A.—No. 7

4

NOTES OE THE PROCEEDINGS DURING THE

The Eev. Mr. Clarke read the following ADDEESS : To His Excellency Sib Geobge Peeguson Bowen, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and St. George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over Her Majesty's Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same. Mat it please totjb Excellency,—We, the European inhabitants of the Waimate and its vicinity, beg to offer you a cordial welcome to our district. Most of us are sons of the soil, few of whom have seen our fatherland ; but we assure your Excellency that we glory in being an integral part of the British nation, while in attachment to the Throne and person of our Gracious Sovereign the Queen, and veneration for the British Constitution, we yield to none of Her Majesty's subjects. Tour Excellency will be pleased to learn that from our earliest days we have always lived with our fellow-subjects of the Maori race on terms of perfect amity. We gladly avail ourselves of this opportunity of bearing testimony to their loyalty to Her Majesty's Government, and we have every confidence that it will be maintained. We pray that through your endeavours and those of your Ministers, all things may be so ordered and settled upon the best and surest foundations—that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, may be established amongst us for all generations. We regret that, owing to the shortness of the notice, we have not been able to give your Excellency a bettor reception; but we beg that you will not measure our loyalty to the Sovereign you represent, and our respect to yourself, by the inadequacy of our demonstration. Again, on behalf of ourselves and the inhabitants of the Waimate and neighbourhood, we beg to accord your Excellency a hearty welcome. His Excellency the Governor made the following EEPLT: Gentlemen, I thank you heartily for this Address—for your expressions of loyalty to our beloved Sovereign, and of respect for myself as Her Majesty's Eepresentative. It is most gratifying to me to meet so many of the representatives of the early pioneers of colonization in New Zealand at Waimate, one of the first and chief centres from which the light of civilization and Christianity spread over the whole country. The friendly relations which the settlers in the North have maintained now for a quarter of a century with their Maori neighbours reflect great credit on, and have powerfuly contributed to, the general prosperity of both races. I earnestly hope with you that the efforts of the Colonial Government may soon succeed in establishing and consolidating throughout this Island the peace and harmony which you have so long enjoyed here. • I again thank you for this cordial welcome. G. E. Bowen. Waimate, April 20, 1870. The following gentlemen were then introduced to His Excellency:—Messrs. George Clarke, James Davis, William Clarke, C. Hargraves, S. Ludbrooke, J.P., John Clarke, William Kemp, Marsden Clarke, J.P., Captain Burleigh, E.N. After the ceremony of presenting the Address, His Excellency was about to hold a Jcorero with the Natives, but they did not seem inclined to hold the meeting at that advanced hour of the day. Haratua, an old warrior Chief, stepped forward and asked the Governor to postpone the meeting until next morning. One of his reasons for the postponement was that they had been anxiously expecting the Governor from an early hour and had prepared no food, and they wished to commence the korero early next day. According to Maori custom, when they receive a visit from a person of high rank or position, they clo not like to do more on the day of his arrival than accord him a welcome, and have their korero on the following day. His Excellency (through Mr. E. Williams) informed the Natives that he had much pleasure in complying with the request made, in deference to the wishes of the Chiefs, although the postponement would interfere with his arrangements at other places. The Natives seemed highly pleased at the intimation, and immediately repaired to the Court-house, outside of which building a large quantity of kumeras, potatoes, and pork was piled, which one would think would be sufficient to feed them for a week. It was the joint contribution of the different tribes. In the immediate neighbourhood of Waimate there are located about 130 Europeans, and some 200 Natives reside within a radius of three miles. The Natives were much pleased at His Excellency's visit; and the Chiefs feel that he is actuated by a sincere desire to promote the benefit and welfare of both races in this country. They feel that they have hitherto been greatly neglected ; and complain that in former years they were but seldom visited by the Representative of Her Majesty, or by any member of the Government. The Natives of this settlement have always been quiet, peaceable and hard-working. They are now taking a great interest in the matter of their parliamentary representation, and as many as thirty fresh applications have been sent in by Natives holding Crown Grants to have their names placed on the Electoral 8011. They are also passing their lands through the Native Lands Court, and obtaining their Crown Grants. Prom an early hour on Priday morning, the Natives were making preparations for the meeting. Shortly after nine o'clock, they had everything in readiness for the korero. As is customary, in pre-