complied with. .... - . . .