No. 26.
Address of the Settlers of Taranaki to His Excellency Governor Gore Browne.
To His Excellency Colonel Thomas Gore Browne, C.B., Governor of New Zealand.

May it please your Excellency,—The undersigned, settlers of the Province of Taranaki, are desirous that your Excellency should not take your departure from New Plymouth without an expression of their satisfaction to have had the advantage of a personal visit from your Excellency. They are of opinion that such a visit must have tended to bring before you more vividly than could be done by the best official documents the actual position of the settlement, and the real amount and character of their difficulties and discouragements. They beg respectfully to thank your Excellency for your prompt assent to their request for the early return to Taranaki of Mr. Commissioner McLean; for your expressed anxiety to promote the further acquisition of land from the Natives, and for the efforts now being made to that end; and they will rely with confidence on your Excellency's assurance that no pains shall be wanting to attain an object so vitally important to them. They trust that the sustained endeavours of the Native Land Purchase Department may lead to the desired results, and to the benefit alike of the European and Maori races; that Taranaki may cease to be a source of trouble and anxiety to the Government, and that she may be rendered a contented and prosperous province under your Excellency's administration. They beg to express their sincere hopes for your Excellency's speedy restoration to health.