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Messrs. Nash and Scaife were actuated by kindly motives in doing what they had done, but he could not permit their motives to be a justification for misstatements of so grave a character, compromising as they did all persons, from the Government downwards, who were engaged in administering relief to the Taranaki refugees, and calculated as they were to create a most uneasy feeling amongst their absent relatives and friends. He regretted that Mr. Nash was not present at that meeting, of which he had received due notice, but he could not help calling the attention of the committee to the fact that Mr. Nash had only once attended the meetings of the committee, since the day when they refused to entertain his proposition to censure the military commanders at Taranaki, a subject manifestly foreign to their province. He would conclude by proposing the following resolution:—

That this committee has seen with surprise the statements made in a letter purporting to have been addressed by Messrs. Nash and Scaife to their correspondents at Wellington, in reference to the present condition of the Taranaki refugees in Nelson. That this committee has no knowledge of any existing destitution or wants amongst the Taranaki refugees, which would warrant the expressions used in that communication. That Mr. Gray, the agent of the Government of Taranaki, has, in conjunction with the Government of this province, administered relief to all Taranaki refugees by whom it has been required, and that his zeal and constant attention to their wants have merited the warmest thanks and approval on the part of this committee. That Mr. Nash, as a member of this committee, has not brought forward any statements in reference to the position of the Taranaki refugees such as those contained in the communication referred to. That the only case brought forward by him was at the meeting of this committee held on the 8th August last, when it was proved upon investigation that the complaints made by the parties concerned were without foundation. That this committee, whilst acknowledging the sympathy of the Wellington settlers, records its opinion that the statements which led to the meeting there of the 9th of August instant were not founded in fact. That this committee, at the same time, feels that the aid proposed to be granted by the settlers of Wellington would be extremely useful, if judiciously administered in relieving individual cases of special hardship, although, as a general rule, the Government relief afforded has been found amply sufficient.

Seconded by Mr. WILSON.

In answer to a suggestion by Mr. CONNEL, that Mr. Nash should be allowed to make some explanations in reference to the letter, before passing the resolution,

Mr. BLACKETT observed that no amount of explanations could remove the impressions produced by it at Wellington and elsewhere. At Wellington, in particular, the letter had been used as a text by the various speakers. The impression produced by the letter was that no arrangement existed in Nelson, by which either Government aid, or indeed, any other aid than that arising from private benevolence, was administered to those landing at Nelson from Taranaki. So far from this being the case, he begged to state on authority, that no kind or amount of destitution would remain unrelieved on proper representation; as Mr. Gray’s instructions were calculated to meet any emergency that might arise; and he might say that up to the present time every case demanding consideration had been fairly relieved. Unfortunately, also, the expressions used in that letter implied that this case was not single, but only one amongst many, which certainly was not in accordance with facts. He could aver from personal knowledge that every exertion was made by the agent, Mr. Gray, to relieve any discomfort or inconvenience suffered by any refugees, to which assertion many of the refugees themselves would bear witness.

Mr. LEWTHWAITE supported the resolution. His reason for so doing was, that the action of this Committee, of the Government and people of Nelson, and of Mr. Gray (whose duty it was to take charge of all cases), was perfectly ignored by Messrs Nash & Scaife, who sought to be considered as the only persons actively engaged in taking care of the Taranaki refugees.

The resolution was then put, and carried unanimously.

Moved by Mr. LEWTHWAITE, seconded by Mr. ELLIOTT, and carried unanimously—

That this committee is of opinion that greater efficiency and economy would be secured in the distribution of any private subscriptions for relief of the Taranaki refugees, if the same were given through the agency of this committee, acting in conjunction with Mr. Gray; and that it is desirable that all subscriptions for the purpose should be forwarded to A. Kerr, Esq., manager of the Union Bank of Australia here, the Treasurer of this committee.

Moved by Mr. BLACKETT, seconded by Mr. KERR, and carried unanimously.

That copies of the foregoing resolutions be forwarded to the committee appointed by the meeting at Wellington.

Superintendent’s Office,
New Plymouth, 5th December, 1860.

SIR,—I have the honor to transmit a resolution of the Provincial Council of Taranaki acknowledging the assistance which has been given to our settlers by their countrymen in Victoria on occasion of their losses by the Maori war in this Province, and I should feel obliged if your Government would give publicity to the same.

I have been requested also to call the attention of the Government of Victoria to the circumstance that a part of the aid which has been forwarded through private hands has for that reason failed of its full beneficial effect. The Colonial Government of New Zealand has taken on itself the care of present relief, and is sparing neither trouble nor expense to secure every inhabitant of this Province from all but unavoidable hardship. I should therefore feel obliged if you would forward the wish of the Provincial Council of recommending that any further aid transmitted to New Zealand should be paid into the Union Bank of Australia to the credit of the Taranaki General Relief Fund, in the joint names of the Colonial Treasurer and the Provincial Treasurer of Taranaki. This fund, I would observe, will be applied towards reinstating those who have been sufferers by the war, and is quite independent of the votes of the Legislature for present relief.

The names of the two public functionaries will be guarantee for the public and equitable administration of such funds.