other natives who were invited by him to the meeting, was evidently calcuating on their co-operation in opposing the right of the Ngatiapas to sell any land South of the Wanganui river. This Chief had also been led to expect that that the Ngatiraukawas of Otaki and Manawatu would unite with him in opposing the sale of land, as several influential members of the above tribe solicited Rangihaeata's interference in preventing the Ngatiapa sale, and requested him and his followers to sign a document embodying their determination to retain possession of all their lands. This disposition was generally and strongly manifested by the natives, when I commenced the present negotiations. In the meantime, some of the Ngatiapas were secretly encouraging the Ngatiraukawas to hold the Rangitikei country, but they were apparently averse to making any open declaration at a meeting to this effect; and eventually yielded their opposition, objecting to accompany Rangihaeata to Rangitikei; and Rawiri 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 against its being occupied by Europeans; and stated that any attempt to do so would be considered by them as equivalent to a declaration of war on the part of the Government, with their tribe. I took notes of the different speeches at the Meeting, which I shall have the honour of transmitting with my general report on this purchase. I should observe that Rangihaeata appeared disappointed at finding that the natives generally did not support him more earnestly in opposing the sale of land; and his speech, delivered in my presence, to the natives assembled at Manawatu, and partly addressed to myself, was remarked on