WANGANUI.

New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Volume V, Issue 347, 5 June 1844, Page 3

WANGANUI.

On the 17th May, a meeting of the Wanganui settlers took place at the Court House, Wanganui, Peter Wilson, Esq., J.P., in the chair, to take into consideration their position will) respect to the New Zealand Company, and particularly the remuneration to be demanded for loss of time and expenses incurred in endeavouring to obtain possession of their--lan<L The following resolutions were adopted : 1. Proposed by^Dr. Rees, seconded by Mr. Thring, that—

A deputation be appointed to wait on Colonel Wakefteld for the purpose of ascertaining whether he, as the Principal Agent of the New Zealand Company, is prepared to give remuneration to the settlers in this district, for time and funds expended in endeavouring to get possession of their land. 2. Proposed by Mr. Thring, seconded by Dr. Rees, that —

If liie answer of Colonel Wakefield be not satisfactory, the deputation be empowered to express to him the unbounded indignation the settlers feel at the treatment they have ittdivi- . dually and collectively received from him as the Agent of the New Zealand Company. ' ' -

After the deputation consisting of Messrs. Wilsen, King, Lowther, Thring, Rees, Gilfillin, and Churton had been appointed, the meeting adjourned. The above gentlemen then waited on Colonel Wakefield, and briefly stated their object to be to obtain such remuneration for past outlay in endeavouring to obtain possession of their lands, and for loss of time consequent on being kept out of possession, as by reference to disinterested parties should be found just and reasonable.

Colonel Wakefield replied by assuring the deputation that he had no funds at his disposal for such a purpose, but if a fair andireasonable statement of their expenses were made out, he pledged his honor hewouldLundertakc to forward it and to recommend if to the Directors as one- worthy of consideration, and that in fact he' had long since represented the ce.se of the Wanganui settlers to be one of considerable hardship, and he had no doabt

the Directors would give a much larger sum than any he felt authorized to pay.

After the deputation retired, some discussion took place as to the degree of reliance to be placed on the assurances of the Company's Agent ; some of the members df the deputation having from past experience good reason to doubt his sincerity, whilst others considered that every thing which in reason could be desired had been obtained.

The adjourned meeting took place on Wednesday, May 22, and was fully attended.

The chairman opened the business by stating what had transpired between the deputation and Colonel Wakefield, which he observed was of such a nature as to remove the necessity of acting on the second resolu^ tion, and proceeded to observe that, since the last meeting, the settlers position was completely altered, that although they had assented to Colonel Wakefield's proposition to send a statement of their case to the Directors in London and wait their reply, yet that now the Company having failed to complete their purchase of this district, by the natives refusing further payment, he did not conceive they were now bound to act up to their Had the Company been enabled *to/giye the settlers possession of their land, l^pf'that time further claims on the Company V6uld have ended, now, however, they were interminable. That, instead of the speedy settlemont of the land question, as at the former meeting had been expected, they had nothing but a still longer series of neglect and inactivity, and he put it to the meeting whether Wanganui was still to b*e that Elysium by whose attractions they had hitherto been as it were t magically bound, or take the only course in his opinion left, viz., to apply to his Excellency the Governor for his interference between them and the New Zealand Company, in order to compel remuneration for past outlay, and for the mean 3of transporting themselves and families to Auckland or its vicinity, where they could have the protection of the Government, and exert peaceably that industry which they had hitherto been prevented exercising.

Dr. Rees observed, that they must first assure themselves that the Local Government intended to withhold protection from this settlement — that by Mr. Spain's award the Wanganui block, with the exception of native reserves, had become the property of the New Zealand Company — that they had, froiri very good authority, every reason to believe' that Government would very soon take an active part in supporting settlers in possession of their lands — that every days experience proved the only way of doing this was by a show'of military foree — that they had better first ascertain the intentions of the Local Government in this respect, and should it be found that the settlers were condemned still to continue in the same neglected state as they hitherto had been, the sooner they appealed to the Governor for his interference, and the means of removal the better ; he therefore proposed —

That a humble memorial be forwarded to his Excellency Captain Fitzroy, setting forth the treatment the Wanganui settlers 'have received from the New Zealand Company, their position with regard to the Aborigines, and praying that immediate government protection be extended to this settlement.

This resolution having been seconded by Samuel King, Esq., was carried nem. con.

After considerable further discussion relative to the power of Government to compel the Company to do the settlers justice, and the right of the latter to an action at law Against the Company, it was agreed that in the memorial to his Excellency a full statement of all grievances be made, and that ihe further consideration of the claims against the Company and the propriety of petitioning the Governor for his interference between the settlers and the Company -be adjourned, until a reply to the memorial be received from Auckland.