SETTLERS MEETING, PAPAKUEA.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVII, Issue 1350, 16 November 1860, Page 3

SETTLERS MEETING, PAPAKUEA.

A special meeting of the settlers of Papakur*, Drury, Wairoa, and other outlying districts, was held at Wells' Inn, on Wednesday last, to take into consideration the reply of bis Excellency the Governor to the Memorial

which was adopted and presented by the deputation Appointed at th« last meeting, to urge upon the Government the necsssity of taking immediate iteps to protect the property and lives of those-' living, in the outlying districts. Owing to the inclemency of the weather the attendance was not so numerous as at the last meeting ; but, notwithstanding the heavy rain, many settlers from a considerable distance were there. . Mr. W. Hay wan called to the Ohair, and after reading the reply of his Excellency teveral speakers addressed the meeting on the importance and necessity of immediate action being taken by the Government to prevent this Province from being visited with the same calamities which have' befallen the unfortunate settlers of Taranaki, in being compelled to abandon their homes and properties without any effort being made to resist the pillage of property and sacrifice of what were but a few months since happy and flourishing- homesteads. The meeting was unanimously of opinion o£ the absolute necessity of & military outpost being fixed at Maungatawhiri. The memorandum of Capt. Mairis, R.E., which was laid befoie the meeting, recommended two Stockades being built : one at Papakura, the other at Drury, of 80 feet square each ; besides a picquet house at Drury. The following resolution was proposed by Mr. J. Burtt, seconded by Mr. J. Runciman, and carried unanimously :—": — " That the following gentlemenMessrs. J. Eunciman, J. Au«tin, W. Clare, W. J. Young, Henderson, W. Steele, E. King, YV. Hay, D. Simpson, W*. H. Thorp, S. Wells, and the mover — be appointed a committee for the purpose of considering the reply of his Excellency the Governor to the memorial presented by the deputation appointed at the last meeting; and also to consider the report of Captain Mairis, R.E., and communicate with his Excellency the Governor, pointing out the utter inadequacy of the proposed sum of £300 for the works required to place the districts in a state of security and defence, and to repudiate the liability of the settlers being called upon to contribute funds for the construction of the military defences of the country ; to urge also upon the Governor the absolute neoessity of providing a place of refuge at Maungatawhiri, and placing a permanent military outpost at that settlement for the protection of the Europeans to the northward of that position." > We append his Excellency's reply to the deputation : Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 9th Nov., 1860. Gentlemen, — I have the honor, by the direction of Mr. Stafford, to acknowledge the receipt of your memorial (presented by a deputation to his Excellency the Governor) on the subject of protection being afforded to the Districts of Papakura, Drury, Wairoa, &c; and in reply to inform you that steps have been taken for the construction of one or more stockades, as may be determined on by the military authorities, in the Papakura and Drury Districts, upon the best site or site?, regard being had to general accessibility to the bulk of the inhabitants, and to the facility for most quickly supporting any such Stockade by military reinforcements from other places. With that view a sum of three hundred pounds (300) will be at once assigned by the Government for the erection of suoh Stockade or Stockades, any additional amount which may be requhed being contributed in labor or materials on the part of the inhabitants concerned ; and (Japt. Mairis, Commanding Royal Engineer st Auckland, will visit Papakura and Drury on Monday next (the 12th instant) in order to meet a committee of the' settlers, and to fix on such site or sites as he may think best, and a civil officer of the Government will attend at the same 'time for the purpose of facilitating any arrangements with the inhabitants respecting the manner in which the works are to be executed and paid for. The military authorities will also examine and report on the best site for a Stockade in the Wairoa district. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Your most obedient servant, W. Gisbohne, Under Secretary. Messrs Win. Hay, J. Runciman, Seymour Well"?, and other memorialist, Papakura and Drury. P.S. — With reference to the fifth paragraph of your memorial, I am to assure you that Government has not, nor ever had, any intention of abandoning the property of the settleis outside the lines of the Tamaki river. W. GISBOKNE.