NEW PLYMOUTH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 238, 10 February 1855, Page 5

NEW PLYMOUTH.

(From the " Taranaki Herald.")

The native disturbances in the immediate neighbourhood of the Settlement—for many months past a subject of anxious consideration here—have at length claimed the attention of the General Government, and the Native Secretary (Major Nugent) arrived by the Nelson on her last visit with instructions to ascertain the true position of our relations with the native tribes, and with a view to such measures of protection as the state of the Settlement should appear to demand.

While these disturbances were confined to the natives of this district, little alarm was felt by the settlers; and the wholesale massacres which have taken place in the neighbourhood of the town, although deeply deplored and creating temporary consternation, caused no public manifestation regarding the utterly unprotected and defenceless state of the community.

A general, and we believe, a well founded reliance that the bulk of the native population is well affected to the Europeans, coupled with a desire to avoid any unnecessary panic, caused indifference to those precautionary measures which a more prudent "consideration of the situation of the settlement would have shewn to be necessary, and made the latter willing to trust for safety to a security liable, as has been found, to very easy disturbance. The Provincial authorities, however, looking further into consequences, have not been unmindful of their duty during these unhappy occurrences, and representations of the position of the Province were made by the Justices and by the Superintendent to the General Government—the quarter where properly rests the responsibility of providing for such an exigency, and whence alone efficient aid could be looked for.

It is the nature «f native quarrels to complicate difficulties, afid instead of settling1, to perpetuate strife. In the most recent of these affrays, distant tribes were brought into collision with the natives in our immediate vicinity, and several lives were lost, which it is understood are to be avenged, and there seems every probability that this neighbourhood will shortly be the scene of ■further native conflicts. In these circumstances the Provincial Council have considered it proper t<> give the universal feeling a voice, and at a special meeting on Saturday last, passed the following resolutions claiming the protection of troops for the Province.

I. That [the location of a body of troops in this Province during the present feuds amongst the neighbouring Native Tribes, is, in the opinion of this Council, absolutely necessary for the protection of the settlers, and the maintenance of .the neutrality of the Government.

2. That a copy of the foregoing resolution be forwarded to His Honor the Superintendent with a request that he will transmit a copy of the same to His Excellency the Officer administering ilie Government. At Saturday's sitting a despatch from the General Government to His Honor in relation to the present situation of the Province was also laid before the Council, and is to the followingpurport — Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 26th December, 1554. Sir, —Adverting to your letter of the 21st hist., reporting fresh disturbances between the Natives at Now Plymouth, I am directed by the Officer administering the Government to inform you that Mis Honor approves of the steps your Honor has taken in this matter.

The continued hostilities between Ihaia'a tribe, and the Puketapu tribe is nothing more than what was naturally to be expected, and it behoves the authorities of New Plymouth to use their utmost influence at.d exertion to prevent the possibility of any interference on the part of the Europeans, so that no excuse whatever may exist for the natives connecting the settlers with the slightest participation in a feud which is at present entirely between themselves.

His Excellency is still of opinion that the introduction of any military force would be more calculated to do harm than pood, and a less force than that which would he equal to any emergency would be ill-advised in the highest degree.

In the absence of Mr, McLean, the Government propose sending'-Major Nugent, Native Secretary, to Taranaki for the double puvpose of seeing the natives, and, if possible, of bringing this dispute to a termination, and of ascertaining in the eveut of the military occupation of New Plymouth, whether any and what accomodution could be provided for from 3 to 500 men with oificers and proper equipments, and also to ascertain if the Provincial Government is {prepared with the funds necessary for such occupation. I have the honour to be, &c, Andrew Sinclair, Colonial Secretary. To His Honor The Superintendent, New Plymouth. . The substance of this document was warmly commented on, and it must be admitted that it is not a very favourable specimen of the fostering care of Government for the Provinces, recently so much lauded. The difficulties suggested by this communication were, however, promptly met by the Council who passed a string of resolutions as follows— 1. That this Council taking into consideration a despatch of the Colonial Secretary addressed to His Honor the Superintendent, under date 26th December. 1854, is prepared to guarantee to the extent presently stated the repayment of any advances which may be made from the military chest for the erection of a blockhouse or stockade and barracks for a detachment of Troops. " That for the purpose above stated, this Council will pass any bill which shall bejrecommended to it by the Superintendent, charging the Eevenue of the Province with payment for the next ten years of an annual sum not exceeding £1.000 for a detachment of 400 troops. "That compelled by the exigency of the case to consent to the imposition of a heavy burthen on the slender resources of this Province, this Council declares its opinion that the proposed guarantee is one from which the Province clearly ought to be reliered—the expense being in fact to be incurred for the preservation of the Colony at large and for the prevention of a Maori war—and the imposition of such a charge upon a particular district being quite unprecedented.

" That in the event of the acceptance by the General Government of the'proposed guarantee, this Council pledges itself to submit the case to the General Assembly, and if necessary to the Home Government with a view to the relief of the Province."

Memorials extensively signed — one with above 200 signatures—have been forwarded to the Governor, ■ praying that speedy assistance may be given, and if this request be complied with, we may hope that a prompt display of force will deter distant tribes from again making the neigbonrhood of New Plymouth their battle field, or failing that most desirable result, will enable us to guard against the more than probable contingency, that some portion of the European population may be drawn into their quarrels.

Except as lending experience for future guidance, all reference to the past of these difficulties might be well deferred ; hut had aid hee» given at the outset, there is every reason to believe that we should long- since have seen an end of them. Week by week since then ihey hnve been increasing in a gradually widening sphere, while the immediate neighbourhoods of the town, until lately'cngaged in extensive airviculturni operations, are now occupied by bodies of armed natives and bristle with fortified pus. It may not, however, be too late, by a strong display of power on the part of the Government to keep the peace of the settlement, and discourage the natives of distant districts from again approaching the sealed portions of

the Province; that by judicious management on tbe part of the provincial authorities, tle present excitement among our mote immediate SeiMibours may be permitted to subside; and that we may soon have the satisfaction of seeing them gradually returning to their peaceful occupations, so "necessary to the prosperity of both races.