TARANAKI

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 1, Issue 29, 10 April 1858, Page 5

TARANAKI

By the Emily Allison we have Taranaki papers to the 25th nit. Matters in that unhappy Province, instead of mending, were getting daily worse. By the Kate Kearney which had just arrived in Auckland, the Superintendent of New Plymouth had arrived as the bearer of a memorial from the inhabitants — a copy of which we append as forming the best index to the present untoward aspect of affairs : — To his Excellency Colonel Thomas Gore Browne, C.B , Governer and Commander-in-Giief in and over the Colony of New Zealand, &c, &c. The memorial of the undersigned inhabitants of the Province of New Plymouth, sheweth, — . That the native warfare in this Province is by no means likely to die out otherwise than by the annihilation of one party or the other. For the p esent, the prospects of success are on the side of those who seek vengeance for the death of Katatore ; and if Lhaia's party are not relieved Jand enabled to come out from their beleaguered pa, their besiegers must before long be in a position to carry out their threats of destroying the whole party, without distinction of sex or age. Already they fire on women and children. If Ihaia should be relieved, there is little reason for hoping that his party would be more merciful. In either case a scene of massacre must follow, which would cause great alarm in the Province, and be a lasting blot on the Government of a British community j possessing power to restrain and prevent it. Before the receipt of this memorial it will be known to your Excellency that your proclamation regarding the disturbances of this Province, which was received here with unmingled satisfaction, remains up to this hour inoperative, in consequence of some misunderstanding between the Resident Magistrate and the Justices, respecting the construction of the unpublished instructions which accompanied it, That consequently the aggressive proceedings of the natives opposed to Ihaia proceed on our territory unchecked as before, and that we may

properly be considered as aiding and-ahetting them in the work of violence. Your memorialists cannot believe that they misinterpret the intention of your Excellency's proclamation, because nothing could be more clear than that its publication must prove to the last degree mischievous if it is to be of no force, since it |were better . that the natives should continue their aggressive course under what they might consider a tacit permission of the authorities, than in absolute defiance of solemn proclamation, as is now the case. In the opinion of your memorialists the present moment is tho .most favourable that is to occur for action by Government. They conceive that the interference of the military authorities, to remove at least the women and children from the pa of Ihiai should be the first step. They are credibly informed that a great number of the besiegers ai-e lukewarm, and would fall off at the appearance of mihtary on the Waitara ; that the more active division would not venture to oppose a force 6ueh as could be brought to act on them ; and that the party of Ihaia might be removed without bloodshed now. They are further informed by all travellers coastwise that the tribes southward are preparing to join the quarrel, and they submit that the danger of allowing the present state of affairs to continue is extreme ; but they conceive that further arming and influx of war parties would be prevented by such a measure as they suggest. What course should be pursued towards Lhaia and his immediate confederates they do not venture to suggest. His old steady adherence to the connection with the settlers, and his unshaken determination to pursue a land selling policy, makes his cause the popular one in this place. They cannot however, overlook the savage murder by which he violated British ground and recommenced these ruinous disturbances. " Nothing can be pleaded by them on his behalf : But on the score of humanity, of pubhc. tranquility, and the honour of the British Government, they humbly pray that your Excellency will be pleased immediately to stop the native war in the Province, by rescuing and removing the beleaguered inhabitants of the . Karaka pa from the liands of their besiegers. And your memorialists, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c. The New Zealander of the 3rd inst.. thus alludes to the news received : — " In another part of to-day's paper will be found the latest intelligence relative to the position of the belligerent Natives at Taranaki. We hear that the Governor and his Executive, after maturely considering the matter, have resolved to try and prevent the horrible loss of life which appears to be pending, and are about, with that view, to send further military aid to New Plymouth. The exact mode in which tliis will be sought to be accomplished we have not heard for a certainty, but have some reason to believe that somewhat similar steps will be taken to those by means of which Mr. McLean succeeded in putting a stop to the Native hostilities at Ahuriri, namely, by effecting the removal of the weaker party to a distance. We hope this may be accomplished ; but still more do we wish that the General Government could and would take steps to bring to condign punishment certain white scoundrels who are busily occupied in stirring up strife between the two races — men far more dangerous to the peace and welfare of the colony than Katatore, Moana Nui, Hapuku, Wiremu Kingi, and Ihaia put together."