Lieut.-Governor Hobson.

On Monday, 15th February, 1841, an important meeting took place at Barrett's Hotel. Mr. Geo. Butler Earp was voted to the chair. After his address, explanatory of the objects of the meeting, Captain Edward Daniell proposed:—

“That Lieut.-Governor Hobson has systematically neglected his duty to Her Majesty's subjects settled at Port Nicholson.

“That His Excellency's recent attempt to deprive this settlement of its skilled labour by inducing mechanics and artificers to leave it and enter into the employment of the Government at Auckland, is calculated to inflict serious injury upon the settlement.

“That the annexed petition to the Queen be forwarded to England, and presented to Her Majesty, stating the above-mentioned grievances, and praying Her Majesty for protection and the recall of the Lieutenant-Governor.”

These motions were seconded by Mr. James Coutts Crawford.

Mr. Hanson appeared at the head of a more moderate party, and read an address in the form of a petition to both Houses of Parliament, praying for redress. Amongst such an assemblage, there could be but little doubt of the result, and the original motion was finally carried with acclamation.^*

The causes which led to the meeting are briefly summarised as follows:—

The removal of the army of thirty soldiers. The alleged crimping methods to induce newly arrived emigrants to proceed to Auckland for work. The issue of an official notice warning persons not to settle or occupy land at Taranaki or Whanganui under land orders from the N.Z. Company, as such had not been conveyed by the Crown; and other matters relating to Auckland and the Bay of Islands. The petition, with numerous signatures attached to it. was forwarded to Valparaiso by the “Cuba” on the second of March.

At the end of February the “Chelydra” sailed for Auckland with the troops and the crimped mechanics, who were allowed a free passage among other inducements. Mr. Dudley Sinclair, attracted by the prospect of speculation in town lots at the proposed capital, also left Wellington in this ship.