PUBLIC MEETING.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 37, 30 December 1843, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETIN G.

A Meeting of the Inhabitants of Auckland was held at Wood's Royal Hotel on Tuesday last, at 10 o'clock, a. m. This early hour was selected on account of the public landing of His Excellency having been appointed to take place at 11 o'clock, and because the people were anxious to avail themselves of the earliest possible time to convey to His Excellency their sentiments. We regret that we are unable to give a lengthened report of the proceedings at this Meeting. Dr. Martin was called to the Chair, and briefly expressed his unfeigned satisfaction at seeing the people assembled on the prosent occasion. The Arrival of His Excellency Captain Fitzroy was an event to which they had all looked forward with the utmost anxiety, an event which he trusted would form an era in the history of the Colony. — The Meeting was called together for the purpose of agreeing upon an address to His Excellency. Ho was aware that there was likely to be some difference of opinion, some might think that it should be .a mere formal thing expressive of loyalty to our Sovereign, and congratulating Her Majesty's Representative on his arrival in this Colony, —he however thought differently — to call the people together for a purpose of that kind would be a mockery of their feelings. Had they not already by their patient endurance of many wrongs and privations given the bitterest possible test of their loyalty ? They were in truth the most loyal people in the British dominions ; but loyalty was not all they owed the Representative of Her Majesty. They were aggrieved, let them make their grievances known; tho sooner they were known, the sooner might they expect them to be redressed. They need not bo afraid that it was too soon to do so. His Excellency was a man of business, he had already gone to work. He understood that a Legislative Council had been called, and if His Excellency had this early gone to work, why should the people remain idle? had they not been idle long enough ? His Excellency could and would not be offended at their promptness. The first resolution for the adoption of the address was moved by William Brown, Esq., and seconded by J. I. Montefiore, Esq. Mr. Brown remarked upon the propriety, and the absolute necessity of representing fairly, and as soon as possible, the true state of the colony. He was desirous that His Excellency should be placed in possession of such information as woiiM • lead him at once to enquire into the state of things. Mr. Mason stated that while he fully agreed with every thing contained in the address, he thought it was informal to combine in one the two objects which Mr. Brown had in view. Mr. Kempthorno then proposed as an amendment, that an address which he held in his hand should be adopted. Mr. Falwassor seconded the amendment, and was supported by Mr. Hart, who, in his peculiar manner, made objections to the course pursued, lie thought the address was too long, too important to be passed at this meeting. Mr. Cleghorn fully agreed with* every thing contained in the address read by Mr. Brown, and thought it might perhaps bo better to separate the first from the second part. The expression of loyalty and congratulation in Mr. Brown's address, he ceri tainly preferred to that contained in the address of Mr. Kempthorne. i Mr. Brown in reply said, that he was determined not to separate tho address, and if rejected at this meeting, even if he should not get three other names to it besides his own, he would forward it to His Excellency. Some complained that the address was too long ; but he thought it did not contain half enough ; Mr. Shortlands conduct as a Land Jobber as well as in reference to the manner in which he had procured a sum of money from the Bank here on tho faith of certain Debentures which were never given, should have been spoken of. The immoral character of the Magistracy, and many other important subjects had been left out. The amendment was put, and a few of the friends of Messrs. Hart and Falwasser held up their hands in favour of it. The original motion was then put, and carried by almost the whole meeting. Mr. Montefiore stated that it was now within a quarter of an hour of the time

appointed for the landing of his Excellency, he therefore moved, and Dr. Campbell seconded, that the Chairman bo requested, in order to save time, to sign the Address in name of the Meeting, and that the following Gentlemen be appointed a deputation to present the same to His Excellency, viz. : S. M. D. Martin, M. IX, Dudley Sinclair, J. I. Montefiore, William Brown, John Logan Campbell, M. D., Thomas Cleghorn, A. Black, and W. Goodfellow. This resolution was unanimously carried, and the Meeting was dissolved. ! This day has been appointed by His Excellency for tho presentation of tho Address, which together with His Excellency's answer will be published in our Supplement of this ovening.