A.—No. 12,

14

PAPERS RELATIVE TO MR FIRTH'S

the Queen, and the Queen is the Sovereign of this island of New Zealand. The "Waikato went to Taranaki, but your King was not the King of that place. Manuwhiri (addressing Mr. Preece who was interpreting Mr. Firth's words) : How about your Governor —did he not go ? Mr. Preece s The Governor is no more a resident of New Zealand than are the soldiers. Manuwhiri, you are not an ignorant man, and you know the Governors of New Zealand are not residents. The first Governor Hobson died a year or two after he came. The second was Governor Fitzroy; he remained a short time, and then went away, when his term of office had expired, to another land. Governor Grey came next. He remained his term, and was then sent to be Governor of another land. Governor Wynyard then came here for a short time, and after him Browne, who remained until his term of office was over, and then went to be governor of another country. Afterwards Sir George Grey was sent for, and now we have Governor Bowen. So now you know that the Governor and the soldiers are removable by the Queen from place to place, and that no Colonists went to Taranaki. Te Aroha : By whose authority did the soldiers go to Taranaki ? Mr. Preece : By the authority of the Governor, who was the servant of the Queen, not by the Pakehas of the soil. Manuwhiri: Cease this. You are holding a Court. It would take days to come to a conclusion. Mr. Preeee : It would take months. A Native: Years. After a long pause — Manuwhiri inquired : When do you leave ? Mr. Davis : We leave to-morrow morning. Manuwhiri: Well. I have a long way to go, and you have a short way. Is there anything further to say ? Mr. Davis: There is nothing to be gained by any further talk. Mr. Firth : Once for all, will you authorize me to state to the Governor that you are willing to make peace on these terms, namely, the assent to the King; all fighting to be at an end; free pardons to be given to all criminals : and a portion of Waikato to be given up to you ? Manuwhiri: We must have all of Waikato. Mr. Firth (putting his hands behind his back) : You have tied my hands. I shall go back to my kainga and remain quiet, with my wife and children. I shall not consent to be the bearer of your propositions. Manuwhiri: That is a matter of indifference to us. That is for you to consider. Mr. Davis : Mr. Firth has a large basket full of words, let him take the basket with him. Let him decide what is to be done with it. Mr. Firth: If the Prince has not gone, will Tawhiao, you, and Rewi go to meet him ? Manuwhiri: Our answer is already gone. Have you not seen it ? Mr. Firth: No. Manuwhiri: It has gone on. Eewi's word about going to Ngaruawahia was "he kupu taurangi" (a figure of speech —indefinite). You know the meaning of that. Mr. Davis : Now here is another thing. We have come up here, and in all probability we shall be blamed for keeping you away from meeting the Prince and the Governor at Ngaruawahia. Manuwhiri: No, we never promised to go there. The speaker here repeated in Maori his conversation with Te Wheoro, who went up to invite him to meet the Prince : —■ Ka ki mai a te Wheoro : " Xi te karanga au i a korua ko te Kawana, ki Ngaruawahia, ka haere atu ranei koe ?" Ka mea atu au, " Kei a koe tena." " Ka whakaae koe kite haere atu ki Ngaruawahia ?" Ko au, " Tena ko koe." " E mea ana au kia karangatia te Kawana ki Ngaruawahia, kia kite i a koe." Ano, ko au, " Mau tena." Ka ki ake au, kite haere atu au ki Ngaruawahia kaore koe c wehi? Ano ko ia " Kaore au c wehi." Ka ki ake ano au, "Xi te unga au i nga Pakeha kia haere atu i Waikato kaore koe c wehi ?" " Ka wehi au." " Ha, ka wehi hoki koe." Translation. Te Wheoro said: If I invite you and the Governor to Ngaruawahia, will you come thither ? I said to him, That rests with you. Te Wheoro : Will you consent to go to Ngaruawahia ? Manuwhiri: You represent me. Te Wheoro: lam desirous of inviting the Governor to Ngaruawahia, that he may see you. Manuwhiri: That is your affair. If Igo to Ngaruawahia, will you not be afraid ? Te Wheoro : I shall not be afraid. Manuwhiri: If I should order the Europeans to leave the Waikato, will you not be afraid ? Te Wheoro : I shall be afraid. Manuwhiri: You will be afraid then. Mr. Firth: What message are you going to send to the Kupapa chieftains that are down there (at Ngaruawahia) ? Manuwhiri: They are engaged down there eating loaves ; that is their work. I have sent them a message.