E—No. 9 Sec. II.

and that if they absented themselves from the Punga Punga Runanga the matter must remain in statu quo until His Excellency's decision was communicated to me. I strongly urged upon him the necessity of advising his tribe to yield this point; inasmuch as they could at the Punga Punga divulge all their objections, when I could then officially submit them to His Excellency. He at last coincided with my views, and held a Runanga of his tribe the same night to discuss the question of going to Punga Punga or otherwise In the middle of the night he informed me that they had consented to go to Punga Punga, but with a very bad grace, and that they wanted to see me in the morning before I started for Punga Punga. I deemed it advisable, however, to avoid this proposed interview, as it could lead to no good results; and so started at daylight for the Punga Punga. The resnlts are as above stated. I have received numerous complaints from Natives respecting wild cattle belonging to Mr. Marshall, a settler residing at Paparumu on the Waikato. I informed the complainants that as soon as the Runanga is legally constituted they can pass laws thereat (subject to His Excellency's approval) to meet the difficulties complained of, and they agreed to wait. ' Jas. Armitage. Resident Magistate.

No. 6. EEPOET BY J. ARMITAGE, ESQ., OF THE NGATITAHINGA RUNANGA. Waikato, 21st January, 1862. Mr. Fenton, accompanied by Mr. Armitage, Waata Kukutai, Tamati Kapene, Ropati, &c, left Kohanga and arrived in the evening at Maraitai, Waikato Heads. Met there Tamiliana and a party of his tribe (Ngatitahinga) proceeding to Auckland to see his Excellency on Native affairs; Tamihana agreed to return with us on informing him of the object of our journey. Win. Spargoe, a European residing on Missionary land at Maraitai, complained of the annoyances he is exposed to on account of his cattle and sheep straying on to Native lands; Natives pounding them without authority. Mr. Fenton promised to investigate the matter. 22nd January.—Started from Maraiiai early and arrived at \Vai Kauwau on the Coast at noon; were received here with a most profuse entertainment offish and vegetables, &c; detained further by speeches. Tamehana: Welcome, Mr. Fenton, on your journey of inspection (tiro tiro) of the Maori tribes on the Sea Coast. Welcome, I say, Mr. Fenton. The Governor asked me to go to town and see !iim. I went and heard his "tikanga." I approved of it, lint said I was only one man and must wait until I consulted the tribe. I do not like the king's work, it is child's play. Let us work the Whakawa, the Ture, Runanga, and other good things of the Governor. But let us go to Te Ao-o-teRangi at Rangikahu. Let all the tribe meet there and discuss these matters. Native (name unknown): I agree to the Ture, &c, for myself; but let all the tribe meet and give their consent, and then we will work in earnest. Henare: A very sensible speech. Compared the present work of the Ture to the original introduction of Christianity into the Island—at first only a few became converts, but gradually all were converted when they witnessed the good effects arising therefrom—so it will be with the Ture, &c. This was their first meeting, let all assemble at Rangikahu and discuss the matter. Mr. Fenton : Yes, it is true what you say; you are only a small section of the whole tribe, and are right in consulting them before you give your final adhesion to the Ture, &c. We do not give our " taonga" to one man, but to all when of one mind. We shall proceed on our journey, and if we find that the whole tribe consent then we shall work for you. The party then proceeded to Puke Rewa, where we were most hospitably received by Kereopa, the head Chief there, and where we remained all night. 23rd January.— Arrived at Rangikaahu to breakfast, where again a most sumptuous feast was prepared for us. Remained all day here. Messengers sent to fetch the absent members of the tribe. In the evening all assembled in a large hut, and speeches were made until midnight; from want of candles, Mr. Armitage was unable to report the speeches. Kareopa made a most eloquent address approving of the 'lure and Mr. A. as Magistrate; Tamehana was agreed to as Kai Wbakawa, but a general wish was expressed to discuss the matter again at Horea. Te Ao-o-te-Raugi, head chief at Kaugikaahu, expressed his feelings of satisfaction at the objects of our journey. 24th January.—After breakfast proceeded on our journey, accompanied by Te Ao, Kereopa, and others, and arrived at Horea, opposite Raglan, in the afternoon— agreed that a Runanga should be held the next day at Horea—crossed the harbor and took up our quarters at Mr. Fuller's. Sijth January.—Attended the Runanga at Horea—about 100 assembled. Apera Kiwi: Welcome, my friend Waata, you and your friend Fenton. I do not salute you as Maoris, but as favored visitors. Come and bring us your good things. I want to hear what Mr. Fenton, the man who brings the lights for the lamps, has to say to us. Come here, I say, and bring us the Ture for Whaingaroa. Pana: Come here my friend Waata, you and your Pakehas, and bring us your good things. I was at the Governor's meeting at Taupari, and heard what was said there. 1 have pondered over in my mind what I had heard until now, and now I understand—this is a year to makemattters straight; come here my friend, you and the Pakehas, and hear the words of the Kupapa (neutrals); it is the duty of the Kupapa to help you, and therefore I say I gladly receive you. Let Armitage come and visit us and teach us. Waata: Your salutions of welcome to us are true, because we have come to visit (" tiro tiro") you, but to you is the "tikanga." If you all agree to work, do so, work as a Kupapa ought to do,

17

LOWER WAIKATO.