B.—No. 4

No. 10. Copy of a LETTER from Charles Beown, Esq., Superintendent of Taranaki, to the Honorable the Colonial Secretary. Sib,— Auckland, 26th October, 1864. Understanding that the subject of my letter of tho 24th instant has been reconsidered, and that the Ministers cannor arrive at any other decision than was previously arrived at, beyond the postponement to the end of the month, of the Taranaki Militia and Volunteers being struck off pay and rations, I have the honor to apply for pecuniary assistance, in the shape of a guarantee to the Bank of New Zealand, 1o the extent of say Five Thousand (£5,000) Pounds, to enable me to expend from time to time such portions of the amount in the employment of labor as may be approved by Resolution of tho Provincial Council, until such time as the General Assembly may have otherwise provided for the difficulties that will arise from a largo portion of the population having no remunerative or safe employment for their labor voider present circumstances. At the sam- time that the blockhouses on the acquired lands of the Province, hitherto held by the Militia and Volunteers, be handed over to the Provincial Government as places of refuge and defence for the m n. n the vicinity of the employment that will be afforded to them. Many of tho country roads have, from want of use and attention, been considerably damaged in the period, now exceeding four years, in which they have been comparatively abandoned; culverts have fallen in, Ihe water courses have ploughed up the roads, trees have fallen across them, bridges suffer from decay ; and in the restoration of these, and works of this character, a necessary and profitable expenditure of the means I apply for can take place. The blockhouses will also enable those who have made some progress in the restoration of their properties in the vicinity of ihe blockhouses, to reside near and contribute to protect them, with a place of refuge for i hemselves, which will not be the case if they are garrisoned by troops or military settlers. I have, Ac, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Chas. Brown, Superintendent of Taranaki. Enclosure to No. 10. MINUTE by Ministee foe Colonial Defence on foregoing. 1. It has been arranged with the Superintendent of Taranaki that the Government shall guarantee the re-payment of an advance by the Bank of New Zealand to the Superintendent of Taranaki of £5,000, the money ' • oployed in public works in the Province, on which the Militia now struck off pay shall be em . >yed—it ing understood that the bush on the road to Mataitawa shall be cut down as a par' of i o i lone. 2. As far Colon al Government can, they express their agreement to the proposal made by the Superintendi nl for handing over tho blockhouses vacated by Militia to the Provincial Government. 3. Tue Government will send by the steamer, on the Bth, a Commissioner to report upon the " Supplemen arj " and "Military" claims made by the Taranaki settlers still outstanding, with a view to get informa ion for !he House of Representatives, shortly to meet; their action to be held as not binding the Gov, rnmenl or the House in any manner to recognise or pay those claims. October 26th, 1864. , T. Russell.

No. 11. Copy o!'a LETTER from Cuaeles Beown, Esq., to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, 3rd November, 1864. I have the honor transmit copy of a Resolution passed by the Provincial Council on the 22nd ultimo, . It isolut ion, the result of a public meeting, on the subject of the militia and volun cci rt md rations, and which documents I submitted for perusal to the memb ts of ' in ' G ivi mmi nt on the 26th of last month, but which I omitted to leave. I have, Ac, The Hi loionial Chaeles Beown, Superintendent. • Enclosure 1 to No. 11. ■Minute of Council.—New Plymouth, 22nd October, 1864. a address be presented to his Honor tho Superintendent requesting him Govi rnment the great hardships which will be inflicted upon the settlers suddenly dismissed from the militia, while it is dangerous to life to and while the sum which was voted by tho Assembly to assist them in re-oci unpaid. Wm. M. Cbompton, Speaker. telosure 2 to No. 11. Public Meeting.—New Plymouth, 22nd October, 1864. i to express the thanks of tho community to Colonel Warre for re!;!i outposts, the bushrangers, and mounted men, as, had this not beet i] ' \ i bin the outposts could not have been visited or in any way Wm. M. Cbompton, Chairman. slosure 3 to No. 11. 'üblic Meeting.—New Plymouth, 22nd October, 1864. sons be appo nted by this meeting to draw up a letter to bit' 1 ut the injustice and impolicy of summarily discharging the civ: j s s ill unsafe to occupy the land, and without any provision

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