E.—No. 2,

return of William King to Waitara. Mr. Bell said—The work of the Governor was correct. One thing was wrong, namely, his purchasing the three pas. If you had left out the three pas William King would not have been dark. Mr. Bell then asked us to reply to what he said. We said we will not reply to you lest our reply should be one-sided. Rather we will speak of the intentions of the Governor. The Governor did not say that William King's piece should be taken ; but that William King's piece within Te Teira's should be left for him. " Even if William King's piece " should be large it will be for himself. Even if your piece should be small, Teira, it will be for me. •If it all belongs to William King there will be none for me ; but if it is yours only Te Teira then the " whole will be mine." Secondly. Governor Browne said that William King's piece should be marked off. William King did not consent. Moreover Te Teira's first word to William King and all the people before the handing over of the land and the Parawai (Native Mat) to Governor Browne was this, that William (King) and all the people should go—that their houses should be taken down, and that Teira's piece should be clear for disposal to Governor Browne. This is our reply to the talk of Mr. Bell. Another thing ; we three spoke in the absence of Mr. Parris. He was not present at our talk with Mr. Bell. If Mr. Parris and the people who have caused the confusion had been present, we should have entered fully into the matter with Mr. Bell. This was the reason we did not answer the word of Mr. Bell. We said to Mr. Bell—The Proclamation of Governor Browne was correct; because I gave the piece (of land) correctly to the Governor. William King also saw me give it while peace was not yet made with Ihaia, with whom were my friends in the piece of land. When peace had been made with Ihaia, the hundred (£100) was given to me. William King, Te Rangitake saw that £100. Let it not be falsely said that this £100 was given me as a bribe by the Governor, but rather as an earnest pledge for all that piece of land which I gave. Our thoughts are that there should be no confusion of much talk. The Governor's Notice decides it. In our Migration from Waikanae when we arrived at Tangahoe, Hone Hira Te Heke stood up in the evening and said—When we arrive at Waitara we will give one side of Waitara to Governor Grey in payment of his and William King's talk at Waikanae. Tamati Tarepa (Tamati Raru, Teira's father) said it is not right that this payment be made while we are on the water, rather when we get on shore and our feet are dry, it shall be settled. William King repudiated what had been said between Governor Grey and himself. We arrived at Waitara in November 1848. The tribe and the chiefs of the Migration deliberated what should be done about a dwelling place for the women and children lest they should be killed by Waikato. William King said—Let the pa for the women and children be taken to the other side of Waitara. Iharaira Te Tuke, and Parata Te Huia said Leave it at the Kuhikulii. Hurirapa, and Werohia, that Puketapu may be near in case the enemy Waikato should come. William King stood up and addressed the Chiefs and all the people saying, Listen the tribes. It does not rest with me but with the people whose land this is. It is not a question of a permanent settlement but only a mere dwelling place, that Waikato may hear that the fire has become ashes, inasmuch as we are all living together. Do not let us separate, so that if the enemy comes we shall all be in one body. When we see we are safe let each one go to his own land. Then Tamati Tarepa and Ihukura Herewaka agreed that they should live there for three years and then go to their own places. It was not that this place was given to them for a permanent dwelling place; but as a place to live in whilst in fear of the enemy, of Waikato. At the end of three years the people of Pukearuhe, Mimi, Urenui, Onaero, Tarangi, Pukerangiora, Otarawa and Ngatimaru all went to their own land. William King and his people remained on that piece of land. The third year a letter came from Bishop Selwyn asking for a piece of land for a College. Afterwards he came in person to Waitara and said Give me Waitara as a place for a College. Tamati Tarepa and Hopa Rauponga did not agree to this word of the Bishop; but afterwards all the tribe worked at timber for a house of Prayer. After the Bishop, came the Rev. Mr. Williams with the same word, but Tamati Tarepa and Hopa Rauponga refused a site for the Church and College, and said—We understand : our children understand how to Plough and Drive and do Arithmetic. Afterwards in the year 1858 I began to talk about agreeing to sell this piece of land to the Europeans. On the death of Waitere (Katatore) William King commenced hostilities against Ihaia and Ihaia went to Mimi. Governor Browne came (to New Plymouth) and Mr. McLean and Mr. Parris came to tell us of his arrival and to fetch us to see him, and then they returned. The next day I said to William King, Did you see Mr. McLean and Mr. Parris 1 He replied, Yes. I said, What did they say to you *i He said, they told me when the gun fired I was to go to Town. I said, They told me the same. Let us go now. He replied, You go, I will go in the evening. That was all. Ritimana and I went. In the evening William King and his party arrived at the Kawau and slept there. The next morning we went to the house of Mr. Parris, and Mr. McLean asked William King about his agreement as to Waitara in his conversation with Governor Grey at Waikanae. But William King did not approve of his question. After this Governor Browne arrived at the house of Mr. Parris and then Te Teira stood up and said, Listen Governor, Mr. Richmond, and Mr. McLean. I now give Waitara to you O Governor, Mr. Richmond, and Mr. McLean. I said I give my piece at Waitara to you Governor. Listen to me the assembly. If you oppose me I will put back the boundary to its former place. Listen ye people, if you oppose me I will remove the boundary to its former place.

35

THE WAITAKA.