PUBLIC MEETING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume VII, Issue 345, 12 March 1859, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING.

In pursuance of a requisition addressed to the Superintendent by thirty-five^f the inhabitants of this Province His Honor convened a Public Meeting, which was accordingly held at the Masonic Hotel on Thursday, at noon. Notwithstanding the short notice the meeting was numerously attended. His Honor having been voted into the chair briefly stated the object of the meeting, and also that he had already officially represented the state of the Province and the urgent want of land to the Governor ; that His Excellency sympathised with the Taranaki settlers, and would cause every effoit to be made to acquire land from Native owners disposed to sell, but was precluded by Her Majesty's special instructions from coercing the Native owneis who were unwilling to sell. That arrangements would shortly be made which would empower the Commissioners of Native Reserves to let, or, if needful, to sell them. That with respect to the land purchased by Mr Cooper in the Waiwakaiho block, and taken possession of by Henry Puni, the Chief Land Commissioner had engaged to take immediate steps upon his arrival at AVellington to induce the Chief Te Puni to withdraw his claim, and place that valuable open land at the disposal of the Province. The following resolutions, were unanimously adopted by the meeting : — Proposed by Mi W. C. King, seconded by Mr W. K. Ilnlke— " That in the opinion of this meeting a fmther supply of open land is indispensable to the piospenty of the Piovince." Proposed by Mr R. Brown, seconded by Di Neild— " That in older to make known this mgent want a deputation, coiibisting of Me«sis. W. C. King, F. A. Canington, 11. L. Redhead, F. U. Gledhill, J. C. Neild, and R. Blown, be appointed by this meeting to wait upon the Governor, and to represent to His Excellency that the want of a supply of available open land has occasioned the removal of many old settleis, impedes the progress of resident piopiietors, and prevents immigiation to this piovince." Pioposed by Mr H. L. Redhead, seconded by Mr Shaw—" That whilst this meeting has. cveiy confidence in Mr Pairis's exeitions, it is of opinion th.it the presence of Mr Commissioner McLean, fiom his known experience and intimate acquaintance with the Native question, would materially promote the early acquisition of new blocks of land." Pioposed by Mr F. A. Cainngton, seconded by Mr J. L. Newman — " That the deputation be empowered to solicit Hib Excellency to peimit the Chief Land Purchase Commissions to leturn to this Province at the eailiest convenient peiiod foi the purpose of proenring, if possible, a supply of open land." Proposed by Mr Kulke, seconded by Mr Mace — " Tlut this meeting do stand adjourned until 4 p.m. on Saturday, to receive the report of the deputation." With the exception of an appropriate appeal to the meeting by Mr W. C. King enjoining unanimity, which produced the desired effect, a well merited eulogium passed by Mr Redhead on the Resident Land Purchase Commissioner, and some pertinent observations by Mr Hulke respecting the large tribal and individual Native reserves in the Waiwakaiho block, the brief introductory speeches of the movers and seconders of the seveial resolutions contained little subject matter not embodied in the resolutions. Mr Brown then moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman, who had clearly shown that he was not unmindful of the interests of the community. Mr McKechney seconded the motion, His Honor had communicated to the meeting the only good news respecting land he had^heard since his (Mr McKechney's, ar-

rival in the province two years since. If only a fifty acre section were acquired, it was a new feature, and would probably lead to the purchase of other land, he therefore most coidially joined in thanking his Honor. The meeting then adjourned. His Excellency the Governor's acceptance of Teira and Retimana's offer of land at Waitara may be considered as the first step towards the re-occupation of that distiict, and opens out a new era for Taranaki. Yet important as the offer is, especially when considered in relation-to the expressed determination of the Governor to purchase the claims of individual natives as opportunity offers, it is to its consequences rather than to any immediate results that we have to look. It may be some time, a considerable time perhaps, before the great benefits to be derived from the offer will be realized, bui it is highly gratifying to know that the system we have so long advocated, (and which completely succeeded in "the purchase of the Bell district,) is at length formally recognised and assented to. It is true that the natives named have only assigned their individual interests to His Excellency, but in so doing they have shaken off the ban that has so long enthralled them, and set an excellent example which will not be lost upon the natives. The practice hitherto adopted of requiiing the assent of all the natives before accepting offers of land from any of them has tended directly to the non purchase of land — placed the seller at the mercy of the non seller — discouraged him in his efforts, and in more than one instance has added him to the list of dissentients. At the meeting of Natives on Tuesday the Governor most distinctly stated that he was prepared to buy individual claims to land, but that he would not consider the purchase of a district complete until every claimant had given his consent to the sale and been fairly compensated. . The declaration will have the effect of pacifying the natives on their most fertile subject of quarrel since the reliance they feel in the integrity of the government will leave the most turbulent and unruly amongst them no pretext for the adoption of violent steps in defence of their lights. The Provincial Council on Wednesday adopted an Address, based on the Repoit of a Select Committee, praying His Excellency the Governor to wind up the Land Claims Department in this province on the grounds set forth in the Address. Some of the piovinccs (including this) have not unreasonably remonstrated against being taxed with the expenses of giving title to the New Zealand Company's land claimants instead of the Colonial Government, who occasioned the arrears by preventing the Company fiom executing the Conveyances sanctioned by Act of the Imperial Legislature. But the " opinion "of the Council does not mend matters, " that all claims to land [purchased from the Company] should lapse if not preferred within a given period, or only be revived on payment of heavy fines besides the expenses of adjudication," and, further, that " the Commissioner of Claims [the Judge of his own Court] should be instructed to report in favor of a reputed owner to land if there be no other claimant, without satisfactoiy documents of title !" His Excellency is gravely asked to appoint such a date and to issue such instructions if in his power to do so, or if not, then his Excellency is asked to refer to the General Assembly or to the Imperial Government to sanction the measure. The interests sought to be tampered with — interests members have shewn themselves tenacious enough of in their own cases — are already protected by the high authorities to whom the Council appeal. A pievious study of the Acts of the Imperial and Colonial Legislature referring to the Company's settlements would, we cannot but think, have spared the Council their present folly of seeking to dispossess landed proprietors because they do not ask for grants under an Ordinance disallowed by the Home Government, and only empowering the Colonial Government to carry out its provisions with the consent of the interested parties (vide Report of Select Committee.) The grave and chronic error of our Provincial Council is meddling with subjects (in the present instance according to their own showing, and most fortunately for the parties interested) with which they have no business. To His Excellency Colonel T. Goro Browne, C.8., Governor of New Zealand, Sic, &o. The memorial of the Superintendent and Provincial Council of Taranaki respectfully sheweth,— : 1. That there exist great arrears of work in the I

Office of theTLand Claims Commissioner for the said Province, and that these arrears arise chiefly from the fact that the majority of tho possessors of land purchased of the late New Zealand Company do not forward their claims in respect of such land to the said office, and the Commissioner is, by this neglect, prevented from adjudicating on many other claims which have been iornarded but which are connected with the former. That many of the original sections have been subdivided, and that subdivision takes place from day to day. That transfers have been frequently made of these subdivided pieces and other entire sections without any valid documents or legal evidence existing of such transfers. That the Commissioner is instructed to report on all claims forwarded up to tho date of his report. That these arrears are of an accumulating nature, and threaten piolonged expense to the Province and great trouble to individuals. ' 2. That there are no means in the hands of the Commissioner for remedying this evil. 3. That jour Memorialists are of opinion that the most eflecturl method of proceeding in the case would be, to apioint as eaily a date as appears equitable before v liich all claims referring to land in this Pro\ince must be ioru aided lo the Office of the Commissioner i or, tailing to be fomarded, shall lapse and only be jevivable on payment of heavy fines besides the expenses of adjudication. And your Memorialists are further ot opinion that the Commissioner should be instructed alter (he eviration of the term so appointed to report in favor of all claims duly forwarded by the leputcd owneis of the land claimed and not met by counter-claims, even though such claims may not be supported by satisfactoiy documents or legal evidence of title. And your Memorialists theieiore piay your Excellency to appoint such a date and to issue such instructions, if the power is in yoni Excellency's hands to do so ; or, if not, then your Memorialists pray your Excellency to apply to the Geneial Assembly of the Colony, or to the Imperial Government, to sanction such arrangements. And your Memoiialists will ever pi ay, &c. On Tuesday a meeting of the Moturoa, Town, Waiwakaiho, Puketapu, and Waitara Natives was held in a paddock adjoining the residence of the Land Purchase Commissioner. It was less numerously attended than many former ones, the muster of the Waitara natives being particularly small. Shortly after 11 o'clock His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by his Private Secretary and the Chief Land Purchase Commissioner, arrived on the ground and was welcomed by the assembled natives the whole rising up to receive him, with the exception of William King and some few of his followers. The principal chiefs then paid their respects to the Governor. Tahana, a Native Assessor, opened the proceedings by acknowledging the benefits conferred on the Natives by the introduction of Christianity and European customs and expressed the desire of himself and his tribe to have British law established amongst them. Mr McLean on behalf of his Excellency spoke as follows :—: — The Governor wished them to understand that the Queen regards equally all her subjects ; that al] her Governors have had and would have the same instructions, viz. :—: — to do their utmost to promote the welfare of her subjects without distinction of race. The missionaries had imparted to them the blessings of Christianity and translated the Bible for their use. It was not in the power of man to confer any other gift which would bear comparison with that of the Bible ; but, out of regard for the natives, his Excellency had caused an abstract of English law to be translated into Maori. He had no wish to enforce this law ; on the contrary, it would only be put in force in those districts where the people are wise enough to desire it, and prepared to carry it into effect themselves. Some tribes in the North had already desired to have English law ; and a Magistrate had been appointed to instruct them how to put it into practice. They were now engaged in doing so, with every prospect of becoming a peaceful and prosperous people, and uniting themselves with the Pakeha. This tribe is the Ngapuhi. The Governor had but two subjects on which he desired to speak, particularly, to the tribes living near Taranaki, and they were — First, in reference to criminal offences ; second, in reference to land. He wished these subjects to be considered separately, and as having no sort of reference to each other. The tribes in the vicinity of Taranaki have greater advantages than most others, as they are much intermixed with the Pakeha, and ought to profit by their intercourse with them. If they chose to live peaceably and cultivate their lands they would grow rich and multiply, instead of which they were constantly at war with each other, and their numbers were decreasing. Their disputes were almost always about matters of little or no importance, or about land which was not worth quarrelling for. Had the Governor been in New Zealand when Katatore slew Rawiri he would have had him (Ctntinutd in Supplement.)

(Continued from third page of paper.') arrested and brought before the Judge, and, if the Judge had sentenced him to be hanged, he would have caused him to be hanged ; that he had not thought proper to arrest Ihaia, because though the murders Jji which he was a party were horrible and disgraceful, yet they admitted of some extenuation, inasmuch as they were committed in retribution for the murder of Rawiri. All this, however, now belongs to the past ; but, for the future, he had determined that every man (whether he be Maori or Pakeha) who may commit any violence or outrage within the European boundaries shall be arrested and taken before the Judge, and the sentence of the Judge, whatever it may be, shall be carried into effect. He was determined that the peace of the settlers should no longer be disturbed by evil doers, and that those Maoiies who are not content to live in peace among the Pakehas had better go elsewhere. In reference to the second subject, the Governor thought the Maories would be wise to sell the land they cannot use themselves, as it would make what they could use more valuable than the whole ; but that he never would consent to buy land without an undisputed title. He would not permit any one to interfere in the sale of land unless he owned part of it; and, on the other hand, he would buy no man's land without his consent. Tahana again addressed his tribe approving of that portion of his Excellency's speech declaring that if murder were again committed that the murderer should be arrested and tried by British law. He then supposed a case of a native policeman or assessor (himself) shot whilst arresting a murderer, and inquired who would avenge him. Jle stated that if he were assured of the support of his Excellency, as he knew his Excellency would receive the support of the Queen, he could hereafter single handed arrest offendeis. Te Teira, a Waitara Native, then stated that he was anxious to sell land belonging to him, that he had heard with satisfaction the declaration of the Governor referring to individual claims, and the assurance of protection that would be afforded by his Excellency. He minutely defined the boundaries of his claim, repeated that he was anxious to sell, and that/he was the owner of the land he offered tor sale. He then repeatedly asked if the Governor would buy this land. Mr McLean on behalf of his Excellency replied that he would. Te Teira then placed a parawai (bordered mat), at the Governor's feet, which his Excellency accepted. This ceremony, according to Native custom, virtually places Teira's land at Waitara in the hands of the Governor. Hemi Kuku then followed and stated his desire to dispose of land at Onairo, but in consequence of violent opposition his offer was not then entertained. Piripi, a relative of Ihaia's, then offered his land at Waitara ; his right to sell was denied by Te Teira, Te Waka (a town native,) and several of the Waitara natives, who asserted that his land was forfeited as payment for the murder of Katatore by his relatives. Paora then informed the Governor that Te Teira could not sell the land he had of- I fered without the consent of Weteriki and himself, as they had a joint interest in a portion of it. ' Te Teira replied to him, and was immediately followed by William King, who, before addressing the Governor, said to his people " I will only say a few words and then we will depart," to which they assented. He then said " Listen, Governor. Notwithstanding Teira's offer I will not permit the sale of Waitara to the Pakeha. Waitara is in my hands, I will not give it up ; elcore, ekore, eJcore," (i.e., I will not, I will not, I will not. " I have spoken !" and turning to his tribe added " Arise, let us go" — whereupon he and his followers abruptly withdrew. Kipa, a Waiwakaiho native, then expressed the satisfaction that the Governor's speech afforded him and proposed that henceforward British law should not prevail beyond the Waitaha. Matiu, a Hua native, wished to address His Excellency on the King movement, but was informed that another opportunity would be afforded him. The meeting then separated. Yesterday the deputation appointed by the public meeting held on Thursday was most graciously received by the Governor and the result of the audience, which was highly satisfactory, will be communicated to the adjourned meeting to be held this after- ] noon, at the Masonic Hall, at 4 o'clock.