now." But what was the result? A s u m was still on the Estimates of the Legislative Council, but allowed to pass away, no doubt expecting similar calamities. H e would therefore judge of the future acts of the Government by the past. It would be the same with the wreck of the " Cataraqui." W e shall be promised lighthouses, but unless some decided step was taken n o w w e should not get them. T h e wieck in question would be forgotten, as in the case he had alluded to. Cape Otway and King's Island were the two pillars leading to our very gate; and as such they should be marked out in a proper manner. H e should admit that in Port Phillip it was rather difficult to speak as to whence the necessary means could be procured; but in N e w South Wales it was quite different. W h a t might be called prudence in Sydney was rather different in Port Phillip. Prudence in the Middle District was to be continually urging upon the Governor—whereby the people with the Legislative Council ultimately prevailed; but here the prudence was a different thing. It was exactly like "shutting the door after the steed was stolen." In 1839, when Blanch was blown up, the steed was stolen ; but the prudence of the people of Port Phillip was, to give up the matter altogether— " when the steed was gone to pawn the saddle." However, he felt that by proper representations the people of Great Britain would be found to act upon Downing Street, and in a like manner the Legislative Council on the Colonial Government, and the matter would be thus forced upon them. With regard to the subscription to be got up on behalf of the survivors, he perfectly agreed with the views taken by Dr. Greeves. Mr. A. H . Hart proposed, and Mr. J. P. Fawkner seconded, the next resolution :— " That this meeting is of opinion that the humanity and forethought displayed by Mr. Howie in seeking out and relieving the survivors of the wreck, and his efforts for the interment of the dead, deserve the highest praise; and that his generous hospitality in sustaining the survivors during their protracted sojourn on King's Island, demands a substantial recompense." Mr. A. Cunninghame, in moving the next resolution—"That this meeting considers that Messrs. Fletcher and Cockburn deserve a token of public approbation for the prompt and humane manner in which, at great risk, they brought off the survivors from the place of wreck," remarked that he had been given to understand that it was the intention of the Government to adopt measures for the interment of the bodies of the sufferers, and to place over them a m o n u m e n t ; but the best monument the Government could erect over their unhappy remains would be a lighthouse, to afford protection for others, and should such monument be erected by the Government it should be considered rather a commemoration of neglect than anything else, and something in the following strain should be inscribed upon it:—" Erected by the Government of N e w South Wales to commemorate its neglect which caused the wreck of the ship ' Cataraqui' upon this coast, occasioning thereby measures to be taken to meet such a calamity when too late, by George Gipps and C. J. Latrobe." T h e motion was seconded by Mr. George Cavenagh. Mr. James McEachern moved and Mr. William M e e k seconded : — " That a Committee be appointed to carry out the above objects by raising a public subscription, and by requesting the various ministers to raise collections; and that the Committee consist of the following gentlemen (with power to add to their n u m b e r : — T h e Mayor, the minister of each congregation in town, Messrs. J. A. Marsden, G. Cavenagh, A. H . Hart, G. S. Brodie, D. S. Campbell, J. P. Fawkner, J. R. Murphy, M . Cashmore, C. Kilburn, and Dr. Greeves." T h e foregoing resolutions were severally agreed to. T h e Rev. John H a m , Baptist minister, had great pleasure in proposing a vote of thanks to their Chairman. It also gratified him to think that the meeting had thought proper to include the ministers of religion in the Committee. All he could say was that no exertion or influence upon his part would be wanted to carry out the object of the resolution. Mr. Michael Cashmore seconded the resolution, which was carried by acclamation. T h e Rev. Mr. Thomson, in thanking the gentlemen present, observed that the manner in which the meeting had taken up the recent melancholy occurence would prove a source of joy to the friends and relatives of the unfortunate shipwrecked, and it would also let them see that there were warm
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THE CHRONLCLES OF EARLY MELBOURNE.
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