PUBLIC MEETING.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 16, 25 January 1845, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING.

We earnestly invite the attention of our fellow settlers to the advertisement calling a public meeting for this evening, at Mr. It. Davis's, to consider the propriety of making immediate application to Sir G. Gipps for additional 'force," to protect the settlers in Cook's Straits from the outrages of the natives, now of daily occurrence, and to prevent, if indeed it be not already too late, that collision between the two • races, which is inevitable, if tlie same impunity hitherto extended to native aggressions by onr infatuated Governor be any longer continued. The recent intelligence from Wanganui and Nelson must have convinced all, that this is not the time for apathy and indifference — but that we must all be " up and stirring."

On Wednesday ' last, a despatch was received from Nelson with intelligence that Paramatta, (a chief who has always been noted as a troublesome character, and who received additional compensation from the New Zealand Company on the occasion of Mr. Commissoner Spain's last visit tc Nelson,) with a considerable body of natives had been creating a disturbance in a district in the neighbourhood of Nelson, called the Happy Valley situate between Wakapuaka and the town. The natives had been guilty of many acts of aggression towards the settlers and bad threatened to burn their houses, crops, &c. On the receipt of this news a messenger was immediately dispatched along the coast to inform his Honor Major Richmond of the circumstance and to request assistance. The settlers at Nelson were endeavouring to concert measures for their "safety jiaut it was hoped that the Bazar <Twould shortly visit that settlement and afford them protection. It is stated that Paramatta has but lecently returned in the Lady of the "Lake from Kafia, where he has been for the purpose of consulting with the chiefs of that tribe, and arranging with them a systematic plan of operations against the settlers. Ev^ry week it becomes our painful duty to record some bitter illustration, some fresh proof of the consequences of Captain Fitzroy's suicidal conduct of which we are the destined victims. The Maories have been taught by the impunity which the Governor extends to them that they may do as they please, while the settlers are expected on every fresh aggression :—: — " To bend low and in a bondsmans key With bated breath and whispering humbleness," to thank the lordly savage that while he takes their property, he is content for the present to spare their lives. Inventors of new systems have their claims to paternity acknowledged by transmitting their namps to their offspring. Thus we have the Bell and Lancasterian method of instruction, there is also the Hamiltonian system which by some is considered a royal road to knowledge. In the same way the Native Ordinance Exemption if rightly designated might be called " the Fitzroy systom of robbing made easy, adapted to the meanest native capacity," and it will go hard but they will better the instruction. The natives in the Hutt district defy the authority pf- the Government, and treat their injunctions with contempt ; the natives at Wangauui follow their example, and well informed in precedents cite the cases of Heki and "King Rauperaha" with evident complacency as stamped with the imprimatur of Captain Fitzroy's approbation, and they find ready imitators at Wakapuaka. - What next ?

We perceive by an advertisement in to-day's paper that the barque Caledonia is laid on the berth for London. We understand she will be principally loaded with timber and bark, and the spirited parties 'who have chartered the vessel have very wisely determined on fixing a low rate of freight, being a sort of ex-perimental-cargo, we heartly wish them success ; and We have no doubt but timber will Very soon become the great export of this country, if due care and judgement is used in the selection for the European market. * The Caledonia, ire believe, is a very fast sailing vessel, although she made a Jong passage out having to. contend with calms and. contrary winds.