DEPARTURE OF THE ARMED CONSTABULARY FORCE FOR PATEA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIV, Issue 612, 14 September 1868, Page 2

DEPARTURE OF THE ARMED CONSTABULARY FORCE FOR PATEA.

rur.LIC MEETING IX THE COUNCIL CLAMILR. OrR readers '.rill remember that the Armed Constabulary Force were last week un ;er orders to proceed to Tot am* ; and, accord- i ingly, on Wednesday last, about a dozen of; them started tor their new quarters —the rest to follow on .Thursday. However, on i i hat clay, Major Fraser received a telegram from Colonel Haultain, ordering him and liis force to hold themselves in readiness to proceed to Patea by the p.s. Sturt, which vessel had been despatched from Wellington for the purpose of conveying the force thither. The men who had proceeded to j LMano were, therefore, sent for, and ar-1 rived in town on Thursday evening. j \\ hen it became generally known that I the Constabulary Force had received the) route for Baton, (he excitement amongst 1 the public was intense, for it was univer-| sally felt that the removal of about sixty 1 well-disciplined men from tins district at; the present critical juncture, was a step in the wrong direction, and one that might possibly load to serious consequences to this Province. It was felt, also, that it might not, even then, be too late to make a protest against the carrying out of this injudicious order. Accordingly, an impromptu public meeting was called for 3 o’clock on Thursday afternoon, and in an incredibly short space of time the Council Chamber wo* filled to overflowing. Mr Ivemkedx occupied the chair. He’ explained the object of the meeting, viz. to give the people ol Xapicr an opportunity ot expressing tlieir disapproval of the action of the General Government in ordering the removal of the the small force stationed in Hawke’s Bay for service at Patca, which, if carried out, would leave outlying settlers entirely unprotected iu the event of a native outbreak iu this Province. The telegram from Colonel Haultaiii stated that the Sturt had already left Wellington ; however, he did not think the people of Hawke’s Bay would be doing their duty if they allowed this order to be carried out without expressing their strong disapproval of the action of the General Government. j Mr Seivtox then moved the first resolution, which (as well as those which followed) was carried unanimously ;

That this Meeting desires to express a feeling of Much surprise and dissatisfaction, at the intelligence received from the General Government of their intention forthwith to remove from the Province Major Eraser’s troop of Mounted Constabulary—at a time when the outlying district of Te Wairoa is without protection in a time of great need. Mr Cuff moved— That a telegram be at once transmitted by the chairman of this meeting to his Honor Donald M'Lean, Esq., containing tire first resolution, and earnestly out respeciiully praying ;hc General Government to recoasidertheir determination to remove the detachment of Constabulary under Major Eraser, and requesting that the same be allowed to remain for the protection of the province. I lie CiiAiiiMiN read the following telegram, which had been received from bis Honor tlie Superintendent; Wellington, Thursday, 3.15 p.m. Captain Kennedy, Napier—inform the public at the meeting that Mr Ormond and 1 did our utmost to prevent the removal of Major Eraser and his force. We formally protested against it as likely tu lead to serious consequences. Ministers, however, persisted in sending them, and the Sturt lias gone from here to embark the force. The public of Hawke’s Bay have good ground for complaint. (Signed) Dox.vld M'Leax. Mr Sutxov moved— That this meeting desires to record its thanks to the members for the district in the General Assembly for having, in the presmit unsettled slate of the province, protested against the removal of the Armed Constabulary Force. (Messrs Newton, Cuff, G. IE Worgan, jun., and others addressed the meeting,— I the last-named gentleman pointing out in forcible terms that the A rmed Constabulary Force was urgently needed at 'Wairoa. The | Chairman quite concurred with what Mr ■ Morgan hud said, that tiro force was required at Wairoa. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings. Later on Thursday evening the following telegram was received from his Honor the •'Superintendent : Wellington, Thursday, 7-30 p.m. Captain Kennedy, Napier,— I have received proceedings of public meeting, aid will at once submit them, as requested, to the General Government, with a request that thev will re-eon-ider what has been done respecting the icmoval of Major Iraser and the force under his lonnnand. The amiuii taken by the Government a this matter is much deprecated by the Hawke’s dav members.

| (Si sued) Donald WLcan. j Early on Saturday morning the pa.ldle jsteamer Si art ui rived in the roadstead, had entered the Iron Pot shortly before [iioon. About 2 pm., the Constabulary |Force, under command of Major Fra-er : md O.tpt.aiu Itiehardson, were marched to pne Eastern Spit, being accompanied by jilie Napier Dross Daint, plating several j popular airs. The Sturt being alongside Uhe Government Wharf the work of em:barloition was soon accomplished. The men having received some pay, and the demands of numerous creditors being satisfied, the Sturt cast oil' from the wharf, .and at 3 lo pm. crossed the bar, amidst Isiid and prolonged cheers from the large concourse of people on shore, which were heartily responded to by the gallant fe 1 - 'lows who have gone to enco liter the t rebels on the West Coast. May success j attend Maj.>p Fraser and Isis brave band, jwlmse sate return to Aapier we hone ere ilong to lie able to chronicle'.