7

G.—l

not being careful in administering their affairs, which resulted in one individual effecting a sale, another a survey, another keeping back the land, all making separate arrangements respecting the one block instead of all working together; that is the cause of the trouble in that district. Do not let this district be like that ; if you have any troubles respecting land, let them be settled out of Court. Do not bring them into Court for adjustment and then blame the Government. Whakatohea, your request to Mr. McLean for a small portion of land to cultivate food has been acceded to, because you have behaved well and have regarded the directions of the Government. You have followed the direction of the Government. It is well; follow the road that is most beneficial to man; do not be taken in by offers of food or money that may be made to you by people of other tribes who come to look at land. These are only tempting you, that they may get possession of the land; and you will suffer, and will become a laughing stock to those who manage their affairs properly. Farewell, Whakatohea; you have heard words of advice and direction from the Government to-day which are good. This is now the third year that there has been no trouble among you, since you first received instructions for your guidance according to the law. Whakatohea, farewell.

Hakaraia: Salutations to you," te kai whakaora o nga mea katoa." Welcome, the chiefs from the South. I salute you who are the chief authority among all people. Come and see those whom you have preserved from destruction. Visitors, we bid you welcome. Some of those who have borne arms against you, you have raised to a responsible position, while I who have also borne arms against you have not had the same honor conferred on me; my Pakeha, Te Wirihana, has not given me any intimation of my filling such a position. I made an application to the Government, but have received no reply to it. Eru Nopenope (a returned prisoner) : Welcome, my parent; come and visit your people now living here ; some of those whom you have treated leniently are here. When you took me to Wellington you treated me well, and when you gave me permission to return, you said, " Go, but live quietly," which we are doing. This is a word of mine to you : do you give me a piece of land in this township, where I may light my fire. Mr. McLean: Our words to you will now cease; we will now bid you farewell, and rest ourselves this evening before we leave. I am very much pleased to see you living so peaceably. If you require some land, Mr. Wilson is here _ you can represent the matter to him, and he will look into it; 20,000 acres at Opepe were given to Whakatohea. I have seen how industrious Te Hira is, and would like to see you follow his example. My wish is that you and the Pakehas should live as one people. Farewell. Mr. McLean was "interviewed" by the Ngaiterangi Tribe in a body on Monday morning. The Court House and all the available space was literally crammed. The principal chiefs present were—Hori Tupaea, Hori Ngatai, Hamiora Tv, Enoka Te Whanake, Hohepa Hikutaia, Wi Parera, Raniera, Te Hiahia, Te Kuku, Akuhata, Harawira, Tareha, Maihi, Pohepohe, Menehira, Ranapia, beside a great number of men of lesser note. We also observed Major Ropata, Henare Potae, Ihaka Whanga, and some other chiefs who accompanied Mr. McLean, and who appeared to be much interested in the proceedings. Hamiora Tv was nominated as spokesman to welcome Mr. McLean, which he did in a few appropriate words, at the same time intimating that he hoped Mr. McLean still came amongst them as a friend. Wi Parera and Hori Ngatai explained the allusion made by the former speaker. That through the specious statements of Karaitiana they had been led to write a letter telling him that they would adhere to Mr. Stafford's Government. They were afraid that perhaps Mr. McLean still had a feeling against the Ngaiterangi for the apparent ingratitude they had shown. Hori wished it to be understood that the promises held out were so tempting that it was unnatural for any one to expect that they would turn a deaf ear to the inducements held forth. The restoration of confiscated lands was a matter in which Tauranga Natives were interested. When they heard that confiscated lands were to be restored to the original owners, they, without giving the matter consideration, said they would support any Government who would give them back their lands. Again they were told that Mr. McLean was no longer at the head of affairs, and they thought that the best they could do was to make friends with the powers that be. Hohepa Hikutaia read Karaitiana's letter. Mr. McLean replied that he had heard that they had written a letter to Karaitiana, in which they had expressed gratification at his accession to power, and that he had seen a copy of the letter. He warned them against any promises made under political pressure or for political purposes. That it was frequently the case that such promises were only intended for an object, and that the persons who • had made them would be the parties to oppose them when brought before Parliament. That, with regard to his own feeling towards the Ngaiterangi, it was unchanged. He always liked the tribe, and he only pitied them for being so easily misled. That he had never come to them to ask them to support him simply because it was useless to do so. No possible good could result from any such proceeding. It was not for outsiders to say that a Government shall stand or fall. It was a matter entirely in the hands of the representatives of the people. That with regard to the question of confiscation of lands, it was not the act of any Government of which he had been or was a member. That when he became Native Minister the lands had been confiscated, and it was not for him or any Government to annul what the Legislature had ordered. That Ministers were simply the Executive of the Governor and Parliament.