TARANAKI.

[PltOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Taranaki, July 10, 1862. From the natives both north and south a buzzing sound of discontent is constantly being heard ; what it forbodes I do not presume for one momeut to give an opinion on, this is not the time to criticise, but it is the time to truthfully record the passing events of the day — to watch with an unprejudiced mind the changes that are oceurirg in the social government of a most interesting people. For my own part I cannot yet see the way through the dark cloud before us.

The natives in the Waitara District have declared the land to belong to the King, and in his name have foi bidden the soldiers and friendly Maories the privilege of cutting firewood, fishing, nr shooting ducks. May be his Royal Majesty intends opening shooting preserves. The firewood for the troops i« now sent by cart from town to tbe Waitara. To tbe South ths natives hare intimated their intention of occupying the whole of the Omata counti'y with the surrounding bush ; they state that as we hold the Waitara from having occupied it during the late campaign, they claim the .whole of the bush and Omata upou the same grounds. On Monday last a meeting of the Southerners was convened to be held at Warea, to take the subject into consideration. An in-* timation has been given to those at present occupying, their farms that for safety sake it. would be advisable for them to retire to the shel lor of the town. '■

Iv my last communication allusion was made? to a public meeting that had taken place on the Tasmanian Emigration scheme. The following is a copy of memorial that has been drawn up by the committee for presentation lo his Excellency Sir George Grey :— ! Memorial. New Plymouth July — , 1862. . To His Excellency Sir George Grey - , K.C.Bj, Governor of the Islands of New Zealand and its dependencies, &c, &c, &c. This memorial, humbly submitted to yolir . Excellency, sets forth the present deplorable position of those settlers formerly engaged in agjri- 1 cultural pursuits in the Province of Tarai*aki. \

Your memorialists have taken advantage i>f their privilege of addressing you through memorial, feeling that their true case has never been fully brought before your Excellency's notice.

Since March, 1860, your memorialists have been subject to martial law, have served as soldiers in the field, and are now earning a subsistence as common labourers on the public road-. Many of your memorialists have families, who for the space of two years have been residing at Nelson, -to whom they are most anxious to be reunited ; and that since the commission issued by tho Government to inquire into the amount of loss sustained by the war, all country property has deteriorated in value full 50 per cent., and that a greater portion of their once quiet cattle are running wild: in the bush, snd will have to be shot down to prevent their luring to the cover of the forest cattle that may eventually be turned out to feed.

Your memorialists assure your Excellency that notwithstanding tiie present allowance for labour to the settlers, which is duly appreciated, much suffering prevails, and many have been obliged to spend the three shillings in the pound from the compensation fund, in maintenance of their families, house rent having arisen during the war from 80 to 100 per cent, around the garrison ; and that, moreover, many of their farms being heavily mortgaged the property will soon pass from the hands of many of your memorialists, and leave them without shelter for their old age, after upwards of twenty years ot hard striving. Your memorialists do not presume to enquire into your political policy, but humbly address you from under a burden of difficulties too great for them almost to bear. They turn to your Excellency, as the representative of their Queen, for a solution of their social troubles, to which no end appears, trusting that if the time of peace does not speedily arrive, that your Excellency will use your powerful influence towards obtaining for the Taranaki settlers full compensation, so that those who may wish will be enabled to seek homes in more peaceful settlements.

Your memorialists, confiding in that sympathy expressed by your Excellency on a former occasion, sincerely trust that you will not forget them in this their hour of tribulation, and your memorialists will ever pray.

On Monday la^t, a parade of our Volunteer Force took place, when three revolvers were presented to those who had acted as guides to Captain Craciofi's party in his attack on the pa, they are the gift of lhe General Government of New Zealand. Capt Stapp, iv the absence of Capi. Watt, the senior officer, in presenting them deliveied a short but pithy address. He stated that the pleasant duty had devolved upon him of presenting three pistols given by the General Government of New Zealand to Sergeant Mac and C. Messenger aud the representative of Edward Messenger for gallant conduct in the field on the 28ih March, 1860, at Waireka, in conducting a party of sailors and marines in au attack on the pa, which resulted in the defeat of the enemy and the capture of the flag. Before delivering the pistols to those entitled to receive them, he would observe thai in being associated with the Taranaki Rifle Volunteers, be felt highly honored, he could never forget how nobly they stood_their ground and fought against fearful odds on that memorable day, and proved themselves not like partly trained civilians in action for the first time, but as tried and tiained veterans, and since then they had fought an*, bled, and have honorably done their duty iv various trying positions. Their consistent conduct has gained for them a name that will be handed down to their childrens children, and in thus addressing them he felt that if called upon they would follow their commanding officer, whoever he might be, through twice as much.

In presenting Sergeants Mace and E. Messenger with their pistols, Captain Stapp wished them long* life and success, at the sametime expressing his confidence in them as being so great as to induce him to believe that if ever they were called upon to use them in a just cause they would never be found wanting. In presenting the other pistol to poor Edward Messenger's representative, Captain Stapp said tbat one and all deplored the loss of a gillant comrade, for he (Edward Messenger) was beloved by all. for his stiaightforward aud gallant conduct ; and it must be some solace to the bereaved parents to find thuc his services bave been appreciated, although perhaps nothing could repay the loss of a brave aud dutiful son, and an affectionate brother.

The pistols are beautiful specimens of workmanship, with the names of the present owners engraved ou a silver plate. W. I. G.