21

A.—l

suppress what might otherwise have become a dangerous rising. All these tribes received me with uniform loyalty, courtesy, and cordiality. 3. One tribe alone, known under the several names of Tuhoe, or Uriwera, were reported still to maintain isolation, and, acting under the influence of Te Kooti, to have set up an aukati, or line of demarcation, with the intention of debarring Her Majesty's representative and subjects from going into their country. Both my late and my present Advisers agreed that such a pretension ought not to be allowed if, indeed, it existed; and if it did not exist it would be well to prove it. 4. I made careful inquiries from the Resident Magistrate and those best qualified to speak of the sentiments of this tribe, and was satisfied that no opposition would be offered to my visit. In fact, when the Tuhoe became aware that I intended to be in that part of New Zealand, they sent me an invitation to visit them at Ruatoki, a settlement close to the Crown-land boundary. I accepted the invitation, and left Auckland on the 16th March, accompanied by the Hon. A. J. Cadman, Native Minister. 5. On the 19th March I met Te Kooti, returning from Ruatoki, with whom I had an interview, and whom I received in the same cordial manner that I should have any other leading Native, for, whatever may have been his evil deeds in the past, Her Majesty has granted him an amnesty, and everything should now be done to show him that those unhappy times have passed away for ever, and that so long as the present satisfactory relations continue Her Majesty and her subjects can forget as well as forgive. 6. The Tuhoe live for the most part in small settlements scattered along the precipitous banks of the Whakatane River, taking advantages of such patches of clear ground as are to be found in the dense bush with which the valley is covered.. Their capital is Ruatahuna, which the nature of the country makes very difficult of access; but the place where they are brought most in contact with Europeans is Ruatoki, some sixteen miles from the town of Whakatane, where they have a large extent of fertile land of their own, and work for the neighbouring European settlers, with whom they appear to be on very good terms. 7. On my arrival at Ruatoki I found a large number of Natives assembled to greet me, including all the chiefs of the tribe except (1) Whenanui, whose great age prevented his coming down, and who was represented by his sons ; and (2) Tamaikoha, who had not heard of my coming, but arrived subsequently, and accompanied me to Whakatane. They appeared to be finer in physique than other Natives I had seen, and their cultivations, as well as their appearance, showed that they have ample means of livelihood. 8. The welcome was of the usual Maori kind, and was followed by speeches from all the chiefs, each one of whom welcomed me to visit any part of their territory, thus completely falsifying the report that any difficulties would be placed in my way in travelling through their country. 9. One chief alone, and by no means the most influential, struck a discordant note when he said that other Europeans must not be led to suppose that this day meant the thro wing-open of the Uriwera Country to prospectors, schoolmasters, and Land Courts. This remark elicited smiles of disapprobation from those sitting round, who evidently considered them ill-timed, and, notwithstanding the professed aversion to Land Courts, one of the chiefs shortly after rose and requested that Numea, who had been the chief spokesman of the tribe, should be appointed Government Assessor; this was applauded by all present, and agreed to by the Minister. It is not easy to see the use of an Assessor unless there be a Land Court. 10. On the following morning, accompanied by the sons of a number of the chiefs, I made an expedition up the river in the direction of Ruatahuna, and found the Natives perfectly sincere in their profession of anxiety to help me to see as much as I wished of their country, pointing out the places made interesting by their history or traditions. 11. On my return I bade them farewell, after receiving a promise that, should I next year desire to visit the upper part of their country, they would send men over to Waikaremoana, a lake near Gisborne, to bring me in thence.