ilrtu Zealand.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

ORDERED TO BE PRINTED AUGUST 10th, 1335. To the Honorable the House of Representatives of New Zealand, in Session assembled. The Petition of the Superintendent and Provincial Council of the Province of New Plymouth. Sheweth, That the disturbances and bloodshed amongst the Maori population of New Plymouth are a matter of notoriety. That your Petitioners have long since arrived unanimously at the distinct conclusion that it has become matter of urgent necessity to provide an efficient Garrison foi the town of New Plymouth, and that not only the safety of this settlement, but ultimately the welfare of the whole colony are hazarded by delaying that measure. That from the commencement of these difficulties, a strong reluctance on . the pait of the General Government to afford to the Settlers of New Plymouth the Protection of a body of troops has been manifest. For the purpose of enabling Your Honourable House more readily to appreciate the avowed reasons for the refusal of a military force, your Petitioners here subjoin a summary of arguments adduced by the General Government. The despatches of the Colonial Secretary have urged :— ]. That no serious result need be apprehended. 2. That the Settlers must trust to their own prudence and good conduct. 3. That the Military force in the Colony is too small to admit of the detachment of a sufficient force, 4. That the Provincial Revenue, which, it is said, must bear the cost of providing accommodation for the Troops, is insufficient for the purpose. 5. That the presence of Troops would increase the danger of the Settlers, as it would almost certainly be followed by the commencement of hostilities with the Natives. 6. That it would discourage Immigration and injure the prosperity of the Province. 7- That the Military force is required against the foreign enemy. 8. That the continuation of Native hostilities is nothing more than what was naturally to be expected. 9. That the disturbances have been confined to the natives themselves. 10. That the amount of force likely to be available for service in the locaiity would leave the out-settlers unprotected. 11. That the country is unfavourable for Military operations. 12. And is difficult of access by sea. 13. Thai the presence of Troops would tend to indispose the Natives to further Land sales, A reference to the published correspondence in the Provincial Gazette of /th March, will justify this statement. That Your Peiitioners do not enter upon the discussion of these reasons or of the various expedients suggested for the defence of the Settlement by His Excellency and his advisers; it is enough that both the reasons and the expedients were deliberately, and upon a personal examination, abandoned by His Excellency, on occasion of his recent visit to this settlement, as will fully appear to Your Honourable House by the communication of His Excellency through the Private Secretary, to the Superintendent, dated 7th April, 1855, and printed