G.—B.

4

a road from Kaipara. He was pleased that Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan are making new laws for the Islands. He urged the education of Maori children. Te Ngawe thought Natives should elect Judges of the Land Courts, they paying the salaries. Te Hemara said Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan were right in referring to the Kohimarama Conference. Their words would be concurred in by the chief's who would go to Te Kopua. Paikea —The Government should restore the land that was formerly bought with fish-hooks. The Maoris should employ Native surveyors, and stop surveys by Europeans. Taro said he was a nail in the Governor's boot until Governor Grey came. He complained that the fisheries had been taken. The Treaty said that no foreign nation should destroy the Maoris, but the Queen had injured them herself. The Treaty promised that tho Queen would protect the Maoris in the possession of their lands, but she is continually paying deposits on them. She had also taken the fisheries. Watene Tautari supported Te Ilemara's remarks about Grey and Sheehan. " May their Government live long!" He hoped the Maori Parliaments would be held annually. The Conference adjourned at 4 p.m. There being about a hundred Europeans present, the Natives sang a song and performed a ngeri. Fifth Day.—3rd March, 1879. Proceedings commenced at 11 a.m. with prayer; Paul, Chairman. The Chairman explained that the charges upon vessels were made to pay the expenses of pilotage, harbour lights, and improvements, and that the money did not go to the General Government. Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan were now endeavouring to arrange a meeting with Tawhiao for the good of all, and the Conference should discuss the subject. Arama Karaka Haututu complained of surveys and Crown grants. The balance of land unsurveyed should not be sold. Maoris should be allowed to shoot over their own lands without licenses. He complained also of surveyors going upon his land without permission ; also of the low price paid by the Government, which ought to return part of the profit realized from Native land purchases. Sir George Grey should restore the foreshores to the Natives. Te Eewete defended the game laws: they must allow the pigeons to breed. Maoris ought to be allowed to shoot pheasants at all times, in order to kill them off. It was very disheartening to the Maoris to have to watch their plantations. Eoad Boards should not be allowed to levy taxes on Native lauds. A demand had been made upon him by the Waitemata County Council. Ho desired that Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan should stop this, and the taxes on cattle, horses, and dogs. His pigs were killed by the trains, and when ho applied for compensation the manager of the railway laughed at him. Te Keene had thought that by being Assessor he would get back some of his lands, but, in place of that, it had caused new trouble. The Crowu grants took the mana of his land. In September last his land was taken from him. Te Tatana urged the Natives to cease selling land. He approved of the endeavours of Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan to form a bond of unity between the two races. Tamihana complained of his mussels being taken by Europeans, and of a portion of his land being wrongfully included in the confiscated boundary. Puhata Eawiri complained of deprivation of foreshores and fisheries, and interference with private purchases. Ihaia complained of his land at Awhitu having been sold without his consent to a private purchaser. The Chairman pointed out that the Natives were complaining of wrongs committed under former Governments, before the present Government took office. Te Hemara said his land at Mahurangi was improperly taken. He objected to Eoad Boards and land taxes. He complained that Natives were anxious to sell reserves made by the Government for their benefit. He urged the chiefs to go to Te Kopua, and assist the work of Sir George Grey. Ho believed Grey and Tawhiao would arrange terms. Then all difficulties would be settled. Te Hira Kawau: Tho troubles i '.' the whole Island would now rest with Sir George Grey, Mr. Sheehan, and Tawhiao. They should support Sir George Grey, and go with him to Te Kopua. Eramiha : The fisheries should be restored, the authority of Eoad Boards and County Councils over Maori lands abolished, the person who introduced pheasants he punished, and shooting licenses remitted. The Chairman: Maori members only went into tho Parliament to make money. This Parliament desired to suggest subjects for the Europcau Parliament to discuss. Arama Karaka again complained of the low price offered for Maori lauds. If Government received £1 an acre for land, they should pay back iOs. to the Maoris. He opposed road and county rates. Tautari said, at Otamatea the Maoris had agreed to the Eoad Boards, which they now condemned. Te Hakuene: It was not right to charge the Government with trading upon the Maoris ; the same law applied to both races. He approved of the Government schools, but condemned Eoad Boards and County Councils. All the Maori members wanted was the honorarium. Apihai Te Kawau objected to the gazetting of his land at Wharepapa. He was not certain whether the Government or private persons were interfering with his lands. He claimed the fisheries also. Te Hemara Karawai (Kaipara), a Hauhau, opposed the extension of the Eoad Boards from Oruawharo to Makarau. Henare Eeweti complained of the low price given by the former Government for his land at Matakana and Matakohe. He opposed Eoad Boards and the further sale of lands. The speaker also desired that the attention of the Government should be called to the fact that the creek at