Saturday, March 15, 1845.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 28, 19 April 1845, Page 4

Saturday, March 15, 1845.

Present — The Governor, the Colonial Secretary, the Attorney General, the Colonial Treasurer, Frederick Whitaker, Esq., William Donnelly, Esq., and Theophilus Heale, Esq. The minutes of the last Council being read and confirmed, The Governor observed, that in reference to ■events which had so recently occurred at the Bay of Islands, he should suggest that the consideration of the Estimates, which was the regala* business of the Council this day, should be postponed, as he was anxious to Jay before the Legislative Council all the information which he had (received, and likewise to state his own opinion and views on the measures to be adopted, after which he should be happy to hear the remarks and suggestions of the members of the Council. The postponement of the Estimates was then agreed to. The 'Governor then read the dispatches from Captain Beckham and Lieutenant Philpotts. The Governor then stated, there were neither dispatches nor returns from the military, but he believed four soldiers were killed and five wounded. — It appeared that there were two separate parties of natives in the attack, and their objects were .quite different, and they had had some dispute on the subject on the previous evening. Heki and his natives avowed that their intent was simply against the flag-staff and the soldiers, and the inhabitants of Kororarika and their property would remain untouched by them. Indeed, Heki had saved the life of the wife of the signal man, who was shot through the back z the natives had captured the block-house and signal station before Heki arrived, and were about to murder the wife of the signal man, when Heki interfered, and sent her and her child with the wounded man into the town. —^The attack was made in two directions : Heki's party proceeding over the hills, towards the flag-staff and block-house, — and Kowaiti and tribes of the XowakoWa Sttemptingto enter the town by the Matoui road, and their object was nothing but plunder and outrage.— The tribe of the Kowakowa were heathens, and Kowaiti has for a length of time declared his enmity to Europeans; but he, the Governor, believed that the other tribes were well disposed, and indeed they had cautioned Heki that lie must abide the consequences that might ensue from any conflict with Europeans. — Mr. Beckham had written that some of the tribes had offered their assistance in defending the Europeans against Heki and his companions, but Mr. Beckham had declined the offer; for the reason that it would be very difficult, in any action, to distinguish friend from foe, and he considered that Mr. Beckham had judged wisely and discreetly, lie for similar reasons had declined the offer of neighbouring tribes, in this district, and he should not resort to such an expedient, but at the last extremity. In accepting the assistance of such friends, or pro- , fessed friends, there was the danger hereafter, when they had discovered our weakness, and their own importance, of their wishing and endeavouring from auxiliaries to become our masters. — He thought that, notwithstanding the lamentable event at the Bay of Islands, there was not any real cause for fear or alarm in this neighbourhood, and he considered that it would be wise, in any measures which the Council might suggest, that there should be no display or demonstration which the surrounding Natives might construe into symptoms of fear; or of any distrust or suspicion as to their intentions. From the time he arrived in Sydney, when he first heard of the Wairau affair, he was persuaded that the best course to pursue, considering the small means of defence or of protection the Executive Government of the Colony had at its command, was to avoid every act that should evince our comparative weakness to the , Natives, and also not to attempt even any measures towards them which we could not fully and practically carry into execution, rhis had been his view and principle, and they were still the same. When he found himself firmly in a position, by sufficient military and naval forces, then he assuredly would be found to be firm and uncompromising. He deemed it most impolitic to add in the least to the present excitement, which most naturally had arisen from this lamentable event, or to create any unnecessary alarm ; and most astonished was he, that any one could be so inconsiderate as to circulate among the inhabitants such exciting document as that which he had before him, calling on the public to arm themselves, and to form a volunteer corps. He would read the document. (His Excellency then read the placard which had been posted about the town early in the

morning.) How far Mr. John Moore, the printer of this document was amenable to the laws, unless he gave up his author, would be seen. As to the calumny and falsehood of the concluding sentence, that he the Governor, had wilfulljr and wantonly disobeyed the commands of the Queen and Privy Council, he should only observe, that Her Majesty by her Privy Council, had issued no such instructions whatever. Lord Stanley had instructed him to submit to the consideration of the Legislative Council, a Bill for the formation of Militia, which he had done;, but the Council, as was well known, was unanimously opposed to any such measure. But he would ask, had not the Governor feelings, in common with the rest of the settlers', in adoptingprecautionary measures, to prevent, if possible, tumult, strife and bloodshed? Had he nofamily — no horne — no ties dear to him ? Had he nothing at stake in preserving the peace of the colony ? Was he not deeply responsible, v* his capacity of Governor ? Every hour he expected the troops from Sydney, and he doubted" not, that ere long there would be considerablereinforcements from England. In every depatcb, which he had written to the Secretary of State, he had urged the extreme necessity of the Home Government sending immediate and considerable reinforcement, bsth naval and military. By the Nourwahal, which sailed from this colony in June last, and arrived in England in September, he had written to Lord Stanley, immediately after tha first outrage of John Held ; but tothat dispatch he had not yet received any reply. It was our great distance from England, that rendered it so difficult, and which occasioned such a length of time to transpire before we could be effectively assisted. His Excellency then read various extracts from his own dispatches to Lord Stanley, all depicting with great truth, the warlike character of the Maories, and the extreme insufficiency and weakness of the forces at present in the colony, rendering it perfectly impossible for him, either to protect the settlers from aggression and robbery, or to enforce the decrees of justice and obedience tothe laws, for the maintenance of social order and good government among jhe Native population. Sir Maurice O'Connell had also strongly represented to the Home Government the expediency of having permanently in New Zealand, at least, one entire regiment; and Sir George Gipps had likewise, urged upon the authorities in England, the absolute necessity for similar measures. He, the Governor, therefore hoped that if with the present inadequate means at his disposal, he should be able to maintain order and peace undisturbed, for a few months, there would be by such period,, arrived sufficient force, "both naval and military,, as to secure the inhabitants in all the settlements against any future outrage by the Native population. The Governor then said, he should be happy to hear the sentiments of any member of the Council ; on which, Mr. Whitaker rose and said, that although, far from wishing to create unnecessary alarm, or add to the present great excitement existing, he should avail himself of the permission of His Excellency, and plainly state his opinion on the lamentable crisis which was the subject of their serious consideration. Whatever may have beea the cause in the late conflict that led to the disastrous sequel, it was quite clear that the settlement of the Bay of Islands was swep? away from the map of New Zealand. To prevent such unfortunate similar consequences here, he thought prompt measures should be taken, considering the best security for peace and safety to their families, was to be prepared for any hostile and predatory proceedings on the part' of the Natives. He considered two steps essentially indispensible: — first, was to^fixQusorae place to be fortified, and rendered impregnable as possible from sudden assault, to which females and children could be immediately sent in case of any hostile advance of the Natives ; thetother precautionary measure which he would most strongly urge on His Excellency and the Council iwas, that the European population should be embodied, so as to act in unison in defence of the town, Whicn should be the spot — whether the barracks, or some other ; or in what mode the adult population should be assembled so as to act effectively, he should not discuss, but leave such details to the Executive Government; but he trusted not a moment would be lost, for in his opinion, it was quite clear that we were, at present completely at the mercy of the Native population. d z After a few remarks from all the' members,, and some discussion as to the manner of embodying the population, the Attorney Genej^u moved the following resolution, which '*&&$ agreed to unanimously: — yzm " That the Barracks be immediately madeimpregnable against musketry, and sufficient a» a place of refuge for the inhabitants, of Auckland ; and that the male population of the settlement be sworn in as special constables and 1 efficiently armed, and that sucharrangementsand preparations be made that such armed force can be brought into active servive at the shortest notice under experienced and efficient leaders." The Council then adjourned until Tuesday, the 18th March. ■*