REINFORCEMENTS FOR PATEA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2417, 21 September 1868, Page 3

REINFORCEMENTS FOR PATEA.

INDIGNATION MEETING AT NAPIER. HAWKE'S BAY LEFT DEFENCELESS. Tlie arrival of the Government. steamer Sturt from Napier, with reinforcements for the Front, was anxiously looked for in Wellington on Sunday, Sept. 13. She arrived at about 6 p.m. A large crowd collected on the pier, expecting that the. steamer would be brought alongside *, but she' went to the coal hulk, it being thought unadvisable to allow the members of the Armed Constabulary to land that evening. ° She brought Major Eraser, Capt Richardson, and 57 Constables from Napier. Fr Brown was in medical charge of the men who are nearly all unharmed. As has been indicated in our columns, great public indignation, astonishment, and alarm are felt at Napier and throughout the province of Hawke's.Bay in consequence of the sudden removal of the only defence they possessed, leaving the settlers in a defenceless position. The Hawke's Bay Herald of .September 12, reports the proceedings at a public indignation meeting held there immediately on the receipt of the telegram ordering the Mounted Constabulary Force to hold themselves in readiness to proceed at once by the Sturt to Patea. The Council Chamber was densely filled with townspeople anxious to protest against the action of the General Government. Mr Kennedy who took the chair, said that the meeting had been convened for the purpose of expressing the indignation felt by the inhabitants of Napier at the action of the General Government in ordering the removal for service at Patea of the small defence force stationed at Hawke's Bay—a step which in event of any outbreak here would leave outlying settlers entirely unprotected. It appeared from a telegram received that the Sturt had left Wellington for the purpose of rem iving this force; and lie did uot think tlie people of Hawke's Bay would he doing their duty if they did not express strong disapproval of the course taken in this mutter by tlie General Government. Mr T.K. Newton moved the first resolution, that this meeting cesires to express a feeling of much surprise and dissatisfaction at the intelligence received from the General Go-

vernment of their intention forthwith to remove froiii the (province" Major Fraser's troup of Mounted Constabulary—at a time when tho outlying district <>f Te Wairoa is without protoe:ion in a time oE great need. He said that, exposed as parts of tlie province were, to the inroads of a dangerous foe—a state of things mainly brought about by the laches of the Government—there was something very surprising indeed in (he course taken by it, tint of removing the only local force stationed in the province, He feared it would now be too lute for the decision arrived at by this meeting to have any effect, seeing that the Sturt had already left Wellington; but the public should not the less express astonishment and indignation felt at (lie treatment they were experiencing at the hands of the authorities. The motion was carried unaniimously. The next resolution was moved by Mr Cuff.—" That a telegram be at once transmitted by the chairman of this meeting to his Honor I), M'Lean, lisi., containing the first resolution, and urgently but respectfully praying the General Government to reconsider their ileterminati >n to remove the detachment of Constabulary under Major Fraser, and requesting that tho same be allowed to remain for tho protection of the province." He said that it was essentially n;cesaary for the safety of the outlying districts of this province that the Constabulary force should remain, and he could not help expressing the indignation he felt ut the course taken by the Government in ordering their removal at such a time. The resolution was carried unanimously. Mr Grindell here said that one of the influential chiefs of the province would like to address the meeting. Te Hapuku. then came forward and said, that in the present position of native affairs, he thought it most inadvisable to remove Major Fraser and his force. Natives from Tanpo or the Urewera country might come down upon us at any moment, Wanganui, Patea, Wairarapa, Otski, Rangitikei, and Wellington, he said had plenty of defenders; but Napier had few and of those few, a portion was now being taken away. It was true that the exigencies of war might speedily compel the Government to send them back again but then it might be too late. We might all by that time, be killed in battle, and our women and children murdered. Mr G. B. Worgan quite concurred in the feeling of indignation expressed at the conduct of the Government The force was urgently wanted at Wairoa, which was but thinly populated, and the residents without arms, ammunition, or any means to make a stand against an enemy known to be in their immediate neighbourhood. Me considered the action taken by the Government to be highly censurable; the most serious consequences might yet result from it. The Chairman said that he quite concurred in the opinions expressed by Mr Worgan. The Chairman then read the following telegram just received from his Honor the Superintendent: Wellington, Thursday,' 3.15 p.m, Captain Kennedy, NapierInform the public at the meeting that Mr Ormond and I did our utmost to prevent the removal of Major Fraser and his force. We formally protested against it, as lik-ly to lead to serious consequences. Ministers, however, persisted in sending for tliera, and the Sturt has gone from here to embark tlie force. The public of Hawke's Bay have good ground for complaint,—Donald M'Lean. l.ater in theeveningthe following telegram was received:—Thursday, Capt. Kennedy, Napier, 7.30 p.m. I have receive ! proceedings of public meeting, and will at once lubmit them, as requested, to the General Government, with a request that they will re-con-sider what has been done respecting the removal of Major Kraser, and the force under his command. The action taken by the Government in this matter is much deprecated by the Hawke's- Bay members.—Donald M'Lean.