NONCONFORMIST COLONY NEW ZEALAND. DEPARTURE OF 800 EMIGRANTS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1760, 30 August 1862, Page 3

NONCONFORMIST COLONY NEW ZEALAND. DEPARTURE OF 800 EMIGRANTS.

On the 29th of May, at noon, there was an imposing demonstration at the East India Docks, Blackwall, in connection with the sailing for Albertland, New Zealand, of 800 emigrants, constituting the first portion of the thousand Nonconformists who are proceeding thither to found a new colony. All the morning the trains oh the Blackwall and North London Railways, and the steam-boats from London-bridge, were filled with the emigrants and their friends, and by 11 o'clock the East India Docks presented a very animated scene, from 8000 to 10,000 people having assembled. A considerable number of them made their way to the north dock where a large iuclosure had been secured for the holding of a farewell service. Although a charge was made of 6d. each person, many hundred passed through the barrier?, and occupied the space in front, and on each side of a spacious platform erected for the occasion, and which was filled by ministers and gentlemen and ladies who have been concerned in devising'and carrying forward the interesting project of which this was the consummation, Baptist ministers and the me* tropolifrin leuders of the temperance movement were by far the most prominent of the occupants of the platform — a circumstance, which is accounted for by the fact that the great body of emigrants are baptists and teetotallers. Mr. Harper Twelvetrees took the chair, and made au exulting speech, expressing his bigh satisfaction at the success of the scheme, and his conviction that the thousand for whose departure arrangements had now been made would be speedily followed by many thousands more — a remark which was loudly applauded. The Eev. William Landells, of the Diorama Chapel, Kegent'B-park, delivered an elaborate and very eloquent oration. He felt admiration, he said, for the heroism of many of those who were about to depart on thi3 great enterprise; and while advising them to lay their account with many difficulties, he counselled them to be strong in hope and in purpose ; to have confidence in each other, and to repose unshaken, faith in Divine Providence. He held it to be one of the most remarkable of it 11 the emigration movements that had taken place in English history, and likened it, in some of its features, to the exodus of the Pilgrim Fathers to New England 200 years ago. These thousand Nonconformists were not going forth because of persecution, but yet their purpose was largely a religious one. They did not have in view merely the bettering of their own worldly condition, but they desired to sow the seeds of perfect religious equality in that tar off region, which was destined to become a mighty nation. Ha earnestly besought the emigrants to beware, on the one hand, of any course of conduct which should lead to the breaking down of their design, and, on the other, to unite heart and soul for its full accomplishment, pointing out to them the disastrous effect which failure would inevitably have upon the principles which they" cherished, and kow success in this first attempt would bless the colony and promote the welfare of Nonconformists at home. He eulogised Mr. Brarae, the originator of the undertaking, and spoke in the highest possible teims of the Rev. S. Edgar, the minister 'elect of the settlement. Mr. Landells concluded his address with a toucbiag farewell. . ; . The Rev, S. ; Edgar, Mr. .. Brame, Mr. W. Heaton, of .the 'Freeman,' theJßev. J. Penrose, and the Rev; J. G. Middleditch also took part in be proceedings. '. -.'.'--.- '

At tbe close of the meeting a brass band beaded a long procession to the dock, at the entranceof the river, where the two ships (the Matilda Wattenbach and the Hanover) lay ready for exit, gaily decorated with flues on the rigging of each, and their docks crowded with the women and children and their relatives A considerable number of ladies and gentlemen, who were provided with tickets to accompany the ships to Gravesend, went on board the Matilda Wattenbach, and at 1 o'clock the gates were opened, and this noble vessel, of nearly a thousand tons register, was towed out, amid tbe cheers of the thousands assembled on the piers, and as well as of those on board, the band playing " Cheer, boys, cheer" in a highly inspiriting style. The Hanover speedily followed,' and a salute of six guns having been fired from the Wattenbach, and with the band, playing " God save the Queen," both vessels dropped down the river, and were soon lost to sight. The third ship — William Miles- is to depart on the 10th July.