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above two miles: In such a state of affairs we have great reason to fear that we shall shortly be dragged into the quarrel.

That the settlement is wholly without defence.—It possesses no kind of fortification, and the fire-arms supplied many years ago by Government and the New Zealand Company are inefficient. Of ammunition there is little, and that little not to be relied upon. The militia has never been embodied, and it is in the opinion of your Memorialists impossible at the present juncture to place any reliance on such a force for the defence of the settlement. Your Memorialists and their fellow-settlers are not to blame for their helpless position which has been enforced upon them by the pacific and humanely intended policy of Your Majesty\'s Government.

That Your Memorialists are not prepared to ask for the enforcement of British law against the warlike population of these islands, being satisfied that even were it clearly just, the thing is quite impracticable. But Your Memorialists are of opinion that the presence of a strong body of Troops at New Plymouth has become essential to the personal safety of the settlers, and to the maintenance of that neutrality which the British Government has assumed in the drawing, and believed sensible that before this memorial can reach its destination it is quite possible that New Plymouth may have shared the fate of Kororareka. Yet though we should providentially escape the immediate danger, the causes which have produced the present crisis will all remain in active operation; and it is possible, and not indeed, the fact, this Native character, that the present elements of strife may smoulder for many months \'ere the final outbreak. Therefore we feel we should be wanting in our duty to our constituents did we neglect to urge at the distant seat of empire our claim for help; trusting that help may reach us \'ere it be too late.

That there is no ground for supposing that the presence of troops at New Plymouth would have any tendency to embroil us with the Natives. Before the death of Rawiri which was the commencement of the present troubles, an application for troops was made to Government by Hone Ropita, an assessor and a peace-loving and influential chief. He further on urged the drawing, and believed (we think truly,) that the presence of a military force would have averted it. A large body of natives would rejoice at the sight of soldiers. Others, it is true, might have a jealous feeling on the subject, but it would be easy to restore confidence by judicious explanations. Your Majesty will perceive it is unlikely we should urge measures really calculated to lead to a collision which (however it might result) would certainly occasion the destruction of the chief part of your people.

That in consequence of the disallowance of the greater part of the New Zealand Company\'s original purchase by Governor Fitzroy, the extensive land purchases made in other Provinces, and of the state of things in this Province, the natives of other districts, there has been a progressive increase of the Maori population of Taranaki. When we arrived fourteen years ago, we could not count tens where we now reckon hundreds. The action, if not the policy of the General Government has tended to concentrate upon us the Native population from all parts of New Zealand, thereby exposing us to increasing difficulty and danger, whilst the other Provinces are proportionably relieved.—Thus we have a special claim to protection.

That it having been alleged that the country about New Plymouth is peculiarly unfavorable for military operations Your Memorialists, (without pretending to any military knowledge,) do most unhesitatingly declare their belief that the country is the fact; and that the levels of Taranaki are vastly more favorable for the movement of regular troops than most districts of New Zealand, and certainly much more so than any field in which Europeans have hitherto been exposed to Maories:

That a Garrison at New Plymouth with a few field pieces would have at command all the Pahs and native cultivations between this and the Waitara, and would thereby afford the surest guarantee of peace with a people who are well able to compute forces, and (for barbarians) are singularly fond of property, and the possessors of a large amount of it.

That the General Government of New Zealand has been constantly informed on the subject of this Memorial, and is well aware of our sentiments, but has hitherto declined to take any step for the succour of the settlement either by a supply of efficient arms, or by sending troops. It is not possible here to discuss the reasons alleged for the continued refusal; of these we can only say, that to us they appear wholly insufficient, and nothing but the respect due to your Majesty\'s Representative prevents us from characterizing them in more forcible terms.

That your Memorialists do not impute to those at whose disposal the Military force of this Colony is at present placed, a deliberate intention to leave us to our fate. Time and patience have caused many Native difficulties to disappear; and in our case there may be enough to justify a public man with little knowledge of Native character in yielding to a belief of our security, which on other grounds it is convenient to entertain. But we must be allowed to deplore the under influence which local property, and we can believe, been suffered to acquire in the conduct of the affairs of this Colony.

That various measures for the safety of the settlement suggested by His Excellency through the Colonial Secretary and by Mr. McLean, have been considered by your Memorialists and appear to us either impracticable or inadequate. On the calling out of the Militia suggested by Mr. McLean, we have already expressed an opinion. Another suggestion is the embodiment of a Native Force. A knowledge of the Natives of this district assures us that the experiment would be a very dangerous one. We are unable to preserve discipline amongst our small force of Native Police, and should consider an armed body of Natives more dangerous to ourselves than to the enemy, except indeed as allies of an European force. Moreover the connection of the various members of such a force with one or other of the native parties in the present warfare would be likely to compromise ourselves. We cannot pass without remark His Excellency\'s main suggestion that our Police force be increased and that 40 men be armed with carbines and revolvers. We do not intend to deny the efficiency of such a Force composed of men acquainted with the country and (as His Excellency has suggested) previously used to arms. But the number named betrays in our judgement a wonderful misapprehension of the actual exigency. Indeed in another Despatch of the Colonial Secretary, His Excellency states from 300 to 500 troops as what might be required. Nor are we even told where we are to enlist 40 men of the kind required.

That the reality of our danger is undisputed. It has been urged on the Government by the Chief Land Purchase Commissioner Mr. McLean to whose Report on the subject made to His Excellency the Colonial Secretary we refer, and accompanying this Memorial we respectfully beg to refer Your Majesty. Most of your Memorialists are old settlers habituated to the ways of the Maories. That we have maintained our ground in Taranaki under great discouragement from a Native opposition, fostered rather than checked by the early Governors of the Colony, is proof that we are not subject to vain terror, and that our present application to Your Majesty is worthy of regard.

That your Memorialists are convinced that un-