PUBLIC MEETING.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1610, 20 August 1861, Page 5

PUBLIC MEETING.

A Public meeting took place at the Odd Fellows' Hall on Satnrday evening last, for the purpose of agreeing to an address of congratutiou to his Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C. B. on his being ve-appointed Governor of New Zealand. There was a very large attendance.

On the motion of George Hunter, Esq., W. B. Rhodes Esq., was called to the chair.

• Capt. Rhodes said, that the publio meeting had been convened by placard for the purpose of aggreeing to an address to be presented to Sir George Grey on Lis being appointed Go. vernor of New Zealand for a second time. He congratulated the colonists upon the return of Sir George Grey; he was a man of great ability, and, from his knowledge of the native character, the best man to settle the difficulties which now beset this distracted country. (Cheers.) The fact of his reappointment had already had a beneficial effect. In Auckland property had risen in value, since it was known that Sir G. Grey was coming back to New Zealand. He (Mr.R,) had lately visited Taranaki and Nelson, and all he could say was, that if the same feeling existed here as in those places, Sir George Grey would he received back with the greatest enthusiasm (cheers) He would not further delay the business ofthe meeting; but trusted a fair hearing would be given to any speaker who might address the meeting. Mr. Stokes said in moving the Address he was about to propose he felt that fortunately it would not he necessary for him to detain the meeting by lenghtened arguments in favor of the propriety of such a course, since on no previous occasion had so much unanimity been displayed in this community as on that which had brought them together this evening. This svas not tbe ordinary courtesy and respect paid to a new Governor on bis arrival in the Colony, Sir George Grey returned to them an old and valued friend. (Cheers.) There could not be a better proof of the feeling of the community than the way in which the news of his re-ap pointment was received. Whatever differences existed on questions of local politics all were agreed that by Sir George Grey's re-appointment to the Government of New Zealand the right man was put in the right place, and that they could safely leave the settlement of their present difficulties in his hands in the full confidence that they would receive a satisfactory solution. Many of those now present re-, raembered the dangers and difficulties in which Sir Geotge Grey found the. Colony on his first arrival in New Zealand ; these difficulties were removed by his policy and ability, and peace and prosperity were restored to the country. The addresses which were presented to him on his departure both by the settlers and the Natives of this Province shewed the confidence and personal regard and respect which both races entertained for him, and their deep sense of the important beuefits which his administration of the government had conferred on New Zealand. During the last seven years Sir George Grey in another, wider, and more difficult sphere of duty, had proved himself equally successful. Before his appointment to the government of the Cape of Good Hope a Kaffir war was an occurrenceof every three years, ata cost of two or three millions to the Mother country, and to the infinite loss and ruin of the colonists. During the whole term of his government at the Cape peace had beeu main-., tamed under circumstances of no ordinary difficulty. And such confidence had the colonists of New Zealaud in his ability and his iufluence and authority over tbe Native tribes of this country, that they felt persuaded the magic of his name would operate as a spell in removing the difficulties by which they wete surrounded. He (Mr. S.) did not intend on the present occasion by a single expression to raise any discussiou which might lead to a difference of opinion and disturb their present unanimity, and the Address he was about to propose was ! carefully flamed with that view. Its object is to express to Sir George Grey our sincere gratification on his re appointment to the go-; vem men tof this colony, our respect for his high character aud confidence in his great abilities^ and to offer him our cordial co-operation and support in his efforts tojpromote tbebestinterests ol the country (cheers). Mr. S, then moved the -adoption of the following -*" > ADDRESS.

To His Excellency Sib George' Grey, X.C.8., . . GOVEBNOR OF THE ISLANDS OF NkW ZEALAND, &C. We, the undersigned Settlers and Inhabitants of the Province of Wellington, beg to express to your Excellency the sincere gratification we feel ori your re-appointment to the Government of thq Colony of Mew Zealand at this difficult and critioal .juncture of its affairs. ; v. any of us remember with peculiar satisfaction when, at a similar period of difficulty and depression, your Excellency first assumed the administration of the Government of this Colony, and the, eminent success which then attended your policy, particularly in your efforts to improve the condition of the aboriginal inhabitants of this country and to promote their advancement in civilization. To your great personal influence and authority over the natives which were the results of your wise and beneficent policy may be mainly attributed the peace and prosperity which existed at tho termination of your Government.

A eimilar degree of success has since attended your Excellency's career in a wider and more difficult sphere of duty, and has amply justified and confirmed the great confidence which her .Majesty's Ministers place in your high character and experience, and your peculiar qualifications for governing this Country. We are fully persuaded that the same success will attend your Excellency's efforts in removing the present difficulties which embarrass the government of the Colony, in securing the. submission of the .Natives to the Queen's authority, in advancing their civilization, and in restoring peace and prosperity to the colonists of New Zealand. We beg toassureyourExceUencyoi'our hearty co-operatio**

and. support in any measures which you may deem it to be yotlr duty to adopt in order to obtain theso most desirable objects, and to offer you our warmest, and best wishos for your health and happiness. [ Mr. Tame said it was with more than j ordinary pleasurej that hesecouded the Address which had been so ably read by Mr. Stokes. It was with the greatest pleasure that he saw so many of his fellow settlers, who were opposed j to him in politics, present, to join with him in adopting a congratulatory address to Sir George Grey on his re-appointment asGovernor of New I Zealand. . - ,

! Mr. Brandon said, that he did not intend to refer to anything that had fallen from any of the previous speakers. He was glad that the Address was so framed that a'l parties might sign it. From a conversation that he had had with the Colonial Secretary (Mr.Fox,) and with the Superintendent, at Auckland, he could assure the meeting that Governor Grey would meet with v most cordial reception at their bands, (cheers). Mr. Toomath said, that he very heartily concurred in the eulogium passed upon Sir George Grey by Mr. Stokes in introducing the address of congratulation ; but there was au oversight, .which he would wish to see inserted. The .settlers of Taranaki had been grievous sufferers by the late unhappy war; husbands had been had been separated from their wives, children from their parents, homes broken up, and he therefore thought that some sympathy should be expressed for their sufferings. He would not take from the Maori anything to which h e was justly entitled; but whilst they awarded him a brother's care, a brother's good will, let them demand restitution and reparation for their fellow settlers at Taranaki, for grievous wrongs had certainly been inflicted upon them whosoever may be proved to be the originator' thereof.

. Mr. Mat said the rematks that had fallen from Mr. Tootnath were quite out of place ; it was quite foreign for what the meeting had been convened. The settlers at Taranaki had an able exponent of their views in Mr. Richmond, and he would no doubt bring the matter under the attention of his Excellency at the fitting opportunity. He was glad to hear Mr. Brandon say that the three F's., would support Sir George Grey, as they had formerly beeu his bitterest opponents.

Mr. Carlyon said, that after the late S.E gales which had kept them barricaded in their homes, they could thoroughly appreciate a genial North wind. They had a tried friend, who was known by many present, re-appoiuted Governor of New Zealand, and it was only light they should give him a joyous welcome. He ■(Mr. C.) had no doubt, from the high reputa tion Sir George Grey had obtained in the administration of Native Affairs, that he would .soon settle the native difficulty, aud restore peace and prosperity to this country. He (Mr. 0.) thought Mr. Stokes deserving of credit for the manner in which he had drawn up the .address, as all parties could now sign it, and he thought it desirable that there should be an unanimity of feeling upon the subject. (Applause.) (Here some man caused considerable interruption, when) Mr. Bowler appealed to the Chairman, whether the meeting was to be interrupted in the way that it had been. Mr. Hunter also appealed to the chair, and suggested that the noisy person should be turned out.

The man who had interrupted the meeting having been summarily ejected, and order again restored,, the chairman requested Mr. Stokes to 'read the address. The address having been read.

Mr.- Allen said that there was surely some .common ground upon which they could all . meet. The parties who had drawn up the address were deserving of thanks, for it fully Carried out his idea of what it should be. He did not think it necessary to add anything to it, as if you once commenced to alter it, you would not know were to end. He (Mr. A.) should be soiry if anythiug he had said should be understood as casting a slight upon his fellow settlers at Taranaki, as nothing was further from his intention ; but as this meetiug was convened for the purpose of of agreeing to a congratulatory address, he thought it as well to sivoid all matters upon which their might be a difference of opinion. With these few words, he would support the address. Mr. Bowler rose to a point of order. He said that Mr. Brandon was out of order in having spoken to the resolution before .it was put to the meeting; Mr. Moore perfectly agieed with the observations that had fallen from Mr. Allen. The settlers of Wellington had already expressed their feelings towards the settlers of Taranaki ; it was one of the deepest sympathy for the many privations and losses they had sustained; buths did not think it well to introduce thesubject in a congratulatory Address. They all knew Sir George Grey, and they felt confident that he well knew how to meet the question, and that he wouid not overlook the claims of the Set tiers of Taranaki. (Cheers). Mr. Brandon in reply to Mr. Bowler, said that he was quite in order when he spoke, tbe Address having been moved and seconded, — Mr. Hunter considered that Mr. Brandon was in order when he spoke. The resolution was moved and seconded, and was fairly before •the meeting; the parties who spoke to the amendment, however, were not in order, seeing thkt it had not yet been seconded, and was not therefore fairly before themeeting, (hear, hear). Mr. Jamhs Smith said that as there was no amendment, the best way was to put the address to the meeting. The Address was then put, and carried unanimously. Mr. MooRB-said, that with a view to give practical effect to the address just adopted, it was necessary to pass another resolution. He had the highest respect for Sir Gfeorge Grey, either as a politician, a statesman, or a philanthropist, and the Home Government in reappointing him as the Governor of New Zealand, Imd appointed the person most fitting for the crisis ; indeed be was truly the right man in the right place. He (Mr. M.) felt confident that every man in tbe province was glad that Sir George Grey was re-appointed, as there would now be a prospect of peace being established on a satisfactory footing; but if unfortunately the issue should have to be decided by the sword, then that the most vigorous measures would be at once adopted to bring about this desirable result He (Mr. M.) believed that tho present emergency of the Colony was greater than on the former accasion when Sir George Grey arrived amongst us; but be had the greatest confidence in bis ability, and felt certain that he would succeed. He had reason to know that the Superintendent would be at Auckland to present the address to Sir George Grey. This was no ordinary occa> sion, and as it was intended to forward the address by the Airedale on her return from the South, no time was to be lost in obtaining signatures, and he therefore thought that poisons should put themselves a little out of . the way, and not only sign it themselves, but ' endeavour to obtain as many signatures to it

fas they could, so that it might be the more | numerously signed than the address which hiad been presented to Sir George Grey previous to his departure from the Colony. Mr. Moore conccluded by raoring the adoption of the following resolution.

Tbat the Chairman be requested to forward the Address to His Honor the Superintendent at Auckland, by the first opportunity for presentation to His Excellency Sir George Grey on his arrival.

Mr. James Smith briefly seconded the resolution, which, on being put to the meeting was declared duly carried. The following resolution was moved by Mr. R.J. Dunoan, seconded by Mr. R. H. Carpenter, and carried.

That the conveners of the Meeting be appointed a Committee, to procure signatures to the Address, and to carry out the objects of the Meeting.

A vote of thanks to the Chairman, whicb was carried by acclamation, concluded the business of the meeting.