THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3140, 5 June 1879, Page 2

THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

DEPUTATION TO PREMIER

The deputation appointed at the meeting on Monday waited upon the Premier in the afternoon.

The Mayor read the resolution which had been passed, and added that there was a feeling prevalent here that the people should be fully armed ; and about fifty had put their names down for the purpose of forming a Volunteer Corps.

The Premier : 1 think the Minister for Defence slated on Saturday that all those who would enroll themselves as Volunteers should be armed at once. He would take measures to do that immediatelj r , and I think he made himself distinctly understood upon that point.

Major Atkinson : We want to have written conditions from the Government under which we are to serve.

The Premier : He stated that he would make any alteration in the present conditions that he could. That and other points you have raised shall be immediately taken into consideration by the Government. It imposes a very difficult duty on the Government, and a very difficult one to carry out ; but still we will give immediate attention to the matter.

The Mayor stated that settlers from all parts of the district had attended the meeting, and there seemed a general idea that some measures should be taken. They felt extremly anxious, and those in out-districts with wives and families went to bed in fear, considering themselves at the mercy of a fanatic ; and therefore they thought the Government should take steps to preveut any possible slaughter.

The PBEMIER thought it a pity that the deputation had not put something to that effect in writing. He thought an expression of the real danger of the position should have come from the inhabitants themselves : that might be douc without putting it in too frightful a form. He understood the position to be this : that as long as a fanatic could use the influence which Te Whiti did, there was great danger to the whole community.

Major Atkinson : I think, Sir George, the settlers felt that the Government being on the spot, they could be fully acquainted with a-ll the circumstances of the case. They do not wish to raise any alarm, but wish to bring the matter prominently before the Government.

The Premier said the people were in a positipn to supply information to the Government. The case should be plainly stated, because it went to their fellow colonists throughout the country.

The MAYOR said that such information was contained in the memorial they had presented to the Premier.

Major Atkinson : Do you doubt the cause, Sir George 1 The Premier : I do not doubt it in my own mind,

Major Atkinson : At present we are merely addressing the Government, and not our fellow colonists. Perhaps the time may come for that.

The Premier : I think you are addressing me and not the Government. For instance I am asked to deal with quasi rebel natives. Now that is not the exact cause for apprehension I understand.

Major Atkinson : We submit, sir, whether you understand our views or not, you have a luty to the country, and us as peaceable settlers, and your duty is plain. We come merely and say this is a fact. The Premier : I do not doubt my duty at all, or the facts. They should be expiicicly stated, and we should have some testimony.

Major Atkinson : We can have a public meeting and give you all the causes.

Colonel Trimble : Do you wish a simple statement of facts from the putting off of the surveyors 1

The Premier did not think there was any necessity for historic facts ; but he should understand precisely what their views upon the subject were, and there shoul I be something of a documentary nature for record.

Colonel Trimble explained that with regard to the resolutions passed they kept out allusion to Te Whili's powers, or assumed powers, because they did not wish to excite the feelings of the people. It was within the cognisance of the Government that the natives bslieverl in Te Whiti, and their acts were influenced by -him. In all probability the Government knew more than the people about these things. Mr. H. R. Richmond said the difficulty was for them to discriminate between saying sufficient and too much or too little. Some action must bs taken immediately by the Government. The powers of endurance of the settlers were taxed to a frightful extent. They wished to support the Government to the uttermost, but felt they should have a large force on the spot. What alarmed them at first was the .answers of the Government, and the proposal to send twenty or thirty men. It was apparent that the Government lid not appreciate the gravity of the position. Any move they might make might produce a frightful calamity," and grave consideration was required.

The Premier : Perhaps I need say no more. I have expressed my views.

Major Atkinson : Are we to understand that you desire us to call a public meeting and express our views clearly ?

The Premier took it to be a matter more for the conservators of the peace than a public meeting.

Captain Skeet asked if they were to assume that the Government were not aware of the present state of affairs.

The Premier believed the Government were aware, but they wanted something to go upon. In the case of all disturbances he had ever kuown it was usual for the justices to send in to the Home Secretary the precise danger they apprehended, and ib was upon that they acted.

Captain Skeet : All that tends to procrastination.

The Premier did not think it would take half-an-hour. He simply stated what he considered would be a regular mode of proceeding, and he thought such information should have been telegraphed to the Government immediately. The justices should make a presentation.

Major Atkinson was afraid that if the fact of five men ploughing on Mr. Courtney's land was not sufficient, they would fail altogether to move the Government. They wanted action and not talk.

Mr. Carringto said that a fanatic might have a dream ih it he was to murder the European settlers, and what was there to prevent him doing so.

Mr. Standisii was not a Justice, bur if Sic were one, he should be only too willing to give every information.

The Premier observed reporters present, and in that way the information he desired might appear on record. He did nol want Ihis for the purpose of stirring the Government to action. It was not to hurry them, but he thought men who had to act under such circumstances should kuow the precise grounds upon which they were acting. - Major Atkinson took it that, they were not - responsible for newspaper reports. He hope 'l they would not be' taken as an official documents in future. He, for one, as a. Justice, would be glad to afford any information in his power.

The Premier said what they really wished to know was what was the precise source of danger against which provision was to be made.

Captain Skeet said no one was satisfiel with what the Government had done as nothing had been clone to allay anxiety. The settlers were in greater fear now than before, because the ploughing still continued.

The Premier : I certainly did not come here with the intention of taking any steps of the kind I understand you to mean. I came here myself, and I believe it was the intention of my colleague to take steps which should be of a permanent character, not to be hurried. 1 came to consult with the leading , men of the country to understand what can be done for your permanent welfare, and not to take any instantaneous act with regard to any ploughing that may be going on. I am certain that is the view of the Magistrates, because nothing can be stronger than the conclusion of their memorial. I think you should have a sufficient force, and I think the peace of the settlement should be perfectly certain before any attempt is made t o do anything. Perhaps the mere presence of a force may be sufficient to prevent hostilities. If the idea is that I came here to do .something instantaneous at all hazards a:i-l risks, the sooner I remove that impression the better.

Mr. Standish said instantaneous action was what was wanted.

Mr. Courtney said he saw an old Maori in town who had told him that Te Whiti was waiting to see what the Government would do. The whole of the young men had been for weeks quietly drawing towards Parihaka, and they might get orders to commence fighting at any moment. It was therefore desirable that there should be a large available force in the district to meet them.

After some remarks regarding arms, made by Mr. King, The Premier promise 1 to see at ouce that there was an abundauce of arms sent to the district.

Mr. Kelly said it appeared to him thai the Maoris who were ploughing were supporte 1 by natives at Parihaka, and the out districts were paralysed.

The Premier said it appeared to him thai an important link of argument had been omitted from the papers placed before him. These papers became public documents, aaA most serious results might spring from them.

Mr. Kelly : The impression is that the Go vernment were acquainted with this.

The Premier : I simply wanted to know the real danger that threatened the settlement. I have it in my belief, but it should be expressed in your belief also. Mr. KELLY : There is the taking possession of the Plains, the sheltering of Hiroki, and the ploughing. The Premier : Everyone of the circumstances you name are manifestations of some disease, and I wanted attention called to some central point from which this emanates. Captain Skeet : When taking the Plains they made the excuse that they occupicl them because confiscation without occupation was not confiscation.

The Premier : They will find an excuse for everything. Captain Skeet : The progress of the disease is patent to everyone.

The Premier : I have seen it myself for some tinia likely to come on, and I have been sedulously working in other lirectious for the safetj' of the place.

Mr. Richmond said the general feeling was that they should have a Minister to remain here over the present criiicnl period. He thought it would very much reassure the people.

The Premier : I think that will be a difficult thing for me to promise. You can always get a Minister in fifteen or sixteen hours, but just before the session meets I could promise to have one stopping here.

Major Atkinson submitted that if they could not have a Minister there might be a Government Agent. Mr. Staxdish said with regard to the settlers enrolling themselves as volunteers he thought they should be merely a protective force for their own homes instead of a moveable force.

The Premier said he would accept their services to protect their own homes. He considered it the duty of every man in New Zealand to bo able to defend his own home against the natives or a foreign foe. If they were prepai'ed to defend their properties they might leave everything else to the Government. He had been attacked for not allowing the Hinemoa to go out of the Colony for the purpose of bringing one Governor and taking away another : but the thought of the safety of the lives of the settlers of New Zealand made him determined not to let her leave the Colony. The people of New Zealand would insist upon being put into a state of security.

Major Atkinson" said the deputation wished particularly to know what the present Ministry would do. When could he give them a definite answer to that question?

The Premier would have to see his colleagues, and it would take some days to db that. Thiugs would be done as rapidly as as possible.

Major Atkinson : The impression we received on Saturday was that you would give some assurance before you left. Are we to have l o declaration of what steps the Government intend to take ?

The Premier : I cannot attempt to answer so spec lily. I cannot make a general statement, and not go into details. I think I have given every assurance I can, and I say unhesitatingly that if our acts meet with dissatisfaction it is unjustifiable. I am perfectly certain there will not be disapproval long, but it is belter that there shoul I be some than that I should take a wrong step. The question was put to me would I promise that a force should be sent here. I answer thai such a force as the Government think necessary to provide they will provide.

Mr. Carringtox thought an assurance of that" kind was satisfactory. They must give some credit to the hca,l of the Government.

Mr. COURTNEY could say unhesitatingly that on Saturday the deputation left Avith the assurance or impression, that the Premier would make them a definite promise that day (Monday). For the Government now to say that it would take some days to consider, was not what the settlers wanted. They could not stand this suspense, and would have to take it into their own hauds, if the Government did not interfere.

The Premier: So that there can be no misunderstanding on the subject, I may state that I will not be bullied. I have had threatening telegrams sent me — telegrams containing most improper things ; and, while I am determined to do everything in my power for the settlement, I will do nothing wrong. However wrong the language used to me, it shall not prevent me from doing right. I have spoken explicitly, and nothing will move me from trying to do what is right, with caution and prudence.

Mr. King : The future may take care of itself, but the present is imperative.

The Premier : We don't neglect the present. There shall be no delay whatever in taking every step that is necessary for the security of the settlement. The deputation returned thanks and withdrew.