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allowed to pass after a search has been enforced by the blockaders; and Europeans have been stopped on the beach, and within three miles of the town on the highroad and compelled to turn back by fire-arms being presented at them.

8. That a settler's cart has been stopped on the public road in the Bell district by armed Natives, who threatened to cut down the driver, and who carried off five bags of flour to the Hawetaone pa on the plea that it was for the supply of Ihaia.

9. That the district Post Master who keeps a store near the Hua Village was compelled by 26 armed Natives from the Hua and Kaipakopako pas to supply them with flour and sugar on credit, at which transaction Mr. Parris was present; and that the opposite or Ikamona party told the same individual that they must have supplies of food for which they would pay so long as their money lasted and that afterwards they would enforce a loan.

10. That two Native Assessors named Raniera and Tahana have taken an active part in the late disturbances.

11. That the Resident Magistrate states he has no power to prevent the Natives fighting in the out districts, although the lives of the residents may be endangered thereby; and that in Native cases he cannot enforce the law against the delinquent unless the Natives are consenting parties to its being enforced.

12. That in the midst of this unchecked lawlessness, the settlers of the Bell district will be compelled to abandon their property or to combine together to resist the Natives, which some express a determination to do if their homes are invaded.

13. That in order to prevent a collision between the settlers and the Natives, which is hourly becoming more probable, your Memorialists earnestly pray that your Excellency will be pleased to take immediate and effective steps for the protection of the settlers of the Bell district.

G. CUTFIELD,
Superintendent.
E. L. HUMPHRIES,
Speaker of the Provincial Council.
New Plymouth, New Zealand,
29th January 1858.

Superintendent's Office,
New Plymouth, 3rd February, 1858.
Sir,—I have to honor to forward you the enclosed copy of a Resolution unanimously adopted by the Provincial Council this day in consequence of the present alarming aspect of the Native disturbances in and about the Bell district. In doing so I have merely to add that I readily unite with the Council in requesting that you will take the necessary steps for giving effect to the Resolution.
I have, &c.,
G. CUTFIELD,
Superintendent.
Charles Brown, Esq.,

Captain of the
New Plymouth Battalion,
New Zealand Militia.

To His Honor the Superintendent of the
Province of New Plymouth.
The Address of the Provincial Council
thereof in Session assembled.
Prayeth—
That your Honor will be pleased to join this Council in a request to Charles Brown, Esquire, Captain of the New Plymouth Battalion of the New Zealand Militia to take action on the authority entrusted to him by the Proclamation of His Excellency the Governor under date of the 9th October 1855 "to draw out with all convenient speed four hundred of the inhabitants of New Plymouth liable under the Militia Ordinance to serve in the Militia."
E. L. HUMPHRIES,
Speaker.

Council Chamber,
3rd February, 1858.

Rata Nui, New Plymouth,
4th February, 1858.
Sir,—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of yesterday enclosing a Resolution of the Provincial Council requesting me to take action on the authority entrusted to me by the Proclamation of His Excellency the Governor "to draw out, &c. four hundred of the inhabitants of New Plymouth liable under the Militia Ordinance to serve in the Militia."
I have the honor to state in reply that I am quite ready to give effect to a Resolution of the Provincial Council concurred in by your Honor.
I have seen my Commanding Officer, Major Murray, on the subject, and he has signified his readiness to afford the same assistance to drill the Militia that has been before placed at the service of the Provincial Government.
I have now to apply to your Honor for information on the following points, and I may here state for the information of the Provincial Government, that with the exception of the payment of the drill sergeants defrayed out of the Provincial Treasury, all the other questions involving expense, were not entertained by His Excellency the Governor because no provision had been made for them by the General Assembly, and were not entertained by your Honor's predecessor in office because he considered the question of expense one of Colonial, not Provincial concern; this want of provision to meet the necessary expense operated greatly to prevent the em-