TARANAKI.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 323, 23 November 1860, Page 3

TARANAKI.

Sir—l trust the Government, who have determined to send troops to Taranaki, and the European settlers who have urged them to do so, have not forgot that— They who in quarrel interpose. Are sure to get a bloody nose. As we, in Auckland, are ignorant of the reasons which have induced the Government to send a military force to occupy New Plymouth, perhaps a short outline of the history of that settlement, in as far as regards disputes, will enable your readers to form au idea of the wisdom of that alarming event for the future peace of New Zealand.

In 1841, the European settlers arrived at New Plymouth. At that period there were not above a hundred Natives in the district; but soon afterwards, through the influence of tbe missionaries, many of the Taranaki Natives, who had been carried away into slavery, were allowed to return home. The surprise and regret of those manumitted slaves on their arrival at Taranaki oannot be described, when they found their lands occupied by strangers. Disputes in consequence arose between the European settlers and the Natives, and Mr. Cooke, a magistrate, swore in a body of special constables; after which they armed themselves, and proceeded to drive away a party of Natives who had settled on some sections of land north of the Waitara river. The European party being twenty-eight in number were rather formidable; the Natives apologized and submitted; aud the ringleader was told, that if he misconducted himself again, he would be arrested and sent to Port Nicholson for trial. This successful appeal to physical force was one of the remote causes of the Wairau massacre. At this era in New Zealand the settlers thought the Natives could not fight; and the settlers on several occasions did not hesitate to treat them with contempt. In 1842, Mr. Wickstead, the Company's agent at New Plymouth, finding that a number of Natives, who would not go off a portion of land which he supposed he had bought, proceeded with twenty men and removed the Native fence; a scuffle ensued, and one of the Natives brandished a tomahawk over Mr. Wickstead's head, for which he was immediately taken into custody. The police magistrate discharged the Native, and pointed out to Mr. Wickstead the illegal nature of his proceedings. Since that period there have been no disputes of any note between the Settlers and the Natives. In 1848, William King, with his people—numbering 600 souls—migrated to Taranaki from Waikanai,—from the former of which places they had fled in 1834. The present dispute at Taranaki is a purely Native one; and if the settlers take care to keep out of ihe way of the combatants—even if they retreat into the town, they will not be touched ; if they do not, a thousand soldiers cannot prevent the houses of the out-settlers from being destroyed; and they may rest assured that if the place is once destroyed it will not be re-built for many

years. Let us look at the past history of New Zealand for advice. Acting Governor Shortland would have precipitated the Colony into a war with the Natives at Tauranga, in 1842, if the Bishop aud the Chief Justice had not come and urged him to withdraw the troops. The Executive Council of New .Zealand, in 1843, ordered Taraia to be arrested, because he killed and eat some of his foes at Tauranga. The government brig which was to convey the soilders to do this, was in the Manukau harbour, and it took some time to get her round to Auckland. In the meantime Taraia heard what they were to do, and he wrote a letter to the Acting Governor, telling him that he had better not interfere in a purely Native dispute, as it would only make matters worse. The words of the savage changed the minds of the Executive Council; and when the brig was ready, she was despatched with missionaries, in place of soldiers, to Taraia.

When New Zealand was made a separate Colony, Lord John Russell wrote a despatch containing advice to the Governor for the [management of the Natives. This despatch should be printed, framed, and posted up in the Parliament House of New Zealand, and in the Chamber of the Executive Council In that despatch Governor Hobson was told that he should endeavour to put down Native wars by precept more than by physical force j and that cannibalism and child-murder were the only customs he should give no quarter to.—Correspondent to the New Zealander.