NEW PLYMOUTH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 285, 25 July 1855, Page 6

NEW PLYMOUTH.

At the Vast sitting of the Provincial Council, a Memorial to the House of Representatives and to the Legislative Council, respecting the unprotected state of the Province was settled in committee. It was hoped that the prompt attention of the Government on the return of His Excellency to Auckland might have rendered this measure unnecessary ; but, from the statements made by the Provincial Treasurer, no communication on the subject of the location of troops, or any 'satisfactory arrangements respecting the other precautionary measures suggested in His Excellency \Despateh on leaving New .Plymouth, have yet been received. The utmost dissatisfaction is now being felt at the cold blooded indifference displayed by the Executive to the hourly risks to which the settlers here are exposed. For the last three weeks no mail has arrived overland from Auckland, "whilst day by day the dangers of our position are becoming more imminent. Can it be that after the presence of the Governor here, and his deliberately expressed opinion that the place required the presence of a military force for the safety of.the settlers, thve is a determination not to render the necessary assistance until blood has been shed again in these unfortunate quarrels? The natives of the Hua are now entirely in a state of arnarchy, and some fifteen hundred rounds of ball have been fired in that district within the last ten days, and although there has as yet been no bloodshed, it is apparent to every one that they are working their savage natures to the needful pitch, an. ) that in any hour a life may be sacrificed that will light these feuds into a savage and bloody struggle. We insert in another column an article from the Wellington " Spectator " which contains some judicious remark on tbe character and probable consequences of these difficulties. The meeting to which the article referred to, and the address it mentions, is however by tbe natives of these districts, understood in a different sense, viz., that the essential object was to confirm the Southern natives'in the determination mil to sell 1.-uid, and that the address is simply a blind to lull them into unwary security. On the arrival of His Excellency iv this Province he was unreservedly informed that he would do much better not to interfere, unless his determination was to send protection ; and it must have been generally felt that British authority in fact did suffer rather than benefit by the interference. His Excellency's sense of duty recommeuded on that occasion. What was done then may have been considered advisable, although proving altogether unavailing. But it is now currently reported that the Government, after proclaiming its resolution to send troops to put down the disturbance, is now in friendly and confidential communication with natives hero in arms against the Queen's peace, and engaged month by month in murderous attacks upon each other in the very heart of the I settlement, while the remoiisuauces of the set.

tiers on this lawless state of affairs are treated! with silent and contemptuous indifference.^ Now, if it is true that proceedings of this mis-1 taken and mischievous character are actually in \ progress, it cannot be too loudly or resolutely \ denounced as dragging the Sovereign authority through the dirt, and placing the neck of th^ Europeans in this settlement under the feet oil] the savage. In no other way can the prosecution of such contemptible measures result. Already has the truckling and irresolute policy of the Government in its dealings with them left our sole reliance for peace on the most abject 'subjection to the native will, or the desperate alternative of a resistance involving nothing short of a war of extermination between the races. Let it pause before it is too late to remedy the evils occasioned by its pusillanimous* rule. Already does the native make free with our goods without lawful warrant; drive our labourers from their work; and harass us with trespasses; and all this with arms in their hands—a state of things not calculated to endure very much longer.— Taranaki Herald.