Wellington Independent. "NOTHING EXTENUUATE; SET DOWN AUGHT IN MALICE. THURSDAY,21ST NOVEMBER,1867.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue XXII, 21 November 1867, Page 3

Wellington Independent. " NOTHING EXTENUUATE; SET DOWN AUGHT IN MALICE. THURSDAY,2IST NOVEMBER,IB67.

Oxce upon a time there was such a thing as public opinion in Wellington, a^d the settlers took an intelligent and active interest in the affairs both of the province and the colony. That this is no longer the case in the same degree appears evident from the proceedings in the Odd Fellows' Hall on Monday night. From first to last, the meeting was a very cold affair, and the audience assented to the propositions made by the speakers on the platform, simply because they were too apathetic, or indifferent, or timid, to suggest others in their place. Perhaps the raw weather and pelting rain had damped the spirits of those present, but at all events they did not evince much interest iu what was said and done, so that the address to Sir Greorge Grey was carried and a Reception Committee for the Duke of Edinburgh elected, without any dpmonstration of the real feeling of the community being made. It is likely enough that most of those who attended the meeting thought it a very proper and fitting thing that honor should be paid to Sir George Grey and that the Duke of Edinburgh should receive a hearty and loyal welcome, but if such was the general feeling, it found but little expression. The truth is, public meetings of an important kind have become such rarities in Wellington, that the bulk of the settlers have apparently forgotten, to a certain extent, how such affairs should be conducted. In a community where such gatherings arc of frequent occurrence, there is no lack of speakers familiarised by practice with the necessary routine, who are certain not to let anything be carried of which they disapprove, without expressing their opinions against it, and thus the thorough discussion of the question is secured. In Wellington, this is not the case. The want of familiarity with the discussion of public questions has made people timid of venturing on the platform, so that, as on Monday nigjit, the business was left in the hands of two or three gentlemen, who, while doing the best they could, were unable to tell whether their proposals met the general and hearty assent of those to whom they were addressed.

Dr Eeatherston's speech in explaining tlio objects tor which the meeting had been called, was both able and appropriate. Carefully avoiding any minute allusion to Sir Greorge Grey's career in the colony or to the bitter quarrels which had taken place between him and successive Ministries in the past, Dr Peatherston skilfully dwelt on the important services which he had rendered to tho British Empire during his long and distinguished career. The allusion to the fact that, during a period of thirty-seven years in which he had served her Majesty, Sir George Grey had never been called to the Government of a colony until it was plunged in difficulties and embarrassments, implied a compliment to him of the highest kind ; while the firm conviction expressed of the valuable influence for good which his visit accompanied by the Prince to the principal chiefsin this Island would exert, showed the speaker's appreciation of the position which Sir George Grey is supposed to hold with respect to the native race. Nothing, indeed, could have been in better taste than Dr Fqhtherston's speech, and it is only to be regretted that the other parts of tho business in hand were so inadequately performed. Dr Eeathorston left the proposer and seconder of the address to deal at length with Sir George Grey's services, but singularly enough, Captain Rhodes was particularly careful to avoid all but the barest allusion to them. "This," 0 said he, " was not tho time, and he would not pretend to say anything of the political career of Sir George Grey," — whereas it was precisely the very time of all others, for the mover of such an address to say all he could in support of it. If Captain lthodes could not pretend to say anything about his Excellency's political career, why in the name of common, sense did he move the address at all ? ]t is true Captain Rhodes made up for poverty of expression by emphasis of assertion in saying that Sir George Grey was one of the ablest Governors that had ever been sent to a British dependency ; but he made no allusion to his determined stand in defence of the colony against Imperial injustice, nor to the position which he had thereby imperilled and lost. If there is anything for which Sir George Grey deserves the thanks of the colony, it is that, j Neither his policy nor his administration during the last live years have been productive of unmixed good to tho colony : but whatever may have been the errors of the past, or however disastrous their consequences in a heavy existing debt for expenditure uselessly incurred, the people of New Zealand are willing to condone them for the sake of the generous and manly defence which' he has made on their behalf in his despatches during the last eighteen months. Forgetting the past, they only now choose to remember that he sealed his adhesion to their cause by the sacrifice of his position, and that reason alone is a sudieieiru one for paying him every fitting honor on the occasion of his departure Such being the case, we are surprised that the mover of the address omitted to use the most important argument that could possibly have been urged in its support, and preforrcd to ground Sir George Grey's claim to the gratitude and good wishes of the colonists, on the many amiable social qualities which he is known to possess. Mr Woodward to some extent supplied the important omission in Captain Rhodes' speech by a few brief yet telling remarks on the point we have indicated, but the address itself only deals in vague generalities instead of pointed allusions. "Wo owe more to Sir George Grey " than the

advocacy of certain great' constitutional principles" — -we owe to him that he defended the colonists from calumnies of the grossest kind, and that he stood up for their rights against Imperial injustice. It is much to be regretted thai; the address did not state this — it is still more to be deplored that a public meeting allowed it to pass without either criticism or amendment.

We have little to say witli reference to the remaining business of the meeting, except thai; the Eeeeption Committee should have been elected in a different manuer. Mr Pearce proposed a dozen gentlemen to whom no one could possibly object, but when it is remembered th.it the reception of the Duke of Edinburgh is a matter in which the wholo community is interested, it is difficult to understand why the arrangements should be placed almost exclusively in the hands of one section of the community. Dr. Featherston had prepared a list of persons for a committee representing both town and country, which if perhaps containing too many names, afforded the meeting a wide r,ange of choice in electing suitable members from it. A2>parentty no one was prepared to make the necessary proposal, and so Mr Pearce, after making at haphazard a few additions to his original list, had it adopted en bloc. The result is that the affair has assumed too much of a sectional character, and this we fear will militate unfavorably against the arrangements. The gentlemen of the Oomniittee may elect whom they like, and many whose names were placed on the original list will feel that a slight has been put upon them if they are not invited to join the Committee already formed. The fault, however, lay in the apathy of those present at the meeting. Dr. Featherstou's suggestion that they should elect some of those whose names had been read was not responded to, and of course those who did not act then, have no ground of complaint at a result which they could easily have prevented. The existence of such apathy does not bode well for the reception of the Prince, and we therefore trust it will be shaken off. If his Royal Highness is to receive a hearty and loyal welcome, the people of Wellington must bestir themselves and take an activo part in promoting whatever arrangements have to be made.