The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 1868. THE PUBLIC MEETING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 76, 31 March 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 1868. THE PUBLIC MEETING.

In compliance with the invitation issued by his Honor the Superintendent, a very crowded meeting assembled last night at the Provincial Hall, for tbe purpose of giving expression to tho feeliugs of the people of this province in reference to the late attempted assassination of H.R.H. Prince Alfred, and also to record their attachment and loyalty to the British Throne. The meeting was beyond any comparison far more numerously attended and more unanimous in feeling than any public assemblage which has yet taken place in this province. Every part of the spacious building was crowded to excess, and very many persons were unable to find admittance. Both galleries were occupied that at the east end of the hall being graced by the presence of a bright bevy of ladies, who evidently took the deepest interest in the proceedings. Around the platform were ranged all the leading members of the community without distinction of religious creed or political bias, and among them were Mr Justice Richmond, Sir David Monro, Count de Lapasture, Bishop Suter, the Resident Magistrate, the members of the Executive Council, Father Garin, the Provincial Engineer, the heads of the Wesleyan, Presbyterian, Baptist, and other religious denominations in this city, several clergymen of the Anglican Church, Messrs W. Wells, Renwick, W. Adams and Parker, M.M.H.R., many members ofthe Provincial Council, Messrs Redwood, Levien, Brunner, and, in fact, every individual of position in the community, whilst the body and western gallery of the Hall was occupied by an immense concourse of our citizens of all classes, reinforced by a considerable representation of the settlers of the suburban districts. The spectacle presented by this serried mass of human beings, all assembled together with one object — to testify their abhorrence of the dreadful deed which 1 had called forth this spontaneous exhibition of the popular feeling, to give expression to their sympathy as well with the august sufferer and the illustrious lady his mother, as with the colonists whose guest he was at the time the dastardly act was committed — this spectacle, we say, was one which will not easily vanish from our memories, and which afforded a most unmistakable proof of the deep-seated sentiment of loyalty and attachment to the Throne, which animates the inhabitants of Nelson, and which is alike honorable to themselves and reassuring to the friends of peace and order. The very limited space at our command precludes the possibility of doing anything like justice to the long and eloquent speeches delivered on this occasion, which were characterised by a heartiness and earnestness that testified most strongly to the cordial sympathy felt by the speakers with the subjects which they had been ] selected to bring before the attention of [ the meeting, and which were reciprocated

in such au unmistakable manner by their audience, afc every suitable opportunity, as afforded the most convincing proof that Nelson had shaken off its proverbial apathy, aud that the heart of the people had for once indeed been touched. The hall was completely filled wheu the Resident Magistrate, having mounted the platform, moved that lus Honor the Superintendent should take the chair, who accordingly took his seat amidst loud and prolonged cheering. His Honor, after explaining the object of the meeting — to enable the people of this province an opportunity of publicly expressing the abhorence, wliich he was sure they felt, of the crime which had just been committed at Syduey, as well as their sympathy with the immediate sufferers by the deed, and expatiating on its utter uselessness as regards the attainment ofthe objects which the Fenians are supposed to have in view, called upon those gentlemen to whom the various resolutions had been entrusted. The Hou. Sir David Monro, Speaker of the House of Representatives, who was received with much applause, after a long and eloquent speech, proposed the following resolution : — To Her Majesty the Queen. Most Gracious Sovereign — VVe, the inhabitants of the Province of Nelson, in public meeting assembled, beg to assure your Majesty of our most earnest attachment to your thrune and person. We desire especially to take tins opportunity of doing so, because the life of your son, H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, has been attempted in a neighboring Colony by an assassin. It is impossible for us to find language which can sufficiently convey to your Majesty our horror and indignation at so monstrous a crime. In common we believe Avith all but a most inconsiderable minority of your Majesty's subjects in these colonies, we were rejoicing in the cordial reception everywhere accorded to the Prince, and we were looking forward to his visit to New Zealand as the brightest and most auspicious event that had ever occurred in this colony. Our rejoicing is now converted into sorrow and consternation ; but we have great consolation in the fact that we are still able to return thanks to a merciful Providence that the attempt was only partially successful, and that the life of H.R.H. has been preserved. We desire to convey to your Majesty our most heartfelt sympathy under the afflicting circumstances which have just occurred ; and, trusting that it may please God to restore the Prince to perfect liealth, we beg once more to assure your Majesty that we are your Majesty's most loyal and faithful subjects. The resolution was read amongst the most enthusiastic and prolonged cheering, and having been seconded by the Resident Magistrate, was carried unanimously, a perfect forest of hands being held up for its adoption. His Honor Mr. Justice Richmond, who was also received most enthusiastically, made a most energetic and practical speech, urging moderation and justice to all, in the present excited state of the public feelings, and at the same time the necessity of decided action at the existing crisis. The Judge then proposed the following resolution : — To His Royal Highness the Duke of ; Edinburgh. May it please Your Royal Highness — We, the people of the Province of Nelson, in Her Majesty's Colony of New Zealand, in public meeting assembled, desire to offer our most hearty congratulations on your Royal Highness's preservation from the late murderous attack upon you, and to express our horror at the deed of the assassin. It is a matter of extreme regret to us that the act of a solitary fanatic should have marred the loyal welcome given by her Majesty's Australian colonies to the son of their beloved Sovereign. We fervently pray that Almighty God, the Lord of Life and Death, by whose good Providence your Royal Highness has been preserved in this imminent peril, may be pleased, in His mercy, speedily to restore your Royal Highness to perfect health and strength. The Rev. Father Garin, who met with a most cordial reception from the meeting, seconded the resolution, expressing his abhorrence and that of the Roman Catholic community, of the crime which had heen committed, and reminding the audience that his sentiments on Fenianism had lately been made public. The address was then adopted, amidst the most enthusiastic demonstrations. The Right Rev. Bishop Suter, to whose advocacy the third resolution had heen entrusted, expressing sympathy with the

people of the colony in which the deed had been done, spoke at considerable length, and very energetically, alluding to the remarkable unanimity displayed by the meeting, as very indicative of a solid substratum of loyalty in the colonial heart, lamenting this fresh blow to the Queen's feelings, and concluded by reading a copy of verses, written by his Lordship, and supplementary to the National Anthem, which was well received by the audience. Tho following is the resolution. That this meeting desires heartily to sympathise with the people of New South AVales in the vexation, distress, and pain they naturally feel at the violation of their loyal hospitality, by the attack on his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, while a visitor amongst them, and requests his Honor the Superintendent, as Chairman of tins meeting, to convey the expression of their sympathy to the authorities of Sydney. The Provincial Treasurer briefly, but appropriately seconded the resolution, which was unanimously adopted. The National Anthem, with some of Bishop Suter's additional verses, was then suug in chorus by the audience. The effect of the hymn thus chanted by the immense body of voices present, was inexpressibly solemn and impressive, and no one possessed of human sympathies could have listened to its strains unmoved. A vote of thanks to his Honor the Superintendent for his able conduct iv the chair having been proposed by Bishop Suter, and seconded by Mr James Maekay, was carried by acclamation, and after one prolonged cheer for the Queen, and groans for the Fenians, this memorable meeting was brought to a termination. It is only right to add that, although the meeting was, as we have already stated, by far the most numerous ever held iv Nelson, and the audience represented every element in the community, the most perfect order was maintained throughout, a depth and earnestness of feeling being manifested, altogether without precedent in our popular demonstrations.