PUBLIC MEETING AT LAWRENCE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 9, 11 April 1868, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT LAWRENCE.

SYMPATHY FOR DUKE OF EDINBURGH. A meeting of the inhabitants of Lawrence was held in the Commercial Assembly Rooms, on Monday evening, " To express their deep sympathy with His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, and their abhorrence of the vile attempt made to assassinate him." The meeting was neither so numerous nor so enthusiastic as the loyalty of the Lawrence people would warrant, but this can be easily accounted for in the fact of the Tuapeka Races having expended all the nervous force necessary for an indignation meeting. The following letter accounts for the absence of the Mayor, who convened the meeting. He was summoned to attend the Municipal Congress now sitting in Dunedin : —

Lawrence, 6th April, 1868. To the Chairman of the meeting convened for the purpose of expressing sympathy with His Royal Highness the Duke of Edin* burgh. Si*, —I deeply regret having been obliged t6 leave the district on very important business,- - which circumstance precludes the possibility -of my attendingand presidingat the meeting which it was my intention to have done. Trusting that the meeting may be all that could be wished, I am, sir, your's respectfully, Horace Bastings, Major.

John Hughes, Esq o M.P.C., iraa unanimously voted to the chair, and in opening the meeting, said he was obliged to them for the honor they had done him in placing him in the chair. He was somewhat disappointed in taking it, as he understood it had been arranged that some Lawrence gentleman would occupy it. He had a resolution to propose, but being in the chair he would be unable to propose it. He said doubtless the meeting was aware of the object for which it had met. He had not the advertisement before him and therefore could not read. it, but he believed the meeting was called x > to express indignation at the dastardly attempt that had been made upon thelifo of His Royal Highness Prince. Alfred. He was quite certain that no people in the Province would feel and express themselves on the matter more than "the people of Lawrence. It would scarcely be his place to say much — it would bo better to let the meeting speak for itself. He would therefore call upon Mr. Peter Robertson to propose the first resolution, but before that gentleman stood up he wished it understood that he would give every individual a fair chance, and^jC^

there fthould'bi anjf dissent in^he meetIng, he hoped they would uphold him in keeping order.*-' ... > Mr. Robertson, in proposing the first resolution, confessed he was in » rather »wkw*ttl position. He didn't jtbink it would fall upon Tiim to propose a fesolu%*>Sr ""The occasion which had brought i«em together was known to all present. "Whatever differences might exist between individuals and. .countries, lie said there was nothing to justify such cowardly conduct. There were other means more manly than by shooting a man with bis back turned upon one. There was the Press and the Assembly always open for redressing wrongs. Had the assassin even told the Prince that he was going to •hoot him, he would have given him a chance to defend himself. There is no man of common sense that can justify such a brutal attempt upon the life of anybody, and he hoped the meeting would justify itself in its expressions of abhorrence at the horrible attempt made sipon Prince Alfred's life. There was no need for long speeches; he would thtrefore propose the first resolution, " That this meeting desires to give expression of its detestation of the foul attempt on the life of Prince Alfred at Sydney." Mr. John Donovan, in seconding this resolution, said he could not help thinking that he was placed in an invidious position, for three reasons— first, he was a native of Ireland, second, he was a Roman Catholic, third, he was reared in New South "Wales. It waa merely a love for the 1 land he was born in that induced him to appear before them. As it had been stated that the attempt to assassinate the Duke of Edinburgh had been made by an Irishman, he hoped that none would accuse him or any true Irishman, of such motives. If there was any cause of complaint, and he believed Ireland had niany causes of complaint, there were other means more manly for obtaining redress. Who is the man that does not venerate the Prince's loved mother. His mother is admired both in England, Scotland, and Ireland, and he believed the same might be said of all the family. He would say of New South Wales that it is proverbially the most English of all the colonies. Well did he remember how the Birthday of her Majesty was kept. He believed it was kept up with greater spirit in New South Wales than in any of the colonies. It was so far satisfactory to know that from all accounts the attempted assassination was the act of a madman, and would be looked upon by all as such, but he feared this act would fee prejudicial to the colony of New South Wales, and he believed it was likely to prevent the Prince from coming amongst them. There has been a deal said on the subject— they had no doubt seen and read the speech of Father Williams, and more he (Mr. Donovan) could not say than the Rev. gentleman said on the subject in abhorrence of the vile attempt, aijd in vindication of .his country. He Donovan) was blamed by some for signing the requisition, but he hoped ihose who blamed him would improve in iheir liberality towards himself. The Rev. Mr. Martin then rose to propose the next resolution. He said it was only the other day he was standing upon the pier of Sandridge near Melbourne, with others who were privileged to see the Prince land in all simplicity, and trusting himself on the love of the people of Victoria. The reception which he met was most enthusiastic. Nothing could exceed the heartiness of the people as he | passed through the street. It was most j sad when he (TVfr. Martin) heard that an assassin had been so daring as to make j the attempt upon his life. However long the Prince may live, wherever he may go, he will always look back upon j his journeying in the colonies with j pleasure, but there will be one blot, there i will be one stain that will ever come i back upon his memory with pain. When I he first heard the news he was preparing J to enter the Church of St. Paul's, j Dunedin. Having just received the news by telegram, they might imagine his feelings, his horror, and that of aD. those who were present. Although the news was partially untrue, still it was miraculous that it was untrue, considering the plot that had been laid for the Prince's life, for he disagreed with the previous speaker in thinking that the act. was purely that of a madman. He thought from what had transpired, that it was a designed plot, and he thought it was a providential escape, and they ought to feel deeply thankful to Almighty God for His mercy in preserving the life of the Prince. He would therefore propose "That this meeting desires to express its sympathy with the sufferings of the Prince, and to rejoice that God in His merciful Providence, has restored the son of our beloved Queen again to health." - Dr. Halley aaid he was glad to follow Mr. Martin in Buch a worthy track. He didn't believe in" a special Providence, "I^t the marvellous escape of the Prince almost .favored such a doctrine. He trembled, as to what they would think when the .news reached home. He had great pleasure in seconding the resolution. Carried unammousry. •■-■- Major. CrokeTy-in. proposing. the ihred resolution, .was. certain the number present at the meeting did not represent the loyalty ..of 4he.. district. The- -resolution »asiQll6ws;-.".That this meeting of loyal inhabitants of a. free British colony, without any regard to religious :or national differences, desires to express its to the Crown of England audits r "~^|li«M«m for its Constitution."

Mr. Edward Herbert, in seconding the resolution, said he had much pleasure in doing so, and he thought it -would be responded to by the meeting. Mr. Mean proposed the next resolution, which was as follows, " That an address, embodying the sense of these resolutions, be drawn up and signed by the chairman for transmission to His Royal Highness." Mr. Meara said Jie did not know who the promoters of the meeting were, but he hoped it had not been through design that some of the intending speakers were absent. These resolutions require some consideration before speaking on them. Mr. Arthur Henderson seconded the resolution, which was unanimously carried. A vote of thanka having been passed to the chairman, the meeting separated.