REMENISCENCE OF A DAY IN AUCKLAND. No. II. A FRAGMENT.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 14, 22 July 1843, Page 4

REMENISCENCE OF A DAY IN AUCKLAND. No. II. A FRAGMENT.

-* * * We had just left " Radical Hall," where my friend S had been making mo acquainted with the different Members of the Senate, and were proceeding to Commercial Bay to take a view of the shipping in harbour, when he proposed that jye should retrace our steps and proceed to "tho Pubjic Meeting that was being held " to take into consideration the prospects of tho' Cokny," to which I readily assented, being anxious to get a glimpse of the Official Aristocracy, who were expected to make a strong turn out, to oppose the Senate, and to see how the latter body manoeuvred .the meeting, which I understood was of their calling. In a few minutes we found ourselves ni the Jargo room of the Exchange Hotel, and procuring an olevatcd stance perceived we were surrounded by a Very res- ' pcctablc audience. On looking to the head of the room, I immediately recognised my friends from Radical Hall, who occupied one side of the chair, the other being supported by those who upheld "the powers that be." The chairman, whispered my friend, is the Ilig-h Sheriff himself *tyou -will observe he appears agitatedly cool. He knows /there is some deep scheme in ambush against his lords and masters, whom he must serve .implicitly, and he feels himself in an uneasy position. Next to him, you see -that prim little gentleman ensconced in the fur- nocked Victoria button spangled coat ; that is the ci divant S G left the sister colony on account of a quarrel lie had with ,yir G G , regarding tho number of epaulettes he was to wear — a foolish point to stickle jiipon wjien the scryices of so valuable an officci- vrerc at stake. That hale old gentleman beside him, is our M. C. he has seen much of the vicissitudes of this life, but lias a good and kind heart withal ; deluded man ! he imagines that those with whom he is now linked aro his friends ; .when too late, ho will discover he lias been cherishing at least one viper. Still nearer .us observe that littlo pursy,* gentleman with the starched neckcloth ala Bean Brnmmcl, looking" like a twin-brother to our friend inside the furncckod coat, but with the more open and "top of the morning- to you " face, for he belongs to the Emerald Isle — he is one of our officials, and a very knowing dog he is — they say ho has managed to pocket six months salary of the office he is appointed to, but which is not as jet in existence ; however, I suppose it is all the s.ame thing, for situations .must be made, to use up ,the superfluous money in the Treasury.! Who is the person who is talking to him, and -laying down tho law with such precision ? he must have been born in the middle of the week, for his eyes are looking hard both ways, in search of (or away from) Sunday ? He comes from the North 'ard, where he is held in as much esteem as he is here ; people call him a time-server, but that is all spleen, because they can't play their cards so well as he can ; however he got over the fingers the other day for " defamation of character," but I dare say, he will even manage to make that circumstance pay him a hundred per cent. — Look to the opposite side, of the room at those people who are, standing on the form, and you will single out one at once different from the common mass, he is the onfr/independant member- of our Government, he is not the man to cringe and fawn and be content to be included as "one of us" — no, he is a man of the world, and values men not according to the button they may wear upon their coat, but according to the brain they may have in their head. See with what ah eagle p ey.e he is surveying those who are occupying the highest seats ,qf the synagogue — a smile

seems playing on his lips — he is just starting for the Southward to settle the Company's Land Claims —he will command respect which no other individual of the Government can. My eye now wandered over the room, when I discovered a strong body of the people occupying the centre, skirted by a numerous host of quill drivers, who received their pay ex the Treasury, and who, as my friend informed me, had obtained an hour's; play to dry their inky lingers, and come and hold up a hand in support of their totteringmasters. The business of the meeting now commenced, and I was not a little amused at the tact displayed by tho " Senate." Although every one expected something breathing fire and fury, the^, whole affair looked as if it were going to glide along like some calm and peaceful river. There was first a resolution praising the country, and how delighted every one was with the settlement, which of course pleased every one ; then a call was made upon the government to erect suitable public offices, and give employment to the mechanics, which gave entire satisfaction to that body ; again, some one made enquiry what were the causes which retarded the advancement of so favored a colony, and by easy and cautious steps, carrying tho bulk of the meeting along with them ; they glided into the honafide business of the day, which was nothing more or less than pass a vote of want of confidence in the government, and petition the Home government to recall the heads of the same. Here, however, a bold stand, and skilful manoeuvre was made by the chairman himself and his supporters, to overthrow the plot of the "Senate." The Sheriff stuck to his chair, and absolutely put the motion to the meeting for the recall of his own masters ; but this was too important a resolution to trust to a mere shew of hands ; and now came the tug of War : he proposed that all those who were for the motion should go to one side of the room, and those against it to the other ; at which the people and even the members of the Senate, wore taken aback, but one of the " Official Aristocracy" went too far, and had actually the audacity to propose that those for the motion should pass in procession before the chair ! when a hubbub immediately ensued ; half a dozen addressing the .chairman simultaneously, and he was threatening to dissolve the meeting, when at this critical moment the die was cast by a friend of the people, who jumping up on a oiiair, addressed them : " Men of Auckland" he said, "bo worthy of the name ; be true to yourselves ; have you not decided by a shew of hands, the motions which have previously been put from the chair, and why not this ? If our enemies wished the resolutions decided by a poll, why did not they j demand it at first ? shall you grant it them now ? shall you tamely submit to pass the ordeal of their "Official Aristocracies," like { sheep driven to the slaughter, shall you pass before them, that you may become marked men for them to wreak their ill-begotten power upon you, and mar your prospects in life ; for we know not -when the happy hour is to come, that, will rid us -of their blighting presence ; no, thus far the business of this meeting has been conducted in the usual manner, and in the accustomed form only, shall you allow it to be concluded. Let every man freely and 'boldly raise his hand for the cause he .would support." Such is my imperfect remembranco of the words of the speaker, which were responded to with deafening cheers. The chairman saw his plot had failed, and trusting to the numerous attendance of those who eat the bread of government, put the motion, which he lost, by a large majority ; upon the back of which, ho vacated the chair, followed by his friends, leaving the room in possession of the ".Senate" and The People, who forthwith elected a new chairman, and wound up the business of the day with a few sweeping resolutions. * * * '" * ' *