WELLINGTON.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume I, Issue 3, 1 March 1855, Page 23

WELLINGTON.

The proyince of Wellington at this particular juncture, is entitled to our heartfelt commisserations. In no previous era perhaps of its history, has it been so suddenly called, to undergo a reverse of fortune as regards the serious losses, which its most energetic setttlers have sustained by the late earthquake. Every individual member of the human family is the subject of suffering in one way or another ; and whatever the nature of those sufferings may bo, they are so many evidences of infinite goodness, and though hardly intelligible now, they will be fully cleared up hereafter. Not unfrequently, however, goodness and mercy shine forth conspicuously in our calamities, and then like the great monarch of Israel, we are led to exclaim, 'lt is good for me that I have been afflicted.' This principle, wo are proud to record, has been recognized by the inhabitants of Wellington ; the hand of the Almighty was not merely acknowledged in the late national calamity we have sustained, but a day of thanks giving was to be set apart, and 'due acknowledgments' made

•to the Creator of the Universe for His late mercies.' We prefer, however, that the sufferers should speak for themselves, we accordingly copy the following important item from the leader of the 'Spectator' of the 10th of Februay.— "Adjourned Public Meeting. "An adjourned Publie Meeting, which was very respectably attended, was held on Thursday evening, at the Wellington Athenceum, to 'con sider different public questions arising out of the recent Earthquake.' A. Hort, Esq., in the chair. "The Chairman explained the objects of the meeting; he said they had met together for the purpose of expressing their mutual sym pathies on the occasion of the great calamity that had befallen them. The first object for which they had met together was, to request the Superindent to name a day to return thanks to the Creator of the Universe for His late mercies, and to make due acknowledgments to Him for the safety they had experienced. Their next object was to induce the Legislature to make inquiries whether there were any parsons in the community who from losses caused by the Earthquake, stood in need of assistance. Another duty was, to express their sense of the kindness received from the military authorities, particularly from Col. M'Cleverty and Col. Gold, who had afforded every assistance to us in our emergency ; it was also intended to petition the Legislature to make such regulations for the future construction of buildings in the town as might, so far as human prudence could provide, i prevent future misfortunes; and lastly, it was proposed to pass a vote of thanks to the masters of vessels in harbour for their ready assistance in providing an asylum for those who stand in need of it.