D.—No. 8.

at that time was, that there was no noise or disturbance, but they all listened to the speeches which were made. The first who rose was Aperahama Te Eoiroa, one of the Hauraki teachers His words were these, — " Friends, think of the land which descended to us from our ancestors. They died and loft us their words, which were these—' Farewell j hold fast to the land, however small it may be.' And now, as gold has been discovered in our land, let us firmly- retaiu it, as wo have the power over our own lands, lest the management of them be taken by the Europeans. Who mads them chiefs over us r No, we will ourselves bo chiefs." His speech was hard throughout. When he had finished and sat down, Te Huirama Whetihua arose ; his words were these, — " 0 elder brothers and friends, descendants of our ancestors, who carry out their last injunctions. Hold firm, hold firm our laud; we ourselves will retain the management of our lands Let what we say is wrong be wrong, and what we say is right be right. This it is, if we dispose of our lauds to the Europeans, it will not be right, and it will not be acting justly to our children who come after us. If the Pakehas occupy our land, we must drive them off. Dj not allow them to come upon it." His talk was all hard. He sat down, and Tuterei Kiwrra arose. These were his words : " Yes, let us talk about the land. We say that wo hive the power over the land, and tho Europeans say that they have the power over our lands. Yes, it is correct, they have tho power over the parts which they possess, and we have the power over the parts belonging to ourselves It is thus, 0 my parent; do you carefully consider the subject. The people of iLuraki are here Te Aute and Te Whawha." Here his words ended, and he sat down. Te Wharetaka then arose. Before he stood up he kept shouting out, and was trembling with passion. He said,— "Alas Hauraki! You stand there alone. Where is the loneliness of the men ? There are the parts to which farewell was lately bidden. Farewell; hold fast to Ngananganaia. It is thus 0 Friends. Hold fast, hold fast to the land. We do not hold it for us old men, but for our heirs' who are to succeed us. Is not this day which has dawned? If fine, the belts will be fastened round the loins. It is but three steps to Summer. The Kakaho has flowered. Friends hold ta.it to the land." When he had concluded, he sat down, and Eiwai te Kiore stood up. His words were these : " Friends, we may bid farewell to the land, inasmuch as gold has been discovered the Europeans' great treasure. This is the thing which wilJ cause our land to be taken. But those Europeans must not be allowed to come on shore. I will act as a chain to hold our land ■ my land must be taken from my hands." Here he recited a song : " Oh ye mothers, how painful thus to know That my features are ever aged. Whilst my heart is torn asunder. I will not be jealous, for the Summer Days have come, and the third month Will separate us from each other." "When his talk was ended, Eruora te Ngahuc arose. His words were these : " Friends, do not suppose that we are here merely for the purpose of talking about a small piece of land. No, our moating has reference to the whole of Hauraki. It is not as though Hauraki belonged to the Pakehaa ; it belongs to ourselves. Friends, let us properly arrange our lands. If it is right to yield up our lands to the management of the Government", let us'give it up to them ; and I think that if we do so, the Government will not mismanage them, because it was they who gave us just laws. Our only fear is for us Maoris, lest the Europeans should molest them. The Governor will not break his own laws. I have finished." When he had concluded he sat down, and Te R.irounga Koropango stood up. His words were these : " Hearken, fathers and grandfathers, I dug this gold, but do not suppose that by digcrino- I wish to dispose of it to the Europeans. 1 dug without any intention. The arrangement of the land is with you, as I have no place here myself." He sat down, and Warahi te Matapihi stood up. These were his words : " Hearken, my grandfathers. Hearken, my lathers. This is what I have to say to you. It rests with yourselves to hold your lands. Hofd them firmly. If you dispose of Hauraki to tho 1 akeha, you will live m solitude. Do you all consider this. One of my feet is planted on the sea shore, and the other on theland; now, if you let the land g >, I will shift my fojt which is on the sea shore on to the land inland. Here is another thing : at present we are "a praying people, but if the Europeans come hero with their strong drink, our religion will become disturbod, and the men will take" to drinking. It is in reference to spirits that I now speik. Look, some have taken to it already. Do you think it will be dine away with if the Europeans increase P" Here his speech ended, having spoken in favour of hardn:;ss (that is, of holding the land). He sat down, and Te Aperahama Wharerurutu arose. His words were these : " Hearken, my sons and my friends, hearken. Hold Hauraki; hold fast to tho land, that you may dwell quietly upon it. I have not much to say, O Ngatimaru. Only this ; do not suffer the Euiopjans to come on sh ire. Think of our Church (or religio:i), all ye ministers, that there may be no confusion here; that s, do not Buffer the Europeans to come onshore." He then recited tho fol.owiug song:—

3

IN THE WAIKATO AND THAMB3 DISTRICTS.