Puaha, a Chief of that tribe, stated to me that their reason for not going to Rangitikei was that they had no pretension of a claim to that district. The Ngatitoas, a few of the Ngatiawa Chiefs, with Te Rauparaha and Rangihaeata, then proceeded to Taita, a village on the Manawatu river, where a feast was prepared for them. The Ngatiraukawas accompanied me to Rangitikei; where, after some discussion, it was publicly and unanimously admitted that the Ngatiapas had a perfect right to sell the North banks of the Rangitikei; and that they should not distrust any Europeans who should settle there. But although they at the same time acknowledged the right of the Ngatiapas to a portion of the South bank of the river, they protested