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New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 647, 15 October 1851, Page 3

The fo’lowing resolutions have been forwarded to us for publication from Taranaki by a Mr. Charles Brown, who describes them as having been proposed at a public meeting there, of which he was chairman. From what little we can learn of the meeting, it appears to have been thinly attended, and its proceedings not likely to carry much weight. It is evident that the majority of those who composed the meeting laboured under very erroneous impressions both with regard to the constitution of Hundreds, and the provisions of the New Zealand Company’s Land Claimants Bill, since (in the 2nd resolution) they describe the formation of the former at New Plymouth 44 without their consent or knowledge, as an arbitrary exercise of power,” andsuppose that the holders of the Company’s compensation scrip are excluded by the latter from selecting within the limits of the newly-formed Hundreds at Taranaki. It will be* remembered that while the Land Claimants Bill was before the Council, a memorial was presented from the inhabitants of Auckland, praying that the holders of Company’s scrip at New Plymouth might be allowed to select

m any pari of the Province of New Ulster. In order to comply with this request, and at the same to protect existing rights conferred in Hundreds constituted before the passing of the Ordinance, it was enacted, in the 23rd clause, that all Government scrip should be received as cash bv the Colonial Treasurer of New Ulster in the purchase of demesne lands of the Crown in that Province, 44 not being within the limits of any Hundred, or within the limits of the town site nf New Plymouth that is, not within the limits of any Hundred then constituted (for the reason already explained), or within the limits of the town site, because, as was explained by the Governor-in-Chief, it was intended to * appropriate the proceeds of the unsold lands in the town site to the introduction of a detachment of Pensioners. To shew this more clearly, no exception or limitation with respect to lands comprised in Hundreds in New Munster is made in the former part of the clause, though Hundreds have since been formed both at Wanganui and Nelson. But if any ambiguity is supposed to exist, it is provided against by the fact that the limitation in the clause applies only to Government scrip, and cannot affect those who are entitled to select under a landorder or scrip of the Company which has not been exchanged for Government scrip. Besides, it is very possible that Taranaki in the final arrangement of Provinces, may be separated from the Province of New Ulster. With regard to the constitution of Hundreds, when, as in this resolution, we find the conferring on the settlers the privilege of managing their local affairs, the delegation to them of some of the important powers vested in the Governor, and a control given to them over a third of the land-fund described “as an arbitrary exercise of power” on his part, we must conclude that the persons who use this language cannot understand the nature of the powers and privileges which have been granted to them. The following arp the resol r,^’z ' rlo to :— Ist Resolution— Moved by Mr. Wicksteed, seconded by Mr. Wilson— That the principle of local self-government, as developed in the Auckland charter of incorporation, might be beneficially applied to this settlement, and that the Governor-in-Chief be requested to grant a charter with similar provisions, to the inhabitants of New Plymouth, and the adjacent districts. Negatived. Amen Iment on Ist Resolution— Moved by Mr. Weston, seconded by Mr. J. N. Watt— That it is inexpedient to accept a charter of incorporation for the settlement of New Plymouth, until such time as the colonists shall be efficiently represented in the General Legislature ; and that, should such a charter be proclaimed, this meeting pledges itself to use its utmost endeavours to defeat the operation of the same by all legal means. Carried. Second Amendment— Moved by Mr. J. Hursthouse, seconded by Mr. Sharland— That the opiuiou of the public be ascertained by an easj’ plan of taking their names rather than a usual show of hands on these occasions. Negatived. 2nd Resolution— Moved by Mr. J. N. Watt, seconded by Mr. Charles Davy—• That this meeting views the constitution of the Hundreds of New Plymouth and Omata in this settlement, without the consent or knowledge of the settlers, as an arbitrary exercise of power, and that it protests against the proclamation of the said Hundreds as an infringement of the claims of the New Zealand Company’s compensation scrip holders, as it thereby excludes their right of selecting or purchasing with scrip within the limits of the said Hun- , dreds. Carried unauiuiously. 3rd Resolution— Moved by Mr. W. K. Hulke, seconded b v Mr. Weston— That the chairman be requested to forward a copy of these resolutions to his Excellency the Governor-in-Chief. Carried. 4th ResolutionMoved by Mr. R. Brown, seconded by Mr. W. Bailey— That a copy of these resolutions be inserted in each of the Wellington papers. Carried.