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less a considerable military force be for some years
maintained in New Zealand and especially in dis-
tricts like Taranaki where a large Native popu-
lation is in contact with a British Settlement,
another costly and deplorable war with the Abo-
riginal race will be ultimately inevitable. We be-
seech Your Majesty not to be misled by flattering
accounts of Native progress into the belief that the
New Zealander is a civilised man. The progress
made (often we regret to believe more apparent
than real) cannot be secured if your British subjects
are left at the mercy of semi-savages. Maintain
for a time that display of strength which has hi-
therto ensured some respect for the British power,
and it will be believe at no distant date become
unnecessary—Withdraw it prematurely, and Your
Majesty may witness in this part of Your Majesty's
Dominions calamities as great as those which have
recently occurred under British rule in South Af-
rica. Savages despise the weak—we have fallen
into contempt; and those who have become con-
temptible are no longer safe.

Your Memorialists therefore pray that Your
Majesty will be pleased to cause an efficient
Garrison to be posted at Taranaki for the de-
fence of the Settlers. And we further pray
Your Majesty will be pleased not to reduce the
military force at present in these Islands un-
less indeed the requirements of the righteous
warfare in which Your Majesty and the Empire
are already engaged should unhappily render
it absolutely necessary to recall Troops.
And your Memorialists will ever pray &c.

NOTICE.

IN compliance with the 7th of the fol-
lowing Resolutions are hereby
published for general information.
CHARLES BROWN,
Superintendent.
Superintendent's Office,
15th March, 1855.

PASSED unanimously at a Public Meeting
held at the Masonic Hall on Saturday, 10th
March, 1855.

"That this Meeting having taken into consider-
ation the Despatch of the Honorable the Co-
lonial Secretary of 10th February, in reply to
two memorials addressed by the inhabitants of
this Province to His Excellency the Governor;
and considering also the ample information
laid before His Excellency by His Honor the
Superintendent and the Provincial Council of

New Plymouth and by Mr Commissioner Mc
Lean, expresses its deep regret that no steps
have been taken by the Government to protect
the lives and properties of the settlers of New
Plymouth endangered by the hostile attitude
and lawless condition of the native population.
"That in the opinion of this meeting the Gov-
ernment project of entrusting the defence of
this settlement to a Militia and Armed Police
Force not yet organised is not only illusive,
impracticable, and wholly inadequate, but
would inevitably ensure the most disastrous
results in the event of a collision with the na-
tives."

"That in the opinion of this meeting the ex-
pedients suggested by the Government are
not of the slightest practical utility—that they
would tend to bring the Government into still
greater contempt with the natives, and wholly
destroy what little may yet remain of respect
for British authority."

"That the present unsettled condition of the
native population is mainly attributable to the
policy pursued by the Government of purcha-
sing from the scattered tribes of Taranaki their
claims to land in other parts of the colony,
thus rendering inevitable the return of such
tribes to this district, and compromising the
safety of the Province."

"That so far from the presence of a Military
force preventing the acquirement of fresh tracts
of land from the Natives, it would on the con-
trary materially accelerate it as those who are
now willing to sell are overawed by those who
are opposed to any further sale of land."

"That in the opinion of this meeting the pre-
sence of a Military force would not only pro-
vide for the present safety of the Resident and
encourage the location of new settlers, but en-
sure such deference on the part of the natives
to constituted authority as would eventually
prevent any future embarrassments."

"That the chairman be instructed to forward a
copy of the resolutions passed at this meeting
to his Honor the Superintendent requesting
him to publish the same in the 'Government
Gazette' of the Province."

"That a Committee consisting of Messrs R.
Brown, I. N. Wait, and T. King be appointed
to draw up a Memorial on the subject of
the above Resolutions to His Excellency
Colonel Gore Browne."

"That this Meeting do adopt the address to Her
Majesty of the Superintendent and Provincial
Council which has been read by the chairman
at the commencement of this Meeting."

Printed by G. W. WOON for the Provincial Government.