TARANAKI.

Press, Volume III, Issue 132, 2 April 1863, Page 2

TARANAKI.

The deputation appointed at the public meeting on the 26th February, waited on Sir George Grey by appointment on Wednesday last. Mr. Domett and Mr. Bell being present at the interview. After a few pre_minary remarks, they submitted to the Governor tho first of tho questions they

had prepared. His Excellency said tliis question was of such great importance that he could not answer it without serious consideration, but desired that the whole of the questions should be read, which was done. His Excellency then requested to have them in writing. The deputation stated that if His Excellency wished the questions to be put in writing, they would re-write them, as in the present form some of them were contingent upon answers that His Excellency might give. The Governor said he wished to liave them in writing, as he could then give written answers to them,, so that all misunderstanding would be avoided. Tho deputation thanked His Excellency, and said that would be the courso that they would prefer. His Excellency said the questions were of such great importance that they would probably take a considerable time to answer. He regretted that the usual course which had been always followed in every other place he had been in, was not followed in this instance. The custom he referred to was for the leading gentry of the place, whether appointed by a public meeting or | not ho could not tell, to wait upon him and acquaint him with the state of the place, to tell him what were their grievances and what measures they thought, would remedy them. In this instance he was quite in ignorance of the state of things here, and wished to be made acquainted with them and what tho deputation would suggest as a remedy. He wished to hear the matter discussed by persons having local knowledge; even where difference of opinion existed he often gained much useful knowledge. Tho deputation replied that they thought His Excellency was fully acquainted with the position of the settlement, both from the memorials and addresses to His Excellency and Her Majesty, and also from his own officers ; but that if he was ignorant of the state of the province, the deputation would willingly give him a written statement of it. With regard to the remedy to be applied to the disease, they had not dared to suggest any, /is they understood it to bo their duty to lay their grievances before His Excellency, and for him to devise measures to give them redress.

The Governor said he had seen in a memorial to the Queen that Her Majesty's' Ecpresentativo had been forbidden to make roads on the Queen's land. Tin's statement was untrue, and he should be obliged to contradict it: he had not been forbidden to make roads on European lands. The deputation said that it was not their duty to defend the memorial; that if there were any incorrect statements in that memorial, the settlers would, of course, have to suffer for them. With regard to the case referred to by His Excellency, the settlers knew this much, that the men were ordered to commence the road, that the order was countermanded, the rebel natives telling the settlers at the same time that they had forbidden tho carrying on of the road.

The several members of the deputation then related facts that wore within their own knowlodge, illustrating the state of the settlement, at some of which His Excellency expressed much surprise, saying he had never known them before. The deputation replied that had the settlers supposed that, his officers were so remiss in informing His Excellency of what occurred, they (tho deputation) would undoubtedly have made him acquainted with it.

Tho fact of armed Natives crossing the bush from north to south within the last day or two was mentioned to His Excellency, who said he was assured that these Natives had gone south with the most laudable intention.

The subject of the murder of the boys at Omata was then spoken of, and His Excellency said that, with regard to Manahi, he had every reason to believe that he was not concerned in the murders. If Manahi could be advised to come in and stand his trial, he thought it would be a very good thing, which, if he was innocent, he no doubt would do. With regard to the stolen property, he was decidedly of opinion that any one found with any should be dealt with by the civil powers ns the law directs ; but thought it very doubtful how the law woidd deal v, Ith such a case.

With respect to the case mentioned by the chairman, which was brought before him as Cattle Ownership Commissioner, he did not think that ns the owner had recovered the bullock, it would be advisable to proceed further in the matter. [The case referred to was one in which a butcher in this place had bought of a native a bullock, afterwards proved to have been stolen during the war]. The deputation replied that now they knew His Excellency's desire in the matter, they would use every endeavour to secure the man who had sold the bullock in this case, and any other similar case that might occur. His Excellency repeated that he did not consider this at all a good case to try the question upon ; if done, it would be quite against his advice. His Excel-

lency said the whole great difficulty. He had found *£**« * possession of a Native at Waikato, and J_T * into the matter at once, but was _e7w g Natives, who said, "You can't puilish y , c thieving, wliile you aUow the pakelm to _ property. There is Commodore SevmourlT about on one of our best horses, and Colonel (H has just sold two: you can't punish « 8 .-* the pakelm." He felt tho force of this Zl 2 not proceed further. He thought tho law J2 perhaps cut both ways; that perhap ß the 2 phin would be to find an European with Native property, and then try the question *_? deputation replied that they saw no objectiont the question being tried in any way that HisE ° cellency thought, best. They must tell hia Z* they knew not a horse or cow taken from ft rebels was held by the settlers; every one tfe was taken was, by a brigade order, directed to be given up to the military authorities. All property taken diu-ing the war was considered to belong to Her Majesty, and applied to the use Of Her Majesty's troops, while all the property lost belonged to the settlers; the settlers, therefore. were very anxious that the question should be brought to an issue.

In the course of conversation the deputation complained of the thistles growing on Native lands, which the settlers could, and the Natives would not. keep down, and which did the former great injury. His Excellency said an opinion had lately been given by the law officers of the Crown to the effect that the Natives were not legally the owners of any land, and ho expressed a doubt therefore, whether they could be called upon to perform the duties of land owners.

Respecting the £200,000 a long conversation took place, which can be only summarised. His Excellency stated that he must take the opinion of tho law officers upon its bearing, and then submit it to the Executive Council. He was of the opinion, which he still holds, that the settlers should have received compensation in full for their losses, and said as much to Ministers during the Session. The case was not analogous to that of Kororareka. That was a sudden attack upon a town; whereas, here, Taranaki had been deliberately chosen by tho Government as tho field on which certain questions should be tried which it was deemed necessary to the welfaro of the colony to have tried. It was not fair that men should be used like chess-men, and thrown away when not wanted. He had grave doubts, however, whether the Loan Act granted compensation. His Excellency to show the interpretation he put upon it and that he had thought it might bo applied to other purposes than making good the settlers losses, said that at ono tine he had formed a plan involving a large civil and military expenditure, which he had only not brought forward because he foimd the £200,000 would be insufficient to carry it out. He believed it could be appropriated to other purposes, but ■would'take the opinion of the law offieer,by which he must be bound. Mr. Bell stated that if the Executive Council differed on this subject, he should advise the Assembly being called together, and tho sense of the House taken upon it> ,** which His Excellency agreed.

On stating his intention of moving trooj» t» Poutoko on the following morning to mate A* road, His Excellency said, in answer to w_s-» about tho danger to be apprehended by 10* settlers as were away from the town, that be «» so sure that he was doing what he had a pen** right to do, that he could not believe there would be any objection. He said, also, that we W*_ indeed, be in a degrading position if ho could not move Her Majesty's troops to any part of Her Majesty's land. His Excellency stated that tho national opinion of the Maori people was that Tataraimaka should bo occupied, and he thought these Southern Natives might see the advisability of it, A peace brought about quietly and gradually was better than hostilities. , In answer to a question, His Excellency stated that ho was prepared to assist those who wishe to go away, to tho extent of a free passage, but deprecated this action on tho part of the settiers, as the abandonment of the settlement would. W the deepest degradation to the British name, an ho would be ashamed to govern a colony if w» occurred ; in fact he should not continue Gov ernor, he should most probably resign his commission. Mr. Hulke said it all arose through baa

Government. , After nearly four hours conversation the aep tat ion withdrew. — Herald, March 14 ___