MEANEE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1034, 26 March 1869, Page 2

MEANEE.

IMPORTANT PUBLIC MEETING. A most numerously attended meeting was held at the Meanee Hotel last night. The proceedings commenced by Mr. R. D. Maney proposing that Mr. W. F. Hargrave take the chair, which was seconded by Mr, G. Pbjlcock, and carried unanimously. Mr. R. D. Maney proposed — That this meeting resolves that a respectful address be presented to His Excellency the Governor pointing out the present threatening aspect of affairs and danger to this province, and urging upon His Excellency the necessity of calling the Assembly together with the least possible delay,, as this meeting has no confidence whatever in the present Government. He said he considered the present state of affairs was quite alarming ; indeed, during a residence of twelve years he had not seen things looking so bad. It was different now to what it was during the Waikato campaign. At that time there were plenty of trained men for the Government to fall back on ; but now it was different. Our small force was fully occupied at the present time. It appeared as if the Government meant to leave us to our own defence on the East Coast, as they had taken away the Constabulary, and had tried to take the friendly natives too. It seemed as if they wished to ignore Hawke's Bay altogether. He considered their last act (removal of Mr. M'Lean from the General Government agency) fully proved what he j said. He fully believed, unless something was done, that we should soon be in the \ state that Tavanaki was ; and he thought the sooner the pveseut incapable MinHvy were out of oJHce the better it would be for the colony. The resoiutiou was seconded by Mr. G. Peacock, and carried unanimously. Mr. T. Powdreli, believed that we had worse enemies to contend with in the present Government than we had in the Hauhaus, and unless Mr. M'Lean was reinstated (he, in his opinion, being the only man whom the natives and Europeans in ihe province had any confidence in), that the friendly natives would probably go over to the Hauhaus. He did not think that either the natives or Europeans had any confidence . in H. R. Russell or Col, Lambert. He himself believed his old lady could manage quite as well as either, Had not the natives told Colonel Lambert, at the Wairoa, that he was an "old woman," and that they could not serve under him. He thought that the taking of the General Government agency from his Honor D. M'Lean, was the. worst thing that had happened to the province, as he was the only one whom we had confidence in, and, unless he was reinstated, aftairs would probably soon assume a serious aspect. Mr. R. D. Maney said from what he had heard to-day from the natives, he was certain that they would recognise no authority but his Honor D. M'Lean, and he felt certain, whether the Ministry let them go or not, that they would on their own account fight the common enemy. He also believed that unless something was done by the Government to reinstate Mr. M'Lean again, that we should have the friendlies of this province turning against vs — or at least a section of them — thus bringing war to our own doors. Captain Tuke was of opinion that his Honor would not accept the position again if offered to him. He would propose—That Mr. M 'Lean's conduct of affairs in this province and on the East Coast has inspired both Europeans and natives with the utmost confidence, and this meeting views with great apprehension the withdrawal from him of the General Government agency at such an extremely critical time. — This was seconded by Mr. John Heslop, and carried unanimously. Mr. R. D. Maney said he believed that his Honor would do his best for the prorince whether he was agent or not, and felt certain that he would stand by us as he had done before. He would propose — That a committee be formed, to consist of Messrs. Powdreli, Heslop, H. Peacock, Hargrave, and the mover, for the purpose of carrying out the two previous resolutions, and further praying his Excellency to exercise his prerogative in reinstating his Honor . Donald M'Lean, Esq., as General Government agent on the East Coast. Seconded by Mr. James Halletfc, and i carried unanimously. After a vote of thanks to the chairman j the meeting broke up. j Over fifty persons signed the petition to the Governor.

Mr. F. B. Hamlin proceeded yesterday iu the direction of Taupo, to report further upon Te Kooti's movements. A Public Meeting, with the same object as that held in view by the Waipukurau and Meanee settlers, is intended, we hear, to be held in town early next week. of magistrates of the province, to consider i the present critical state of affairs on the East Coast, is, we perceive, convened for Saturday next at noon. Inquest. — An inquest on the late fire at the Perry Hotel was held yesterday at Mr. Trask's Hotel, Eastern Spit, before T. Hitchings, Esq., coroner, and a jury. Mr. and Mrs. Beukers gave evidence, but nothing was elicited to show how the fire arose, and the jury returned n verdict accordingly. The Coming Deluge. — According to the Evening Star, a number of silly people iu Hokitika hare made preparations for removing to the gaol hill, for safety, in anticipation of a huge tidal wave, which it is said Mr. Saxby has predicted will, ou the 17th instant, submerge all the Middle Island of New Zealand to within twelve feet of the highest peak of Mount Cook. Our Isolation. — We have not even one arrival to record in our shipping column this week. Knowing our position, we think the Government might have caused some vessel to look into our port, to see that we were all right. The Defence Minister, when he was here, gave us to understand that ho would mention in the proper quarter that it would give confidence to the settlers if one of the men-of-war now cruising about our coast, would occasionally come here on a visit ; but we are sadly afraid that Col. Haultain has quite forgotten his promise, or we should certainly have seen one here twenty-four hours after he reached "Wellington. It is now a fortnight since we have had a steamer from tho South, and wo might have been all massacred or driven into the sea for what the Government seem to care. Other places have some communication with the outer world, but we are completely isolated. — Ta/ranoM Herald, March 13.