MEMORIAL TO THE GOVERNOR.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVII, Issue 1379, 1 March 1861, Page 6

MEMORIAL TO THE GOVERNOR.

To His Excellency Colonel Thomas Gore Browne, C.8., Governor and Commander-m-Chief in and over the Islands of New Zealand, and Vice Admiral of the same. The Memorial of the undersigned settlers of the Province of Taranaki sheweth : — That the position of this Settlement is very critical, and the results of the piesent system of carrying on the war most unsatisfactory. That notwithstanding the presence of a very considerable military foice in this Province, it is yet unsafe for any person to venture beyond the outposts in consequence of the country being continually overun by small bands of maiauding Natives within rifle shot of the Barracks. That within the last fortnight a largo number of valuable houses belonging to the settleis have been burned, and great numbers of hoi sea and cattle have been earned off by such marauders ; and recently a most estimable settler has been way-laid and butchered. That the proximity of these bands and the known existence of large bodies of Natives a shoit distance from the Town causes great uneasiness to the inhabitants, who feel that an ovei whelming foice might be brought against it at any moment -without warning. Your Memorialists therefore earnestly pray that your Excellency will be pleased to vis.it this Stetlement to judge personally of the state of affairs and to take such measiues as to your Excellency may seem fit.