PUBLIC MEETING.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1739, 11 July 1862, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING.

A public Meeting, convened by a requisition, to which we see with pleasure the names of leading men of both political parties, was held last night at the new music hall in Queen-street. The purpose of the meeting was announced to be "to vote an address to His Excellency the Governor, congratulating him upon his success in arranging the native difficulty at Kaipara, and in opening the -Coromandel Guld-field to European enterprise," and the address was voted with acclamation by a meeting which notwithstanding the inclemency of the night, was very numerous and very enthusiastic.

Mr. Whittaker was called to the chair, 'and whilst he was «ulogising the energy and activity displayed by Sir George Grey in meeting these difficulties "face to face," and, by his personal influence added to that of his position, overcoming them, it was impossible not to have felt that a cutting censure was being pronounced upon a past policy, which would have met such obstacles in another way, and would probably, at length, have succumbed to them. We have no desire to disturb the newly-established harmony, we would not for a moment be supposed to think that the feelings of indignation which the. Governor is reporled to hare expressed not long since, at the vigorous obstruction which his Native policy mcl in certain quarters here, had anything to do with the warmth of the demonstration last night; although we do see the names of gentlemen to the requisition, who by speech and writing, within a short period, have condemned the Government proceedings. Undoubtedly, Sir George Grey has earned the trunks of the citizens of Auckland which were accorded to him last night so frankly, and the citizens hare only performed a duty to themselves in giving expression to their gratitude.

If they had done a little more, however, it would we think have been better, if, instead of confining themselves to barren thanks for priceless services, they had repudiated all participa tion in the truculent sentiments which, uttered by the organ of a party in this place, and repeal ed to the native people as the talk of the Pakeha — have been found by the Governor to be a great obstruction to the carrying out of that policy some of the direct results of which they werfi so ready to applaud, the meeting would have f'one good service.

Ceriest que le premier pas que coute, however it has been taken by some on this occasion with reluctance, and we have no desire to take awaj any of the gracefulness of the action, or to imagine motives which are not apparent.