APPENDIX TO REPORT OF

Appendix A. Native Meeting at Paetai.

After the customary pause, Te Kereihi, from the loyal side, rose and said—"Commence your talking." Then Hoera, who, as a teacher of religion, occupied a sort of moderator position, said— " The talk will be about the flags ; leathern be disposed of; direct all tlie speeches to that end." To give a full report of all the speeches, in our limited space, is obviously impossible. The most remarkable were the following, of which the main points have been carefully preserved : PAORA : Go lis good ; Israel were his people ; they had a king ; I see uo reason why any nation should not, have a king if they wish for one. The Gospel does not say that we are not to have a king It says " Honor the King —Love the broiherhood." Why should the Queen be angry? we shall be in alliance with her, and friendship (whakahoa) will be preserved. The Governor does not stop murders and fights among us. A king will be able to do that. Let us have order, so that we ni3v grow as the pakehas grow. Why should we disappear from the country ? New Zealand is ours ; I love it. Takerei Te Rau: The first Governor came and gave the word "friendship" (whakahoa): so did the second—the third—and so does Governor Browne. The source of this word is God. It came in the Gospel ; and now there is added the law (te tore) ; what more do we want ? I think this is the open road ; the new one is overgrown (ururua) and dark. I will not walk in it. Friendship to the Governor is the road to the Queen. Go on this road ;it is the road to good. Let us go on this road. Takirau: That is the road—that word "friendship." But it applies to both sides. Our king will be friendly with the Queen. Their flags will be tied together. (Hoists the king's flag and ties it to the Jack). I say, let us be like all other lands who have kings, and glory, and honor. That is a clear road. Let us be strong to fasten on this. Let the blessing of God, which rests on other lands and their kings, rest on us. If I asked the Queen to leave her throne I should be wrong ; but all I ask is that the dignity which now rests on her should rest on our king ; so that this land may be in peace, and be honoured. Let the Queen and the pakehas occupy the sea-coast and be a fence (taiepa) around us. Wiremu Te Wheoro : I agree to what Takerei says—friendship—alliance (whakakotaiiitanga.) I know that road ; I don't know any other. (Pointing to. the new flag)— Let that flag go down ; I don't like it. Let its old honor (mana) remain, but don't seek any fresh dignity. Mohi : This is my word. Don't wander about. Wash out (horoia) tlie writing on the new flag. I don't like it. It frightens me. Wash out the writing, and let the staff help to support the Queen's flag. Lean to it, its ancient honor (mar.a) The honor of old, of old, of old. Paora : Give me some soap to wash it out (i.e., Give me a reason). Mohi : Why did you write those words ? The new flag must kill the old ; not the old one the new. What is the wrong of the old flag ? Paora : The gospel came. Then came the Queen. At that time we were foolish and ignorant; now we know. At first the missionaries said, make a king to keep convicts and bad pakehas away. But we did wrong, we agreed to the Queen. Now, we are grown vp —we are no longer children —we can walk alone- We are fit for a king. You can't find any where in the Bible, that the Queen should have the only honor. Shew me where, that I may know. We cannot he always in childhood. Taraiiawaiki ; Let me speak. Dont say, why should we add fresh honor to Potatau ? Remember, the honor conferred upon him will belong to us all. What i 3 the use of eyes, arms, and body, without a head ? Takirau: (Many quotations from Scripture.) Heta (Native teacher) : Leave out the Scriptures. Don't bring them in here. If you bring in these quotations we shall wander about (marama noa atu), for they are inapplicable, and you do not understand the context, Scripture is a very sacred thing, and should not be used lightly. I shall be angry with you if you persist. Wiremu Te Awaitaia : I am a small man, and a fool. lam ignorant of these Scripture quotations. Ngatihaua, don't be dark. Waikato, listen. Taupo, attend. My name has been heard of in the old day, and sometimes it is still mentioned. I am going to speak mildly, like a father. My word is this : I promised the first Governor, when he came to see me, and I promised all the rest, that I would stick (piri) to him, and be a subject of the Queen. I intend to keep my promise, for they have kept theirs. They have taken no land. Mine was the desire to sell, and they gave me money. Why do you bring that new flag here ? There is tr mble (raruraru) in it. I can't see my way clear. But I know that there is trouble in that flag. lam content with the old one. It is seen all over the world, and it belongs to me. I get some of its honor ! What honor can I get from your flag ? It is like a fountain without water. Don't trouble me. You say we are slaves. If acknowledging that flag makes me a slave, lam a slave. Let me alone. Don't bring your bother here. Go back to the mountains. Let us alone in peace. I and the Governor will take our own course. That's all. (Silence for half an hour followed this speech/which made a deep impression, for no man present was so renowned as a warrior chief as Wiremu.) Wiremu Tamihana Tarapipipi : lam soiry my father has spoken so strongly. He has killed me. I love New Zealand. I want order and laws. The king could give us these better than the Governor ; for the Governor has never done anything except when a pakeha is killed; he lets us kill each other and fight. A king would stop these evils. However, if you don't like the king, pull down the flag. Let Rewi pull it down if you wish it. Rewi, chief of Ngatimaniapoto, stepped forward, said nothing, but in anger took the king's fla<r and threw it down at the foot of the Jack, and sat down without speaking. He intended, apparently, to show the Maories the state of utter subjugation to which they were consenting. Mohi : That's right. But let the staff stand up without the flag. Tarahawaiki (considerably excited, took the prostrate flag and rehoisted it) : I love New

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