Council Papers.

Taranaki Herald, Volume III, Issue 122, 29 November 1854, Page 3

Council Papers.

THE LATE NATIVE AFFRAY. Message No. 13. New Plymouth, Nov. 21, 1851. The Superintendent has the honor to transmit for the informfi'lon of the Provincial Council, further copies of correspondence in connection with Message No. 7. CHARLES BROWN, Superintendent. The Horn The Spoiker Provincial Council. The documents communicated with this Message were : Ist, a Despatch from the Provincial Government in relation to the affray, with an account of the casualties attending the same, which, as all the particulars were made public at the time, we have omitted. There follows a communication to his Honor from the Colonial Secretary, with the subsequent correspondence as given below, Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 29th July, 1854. Sir,— l have tho honor by direction of His Ex» collcncy the Officer administering the Government to inform you that the Government have received a letter from Hone Ropihn, a Native Assessor and one of the principnl chiefs of tho New Plymouth Province, requesting that a Garrison of Troops should be quartered there, and His Excellency would feel obliged to your Honor if you would favour him with your opinion on this subject. I have the honor to be, ike, (Signed) Andrew Sinclair, Hin Honor Colonial Secretary. Tho Superintendent, Wow Plymouth. Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, 13th October 1851. Sir,— l have the honor to acknowledge tho receipt of your Despatch of tho number and data quoted in the mnrgin,* ttnting the rcnoluiion of Ills Excellency respecting a Garrison for Taranaki. His Excellency having Already arrived nt o positive conclusion on this subject, on considerations satisfactory to the mind of Hit Excellency, I feel that it is unnecessary for mo to express any opinion although by your prior communication of tho 29th July His Excellency had done me the favor to re« quest a statement of my views. It being, I think incontestable, that the peace of tho colony is nt the present moment moro threatened here than elsewhere, tho people of this Pro< vinco cannot but be gratified at the special reliance His Excellency ia pleased to place on their pru> dence. and good conduct as equivalent to a military guard in other distiicts, apparently in lest danger of disturbance. In connection with the subject of the despatches above rcforred to, I have tho honor to enclose a copy of a Resolution adopted by the Bench of Magistrates of the Province which has been forwarded to me by the Resident Magistrate, from which it would appear that the Bench entertains views on that subject somewhat at variance with those of his Excellency. With reference to thii resolution I feel it my duty to mako my protest to his ExcoN leney against tho opinion that the military defence of this Province is under existing circumstances a local ohargo. I boliovo I shall have the concur" renco of hia Excellency in the contrary opinion, that so long as a military force is maintained In * Published in No. 119, "TaranaUi Herald."

these islands at the expense of tho mother counlry. the inhabitants of the several Provinces are equally cniilled to the protection it affords, and that it would be a manifest injustice to saddle a small Piovince with the heavy cost of self defence, whilst othor parts of the colony enjoy an immunity from such a charge, and engross, moreover, all the collateral benefits arising from a large Government expenditure. The charge of the Military defence of the place is, I respectfully submit, under existing circumstances, the concern of the General Government. Tho military power and the rrsponsihi* lity for its duo and impartial employment resting solely with his Excellency. And I conceive that the Provincial Government will have en» tirely acquitted itself on the subject of the Rcsolu. tion by arquainling hit Excellency with the scntimcntß of tho Bench. In making these observations I beg that, for tho reasons above stated, I may not ho considered by His Excellency as expressing or insinuating nn opinion respecting tho actual necessity tor a military forco in Taranaki or other warlike precaution. I havo tho hom.r to he, &c, CHARLES BROWN, Tho Honourable Superintendent. Tho Colonial Secretary, Auckland.

Resident Magistrate's Office, New Plymouth, 3rd October, 1854, Sir—At the request of tho Bench of Magistrates I have tho honor to send herewith for the information of your Honor, copy of a resolution adopted by them at a meeting this dayi" I have tho honor to be, &c, JOSIAH FLIGHT, His Honor Resident Magistrate. The Superintendent, New Plymouth. Copy of a Resolution adopted by the Bench of Magistrates of the Province of New Plymouth at a Meeting held the 3rd October, 1851. That in reference to the recent unfortunato cnllision amongst the Puketnpu natives, His Excellency tho Officer administering the Government hay ing stated in a letter to the Resident Magistrate that a military Forco cannot be ipared for the de« fence of this settlement, the Bench uf Magistrates conceive it to be their duty to communicate tho abovo information to the Superintendent, and to express to His Honor their opinion that under tho circumstances stated, such steps ns may bo within tho resources of tho Province should bo taken for tho defence and security of tho inhabitants against the consequences of present or futuro excitement amongst the Natives.