TAKANAKI IN THE PAST.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8638, 26 November 1889, Page 3

TAKANAKI IN THE PAST.

GOVERNOR FITZROY ON NEW PLYMOUTH.

Foety-five years ago there was considerable excitemert in New Plymouth owing to nows having been received from Auckland to the effect that Governor Fitzroy had stated in the Legislative Council that Taranaki was inaccessible by land as well as by sea, and a settlement where troops could not be kept. A meeting was immediately convened, and the following particulars we gather from a copy of the Wellington Spectator, which has been kindly forwarded to us by Captain P. Wilson, of Okaiawa. The meeting was held at the Devon Hotel, New Plymouth, on May sth, 1845, when Mr F. U. Gledhill was called to the chair.

Mr J. Flight, J.P., proposed, and Mr J. 6. Cooke, J.P., seconded, the following resolution: — "That the declaration of His Excellency the Governor to the Legislative Council of New Zealand on March 25, 1845, that ' Taranaki is inaccessible by land as well as sea, and a settlement where troops cannot be kept,' is calculated to inflict serious injury on this settlement, and is contrary to the following notorious and incontrovertible facts : That several years before the colonizing operations of the New Zealand Company were commenced, vessels of large tonnage from Sydney frequently visited Taranaki and remained in the roadstead for a considerable time discharging merchandise and receiving cargoes of native flax; and that this trade was interrupted, not by the perils or in•onvenience of the roadstead, but by the destruction or removal of the inhabitants in consequence of war with the Waikato tribes; (2) That since the arrival of the Brougham with the surveyors of the New Zealand Company, in the beginning of 1841 , more than 200 vessels of various size from small schooners to large ships have safely landed their cargoes and more than a thousand immigrants at New Plymouth. (3) That the " Remarks on the Roadstead of New Plymouth," and the sailing instructions published with His Excellency's sanction in the Government Gazette, being the result of His Excellency's personal experienceduringhistwo visits to Taranaki, record the fact — that the north-west winds, to which only the roadstead is open, are unknown during the summer months; that they do not blow home at any season of the year; that the Government pilot can board vessels on the average five days out of every seven ; that naf e anchorage may be obtained within easy distance of the shore ; and that Government boats are ready for the use of the settlers, at moderate charges. (4) That the Customs have beun re-established — a useless expense at Taranaki, if that settlement is inaccessible by sea. (5) That the communication with Auckland and Wellington by land is constant, regular, and safe, so much so that the mail is transmitted overland by the way of New Plymouth. (6) That the charge of maintaining troops in New Plymouth would be at least as low as in other parts of the colony, as it is proved by a comparison of the cost of the chief necessaries with the expense of procuring the same in Auckland, Port Nicholson, or Nelson." This was put to the meeting, and carried unanimously. Mr J. T. Wicksteed, J.P., proposed, and Mr W. Halse, J.P., seconded, " That the statement of His Excellency in Council is also at variance with the following declaration made by him to the inhabitants of Taranaki during his last visit to New Plymouth :—(1): — (1) His Excellency declared, at a meeting of some of the principal settlers, convened at His Excellency's desire, on the morning of his departure from New Plymouth, that for the purposes of landing cargoes, and the facilities of ingress and egress, the roadstead of New Plymouth was preferable to the harbours of Wellington orNclßon. (2) His Excellency publicly stated to the inhabitants of Taranaki bis jeadiness to send vessels to New Plymouth for the removal of all the settlers, with their property, and has since actually employed the Government brig in taking forty-seven persons from New Plymouth to Auckland — the risk and difficulty of Huch an operation in the roadstead being notoriously greater than the landing of BoWlan. (8) HU Excellenoy alio tto« pM His detwrotoatfou to mi troopp

to New Plymouth on receiving his first reinforcement, even although that reinforcement should not exceed "half a company," and that he pointed out a part of the town most suitable for the erection of barracks. (4) His Excellenoy gave a distinct pledge to the settlers induced to exchange their farms at Mongauraki for land near the town, that in the event of their removal they should receive that military protection which he could not afford to them at the Mongauraki. (5) That the natives have taken possession of land within the block included in the last purchase, in the possession of which His Excellency declared that the Europeans i should not be molested ; and that the Police Magistrate, in the absence of a military force, has no means of removing those natives who are encouraged by his inability to enforce the law, to persist in the violation of their engagement." This was also passed unanimously. Mr R. Gillingham proposed, and Mr R. Chilman seconded — " That with a view to counteract the injurious effect of the Governor's statement, copies of the foregoing resolutions be forwarded for publication to the several newspapers in New Zealand, to two newspapers in Sydney, and to the London Colonial Gazette and New Zealand Journal ; and that the correspondent of the New Zealand Society be requested to communicate the proceeding of the meeting to the Society." — Carried. Mr J. T. Wickstead, J.P., proposed, and Mr J. Outfield, J.P., seconded—" That the Chairman be requested to transmit to His Excellency a copy of the resolutions adopted by the meeting." This was carried, and the meeting adjourned.