132

of that affray, need be apprehended by the colonists
of New Plymouth.

His Excellency feels that the European inhabitants of that Province should rather depend on their
own prudence and good conduct for the preservation of peace than on the presence of any body of
Troops, which appears to be desired by some. To
enable the Government to spare a Garrison for
Taranaki, the military force in New Zealand would
have to be increased, whereas it will, in all probability, be speedily and considerably reduced.

Moreover the Province would have to incur a
heavy expense in providing Block Houses and other
accommodation for troops, and the very introduction of such troops into New Plymouth might
increase the possibility of danger, and, in other
places, by discouraging emigration to that settlement, seriously injure its prospects.

I have the honor to be, &c., &c.,
ANDREW SINCLAIR,
Colonial Secretary.

His Honor The Superintendent,
New Plymouth.

2-25
Superintendent's Office,
New Plymouth, 13th October 1854.

Sir,—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch, 13 Sept. 1854, stating the
resolution of His Excellency respecting a Garrison
for Taranaki.

His Excellency having already arrived at a positive conclusion on this subject, on considerations
satisfactory to the mind of His Excellency, I feel
that it is unnecessary for me to express any opinion
although by your prior communication of the 29:th
July His Excellency had done me the honor to request a statement of my views.

It being, I think incontestable that the peace of
the colony is at this present moment more threatened here then elsewhere, the people of this Province cannot but be gratified at the special reliance
His Excellency is pleased to place on their prudence and good conduct as equivalent to a military
guard in other districts apparently less in danger of
disturbance.

In connection with the subject of the despatches
above referred to, I have the honor to enclose a
copy of a Resolution adopted by the Bench of Magistrates of the Province which has been forwarded
to me by the Resident Magistrate, from which it
would appear that the Bench entertains views on
that subject somewhat at variance with those of his
Excellency. With reference to this resolution I
feel it my duty to make my protest to His Excellency against the opinion that the military defence
of this Province is under existing circumstances a
local charge. I believe I shall have the concurrence of His Excellency in the contrary opinion,
that so long as a military force is maintained in
these islands at the expense of the mother country,
the inhabitants of the several Provinces are equally
entitled to the protection it affords, and that it
would be a manifest injustice to saddle a small Province with the heavy cost of self defence, whilst
other parts of the colony enjoy an immunity from
such a charge, and engross, moreover, all the collateral benefits arising from a large Government
expenditure. The charge of the Military defence
of the place is, I respectfully submit, under existing
circumstances, the concern of the General Government—the military power and the responsibility for its due and impartial employment resting
solely with His Excellency. And I conceive that
the Provincial Government will have entirely acquitted itself on the subject of the Resolution by
acquainting His Excellency with the sentiments of
the Bench.

In making these observations I beg that for the
reason above stated, I may not be considered by
His Excellency as expressing or insinuating an
opinion respecting the actual necessity for a military
force in Taranaki or other warlike precaution.

I have the honor to be, &c.,
CHARLES BROWN,
Superintendent.
The Honorable
The Colonial Secretary, Auckland.

Resident Magistrate's Office,
New Plymouth, 3rd October, 1854.

Sir,—At the request of the Bench of Magistrates
I have the honor to send herewith for the information of your Honor, copy of a resolution adopted
by them at a meeting held this day.

I have the honor to be, &c.,
JOSIAH FLIGHT,
Resident Magistrate.
His Honor
The Superintendent, New Plymouth.

Copy of a Resolution adopted by the Bench of
Magistrates of the Province of New Plymouth
at a Meeting held the 3rd October, 1854.

That in reference to the recent unfortunate collision amongst the Puketapu natives, His Excellency
the Officer Administering the Government having
stated in a letter to the Resident Magistrate that
a Military Force cannot be spared for the defence
of this settlement, the Bench of Magistrates conceive it to be their duty to communicate the above
information to the Superintendent, and to express
to His Honor their opinion that under the circumstances stated, such steps as may be within the resources of the Province should be taken for the defence and security of the inhabitants against the
consequences of present or future excitement
amongst the natives.

410
Colonial Secretary's Office,
Auckland, 14th November, 1854

Sir,—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's letter of the 13th ultimo on
the subject of a Military Garrison being supplied
for Taranaki.

His Excellency the Officer administering the Government has directed me to inform your Honor that
that letter, together with the reports on the same
subject from the Resident Magistrate at New Plymouth and from Mr Commissioner McLean, shall
be on an early day submitted for the careful consideration of the Executive Council.

In the concluding paragraph of your Honor's
letter you request that you may not be considered
by his Excellency as expressing or insinuating
an opinion respecting the actual necessity for a
Military force in Taranaki, or other warlike preparation."

His Excellency is glad to find that, as Superintendent of the Province of New Plymouth, your
Honor has not thought it requisite to record your
opinion of such a necessity—as his Excellency believes any manifestation of the kind referred to
would probably injure the prosperity of New Plymouth, and check the tide of immigration so necessary to its advancement.

With reference to the other parts of your Honor's
letter, his Excellency observes that the Troops
have not been stationed in New Zealand solely for
the protection of one Race against the other, or
for the adjustment of domestic broils, but also for
the protection of the colony from foreign aggression
and in time of War, as at present, for the purpose
of upholding the honor of the English Flag.

Moreover, the numerical strength of the Troops
in New Zealand is not such as to allow the sub-division of the Force—with a due regard to its efficiency—in the different Provinces.