TARANAKI.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 35, 7 June 1845, Page 4

TARANAKI.

Ai a meeting of the Inhabitants of Taranaki, held at the Devon JHotel _on tjie stidfe^w,' 1545, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted. F. U. Gledhill, Esq., in the chair. Proposed by J. Flight, Esq., J. P., seconded by J. G. Cooke, Esq., J. P., That the declaration of his Excellency the Governor to the Legislative Council of NewZeaon the 25th March last, that " Taranaki is inaccessible by land as well as by sea, and a settlement where troops cannot be kept," is calculated to inflict serious injury on this settlement, and is contrary to the following notorious and incontrovertible facts. Ist. — That several years before the colonizing operations of the New Zealand Company were commenced, vessels of large tonnage from Sydney frequently visited Tai*anaki, and remained in the roadstead for a considerable time, discharging merchandize and receiving cargoes of native flax; and that this trade was interrupted, not by the perils.or inconveniences of the roadstead, Tmt by the destruction or removal of the inha-' bitants in consequence of war with the Waikato tribes. 2d. — That since the arrival of the Brougham with surveyors of the New Zealand Company in the beginning of 1841, more than 200 vessels

of various sizes, from smull schooners to iaige ships, have safely landed their cargoes, and more than a thousand emigrants, at New Plymouth. 3d. — That the " Remarks on the Roadstead of New Plymouth," and the sailing instructions published with his Excellency's sanction in the Government Gazette, being the result of his Excellency's personal experience during his two visits to Taranaki, record the facts — that the northwest winds, lo which only the roadstead is open, are unknown during the summer months ; that they do not blow home at any season of the year ; that the Government pilot can board vessels, on the average, five days out of every seven ; that safe anchorage may be obtained within easy distance of the shore ; and -that Government boats are ready for the use of the settlers, at moderate charges. 4th'. — That the Customs have been re-estab-lished — a useless expense at Taranaki, if that settlement is inaccessible by sea. sth. — That the communication with Auckland and Wellington by land is constant, regular, and safe, so much so, that the mail is transmitted overland by way of New Plymouth.6th. — That the charge of maintaining troops in New Plymouth would be at least as low as in any other part of the colony, as it is proved by a comparison of the cost of the chief necessaries i with the expense of procuring the same in Auckland, Port Nicholson, or Nelson. Proposed by J. T. Wicksteed, Esq., J. P., seconded by W. Halse, Esq., J. P., That the statement of his Excellency in Council is also at variance with the following declarations made by him to the inhabitants of Taranaki during his last visit to New Plymouth :—: — Ist. — His Excellency declared, at a meeting of some of the principal settlers, convened at his Excellency's desire, on the morning- of his de-parture-from "New Plymouth — that for the purposes of landing cargoes, and the facilities of ingress and egress, the roadstead of New Plymouth was preferable to the harbours of Wellington or Nelson. Id. — His Excellency publicly stated to the inhabitants of Taranaki his readiness to send vessels to New Plymouth for the removal of all the settlers with their .property, and has since actually employed the Government Brig in taking fifty-seven persons from New Plymouth to ! Auckland — the risk and difficulty of such an ! operation in a roadstead beingnotoriouslygreater I than the landing of soldiers. 3d. — His Excellency also declared his determination to send troops, to New Plymouth, on >( receiving his^first reinforcement, even although that reinforcement should not exceed " half a j company," and that he pointed out a part of the town most suitable. for the erection of barracks. 4t&. — His Excellency gave a distinct pledge to the settlers induced to exchange their farnis at the Mongauraki for land nearer the town, that in the event of their removal, they should receive that military protection which he could not afford to them at the Mongauraki. sth. — That the natives have taken possession of land within the block included in the last purchase, in the possession of which his Excellency declared that thefEuropeans should not be molested ; and that the Police Magistrate, in the absence of a military force, has no means of removing these natives, who are encouraged by his inability to enforce the law, to persist in the violation of their engagements. Proposed by R. Gillingham, Esq., seconded by Mr. Chilman, That with a view to counteract the injurious effects of the Governor's statement, copies of the foregoing resolutions be forwarded, for publii cation, to the several newspapers in New Zealand, to two newspapers in Sydney, and to the London Colonial Gazette and New Zealand Journal; and that the correspondent of the New Zealand Society be requested to communicate the proceedings of the meeting to the Society. Proposed by J. T. Wicksteed, Esq., J. P., seconded by G. Cutfield, Esq., J. P., That the Chairman be requested to transmit to his Excellency a copy of the resolutions adopted by the meeting.