A.—No. 4.

break into an open flame. So it had proved ; and although the tribes were now at peace with each other, and were possibly prepared to receive and divide the rents on amicable terms, it was more than likely that again the like causes would ere long lead to the like results, for the question of title was as far from settlement as ever. His Honor felt that the responsibility of deciding the point raised by this meeting rested not with the one tribe or with the other, but with himself; that should ho heedlessly allow the rents to he paid and the contest to reopen, the Government and the country, the Maori and the Pakeha alike, would blame him for the consequences. For these reasons he could not lightly dispose of the question, or readily give his consent to the request so strongly urged by the meeting. He would, however, ascertain the feeling of the other parties interested. He would proceed first to Oroua and hold a meeting with the Ngatikauwhata; he would then go on to Puketotara, and see the Rangitane ; thence to Manawatu, where Ihakara was now staying ; and proceeding down the coast he would meet the other sections of the Ngatikaurakawa at Otaki. After a short stay in Wellington, he would return to Bangitikei, and hold meetings with the Ngatiapa at their various settlements. If he found all parties unanimous—-if with one voice they demanded the rents, promising to divide them equitably and without contention —he would probably yielfl to their request. He would not actually promise to do so, because he felt that he could not free himself from responsibility in the matter ; but a unanimous request from the three tribes would go far to influence his decision. He extremely regretted to hear men of position like "Wi Pukapuka and Aperahama resorting to threats in the hope of intimidating him. He believed that all the Natives knew his character too well to suppose that he would allow himself to be in any degree coerced or influenced by any threats that they could use. He considered it sufficient to warn these Natives that the Government would hold them responsible for the consequences of any rash or unjustifiable acts. And while on this subject, he would express his regret that Wi Pukapuka had so far forgotten himself as to speak disparagingly of his brother chief Ihakara, It was known to all in the meeting that no one had taken a more active part in this matter or had worked more earnestly in the interests of the tribe than Ihakara. AVi Pukapuka had admitted a personal quarrel between them, and he feared that he had allowed his feelings to blind his judgment. He felt convinced that Wi Pukapuka would himself regret the expressions he had used, and he now called upon him to come forward publicly and withdraw them. Mr. Buller, K.M., then addressed the meeting, particularly with respect to the charge against Ihakara of having betrayed the tribe by effecting a sort of compromise and obtaining His Honor's consent (so far as he was individually concerned) to a limitation of the restrictive clause of the Native Lands Act, so as to include only the disputed block. He put the matter before them in its true light, by narrating briefly what had transpired at the interview between Ihakara and Dr. Featherston, at Scott's Accommodation House, on 22nd November. Wi Pukapuka replied to the effect that the explanation in regard to Ihakara was satisfactory to him, and that he had spoken under a misconception of the facts. He stated that ho entirely concurred in His Honor's proposal with respect to the rents. He believed that all the tribes were unanimous in the matter. In that case he should still insist upon having the rents. If it should prove otherwise he would be willing to wait. He hoped that His Honor would not bo angry with them for the threats that had been used ; but every allowance ought to be made for them, for they were no longer chiefs but " pigs," and pigs were not supposed to have much wisdom. Dr. Featherston here interrupted the speaker, saying that he also had something to say about the " pigs." He was aware that a caricature had been sent to them by an anonymous correspondent in Wellingtou, in which he and Mr. Buller were represented as driving three pigs with men's heads, supposed to represent the three tribes concerned in the disj)ute. They were surely not so foolish as to suppose that they were pigs because some unknown person had chosen to call them so ? One thing was very certain ; if they had allowed themselves to be made " pigs" of, he was himself as much a " pig." as any of them, inasmuch as he had made himself a party to the whole transaction. After the threats they had been using it was possible that another caricature would be received representing himself and Mr. BuUer with sheep's heads, and the chiefs of the three tribes attempting to drive them off the land. (General laughter.) Wi Pukapuka, Aperahama te Huruhuru, and other chiefs, replied briefly, and expressed their satisfaction at the manner in which His Honor had met them and listened to their complaints. Dr. Featherston spoke briefly in conclusion and explained to the meeting that Mr. Buller would remain in the district, and would endeavour to come to some final arrangement with them for the purchase of the block, as it was now very desirable, on every ground, that the matter should be brought to a close. On the evening of the same day (4th December) Dr. Fcatherston had a meeting with the Ngatikauwhata at Oroua. After a few words of welcome from Tapa te Wliata, the head chief, Te Koora addressed His Honor in a short but very earnest speech. He stated that he was entirely opposed to a sale of the land, and that he was equally opposed to His Honor's interference with the rents. He was aware that the leases were illegal, but as the Government had permitted them to traffic in this way for several years, and to receive the rents, he considered that the privilege had been conceded to them, And he did not recognize the right of the Superintendent, or of any one else, to step in and impound their rents on any pretext whatever. Ho had heard some of the Natives using threats. He believed there were those who had fully resolved on killing or driving off the stock unless the rents were immediately paid. He entirely disapproved of those threats, and he would be no party to any illegal interference with the stock. He would resent, however, the impounding of the rents by doing the utmost in his power to prevent a sale of the land to the Government; whereas, if the rents were allowed to be paid, he would be willing to entertain the question of sale and to discuss it with his people. Beupena ami several others baying spoken in the same strain His Honor went fully into the subject, and gave them an account of what had transpired at the Marimaihoea meeting on the morning of that day. It was ultimately arranged that Tapa, Te Kooro, and several others, should accompany His

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