TARANAKI.

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 5, 5 July 1845, Page 3

TARANAKI.

At a Meeting of the inhabitants of Taranaki, held at the *' Devon Hotel," on the sth May, 1845, F. W. Glbdiiill, Esq., in the chair, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted : Proposed by J. Flight, Esq., J. P. ; seconded by J- G. Cooke, Esq., J. P. — That the declaration of His Excellency the Governor to the Legislative Council of New Zealand, on the 15th of March last, that "Taranaki is in accessible by laud as well as l>y sea, aad a settlement wh<*re troops cannot be kept," is calculated to inflict serious injury on this settlement, and i« contrary to the following notorious and incontrovertible facts: Ist —That several years before the colonizing operations of the New Zealand Company were commenced, vessels of large tonnage from Sydney fre- ! queutly visited Taranaki, and remained in the roadstead for a considerable (ime, discharging merchandize and receiving cargoes of native Flax ; and that this trade was interrupted, not by the perils or inconveniences of the roadstead, but by the destruction or removal of the native inhabitants, in consequence of war with the Waikato tnbes. 2nd. — That since the arrival of the Brougham, with surveyors of the New Zealand Company, iti the beginning of 1841, more than 200 vessels of various sues, from small schooners to large ships, have safely lauded their cargoes, and more than a thousand emigrant* at New Plymouth. 3rd, — That the " Remarks on the Roadstead of New Plymouth, "and the sailing instructions published with His Excellency's sanction in the Government Gazette, being the result of His Excellency's personal experience during his two visits to Taranaki, record the facts — that the north-west winds, to which only the roadstead is open, are unknown during the summer months ; that they do not blow home at any season of the year ; that the Government pilot can board vessels, on the average, five days out of every seven ; that sale anchorage may be obtained within easy distance of the shore; and that Government boats are ready for the use of the settlers, at moderate charges. 4th.— That the Customs have been re-esfabh«.hed —an useless expense at Taranaki, if that settlement is inaccessible by sea sth. — That the communication with Auckland and Wellington by land is constant, regular, and safe, so much so, that the mail is transmitted overland by way of New Plymouth. 6th. — That the charge of maintaining troops at New Plymouth would be at least as low as in any j other part of the Colony, as is proved by a comparison of the cost of the chief necessaries, with the expense of procuring the same in Auckland, Port Nicholson or Neis>on. i Proposed by J. T. WicKSTEED,Esq., J.P.j seconded by W. Halse, E*q , J.P. : That the statement of His Excellency in Council is also at variance with the following declarations made by him to the inhabitants of Taranaki, during his last visit to New Plymouth— Ist. — His Excellency declared, at a meeting of some of the principal settlers convened at His Excellency's desire, on the morning of his departure from New Plymouth, — that, for the purposes of landing ca<-»oci, aad the facilities of ingress and egress, the

roadstead of New I'lywuuili was preferable to the Larbours of Welliugtou end Nelson. 2nd. — His Excellency publicly stated to the inhabitants of Taranaki his readiucsf to send vessel* to New Plymouth, for the removal of all the settlers and their property, ami has since actually employed the Gorerumeut Brig in takiug 57 persons fiom New Plymouth Co Auckland — the risk and difficulty of such an undertaking' iv a roadstead, being notoriously greater thau the landing of «oldiers. 3rd.— His Excellency also declared his determinatiou to send troops to New Plymouth on receiving his ftnt reinforcement, even although thai reinforcement should not exceed " half a company ;" and that he pointed out a part of the town moat suitable for tue erection of a barrack. 4th.— His Excellency gave a distinct pledge to the settlers induced to exchange their farms at the Mongauraki for land nearer the town, that iv the event of their removal, they should receive that military protection which he could not afford to them at the Mongauraki. sth.— That the Natives have taken possession of laud within the block included in the last purchase, in the possession of which His Excellency declared that the Europeans should not he molested ; and that the Police Magistrate, iv the absence of a military force, has no means of removing these Natives— who are encouraged, by his inability to enforce the law, to persist in the violatiou of their engagements. Proposed by R. Giixingham, Esq. ; seconded by Mr. Chccman,— That with a view to counteract the injurious effects of the Governor's statement, copies of the foregoing resolutions be forwarded for publication to the several newspapers in New Zealand, to two newspapers in Sydney, and to the London " Colonial Gazette," and "New Zealand Journal;" and that the correspondent of the New Zealand Society be requested to communicate the proceedings of the meeting to the Society. Proposed by J. T. Wickstreu, Esq., J.P. ; seconded , by J. Cutfield, Esq., J. P. — That the Chairman be requested to transmit to His Excellency a copy of the resolutions adopted by the meeting.