PUBLIC MEETING AT CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 184, 15 July 1873, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT CAMBRIDGE.

On Saturday afternoon a largely attended meeting was held m Cambridge, " To discuss the present aspect of affairs in reference to the late murder of Sullivan." Mr Smith was voted to tl.e clmir, who read the resolutions passed at the last meeting of settlers in reference to the same subject, and at which a committee was appointed to wntch the course of events. The chairman thought that it would be far one of the committee then appointed to explain to the meeting w hat they had done. He had not hitherto taken any pnrt in the proceedings in reference to the murder, but he thought that the time hud arrived when it became necessary to assert their right. Mr E. B. Wulker said that as chairman of the committee he had called the present meeting, as he and his colleagues thought it desirable that the opinions of the settlers should be mado public before the meeting of Parliament. Ho was glad to see so many present. Chairman : Havo you received any communication from the Government ? Mr Walker : None- whatever. Captain Runeinian explained that a communication had been received from the Government saying that they would do all in their power to protect the lives and properties of the settlers. The object the committee had in view in calling the meeting, was to give the public an opportunity of discussing the most impoitant ovent that has taken place in the history of tMc Waikato He considered that plenty of time had elapsed, and thnt the Government had had an opportunity of doing much more than they had done. He did not consider that it would be advisable to urge a war, but he was of opinion that it was quite time British law was enforced from one end of New Z -aland to the other (Cheers). He felt, however, that their demands must be moderate. Tho Government had a long hue of coa;t to defend, but he believed that the " king's" authority should be no longer acknowledged. Tho Government had prattipnlly done this by their refusal to protect those resident without the confiscation boundary. The committee had prepared sc\eral resolutions, which* they left in the hands of the meeting, either, to nmkc stronger or modify. Mr Selb\ mo\ed, " That it is the opinion of this meeting that, from the utter contempt w llh which the natives ha\o treated the Government since- and previous to the murder of Sulh\an, and the attempt to murder their agent, the settlers should demand that British law be enforu'd throughout the length and breadth of New Zealand " He would not make any remarks, as tho previous speaker hud said all that was to be said on the subject Captain Bunciman seconded the motion Mr Johns «aid he lincl not riacn to oppose the resolution, but he thought the General Go\ eminent Agent should have been invited to attend and explain the true position of atl'airs, and thought that a deputation should wait upon Mr Mackay to request his attendance at the meeting. He did not consider that it was clear that tho natnes had treated the Government w ith utter contempt. Captain Runciman said that there was little proof required as to the contempt with which the natives had tieated the Oovenunent. Their age.it went to Te Kuiti at the ribkof his life for the puipoboof making demands, which had been treated with silent contempt (Cheers.) They only answeied one question, to the ellect that they would not give up the muidercrs. He believed that immediate action would b« a mistake, as delay was likely to cause dissension in the camp of the enemy. It was well known that the hauhaus, at the Mauugatawhiu meeting, asked the Waikatos to join them. They refused ; otherwise, had they united, there would, in all probability, have been a second lucknow. The settlers aie indebted to the friendly natives for their safety. Mr Forester said : They had heard from Wellington, and would no doubt do so again, that the murder of Sullivan was only a common assassination. He would not call this statement a he, but would content himself by characterizing it a3 a very good imitation of the genuine article. Mr Bright said ho had very great pleasure in moving the second resolution :—" That this meeting expresses its surprise and regret that tho Government are eudeavouring to construe the murder of Sullivan into a private quarrel, while tho natives themselves acknowledge that it was premeditated and solely political, and that Purukutu was instructed by the King to commit some outrage for the purpose of pro\okmg hostilities." He was .-cry sorry that the meeting was not composed of the Waikato settlers as a whole. He thought that if the meeting had been held in Ohaupo that the attendance would have been niur'i larger. As regarded the statement by the Government that the murder of Sullivan was the result of a prhate quarrel, ho would ask, what else could be espectod from a Government such as the present ? They had tampered and trifled with the Maoris to such an extent that they had boeome utterly demoralised. He considered it a disgrace to live under laws as »t present administered. A great portion of our difficulties arose in his opinion from the effect of Pakehu-Maon influence. To look at the present position from a broad and common -sense view nothing but anarchy could be seen. He thought tho Government bad shown themselves incapable of performing their principal duty— the protection of the settlers. They had concentrated thoir forces under a number of hills and leftall places in their rear unprotected. Ho could say advisedly that this had been dono to give tho appearance of activity, and could not have been advised by a military superintendent. The apparent object was to throw dust into the e>es of tho people in order that the Government may be able to tide over tho ensuing session of the Assembly. They had taken the be«t course open to them in having employed Mr Mackay, who ia popularly believed to be a man of action. He believed that that gentleman had been smothered by the position in which the Government had placed him ;— at any rate his mouth was effectually closed. He believed that Mr Mackay never intended to be placed in such a position, and that ho only came into the distiict to do the best he could for the settlers. Captain Ituuoimau had spoken about the Queen's authority being asserted throughout the colony, aud Purnkutu and his followers brought to justice. He would ask the mcetiug if they saw any possibility of doing this without going to war. He felt confident in hit own mind that the attempt to assort the Queen's authority meant war, and nothing elsu. The natives will not confess themselves beaten until tho work is thoroughly done. The quarrel, no doubt, is to some extent between tho natives wjio sold and tho purchiscri. The Government, however, ii boun 1 to protect pui-cha^rs on the land they have acquiied accord in;; to law, aud for tho transfer of which fees lime been paid. All lie could wn was, that if settlors without a eeihun boundary were not to bo protected, the sooner mu>t of the setters dearrd out of the colony the belter. If the island were in possession of the Europeans, population from the old "ountr\ would flock in by hundreds. Ho had lat< ly received no less (linn fourteen letters enquiring as to what in hi there was foi b e! tier*— each would lmie brought about £3000 into the country. He had been obliged to answer honostly, and the result has been that nine have gone to America, and tho remainder are still m the old country, lie had alluded to tho above fact in order to show tho effect the native question is having on settlement. Mr Reynolds seconded. Captain Runciman siul, that ns regarded the meeting being a local one, tho connnitteo had thought it better to call it at Cambridge than it Obaupo, where there it no accommodation ; tint) past, eTjHTipnco had taught them that had Lhe mccLin;,' ban at that place, not a titho of those pre-

sent would have attended. Other settlements bo hoped would follow suit and cnll meetings of their own. Mr Selby objected to the accusation made against PakehaMaoris. He considered that Sir G. Grey was principally responsible for their present position. Mr Bright : Sir G Grey is the Father of the raco. Mr Hood wanted to know what proof there was that the Government had refused to protect settlers bejond the boundary line. Captain Runciman replied that he had the authority of Mr W. Buckland, M.tt.K , for the assertion. The resolution was then put to the meeting and carried unanimously. Mr R. Fisher theu moved, "That this meeting cannot understand the action of the Government in issuing Crown grants for land to which they will not afford protection to the purchasers as British subjects, thereby virtually acknowledging the the King's authority over land held under Crown grants; and that, where it is in thc\j>ower of the Government to grant protection beyond the confiscation line, such protection ought to be given " Mr Bruce in seconding aaid that he, in company with a few others, was in the unfortunate position of h.vving purchased land beyond the boundary line. His title was a Crown grant. The} had applied to Mr Mackay to have some protection, as he was building redoubts to protect the jettlers within the boundary. That gentleman had told them that his instructions were strictly to confine his operations to budding within the line. Tho resolution was then put and carried by acclamation Mr Bright then moved, " That a petition should be presented to the House of Assembly embodying the foregoing resolutions " The motion was seconded, and upon being put to the meeting, was carried unanimously. Messrs Bruce and Campbell were elected members of committeo, vice Messrs Parker and Clarke, resigned. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated tho proceiug