MR. RICHMOND'S ADDRESS TO HIS CONSTITUENTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 294, 23 April 1869, Page 2

MR. RICHMOND'S ADDRESS TO HIS CONSTITUENTS.

(From the Taranaki Herald, April 10.) A meeting was held in the Taranaki Institute, on Saturday last, for the purpose of affording the Hon. J. C. Richmond an opportunity of addressing his constituents. His Honor H. U. Richmond took the chair. iJis Honor said that he had called them together, pursuant to a notice, that the hon. member for tlie Grey and Bell might discuss the affairs of the colony, not only with his constituents, but the public generally. The Hon. J. C. Richmond then rose and said that, although he had not been able to find time to prepare himself properly for addressing his constituents, it was impossible for him to visit the place in its present circumstances without meeting them, and giving the opportunity of discussing the difficulties and needs of the hour. If what he had to B ay could be confined to those walls, he would be able to speak with perfect freedom. He had no political secrets to keep from the people of Taranaki, and should like to open his mind to them. But what was said in that room was sure to be repeated elsewhere ; and it would be obviously wrong to publish plans of military operations which might be repeated to the enemy. There were, moreover, unhappily, political divisions in ihe country, which imposed great caution on a member of the Government in speaking of matters which might have to be subjects of negotiation and compromise. The policy best for the North Island difficulty mußt be affected by that agitation which had long been, and was now going on, called the " Separation movement." The division of the colony, whatever might be said in its favour, when order should be established, would be fatal to the North at the present time, except on terms which the South was not likely to agree to. Any policy that might be proposed must therefore be carefully framed, so as not to justify the hostility of the South, but to secure support from the colony as a whole. He (Mr R.) had no d iubt in his own mind as to the line of action required in their present difficulties; it must be large andcomi rehensive, not dealing only with a limb here and a limb there, but going to the heart of the mischief. The Government bad had this in mind for a long time past, although the means at their disposal, and the constant local disturbances, had not allowed

iem to reach to that point where their inntions would be obvious to the colony. The >licy must be comprehensive, but it must be udent, and must be calculated to extend rer some considerable period. The Governent would have nothing to do with, and ould oppose any gambling policy — any heme which pretended to cure the evil at a sh. It was a longstanding evil, and would quire time to heal. We must, not again ?k a large amount on a hasty effort, which iglit break down and leave things worse an it found theni. In 1863 we assumed at a year's fighting would end the war. He lit H.) said '• we," not wishing to disclaim 1 responsibility for the policy of 1863, alough he was one of the few who were least blame, and who never had confidence in (in the form actually adopted). General imerou's large army and our military ttlers swept through the country, carrying 1 before them for some time; then the army is withrawn ; the militHvy settlers vritht capital oozed away; and we remained in state of insecurity, which stopped progress; that bankruptcy must have followed but r events which the colony could take no edit for — he meant the time of discovery large goldfield in many parts of the untry. No such gambling policy must be ied now ; they must fall back on more imdrtim and less ambitious plans, but more r seeing and more business-like in their tlook. Had he spoken at three o'clock sterday, he should have congratu;ed himself in stating that a material step wards such a plan as he had been referring was about to be made. It hud been inlded leaving this part of the colony in a irely defensive state, to move the bulk of c force towards a central position, from lich it could operate radically on the bands murderers who were disturbing and reatening the settlements around the coast, s would have told them that Colonel hitmore, after disposing of Te Kooti from eh a position, would devote the intervals quiet to opening up lines of communieam to all points on the circumference, int plau was not abandoned, though probly deferred. The direction of the forces mid have to be partially changed to meet c emergency close at hand, of which they d just heard. He was glad of the accident at brought him there at the juncture, d looked for war) with satisfaction to the osptct that we might shortly try concluins with the murderers from Mokini, on ound well known to us all. But he felt newhat at a loss how to proceed in exunirig his views because he did not wish rther to anticipate in this discussion, movejnts which would hereafter have to be ide. Perhaps, however, he had sufficiently ited the general policy the Government oposed. It was not by any means new to >m, although they had not thought it wise use it as a flag, and perhaps excite suasion and opposition For nearly three ars past they had been quietly pursuing s attempt to connect the coast with the erior by means of roads. The small funds the Native Department had been drawn on with the double object of opening up s country, and encouraging the friendly tives to improve their property by conucting roads, for which the Government bsidised them. It seemed to him the best y in which the natives could be helped the'puhlic purse. Three lines of road from ints on the coast to Taupo had been begun ; c from Maketu, through the Arawa coun- ', was complete, and if not a dray ruad, yet nearly one that our force marching over it lid, in a few days, improve those points lich needed it, and then an army with its ggnge and artillery might be marched >m the coast to Taupo through a friendly untry. The other two lines were only it begun ; one of them was to Hawke's y, the other to be a second point in the y of Plenty; and both were stopped by 5 disturbances on the Fast Coast. Before lg he (Mr R.) hoped they might be lumed, and works begun, so as to connect i West Coast with the centre. We not propose costly contracts for these rks, but to make them part of the duty of r permanent force. Our design is that the gislature should authorise the maintenance a regular force for a definite period — say c years. At present the service, though 11 paid, is a thankless one ; the uncertain ;ion of the Legislature may turn it adrift, reduce it, at any hour, having used it for the roughest duties of soldiering. This »ht not to be. A soldier's life, setting de its dangers, is, we all know here, a serable one at best. The Legislature mid do its utmost to make it palatable, c pay was good, but to make it a premium good men, some little durability of *agement was necessary. We must not >ect to get good men to consent that we >uld use them as tools for our emergencies, cast them awny as soon as the danger was it. The country would not be secure for ne time without a trained force. On the n proposed, a mere handful of men, comatively, would be needed, but it must be cient. To maintain it so in intervals of ice, it should be kept industrious ; and it >uld be moved in detachments from place place, opening the country and showing ;lf everywhere. All should have their ular periods of comparative rest in depot, ey should all go through a trailing as ihmen in districts where, as in Taranaki, :h training might be had within the limits a settled district, without menace or alarm anyone. A great advance had been made ■ing the recess, in the discipline and effincy of the Armed Constabulary. Thanks the untiring energy and pluck of Colonel litmore, (bear, hear,) they were now most them at home in the bueh ; it bad lost its xor and mystery to them. They had iten up all the settlements of Ngatiruanui several mileswithin the forest. They had >wn great patience and activity; and in his vate letters, where men speak more fully in in official reports, Colonel Whitmore rered to them in the highest termß. He r BO w&b sorry to see that the newspaper

here had taken tip a tale from other papers, disparaging our men's conduct at Ngatapa as compared with the natives He kuew by personal observation that this was not just. They had taken their full share of danger, and more than their share of toil. The most difficult positions were occupied by both Europeang and Maoris, and it was quite certain that without the Europeans the place could never have been taken. The Maoris had as much courage and more activity, but our countrymen had the advantage in persistency and patience. They had borne the duty in the trenches admirably, repelling sallies of the enemy, and not only keeping their own watches, but the Maoris' also, who, in spite of everything, would go to sleep during the nights. He believed some of our people had not had any sleep for Ihree days and nights, but such as they could snatch leaning against the wet banks in the drizzling rain. It was true they had not shed so much blood as Hie natives, for the bulk of the enemy were killed in flight, and the Arawas and the Ngatiporous, especially were experienced bushmen, and understood the pursuit. It was Drobable that the Patea force, of about 600 men, now accustomed to the bush and prepared to go anywhere, were at that time breaking up camp to move this way. We have already despatched seventy mounted men to Tau'po, by way of Manawatu and Hawke's Bay, to support the loyal tribes there who are menaced by Te Kooti, in his attempt to unite witli Kereopa and Hakaraia. Thi3 was the beginning of the true military policy of the country. In reference to the native part of the constabulary, he (Mr R.) would tell them that they would be surprised to Bee the improvement which discipline made in the Maori. The Arawa company was a body of as fine, active, handsome young men as could be found in any army in the world. If the weather served, Colonel Whitmore might be expected up in three or four days. If any attack were made before his arrival, the settlement was strong enough to repel it, and keep the enemy outside the districts, where he could do serious damage, until the arrival of the main force. — [Mr Richmond then turned to the prospects of the coming session of the Assembly.] — If any man should arise with clearer views, a better general plan than the Government, or more able to influence the country to the adoption of a sound policy than they were, he could say for himself and his colleagues that, notwithstanding the storm of reproaches they had experienced, it would be seen that politicians could be patriots. If such a leader with such a policy came forward—and he repeated it must be no gambling policy — he for one was prepared to make way for him and support him. But he felt bound to say that he saw a very poor prospect of any strong Government being formed under any leader now before the country. The political questions which distracted the country made strong parties almost impossible, and paralysed every combination. If the native question stood alone it would be a simple matter, but it was intersected by those other questions of separation and provincialism. The battle really was one about pounds, shillings, and pence — whether in shor , the revenue should be entirely absorbed for general purposes, including the protection of life and property in the north, or whether a part of it should be reserved for local public works. A party which was agreed about the provincial question broke to pieces when separation or the defence of the north came to be dealt with. To his (Mr R's) mind ir seemed certain that.with unity ,we could easily secure peace, but amidst the conflict of interests the first was the difficulty. He (Mr H.) firmly believed, however, that the true interest of the South was best to be serve i by terminating the Maori struggle. By interest, he meant not the petty trading interest of the hour, but the large and truly commercial interest which takes a longer sweep of vision and considers a future some little distance off. In that sense it was the interest of the South and North alike to drop agitations, and adopt a deliberate and comprehensive policy, and to secure the prosperity of the colony through the settled peace of the North.