Wellington Independent. "NOTHING EXTENUATE; NOR SET DOWN AUGHT IN MALICE." TUESDAY, 4th FEBRUARY, 1868.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2631, 4 February 1868, Page 3

Wellington Independent. "NOTHING EXTENUATE; NOR SET DOWN AUGHT IN MALICE." TUESDAY, 4th FEBRUARY, 1868.

A public meeting is to be held in the Athenseum to-morrow in order to give .the ratepayers of the town an opportunity of expressing their approbation of, or dissent from, a resolution passed by the Board of Works on Saturday, authorising a sum of £500 to be expended out of the Board funds in giving the Duke of Edinburgh a loyal welcome here. The Board has acted very properly in giving the ratepayers an opportunity of discussing tho resolution, though there can hardly be two opinions, we should imagine, as to its propriety. A smaller amount than £500 could scarcely have been voted; and it must be supplemented by a gift to a much larger amount from the pockets of the ratepayers before we can offer his Eoyal Highness an entertainment in any way suitable to his rank. We carmofc expect to make a great display ; but if we wish to play the part of host to our royal guest, we must do it in a certain manner. It would be a disgrace to the capital of New Zealand if it behaved at all shabbily to a son of her Majesty ; and it is useless to look forhelp totheEoyalEeception Commission. That body, having got hold of the £5000 voted by the General Assembly, appears disposed to keep it for its private spending, if we may judge from the masonic secresy with which its proceedings are conducted. In Victoria, the deception Commiasion kept the public constantly informed, by means of the press, of the preparations it was mailing to welcome his Eoyal Highness, but the New Zealand Commission acts as though the Duke were to be entertained by italone, and the publich ad nothing to do with the intended festivities. The principal sign of life, indeed, which the Commission has given is one or two advertisements calling for tenders for supplying a carriage and horses for the use of his Eoyal Highness. Under these circumstances, it is imperatively necessary that the public should move in the matter themselves; and we are very glad to find that the Public Eeception Committee, which was generally regarded as moribund, exhibits signs of life. There is very little time to be lost ; for, should Wellington be his first port of call in New Zealand the Prince will probably be here five or six weeks hence. Definite information upon this subject may possibly avrive by the Kaikoura ; but at any Bate subscriptions should be at once collected, and a plan of entertainment drawn up. The, Committee should alsoj request the Eeception Commission to state definitely what they propose to do in phc reception of the Duke, in order that there may be no clashing between the two bodies.