THE MEETING AT PUKETAPU.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 18, 31 October 1861, Page 3

THE MEETING AT PUKETAPU.

A well-attended public meeting was held in pursuance of advertisement at Puketapu, on Tuesday last, when Captain Henton, having been voted into the chair, proceeded to call the attention of the meeting to the objects for which they were met. Mr. Worgax, in his usual eloquent and energetic manner, then went on to show that it was become absolutely necessary that some steps should be taken to prevent a repetition of the outrageous and lawless conduct of the Natives, of which so many instances have lately occurred ; and said that there could be no question but that if something was not done, and that very speedily, some day or other some one would be shot, and thus precipitate matters to a crisis. He further observed that great difficulties beset the settlers on all sides with respect to their relations with the natives, inasmuch as that the Maories considered that they had great cause of complaint, believing that our laws did not protect them in their rights. The answer to this was that no doubt there were instances in which the Natives were unfairly treated, but that the majority of the pakehas were only too anxious to see them fairly treated, and to treat them fairly, if they would listen to reasonable terras. After glancing at the difficult position held by our respected Resident Magistrate, as regards his power to deal with questions arising out of our dealings with the Maories, being tied, as is usual in all great emergencies, by innumerable private instructions from heau-

quarters. He concluded his address by saying that at any rate, let who might be in the right or who might be in the wrong, the wrong, the practice of the Maories taking the law into their own hands was a proceeding so utterly subversive of British law, and so outrageous to British feeling, as if persisted in would inevitably lead to bloodshed, and that the Governor be memorialised to take instant steps to ward off so great a danger, the consequences of which were too fearful to contemplate. The meeting cordially endorsed these sentiments.

Mr. Bousfield then followed to the same effect, adding that ho was one who was determined, if the worst came to the worst, to resist force by force. Mr. Alexander, with his accustomed calmness, deprecated strongly the use of strong language, of which he appeared to think the preceding speakers had made too free a use in denouncing the present state of affairs, and concluded a very well-meant address by saying that it would be better to submit to the evils under which we at present groan than to run the risk of encountering the horrors of war. To all which

Mr. Breingan, in a highly creditable speech, entirely agreed, and enlarged upon the unfairness of the present position of the Natives, who found it utterly impossible to obtain justice if they felt themselves aggrieved, and who had, in a measure, a perfect right to take the law into their own hands, seeing that no other opening was left them. He further dilated upon the great evils which had arised from the non-enforcement of the Native Land Purchase Ordinance.

Notwithstanding the opposition of the two hist speakers, it was unanimously resolved to draw up a memorial to His Excellency the Governor, setting forth the present state of the case as between Native and European, ■which was was accordingly done on the spot by Mr. Bousfield, whereupon a discussion arose upon certain words and expressions used in the memorial; but upon the memorial being put to the meeting it was at once carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the meeting. COPY OF MEMORIAL. That this meeting hogs, with the greatest respect, to call the attention of your Excellency to the present unsatisfactory state of our relations with the Natives. We have unfortunately arrived at such a pass that it has become most unmistakeably evident that, unless your Excellency bo pleased to stej) in between us and them, we shall come into hostile collision. The law, as between Native and European, is a dead letter in this Province. If there be auy dispute between an European and Native, there is no tribunal before which that dispute can be taken for settleincut with any hope of a salisfactorv result. That the Natives may have reason to consider themselves aggrieved iu matters relating to the grazing of cattle upon their lands this meeting is not disposed lo dispute; but wo most emphatically protest against their taking the settlement of these cases into their own hands. To illustrate more fully the position in we stand, the following cases may he submitted to your Excellency as iu point. Messrs. Mc.Kain, of Petane ; cattle wore taken, ami unlawfully retained until certain demands for pasturage should be Ihpndaled ; said demands considered as unfair. Mr. Alley, of Ahuviri; cattle seized in the same manner, and held with same determination. Messrs. Shirley’s cattle treated in the same manner, and for the same reasons. And many other instances could be cited to show that not only do the Natives make unjust demands, but that upon those demands being admitted they go on from bad to worse, and leave ns no other alternative than to resist force by lorec, or to submit tamclv to the tremendous loss which results from file forcible detention of onr proi erties.