MEMORIAL OF THE SUPERINTENDENT AND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL OF TARANAKI. TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR ON THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THAT PROVINCE.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1862 Session I, A-11

A—No. U

MEMORIAL OF THE SUPERINTENDENT AND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL OF TARANAKI. TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR ON THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THAT PROVINCE.

PRESENTED TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, BY COMMAND OF HIS EXCELLENCY, 18th AUGUST, 1862.

A—No. II

To his Excellency Sir George Grey, X.C.8., Governor of New Zealand, Vice-Admiral of the same, &c, &c., The Memorial of the Superintendent and Provincial Council of the Province of Taranaki, humbly showeth, — That the present position of this Province is most deplorable ; we had hoped that our privations, sufferings, and losses were known and recognised by your Excellency and your Advisers, and we had looked forward with confidence to the future. From your Excellency's silence with regard to us in your Adlress to the Assembly, we appear to be beyond your sympathy for the past, or hopes for the future, and we feel bound to conclude that your Excellency and your Advisers consider our present to be so satisfactory a position, that our past and our future require at your Excellency's hands neither regret nor anxiety. We therefore think it is our duty to represent to your Excellency what an increasing burthen this Province is to the Colony, and tat, injustice to this Province and the Colony, a period should be put to the present demoralizing influences on the population. Since March, 1860, a great portion of the population has derived its main support from Militia pay, supplemented by almost eleemosynary relief in cases of large families ; this latter source of expense has been and is still increasing from the circumstance that those heads or families whose pride has hitherto prevented them from applying, find themselves with their private means exhausted and their families dependent on them for the means of existence ; sons neglect their duties to their fathers and families leaving them to get through the difficulties that are before them, and although snme bright examples of kindly and family feeling have been shown in the war, the vices of human nature are more developed than the virtures, in a period of privation, suffering, and a disorganised soaial condition. We earnestly press on the favourable consideration of your Excellency the following propositions, for determining the present state of the population of this Province. That a sum of, say £200,000 be raised by the General Assembly on the security of the C.tl.iy the interest and sin king fund to be paid out of the Colonial Revenue, and the principal to be a charge on the future Revenue of this Province to the extent of 50 per cent, of the increase over the average Revenue for the past five years. This sum to be for the payment of compensation in full to the settlers, and that three months notii c should be given to every one to take his compensation, and after that date no rations or assistance be given by the General Government either here or at Nelson. That the various Provinces be invited to gi y e free passages to such of the population as will accept it. That the various Provinces be authorised to s 11 land to such persons as may wish to remove, to the extent of the approximate value their land in New Plymouth was worth befote hostilities commenced, and with a deferred period of say five years for the p ayment. With reference to the Tataraimaka settlers, whose farms held under a Grant from the Crown, are now in the possession of the Southern natives, and who are forbidden by the Government to return t> them, and also a great number of bush settlers, your Memorialist feel unequal to make any propositon to meet the exceptional state of that portion of the population.

ORDERS OF THE DAY. EXTRACTS FROM MINUTES OF COUNCIL. Provincial Council Chamber, 7th August, 1 £62. Moved by W. K. Hulke arid seconded by W. Bayly, " That this Council feels both surprised and hurt at the omission in the Governor's opening address to the House of Assembly at Wellington, of all allusion to the critical position of the Province of Taranaki with regard to its native population. That a province in which Martial Law is in force, and has been for over 2| years, in which European settlers have been wantonly niurdered without regard to age—in which armed bodies of Natives have been suffered with impunity, to hum, plunder, and destroy properly to a large amount and to hold by right of conquest a large and highly cultivated district, deserves in the opinion of this Council some consideration in a speech of such importance, more particularly as the greater part of its population are now obliged to be supported by the General and Provincial Governments. All agricultural pursuits and trade having long ago ceased to exist, the remaining population being centered in Town or at the Stockades, whilst a very large body have been expatriated to Nelson by order of the Military authorities" \Y. K. Hulke moved " That the Memorial be printed and that copies be forwarded to His Excellency the Governor and to the members of Taranaki for distributi on." Question put and passed. W. K. Hulke moved " That the motion standing in his name be printed and appended to the' Memorial and copies sent to His Excellency the Governor and the Taranaki members tor distribution.'

MEMO E I A L