G.—B.

30

Eramiha Paikea: The Chairman says that this Parliament is to look into grievances all over the Island. I should say then that the borrowing of money on the land should cease. The lands that have been surveyed for sale, let them be sold; but the lands that have not been surveyed, let them remain so. The lands that are to be adjudicated in the Land Court, let them be investigated and sold. Let the Court sit to pass the lands that have been gazetted for investigation. But at the end of the sitting of the Court let the sale of lands cease. With regard to what Grey and Sheehan say, let some of us go up to the meeting at Te Kopua. Mihaka Makoare (Kaipara) : I have listened attentively to what has been said—viz., that the Queeu sent out her instructors for the benefit of the people of New Zealand. I have also heard what has been said about our remaining loyal to the Queen aud to the laws that have been introduced into this country. I approve of that. The only thing that I condemn is the Land Court. That is the great evil we complain of. I have seen that the Court has been the cause of part of the trouble. That is not the only fault of the Government. They have also appointed Assessors from various tribes throughout the country to carry out the laws. I think that has been the cause of a great deal of mischief to the people of this Island. The Government does wrong iv appointing these chiefs to settle claims. We have lost a great deal of our lands through tho laws that have been made. Now we have a new Government in office to administer the law for us. I think if this Government were to select chiefs from the different tribes, and allow them to investigate aud settle the laud claims, that matters would bo more satisfactory. I think we should ask the Government to allow us to retain our claims over the foreshore. I have seen for the last two years that the Europeans at Kaipara have gone over our lauds, and have taken our fish, shells, and oysters without our permission. AYe only look on. I think that every tribe should watch carefully what this Government will do in regard to these things. I say, Let us all agree that the lands which have not been surveyed should remain so. The meeting adjourned at 4.45 p.m. until 11 o'clock on Tuesday. Sixth. Day.—4th March, 1879. The proceedings were opened at 11.30 a.m. to-day with prayers ; Paul Tuhaere in the chair. Paul Tuhaere: I said yesterday that we were to confine ourselves to the immediate questions under discussion, and to deal very briefly with matters that have been already considered. If any more matters are to be brought up about the Treaty of Waitangi, let it be settled this day aud to-morrow. To-day I should like you to come to a decision upon the matters discussed. I wish you to state to-day what parts of the Treaty of AVaitangi you approve, and what parts you condemn, and what grievances you have. I will call for a show of hands on each of the questions that I shall put to the meeting. 1. That this Parliament will always remain friendly to the Europeans. —Carried unanimously. 2. That the chiefs and people here assembled will always remain loyal to the Queen for ever. —- Carried unanimously.' 3. If any trouble arises—if war should break out —the chiefs and people of this Parliament will not have anything to do with it.—Carried unanimously. 4. That the chiefs and people of this Parliament will adhere to the terms ofthe Treaty of AVaitangi and the Conference of Kohimarama for ever. Hori Tauroa: There are some things that I agree to ; but Ido not agree with all. The rest of tho Natives present voted in tho affirmative. 5. The chiefs and people of this meeting will always adhere to the terms of that treaty, and will endeavour to carry them out. —Carried unanimously. The following resolutions were also carried unanimously:— 6. Ma tenei runanga c whakamana kia tuturu touu te mana rangatira o nga iwi o enei motu kei ngaro i o tatau uri. 7. Ma tenei runanga c whakam.ma ko nga maliinga, ika vie nga kopua mango kei nga iwi Maori ano te mana. 8. Ma tenei runanga c whakamana ko nga mahinga patiki, tuna kei nga iwi Maori ano te mana. 9. Ala tenei runanga c whakamana ko nga tahuna pipi, toka tio, kutai, paua, kina, tipa ki nga iwi Maori ano te maua. 10. Ma tenei runanga c whakamana ko nga parera, kuaka, titi me tahi atu "ki nga iwi Maori ano te mana, kaua te raihana ki nga whenua Maori. 11. Ma tenei runanga c whakamana ko nga pcihana, kukupa tui me tahi atu, ki nga iwi Maori ano te mana, kaua te raihana ki nga takiwa Maori. Paul Tuhaere: Now we have finished those matters, do not bring them up again in the discussion. AVhat has been discussed and agreed to do not repeat. We have something else to talk about now. I will commence it that you may be able to discuss it. The Treaty of AVaitangi says that you are to retain possession Of your own lands. You are to commence with that subject, and when it is finished pass on to another. You have all stated that it has brought a burden upon the Island. From the time of Governor Hobsou down to the arrival of Sir George Grey, it has been the Government alone that has purchased the lands of the Maoris, according to the Treaty of Waitangi. The Natives then had authority over their own lands, but after the treaty the Maori Land Courts were established. Then a law was passed that all the Nativo lands should be passed through the Court, and that they should be surveyed. In former times the Maoris drew the boundaries of their own lands. AVhen the Native Lands Court was established, then Maoris went to the Court and set up claims to lands on the ground that they had planted food thereon, or that they had lighted a fire. This, you will all agree, has been one of the troubles all over the Island. I wish now to enlighten you on this subject, so that you may be able to think it over, and come to a definite conclusion. It was the Native Land Court that took aw ray the authority over the land from the owners, and put the authority in a Crown grant. Owing to the issue of those Crown grants all classes of Europeans have been seeking to purchase laud. If the lauds had remained tinder the old authority of your fathers there would have been no Crown grants, and your lauds would not have been wasted. You saw that the price that the