PUBLIC MEETING.-HAMILTON, WAIKATO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 547, 14 August 1865, Page 4

PUBLIC MEETING.-HAMILTON, WAIKATO.

To the Editor of the New Zealand Herald. Gui!g ui! —A public meeting of the settlers from both sides of the river was lield on Saturday evening! August sth, when the enclosed petition and resolutions wore adopted, and knowing how earnestly von have advocated the rights and tlie welfare of the Wail;ato settlers, we beg for a small space in your columns to let the outside world know our actual position. The \Veld Government, it seems to us, are quite indifferent as to whether we sink or swim, hut- the settlers look to the wealth and intelligence of the province of Auckland, for the solution of the question, the success or non-success of the military settlements. Ist. " That the Petition just read be adopted. Carried. 2nd. " That the Petition be entrusted to the care of Colonel llaultain and Knbt. Graham, Esq., Members for the Franklin District, for presentation to the Jlou«eof Representatives, and asking them to support I In- prayer of the said Petition, and that we also solicit the support. of .James Croighton, Esq., the Honorable Member for l'arnell." Carried. iird. "That a copy of the Petition and Resolutions be pent to tlie New Zealand Hebald and the Soiithrni Cws, asking the Editor to be so kind as to give them publicity." Carried. " lVtition to tho Ifor.or.iblc House of Bepresentatalives and Legislative Council of the Colony of ftew Zealand, i" Parliament, assembled, from the Military Settlers residing at Hamilton Jiast aiul Hamilton West, on the Horatiu Kivor, VVaikato, humbly sheweth that your petitioners were engaged in tho sinter Colonics of Victoria and New South Wales as lUiiiuirv Settlers, and upon arrival in Now Zealand wire enrobed as Militiamen in the -tth Regiment Waikato Militia, and having performed some eighteen months' military duty, have been struck oil' pav through having ballotted for their land, and not being in possession of any pecuniary means, your petitioners wish to lay before your Honorable House the present condition oi' the settlement, and if no change takes place its ul.imate fate. The settlement numbers about -.100 adult males, three-fourths of whom are iniirrie i, avi I'SiL'ing a family of three children, making a populutioii'of'Vome 1,000 souls. Tt was a fact patent to the Jieiv Zealand Government when the settlers were m<*a"cil that they were hunafnh- working men, bi.ui'f in possession of no capital, and that when settled upon their farm s ctious on the frontiers of the confiscated country, far removed from tho industrial centres of tlse'eolony, from any ready market for their scanty produce, and surrounded by a wily foe, that it would be a natural and humane duty ou

the utmost of the pi i(;0 oirere(l s0 opened buns KO I settlement very low, 'V 1; 1, Itrin-ent regulations that This, coupled with th r- overv month every man ha- to f itil)<T h ja i nnrt for liis abSXTSSIL -«ri7rSV t&3S&SSBSJ&db& l»rt> or the y,M.Tchanical por.ion of th '™' I;ltions . U was an un- | (loins so b> ttie iiboM. j„ • , eiifa'-e 1 that tlorsf.indiiift with tho sett lev- when c 'V>r- B , 'tn their" active military should bo (mployed upon publ s ' ttlcmc nt s , „, ilk in K roads and portions of and for the ,of "'f;; ' 3 'upon the LrVtTan 1 "gliding 'being carried to thou- engagemeids. And you P d; conse . upon your * ;f S such engagements are quences to the titicnorß not faTtUfulWftafilled. One t md Government, that is, making an advance of a certain amount of seed for the coming Y ' advances are also made daily by the Government to our Maori neighbours, and considering our , ' tion and services, your petitioners consider them.ehe entitled at tho very least to the same generous treatment. Your petitioners still further ask your honorable House to consider the advisability of granting to the militarv settlers tho Crown grants of vour petitioners being of opinion that it would tend to the ultimate prosperity of the settlements by troducing capital amongst them and in many in stances >f class of settlers better adapted to carry out the original intentions of the Government. In con elusion, our petitioners humbly pray your honourable House to take your petitions esse » lto > 01 ' most generous consideration, and grant that speedy relief which you in your wisdom may think fit, fo vonr petitioners will be driven to the direst nccessib if such relief is not granted. " And vour petitioners, as m duty bound, will ere] pray." —