HAWKE’S BAY MONTHLY SUMMARY.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 7, Issue 435, 7 November 1863, Page 1 (Supplement)

HAWKE’S BAY MONTHLY SUMMARY.

TThe General Assemhlr met at Auckland on Monday, the 19th of October. It was opened in person by ILs Excellency the Governor, who delivered ih„* .oUowing address to the members assembled : Honorable Gentlemen op the Legislative Council and Gentlemen op the uou.se of Representatives,— The recent course of events in this colony has compelled me to seek your advice and assistance at au earlier period than was contemplated on the last occasion of your meeting. The resumption of a block of land by my orders at Taranaki, which had long previously to the late war been peacefully occupied by our settlers, bat which the continued threats of the natives had since prevented their return to, was followed by the entirely uuprovoked murder of nearly the whole of a small escort of Her Majesty’s troops. . This murder was instigated and directed by the tribes of Waikato ; the same tribes who had already expelled from their own districts their missionaries and all other European residents ; forcibly taken away the half-caste families of the latter; and evinced in many ways their determination to provoke a war of races. They have for some time past been endeavouring to form a general combination of the natives, having for its avowed object the indiscriminate slaughter of the European inhabitants of the Colony. Their plans of attack upon Auckland and its neighbouring settlements have been frustrated by the defensive measures adopted ; but they have assassinated out-settlers, and soldiers engaged on escort duty. . No effort to gain over these tribes has been omitted. Every endeavour has been made to remove any even apparent ground of complaint; to do them the fullest justice, and to promote in every way their welfare and improvement. Yet no means have been found effectual to induce them to relinquish their schemes of conquest aud plunder. They have deliberately resolved upon war, and to try their strength with the British race. In accordance with this desire to deprive the natives of every pretext for rebellion, and prevent if possible the then threatening insurrection from becoming general; in the hope also of securing unanimity and the cordial support of all classes of Hex 1 Majesty's European subjects thus forced upon us ; and for other reasons detailed in the papers which will be laid before you, I thought it my duty, notwithstanding some obvious objections to such a course, 'to declare my intention not to attempt to complete the purchase of the block of land at the Waitara. When, from the assassination of our officers and soldiers, it was clear that the war, which such efforts had been made to avoid, was inevitable, the Imperial Government was immediately applied to for additional military assistance. The promptitude and liberality with which that application has been l'esponded to, demand your special recognition, and I feel confident that the aid thus given by England to the colony in its time of danger and difficulty, will strengthen those sentiments of loyalty and affection towards the mother country which have always animated the settlers of New Zealand.

The neighbouring colonies to which I applied for such military aid as they could afford, have rendered every assistance in their power, and my thanks are in a special manner due to the Governor of Tasmania for the great promptitude with which every available soldier, was despatched thence to this colony. Meantime, active measures bad been taken in the colony itself for the defence of the settlements of the Northern Island. The Militia and Volunteers have been called out, armed, and trained, to the number of upwards of nine thousand men. Volunteer companies, both of horse and foot, have been formed in the different provinces—some of them in Auckland and Taranaki, for the especial purpose of scouring the forest country. Mounted forces, under the Colonial Defence Act of last session, have been raised and stationed in Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, Wellington and Wanganui. A steam gunboat, adapted for navigation ef shallow rivers, has been built, and brought over from Sydney, for especial service on the Waikato river. No exertions have been spared by the colony in contributing to the utmost extent of its power towards its own defence. To provide in the most certain manner for the future -protection of the settlers,—to leave the regular troops more free for offensive operations, by releasing them from a portion of their garrison duty,—as well as to enable the Lieut.-Gen. Commanding to undertake those operations .at an early period, a large number of Volunteers have been introduced from Australia and the Middle Island to serve for a certain period as Militia, eventually to form military settlements in the interior, on condition of receiving free grants of land for their services. The very fine body of men that have thus volunteered to assist in fighting the battles of the colony will greatly facilitate the prosecution of the war. Her Majesty’s ship of war on this station haves already rendered valuable services; and the conspicuous gallantry of her Majesty’s troops, under

their distinguished General, on every occasion the war has hitherto afforded for its display, has been recognised throughout the colony with acfi miration aud gratitude. It is with the most lively satisfaction I have remarked how repeatedly and honourably General Cameron has men-, tioned the zeal and courage which our Militia and Volunteers have on many occasions so nobly evinced against the enemy by whom their fatni-' lies and homes were being assailed; and I desire to express my own sense of the admirable manner in which, both in Auckland and Taranaki, the colonial forces have borne the hardships and privations of service in the field, and in co-oper-ation with her Majesty’s troops have shewn themselves capable of encountering all the difficulties of forest warfare, and afforded additional proof that our countrymen were qualified to grapple with danger under all circumstances, in every kind of country.

With the additions to our forces first mentioned, and with the reinforcements—naval and military—already arrived, or immediately expected from England, directed by such commanders as are now in New Zealand, I trust that this war will be brought, at no very distant date, to a successful issue. Gentlemen op the House of Representatives, — A large expenditure has been incurred in making provision for the defence of the country, which the urgency of the crisis rendered immediately necessary. Measures will be submitted to you to enable the colony to meet this outlay, as well as that which, unfortunately, will still have to be made on account of the war, without, I trust, too seriously pressing upon its resources, or preventing the employment of a large portion of its revenues on the many useful objects on which they are expended at present. The estimates for the current financial year will be laid before you without delay, together with an act for raising a loan, to enable me to carry out the plans which have been initiated for the future security of the country. Honorable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,— The resolutions defining the relations between the Governor and Ministers adopted at the last meeting of the Assembly, and in the spirit of which I consented to act until the instructions ef the Secretary of State should reach me, have not received the sanction of her Majesty’s Government. On the contrary, her Majesty’s Government has declared its intention, to adhere to its previous decision, that the direction of native policy and the management of native affairs should, except in certain contingencies, be placed under the control of the General Assembly. In any ordinary circumstances of the colony, my responsible advisers, on the receipt of this decisiou, would have recommended your bein°immediately called together tp deliberate and decide upon the course to be taken on a subject of such importance. But at the time the decision was received, the position of the colony in respect to the natives was such as to demand immediate and energetic measures to ensure its safety, which required the whole attention of the Government. It appeared, then, that to summon the Assembly, at that moment would have been to incur the risk of paralyzing the efficient action so necessary in the then present crisis, while measures for making provision to meetthe less immediate consequences of the native insurrection could not possibly have been matured sufficiently to be submitted for your deliberation and adoption. The Ministers accordingly undertook to be responsible for the adoption of a plan of operations for the defence of the district about Auckland, which I had proposed to them, aud for the occupation by Military Settlers of the land of hostile natives in its neighbourhood, pending the summoning of the Assembly, and the expression of your opinion on the whole subject of responsibility in native affairs. They undertook this amount of responsibility from a sense of duty, and from the strong conviction that these plans formed part of a policy calculated effectually to deal with the difficulties before us, and, as such, to meet with your thorough approval aud sanction I would now recommend your acceptance of the responsibility which Her Majesty’s decision has placed upon the Colony. The Measures to which your attention will be principally directed, will be those which have for their object the suppression of the present and the prevention of future rebellions. I reiy with confidence on your cordial support in my endeavours to carry on the pi’esent war with vigour, and to make it, if possible, the last which shall afflict the European and Aboriginal inhabitants of New Zealand. To do this—to provide a material guarantee for the preservation of peace —such measures will l’ender future insui’rections of the Natives hopeless. The most obvious and effective of such measures are the construction of roads through the interior of the country, and the introduction into the disaffected districts.yspecially, of an amount of armed sufficient to defend itself against all aggressions. It should be distributed in military settlements along the frontiers of the . settled districts and elsewhere so as to afford protection to the inhabitants of these districts. A considerable number of Volunteers for such settlements have been introduced, as I have already stated, and Bills will be submitted for your consideration to authorise and make provision for the carrying out of these objects on as extensive a scale as seems practicable at present. This will necessarily involve the.

occupation of a portion of the waste lands of the rebellious Natives ; but while ample land will be left for their, own requirements, it is only just that they should he made to feel some of the evil consequences of plunging the country, by wanton aud unprovoked aggressions, into the expenses and miseries incidental to civil war; and thus it is hoped to afford a warning to other tribes to abstain from conduct which will. be attended with the kind of punishment they are most apprehensive of. I trust that these measures, which I am compelled reluctantly to adopt, will ultimately prove a great furtherance to the operation of those for the improvement and civilization of the Aboriginal Natives which have occupied so much of your attention of late years, and which lam well aware nothing that has taken place will prevent you'from still prosecuting with a generous regard for the future welfare of this people.. Some measures to facilitate the operation of former Acts of the Assembly; a Bill for the annexation of Stewart’s Island to the Province of Southland, in order to extend the advantages of local government to that Island ; and a plan for the formation of an Electric Telegraph from the .Southern extremity of the Middle Island to (Auckland—will be laid before you, and receive, fl-trust, your favourable consideration. 1 The prosperity of the Colony, in every respect, with the exception of the state of the aboriginal Natives, continues undiminished. Especially it 'is most gratifying to remark the almost unexampled progress in wealth and population made by the settlements in the Middle Island, the inhabitants of which, while themselves undisturbed by any difficulties with a Native race, have shewn so deep a sympathy with, and so generous a regard for, the sufferings and dangers which have fallen on their fellow-colonists in this Island.

I have now only to express an earnest hope that your counsels, informed with the spirit of wisdom, may, with the blessing of the Almighty Disposer of events, tend to the deliverance of the Colony fi-om its present difficulties, and to the permanent welfare of all its inhabitants.”

The sittings of the Assembly were resumed on the 20th and 21st, but, in consequence of there having only been about thirty members out of fifty-live in their places, the business proceeded with was comparatively unimportant —the consideration of the reply to the address, aud other important matters, having had to be deferred. Much dissatisfaction existed at so many members not having arrived, and leave of absence was refused in several instances —rendering such members liable to a fine of £2O if they did not take their seats within a week of the first day of the session. iMost of the abseut members, however, would be present within the stipulated time. Among the measures which, being deemed of minor importance, engaged the attention of the House of Representatives, were a bill to amend the Marine Boards Act, the Nelson Waste Lands Bill, a bill to annex Stewart’s Island to Southland, and one to provide for investigations of wrecks, which latter is an adaptation of some clauses from the Merchant Shipping Act of the mother country. There was a little discussion on the Stewart’s Island Bill. Messrs. Gillies, Stafford, and Fitz Gerald asked for delay, that the whole question of colonizing the south-west and west coast, and other unsettled parts of the Southern Island, may be considered.

On the first day the Colonial Secretary gave notice of his intention to move for leave to bring in the following important measures: —“ A Bill to enable the Governor to establish settlements for colonization in the Northern Island of New Zealand ; aud, a Bill for the suppression of the rebellion which unhappily exists in this colony, and for the protection of the persons and property of Her Majesty’s loyal subjects within the same.” In the absence of so many influential members, the motion was not proceeded with ; and the house finally adjourned till Wednesday, the 28th. The members seized the opportunity afforded by the recess to visit .“the front.”

C' Our Auckland correspondent, writing -’"trader date the 22nd, thus adverts,to the position of affairs :

’ Tn political affairs we have not got beyond the region of expectation yet. The Assembly was opened with a speech which you will find of course iu the papers* and a reply was moved last night by Mr. Graham, Superintendent of the Province. The debate upon it was adjourned, however, for a week on Dr. Featherston’s motion to

allow of the arrival of expected members from the South by the Ashley. The Dom .i Ministry, it is all but certain, will i;efc stand the shock of an attack, as they 3 divided among themselves and only s it to be touched to fall to pieces. StaL d is generally looked upon as the coming man. Formal business is all that is likely to be done for some days in the Assembly, although of course anything may be unexpectedly made a bone of contention. The schemes of the Miuistry are most extensive, including the introduction of 20,000 military settlers from Europe, and the seizing all the waste lauds of the rebels, except what they actually need for use. Auy other Ministry will be partly composed out of the members of the existing one, aud must so far follow in their steps as to adopt much of these schemes, which are generally felt to be needful. [For later information see our inner pages.]