HELD IN UPEER WANGANUI.

A.—No. 13,

5

the whole matter. If bad men make disturbances at Taranaki, Ngatiruanui, or elsewhere, the person responsible for those outrages is Tawhiao. Welcome ! Welcome to your canoe ! Come back to your canoe ! Although you have a different master from me, yet it is right that I should ask you to come back to the thoughts and feelings of former days. Your words are large. In the morning it rains, at noon it clears up; your words are like this. It was you who sent word that Wirihana and Hare Tauteka were to return from Taupo. I consented to send for these men; Kemp went for that purpose. Before he got there, Te Kapo and three others were killed by Te Kooti. The evil commenced in the days of Whiritaunoka; this is the end of it. Te Kooti's deeds are but a part of the evil work which has been going on for some time; the fault is with you and with us." Toma Tahupotiki : " Salutations, O Wiremu and Tamati Waka ! How long are you going on in this way? You do not even obey the orders of your own king. In 1866 I heard of a letter which came from the king, and which said that the killing of men should cease, let the sword be sheathed. Which king do you serve, the king who says the sword is to be sheathed, or another king ? If you have set up Kooti as your king, by all means follow him and obey him. But rather, O friends, come to the "Aomarama" [the light world] out of the "Aopouri" [the dark world] . You men of Taupo lately with Te Kooti, I will not ask you come to me, but I ask you to come to the Aomarama." Tamati Waka : " When you speak about the word, do not forget that you unsheathed the sword as well as I." The meeting here broke up, and assembled again in the large house at 7.30 p.m. Topia Turoa read an extract from a letter from Tawhiao to himself, which said that all the people in the land were to turn against Te Kooti, and to make his name a byword amongst the people: "Te Kooti is to be cut off and his name is to be defiled, and I think this- occasion on which we have met to open this house Aomarama, is a fit time to make this word known. Do not think that this talk is to be like former talks, and to come to nothing. I promised in the daytime to talk of the subject which should be most acceptable to you; as you are desirous that we should talk on this subject, lam willing to do so. If I say that the country is thrown open by which you are at liberty to follow Te Kooti wherever he goes, you cannot complain if Ido nothing further. Still, I will not ask you to do this work whilst I remain idle. Let there be two of us to do the work; this is a w rork which would have rejoiced Hori Kingi. I do not say that Kooti must be killed because lam in any fear for myself or people. I am not. I have another work —you have heard what that work is ; it is to keep peace in this district. It was said this afternoon, that Te Kooti is in the Manganuiateao; if he is there you are at liberty to go and take him." Haimona : " Your words are very satisfactory. lam glad I spoke about Tc Kooti as I did, as it has brought so satisfactory a reply. I must say now, that although you have removed all obstacles out of the way so far as you are concerned, I do not think I can find him, as he is hidden in the scrub in a rough country. If you will tell us where he is, we will find him, whilst you remain in the Marae. Your words are a confirmation of the good name of your house." Mete Kingi, M.G .A. : " We have come here with the object of making peace, —the same object had before brought us together. We have heard the name of this house ' Aomarama •' may it be a name of good omen. Tc Kooti came to Taupo and fought with Hare Tauteka; Hare sent for arms and ammunition which I was afraid to supply, lest they should fall into the hands of Te Kooti. Hare wrote for men : I refused to send any. He wrote again three or four times. I then sent Kemp to bring back Hare and Wirihana; they came to Murimotu. Kooti then killed Te Kapo and three others. Kemp found the place defiled with blood; he could not therefore bring those men back; he stayed and fought Te Kooti and defeated him. Your words are very good ; you have conquered me by those good words." Topia Turoa :" I will help to look for Te Kooti. See, this is my only Aveapon (spear) ; do you think it will kill men ? If you say it is an effective weapon against a rifle, I will take it; but if not, I shall require a better weapon for my purpose of looking for this man. You must give me arms and ammunition for this purpose. These are words ! words !I am in earnest when I say I will look for Tc Kooti. Ido not think that would take me more than a few days. I want this peace to be lasting; let us again be one people and have one house. This house has been well opened; let the good work go on." Tahana Turoa :" I have been waiting to hear what Tawhiao said about Te Kooti. When Topia was so long absent at Te Kuiti, I felt sure Tc Kooti had been declared guilty. When Topia came back, my wish was to appoint a day on which this matter could be talked over. I cannot promise that all the Hauhaus will join in pursuit of Kooti. I intend to protect the men of Ngatituwharctoa [Taupo] ; the rest I will send away. Ido not ask for arms and ammunition, but I will do all I can to have this man taken." Haimona : " This is what we wish you to do, O Topia. Drive your sheep into their stockyards, and let Te Kooti and his immediate followers be outcasts until they arc caught." Mete Kingi, M.G.A.: " I am anxious to consult with Kemp before any further steps are taken." Topia : " I shall only take action against Te Kooti and his immediate followers—about thirty men." 2