THE HAWKE'S BAY HERALD. Napier, Saturday, Oct. 2,1858.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 2, Issue 54, 2 October 1858, Page 2

THE HAWKE'S BAY HERALD. Napier, Saturday, Oct. 2,1858.

The Separation Petition now bears about 150 signatures — within a few of the number required by the Act — and, as many parts of the District have not yet been visited, and as the course intended to be pursued is to get as many names as possible, there is every reason to believe that the petition, on being fjrwarded to Auckland, will have not fewer than 200 signatures attached to it. We are glad at the prospect of so numerously signed a document being placed. before his Excellency ; but should have been much better pleased at seeing it forwarded by next overland mail with such signatures in addition to the ! legal number as could by that time be procured. A long display of names will no doubt convey the idea of unanimity, on our part, in desiring separation, and will, generally, have a good effect ; but those considerations, in comparison with the risk attending every week's delay, are surely insignificant in character. In our last, we gave as full a report of the great separation meeting as our space and the limited time at our command would permit — to the exclusion of all other matter ; but we find that one or two omissions occurred, and amongst the rest that of mentioning the result of the show of hands, upon the chairman putting the amendment and original motion. The show was — for the amendment, 6 ; against it, a perfect forest of hands. Our readers at a distance will be glad to learn that the dissentient six ultimately gave in their adherence to ihe movement, although, for consistency's sake, declining to sign the petition. We learn that the Committee appointed at the public meeting have met upon two or three occasions.' We' know the fact simply from, common report, for. the committee sat with closed doors. We are sorry that such should have been the case, for publicity has come to be regarded as an essential feature in institutions such as those „nder which we are privileged to live, and an opposite course is liable to excite suspicion and distrust, how groundless soever such a feeling may be. Of the proceedings of the committee, ' however, a little has transpired ; and we believe we are correct in .saying that, at the -first meeting, two letters were resolved upon: — one. to ,the -Provincial Government^expressing.a-.prp-bability that separation would ensue upon the proceedings of the meeting, and trusting .that, such an event would make no change in the amicable, relations between 1 Wellington and Napier;- — the other to the General Government, conveying the vote of thanks passed .at the public meeting, — intimatiig that a petition for separation* already, lminer.ously signed, would doubtless be forwarded at an early date, and delicately - suggesting that steps should be talten; mean dine;; to protect the land fund of. the future Province. ''\- : TKe.pro^fce f dirfg^ : at_the- second. meeting had reference,, chiefly to thje o p vious^.neces- J -sijty of placjngj/addmonaj nar^es .pn.-thfi list, hi- committeeimen^et^n-yolving .the,r';cUficate'< "i|u«s;l|bn vt o^ should e)ftfij^a|t&that;distmctif)n; ' * ; SrV^ f &rb£ar^? at -"■ present, i^lnese^ptQjceediiigsi :a& 'w& jvhavgy heard them |e^drte4^bßiflcbntent puiselyes !^rjetjin£ : :t&:at^