14

in the form of a money contribution to this general fund.

I will take the earliest opportunity of communicating the letter of Mr Russell to the inhabitants of Taranaki. In the mean-
time, I shall be obliged by your forwarding my best thanks to himself and those whom he represents and to the inhabitants of Melbourne generally for the active sym-
pathy in our troubles, which they have from the first exhibited. I have, &c.,

(Signed)
G. Cutfield,
Superintendent.

J. Williamson, Esq.,
Superintendent, Auckland.

Superintendent’s Office,
New Plymouth, Taranaki,
New Zealand, 12th November, 1860.

GENTLEMEN,—From information I have this morning received I am led to believe that the firm of Messrs Nash & Scaife of Nelson, have constituted themselves agents for the receipt of funds for the relief of the Taranaki refugees in Nelson.

At various times since the commence-
ment of the war it has been found necessary to remove from our crowded town the fa-
milies of many settlers, and as Nelson is the nearest and most convenient place in the Middle Island they have been conveyed thither, and most kindly received by the Nelson Government and people. The number of women and children who have found a refuge there is about one thousand: they are provided, at the cost of the Colonial Government, with shelter, fuel, and a weekly allowance in cash for the purchase of food and other necessaries.

Deprived of the comforts of a home, and separated from their husbands and brothers, who are doing duty in the field here, their anxieties and cares are very great, and no doubt in some instances they need more consideration and assistance than it is possible for the Government to give; but the system of placing funds for any charitable purpose in the hands of an irresponsible mercantile house, which has no relations with the Government, and no authority from any local association, is highly danger-
ous, as the public has no means of ascer-
taining how such funds are expended. Messrs Nash & Scaife have succeeded in obtaining money and supplies of various kinds by means of advertisements in the New Zealand and Australian papers, and it is to be feared that they will also succeed in London if some means be not adopted to diffuse as widely as possible correct information.

By a reference to the Nelson Examiner newspaper of 22nd August, which is filed in the office of the Agent of the Colonial Government, Mr Morrison, you will per-
ceive that the Nelson Aid Committee, of which Mr Nash was a member, protested against that gentleman’s proceedings, but unfortunately without effect.

The British public may be assured that none of the families now at Nelson, or of those who may hereafter be sent there, will be allowed to fall into a state of desti-
tution, and that Messrs Nash & Scaife have no warrant from the General or local Government of New Zealand, or from any public or private body in the Colony, to open subscription lists for any purpose whatever in connection with the Taranaki settlers.

During the continuance of the war, the settlers and their families will, in some way or other, be supported by the Colony, but at its close they will in the majority of cases, be almost penniless. The whole of the Taranaki country out of rifle range of the different military posts has been devas-
tated by the enemy. In some districts every building has been destroyed, while in others a few devastated skeletons of houses remain; fences have been destroyed or have fallen to decay; fruit trees have been cut down; and the uncultivated fields are being fast overgrown by Scotch This-
tles and other weeds. When peace is restored, the ruined farmer will require funds to build a rude homestead,—to procure stock and farming implements, and to restore his neglected fields...

The burthens of an infant colony are necessarily heavy, and although the greater part of the expenses of the war will fall on the Imperial Treasury a loan of £150,000 has to be raised to purchase arms for the colonists; to provide for the temporary support of destitute families; to give increased pay to the militia; and to aid in the re-establishment of the Taranaki settlers by a grant in aid of £25,000.

It is impossible to estimate at present the losses the settlers have sustained, but it cannot be less than £100,000, and will probably greatly exceed this amount before peace is restored.

I have received several sums voted by the Provincial Governments and raised by private subscription in the colony, and have placed them in the Union Bank of Australia, where they will remain until the close of the war, when they will be expended under the sanction of the General Government.

I should not have addressed you on this subject had the action of Messrs Nash and Scaife not rendered it necessary to adopt some means for diverting the private benevolence of England into a proper channel.