THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3137, 2 June 1879, Page 2

THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

A Large and influential meeting of. citizens and settlers was held in the Borough Council Chamber on Saturday afternoon, to consider the affairs of the district with regard to the native difficulty. Amongst those present we notice! the Mayor. Colonel Trimble, Major Atkinson, M.H.R., Mr. T. Kelly. M.H.R., Ml Carrington, M.H.R.

Colonel Trimble was, o;i tho motion of the Mayor, elected Chairman.

The Chairman said : — Gentlemen, I feel a little embarrassment in taking the chair because I am not the originator of the meeting, and I was only asked to come to it as one of those interested in the general welfare of the place. Under these peculiar circumstances I do not know exactly the line that it is best to take. I do not know what the gentlemen propose to do in the shape of resolutions— l mean those gentlemen who called the meeting together, but I apprehend in a general way that our object is to ascertain the general feeling of those deeply interested in the welfare of the district as to what ought to be done in the present emergency to bring our difficulties properly under the observation of the Governor and Ministers who are now in New Plymouth, to show them what our feelings are, and to ascertain, as far as possible, what their feelings m.ay be in regard to us at the present state of affairs. There is no doubt whatever that we all feel the gravity of the position, although we hope for the best and most of us ai'e sanguine that our difficulties will be got over : still there is no doubt that a false step might aggravate m itters very much, and therefore in anything that is said it is of very great importance that there shoul 1 be moderation of language. We must, in fact go about the matter as business men, who want to arrive amicably at a settlement of our difficulties. There is no doubt that if any hostilities arise in the district, there would be very great suffering and great loss. Now it is to the interest of cveiy man, as far as possible minimise these sufferings and these losses, and I am sure that everyone has come to this meeting with a firm determination to do what he can to aid the Government in everything that is right. and honest aud fair iv settling our difficulties. I do not know whether any gentleman present is prepare! with a resolution, but I think that to bring the business into proper order, we should be prepared with one before wo have any discussion. The reason of that is that if I begiu to hear speeches all round, I find myself in the position of hearing a groat deal which is irrelevant, and therefore it would be wiser to have a resolution before we proceed to business. Perhaps som3 gentlem\n interested in bringing the meeting together will proposed something to us.

Mr. T. King, who was the first to rise, said that when reliable information of the Mioris ploughing at Tapuae reached town, he and several other gentleman held a meeting, and agreed that no time should be lost in communicating to the Government what was going on. Mr. Parris, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Staudish, himself (Mr. King), Major Stapp, Mijor Tuke, and several other gentlemen agreed to form a Committee amongst themselves, aud communicate to Government every information they received of what was g )iiig on around them. On the 27th. Mr. Kelly sent him a telegram for transmission t > the Government, but, since reading it over, they thought it desirable that some such resolution as this: —

New Plymouth, May 28, 1879. To tho Hon. Sir George Grey, Premier.

We, the Justices of the Provincial District of Taranaki, arc glad to learn that the Government is satisfied that it is in such a state of preparedness that it feels itself strong enough to deal with any emergency that ma} r arise out of what appears to us a very threatening .aspect of affairs. There is in this district, however, not sufficient appearance of .such strength or preparedness either to allay the anxious feelings of the settlers or to duly impress the minds of the natives. We are of opinion that an exhibition of the power, the Government can wield on any emergency by strengthening the district by iirmc I men would do more to make the natives act as peaceable subjects than any civil action in a court of law is likely to do. A feeling of uneasiness and distrust is spreading amongst the settlers, and a disposition is arising to use force in removing any native who may venture in other districts to occupy laud, as has been done at Tapuae. They feel that the process of a civil suit is very right ' and proper as between Lvv-nbiding subjects to ' settle a matter of disputed title, but it is not the right and proper procedure for a Government to take in dealing with quasi-rebel natives who by force dispossess peaceable subjects of land held under Crown grant. They are persuaded that if the unlawful acts of these misguided individuals are not dealt with promptly by tho. Government, they will so spread as, sooner or later, to result in actual collision bstween the two races. Thej r consider that such a calamity may be avoidc I by the Government at once arresting these men, having previously male such a disposition of their forces as to render any .subsequent attempt at rescue hopeless. These arc the opinions of the people of this district, briefly expressed, aud in which we generally concur. Wo, however, recognise the fact that the Government is responsible for the maintenance of peace and order : we have, therefore, no wish to appear to dictate what action the Government should take in this emergency, but hope that no action will bo taken to repress the present aggression of the natives without previously providing for the protection of the district by an overwhelming force of armed men."

Mr. Fookes stated that as this was one of the telegrams that was not scut they might hear what was sent and the answers to them.

The Chairman requested a seconder to the motion before entering upon discussion.

Major Atkinson would second it as generally embodying the views he held at the present time. He hoped the meeting would not proceed to go into the whole question of what the Committee did or the Government hal done. It appeared to him that the time for that ha I not arrived, and he thought it would be better, and wiser to appoint a deputation to see the ministers. After laying bifoi-c them the resolution and stating their views on the gravity of the position, they might learn in au official way what the Government think of the situation, and when they had arrived at that stage it might bs right to have a public meeting, and, if necessary, take further steps in the matter. He urged that the wiser course would be to lay their views of the situation before Govera-

ment, and hear from thorn what they wore going to do as they were charge 1 with the peace of the Colony. He was .sure that cvciyone in Taranaki was prepared 1o give the Government every support. The general desire was to get this troublesome business settled as soon as possible.

Mr. J. Jones, as one who look an interest in native matters, wishel to know what recommendations had already bean made to Government by local justices, and what were the replies received ?

Mr. H. R. Richmond said he had a hand in getting the meeting of justices together, and he did so because he thought that some authorised body should present their view of the condition of the settlement to Government, and that it would be inexpedient on the account oE the excitement, it might cause to call a public meeting. He considered the Justices of the Peace had a right to express their opinion as a body fon the condition of the province, and he was very glad t<> find that this resolution had been drawn up, as it very closely embodied his opinions. He believed that auy action that miglit be taken now to repress this aggression on the part oE the natives would bo fraught with the greatest danger, unless it was supportc I with" a force that the natives would recognise as overwhelming. It was a difficulty that might be har I 011 the Colon} 1 " at the present time, but it was one that should be faced. There should be no delay in showing these men that we intend to carry out the law.

Mr. T. King read a telegram sent by the committee to the Premier, and tho Hon. Mr. Sheohaa vvliuu they first nut. After stating that the ait of aggression was under instructions of To" Whiti, it referred to the probability oE Waitara, Urenui, and other out districts being similarly occupied by the natives. The question was one oE a most serious character, as it seemed to them that an important crisis was at hand, and the Government should hi prepared to meet an emergency by which disastrous results might follow. It was not a question of party feeling or political action, but merely an expression of opiuio.i. (Applause.)

The Chairman asked for the reply to be read.

Mr. King did not think they were justified in reading telegrams sent from tho Government, as the} r were of a semi-private nature sent to the justices.

Mr. Fodkes wished to know if the Government hal intimated what would be their polic} r . He read a telegram he himself had sent to the Hon. Colonel Whitmore. Ho knew nothing of the meeting referre I to, but having heard that telegrams had been sent, he wired that there- was a strong feeling hero that settlers should be at once armed, owing to the threatening attitude of Tc Whiti, who might send Maoris who could easily destroy the settlement, and asking what action woul I the Government take ? The Government replied, stating the number of arms in tho place, and what men they could send. Should any emerge: icy arise, they were willing to mjot it. It urge:! the settlers not to give auy excuse for violence.

The Chairman was not desirous to know the answers sent by Government to the Committee ; it was for the meeting to take independent action.

Mr. Kelly, M.H.R., agreed that by reading the answers received from the Government, they would be diverting from ihe object of the meeting. Ho would explain the circum-.tances under which he wrote the telegram now submitted to them iv the form of a resolution. An emergency meeting of justices and others took place, and it was found necessary for them to act at once, They thought as simple settlers iv -the province, that "it was their duty, as it "was the duty of all men, to take action when an emergency of this kind arose. They met, aud a Committee was appointed to scud telegrams and consider the position of affairs. There was another meeting, at which he was not able to be present, but he seat a telegram to it, which he thought rcprosente 1 the general feeling of tho place, and i£ tho Committee approved of it they could send it to Sir George Grey, as Premier of the Colorry. Unfortunately, through some misapprehension, the telegram was not sent. but now it was brought forward as a .substautitive motion for the meeting to deal with. There was no doubt iv his mind that they ought to confine themselves as much as possible to that. It shoul Ibe cousidoro I totally from a party question, as it was one which affected tho whole district. It wa* not a question whether this or former Governments were responsible for native affairs. Fortunately, Mr. Parris went to Parihaka to judge for himself, and reportc Ito the Government what was Te Whiii'.s mind on the subject, and he found that Te Whiti ha.l not only authorised thi-S but said that he would carry it on. That, to his mind, was a most dangerous sfate of affairs when dealing with men or fanatics who were supposed to be guided with supernatural feelings. The question which surges' el itself to him was that finding these difficulties had arisen, they meet them tho best way they could. It required careful consideration, and it would' be very foolish for them to commence any thing until they were in a position to do so. The position was one oE gravity : oue that they must face, and, to face it effectually, he thought something of the sort propose I in, tho resolution should be done. (Hear, hear.) Mr. T. Wilson (Uronui) stated that his fellow-settlors were living in a state of groat anxiety. They were detached from civilisation, ami. owing to the condition of uncertainly in which they were living, they had no energy to cultivate the lands which they had bought ; and, therefore, the sooner something was done the better. (Applause). The Chairman then put the motion to the mooting, and it was carried unanimously. ' - Major Atkinson proposed that a deputation wait upon the Premier to lay their views before him ; such deputation to consist of the Justices oE tho Peace, the Mayor, County Chairman, the three members of the Assembly, and settlers from out-districts.

The motion was approved of, anl Major Atkinson appointed Chairman. The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.