FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE

Meeting—5,

our political faith just now, widely disseminated, would have good effect, especially in the South, where Te Heuheu is agitating. The Akitai people, on being asked by Huirama what should be done with the Maoris who stuck to the Queen, said, "When the Governor goes to Kngland, they must go with him." I suppose they meant, " When we compel the Governor to go," The impudence of this handful of men is incredible. We are now reaping the fruite of a long series of flatteries and largesses, and bitter fruit it is for an Englishman's amour propre. If the movement made recently by the Government, had been deferred another year, I really believe that such an organization would have been effected as would have rendered our occupation of this country as precarious as our moral empire in India has recently been proved to be Hone Heke had no such party, and no wider views ; his moderation was less, and therefore his talents were less dangerous. Aβ it is, we came into the centre of the system, and stopped, partially the action of the prime motive power,— I mean the Waikato tribes. This is the third year of the agitation, and I cannot but think that the star of civil discord has now passed its zenith; at any rate, new adhesions constantly arrive to us, not such adhesions as are testified by the Treaty of Waitangi, but intelligent acceptations of law, and acknowledgments of allegiance, resulting from reason and conviction. There is no concealment or subterfuge : —" We are the subjects of the Queen, and the sovereignty of this island has gone to her, —opposition is now too late." I heard Te Kereihi use these words in an address to liis people. __,_* August 19, Wednesday —Paetai : To-day assembled Ngatihine. The meeting was preluded by a few letters in a diplomatic style. It was a good meeting, though characterized by no good speaking, but the people seemed sincere It lasted until 4 p.m. There was a meeting in the evening to arrange about Paora and Te Kereihi going to town to see the Governor. All the people want to go and assure His Excellency of their loyalty, bit I discouraged the notion, and told them that the civilized wiiy was for the principal men to go, charged with tlie sentiments of the multitude. Received letter from Paul about grass seed. The result of my preaching lias been the thorough conviction in the minds of all the people of the great advantages to be derived from sowing all waste lands with grass. The plan has taken deep hold of their minds, and must now accompany the civil institutions. Our only difficulty soon will be the poverty of the people. Similar letter from Kapihana and Te Kau on behalf of Ngatihine. Pukewhaii remained outside during the meeting of his people (Ngatihine). He approves very much of all this, but does not wish to hurt Potatau's feelings—so he told me. August 20, Thursday — Paetai: Messenger came this morning w'th letters from Whaingaroa— one from Mr. Graham, about an assault by a white man on a Maori woman, and requesting me to go over and investigate it. Wrote an answer, and to Wiremu Nero. It is impossible for me at present to undertake a larger district; indeed I shall lie compelled, I fear, to ask a little assistance from Government, unlil the thing is initiated: the Natives constantly keep me talking until 12 and 1. it is at these evening interviews I gain their real sentiments, so that it would be impolitic to atop their access to jne, wearisome though these long conversations are. I almost think that the first requisite in a Native officer is a strong body—mind being altogether a secondary consideration. The work is very heavy on me now ; in a few months, when the wheels are oiled, and properly on the rail, the coach will go more easily. Held a Court; again adjourned that difficult case of Te V\ hirepu's for further evidence —dismissed three of the defendants, one who had paid, and two against whom there was no evidence. The second case was easy. The people seemed much pleased. Already we found the Court-house too small; it was therefore arranged that Ngatihine, who have joined since its erection, shall add a piece to the end, Hunia managed very well as keeper of order, crier, &c. Received letter from Wiremu Te Wheoro on behalf of the multitude, about powder: told him and the meeting I could give no answer. The Court was over at 4 ; —we then held a "runanga," at which the old chiefs presided: we all made speeches exhortatory, didactic, exultatory, and reflective—in fact, the whole proceedings were most satisfactory. I told them not to rejoice yet, but wait until we have got every thing perfect, as the " pakeha" have it; and above all, to let the King people alone, to ask them on shore when they passed in canoes, to let them talk without arguing with them, but quietly to go on their own road. They offered me a fine piece of land, to me and my heirs for ever.—I sorrowfully declined. Te Kereihi afterward* privately asked me to pay his passage across the Manukau. He said he was too old and feeble to walk, and had not got a shilling in the world ; he must see the Governor once more before he died, and tell him how" pumau" all the arrangements were. I told him ihett shillings should be paid. I like the old man very much, and know he is thoroughly honest. He is one of the half dozen old chiefs of fame t-till alive, and the greatest man we have got on our side—indeed perhaps the greatest in the district. He is a "m.itua" to Potatau. I had an opportunity of lecturing a great Chief. When one is clearly and indisputably in the wrong, it is well to seize the opportunity ex cathedra. August "21, Friday—Paetai. Got away about nine o'clock. Self, Te Kereihi, Paora Tirua, and Rehiana, besides several others, who had been attending the ' Hunanga, , and who we successively dropped in our passage down the river. On passing Tuakaii, the inhabitants called to us to go on shore, and Te Katea and Hemi came to ask to be let off their liability topaytheillO to which the subpaena said they would be liable if they neglected to attend as witnesses at the past trial. These were (he men summoned in Pukewhau's case. They had not received the summonses until late in the day of appearance, and it was impossible, they said, for them to attend at the time stated. This was true, so I told them that as the fault was not theirs, there would be no punishment for them. Airived at Mr. Maunsell's about 8 o'clock, unwell. August 22, Saturday—Kohanga. Went inland toTaupari, Kukutai's place. The Court-house was finished, except doors and winuows. Obliged to return from illness. August 23, Sunday—Influenza, diarrhoea, &c.

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