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43

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hours. My first words will be addressed to the Natives of Kaipara. I have been in ignorance of the thoughts and meaning of the Natives in other parts of the Island. When Paul and his son Pairama went to AVelliugton they saw the work of the Natives of that part of the colony, and when they returned they told us all they had seen and heard of the work of the Maoris of the South. They thought that they should do something that would be an example to the Natives of the southern part of the Island, and they decided to have a Parliament. Pairama proposed that these things should be shown to the Natives of Kaipara. AVhen he proposed this Parliament to me I said, " Very well; it will be good. It is a waste of time, your listening to the talk of other places, and the talk of the newspapers. Now, leave it to me. I will have the first Parliament at Otamatea." I thought then that it would bring good to the placo, so I christened tho Parliament "The House," or " The Child." I said then, "We must clothe this child," and we must nurse it; and afterwards I said, " AYe will carry it in our arms to AVaitemata." Now, here it is. This is the third year that we have had this Maori Parliament. I see now that this house has brought the tribes together, and I look round and see Heta Te Haara and Mangonui here amongst us. That is why I said yesterday that I was glad the Parliament had been brought so close to Auckland, and under the armpits of our friends the Europeans, and that the reports of our discussions can be published at once. That was the reason of my introducing the subject yesterday. I wish now if any of you are against this Parliament being here, to say so. Say so at once if you have any objection to it, and I will speak to you outside after the Parliament is over. Perhaps what I said yesterday has been troubling some of you up to the present. Te Hemara and Te Tatana agreed to support me. There was something said yesterday against Ngatiwhatua, Te Taou, and Mangamotu going to Te Kopua. I was very much grieved to hear that. I think that if those persons who opposed it had spoken to mo about it that would have been better, and things would have been finished quietly and satisfactorily. Pairama has said that this shall be the only Parliament house, and I agree with him. That is all I have to say on that point. Now, I wish to say a word about Marsh Brown Kawiti's letter. Listen, all of you assembled in this house. My heart is pleased at Marsh Brown's letter, because he says to Paul, " I leave it for you to look out for some rule for us, and to inquire what are the grievances of the Maoris. Marsh does not wish to go to AVaikato, because of the old fighting between the tribes ; but he leaves Paul to settle the disputes and old grievances. I am glad that he desires that we should bo united throughout the Island. The opening of this Parliament at Okahu has brought lightness to my heart. I am desirous that all matters should be directed on to the road lam travelling. There is a road for us to go from this Parliament to another Parliament. If only a few of us can go we will be present at Te Kopua. I think Marsh means that Ngapuhi shall be on one side and Ngatiwhatua on the other, and I shall stand between them. If the Ngapuhis have anything against us, let them bring it before the Government, and if we have anything against them, we will do the same. But we will all be one. That is why I say this is a good place to meet at, so that the Ngatiwhatua tribe may be able to attend. That is the reason we ought all to be attentive to Christianity, because, though we may belong to different creeds, we are all of one religion. Let the old grievances be brought up now, and then be buried in the Parliament. Let us have one law to protect us. Now, I have not said one word with referenco to that letter from the Waka Maori. It asks Paul to appeal to all the Maoris for money, from 2s. up to £1. I think you should not be long in coming to a conclusion as to the meaning of that letter. It means that we should send our talk to them aud theirs to us. AVaata Tipa : I have got up to speak on the letters which have been read to us to-day. I think that the persons who praised Paul for erecting this house were right. I agree with that person who wrote tho letter about the Waka Maori. 1 agree with that portion which asks people to make a collection. Why I agree with him is, that I desire the words of this Parliament to be preserved for future years. I agree with that portion of the letter which asks the people to subscribe money before they return to their settlements, lest they forget all about it. I will retire to my house outside, and collect money for the Waka Maori. Eawiri Puhata: I am pleased with what I heard Adam Clark say, that the Parliament should remain here. I greatly approve of that, aud I will support it. The reason of my approval is, that it is a central place for all the tribes to assemble at. lam also pleased with the words ofthe chiefs who have written letters to Paul. Their letters and greetings are good. I will say a few words now about the Waka Maori. I agree to the collection of money, because Ido not think it w rould be right that tho Government should pay the expenses of the Maori Parliament. Eenata Paraire Kawatupu : I wish to refer to the lost letter, about the Waka Maori. lam one ofthe paddles that will pull in that canoe. I think that letter concerns all the Natives assemblel. Though I am perhaps the only man of Ngapuhi present, it is right that I should express my opinions. I agree with what the two last speakers said. Let us make a collection. I have heard a good deal of talk in this House against the last Government, and I think it is good that we should subscribe money in order that our talk may be printed in that paper, the Waka Maori. It was mentioned by Te Hemara on the first day of the meeting in this house that a subscription should be got up, and when Commissioner Kemp heard what Te Hemara said he replied, " No ; leave to the Government the expense of printing your talk;" but if we leave it to the Government, perhaps they will not print what is said against them. I do not think it would be right to throw the expense of the printing upon the Government. I think we should collect money, and leave it to the chiefs in this house to decide how it should be spent. But Ido not think the writer of that letter about the Waka Maori seeks to print your talk for your own good. No ;it is only for the sake of the money that he would get for it. He does not desire to do the Maoris any good. It is the money alone that he is looking for. If it rested with me, I would not give him anything. Te Hemara : Mr. Kemp said that the cost of printing the words of this Parliament would be borne by the Government. I think the last speaker was correct. The letter from that person about the Waka Maori was not for the good of the Maoris. It was Paul that first proposed that each tribe should make a collection to print the words of this Parliament, and Mr. Kemp said the Government would undertake the expense. I then went and informed the people of what Air. Kemp had said, that Mr. Kemp heard there was going to be a collection and he stopped it. Mr. Kemp said, " Paul, you leave that

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