F.—No. S,

8

PAPERS RELATIVE TO HOROWHENUA.

"Do not listen to the words of Hunia and Ngatiapa. They must be driven back to Eangitikei, to the other side of Manawatu. Leave this side of Manawatu as a place on which to light your fires. As for Muanpoko, let them remain on their little piece of land, for the boundaries were settled long ago by Te Eauparaha, Te Eangihaeata, and To Whatanui, many years ago. Let no persons interfere to shift these boundaries, for Ngatiraukawa and the descendants of Te Eauparaha showed much affection for Ngatiapa and Hunia when the Court sat at Otaki in 1868, in March, and in 1869, in July, when the Court sat at Wellington. Now the claims of Ngatiapa are confined to the other side of Manawatu." Matene then stood up —but you have received his speech. Wi Tako then stood up, and spoke about a newspaper from England received by Mitai, in which it is stated that the Government of New Zealand make out that all the Maoris are bad. I did not clearly understand those statements ; they seemed to tend towards startling the multitude into changing their minds. He also said that the Maoris ought to turn their attention to the selection of some persons for Parliament. I told Wi Tako what was meant by that newspaper of which he spoke in the presence of all assembled. I said, " The Parliament did right in sending for soldiers to protect New Zealand. The Europeans have no idea of killing the Maoris ; Kooti and his party are the only ones whom it is wished to kill." I also said to Wi Tako, " Tou are right in speaking about selecting men for the Parliament, if the Government consent." A great deal was said by various speakers. The most important word decided by this meeting was, that the Government and the Hauhaus of Ngatiraukawa should be united. This term Government referred to me, to the Government Ngatitoas, the Government Ngatiawa, and Government Ngatiraukawa. I consented. My reason for consenting was, that the Hauhaus of Ngatirankawa are quite peaceable, for the Ngatiraukawa Hauhaus gave up their young man, Whakamau, to the law. Therefore I consented. The second word consented to by that meeting was, that a meeting for all the Island [i.e., to be attended by representatives from all the tribes] should be held here at Otaki. I consented to this. Let the Government also consent to give their support to this meeting, then it will be well. That is what 1 said to all the chiefs of this meeting. That is all. The meeting then came to an end. On the 18th of the same month another meeting was held at Otaki; some of the Ngatikahungunu, Ngairo, and others, twenty in number, came. The subjects discussed were the same as those discussed at the first meeting. There was a new speech by Mitai with reference to what Wi Tako had stated about the newspaper from England, sent to Mitai. Mitai was called upon to read the copy of that newspaper, and he did so. After he had finished, I spoke, in reply, saying, " Some of the words of your paper are right, some are wrong : it is wrong where it is stated in your paper that the soldiers from India and some other parts of the Queen's dominions are to be sent here to kill all the Maoris of New Zealand; there are also other statements (which are wrong)." I replied also to Mitai, the reader of that paper: " The Europeans have never stated that all the Maoris are to be exterminated, the European gentlemen have great love for the Maoris; but only Te Kooti and his people are the Maoris of New Zealand (who are to be exterminated). For what is the good of saving them when they have done such evil deeds and committed murders. It is through these deeds that we are now suffering and that all the Inland is becoming impoverished. Then Wi-Waka of Ngairo's party stood up and tried to draw over the Government people to that side. Then Ngairo stood up and said, " It is not through Hauhauism that the Island has suffered, but rather through the Government Natives. I replied to Ngairo's words : " It was long ago that the companionship with the Europeans commmenced: when there was fighting against Te Eangihaeata, Wi Tako and others joined the Europeans, to assist them, also Whangarui, Kgapuhi, and Tamati Waka, Nene, even up to the establishment of the King. For the King party said that all the pakehas and half-caste Maoris were to be exterminated; therefore we assembled at Kohimarama; and now the Maoris who are faithful to the Queen are still fighting. That was all that was said, for there was no reply by the Hauhaus. Then .Ngairo spoke against the King work, on account of which Wi Tako's house, called " New Zealand," was built at Wellington. That it was through that that the King work was carried on at this end. Then Wi Tako stood up,—" That work was Matene's." Matene Te Whiwhi replied, " It was not I, it was your own (work), O, Wi Tako, for you were always in it urging it on; as for me, I was on the European side, living at Auckland and Waikato. I was telling the chiefs of Waikato to abandon that work." Again, on the 18th commenced the talk about Horowhenua, relative to going there. I said, "I won't go. I have often told Hunia Karaitiana and some chiefs of the Ngatiapa party that I have ceased to have anything to do with them ; Eangitikei is done with. If Hunia persists, whatever will be the end of this work ? Bather let it be taken before the Court, then it will be clearly settled." O, friend, here are yet the loving friends working out good for us both, and for those, the people, whose opinions are opposite. Now the thoughts of the Hauhaus are in unison, for peace only. On the 19th of April the meeting adjourned to Horowhenua; I remained behind to finish what is troubling me—the bridge across the stream at my place, Ngawhakangutu. That is all I have to say, all that I know took place, during the speeches made in our house. I have written this for all of you to look at, that is to say for you, 0, my friend. That is all. Tour loving friend, Mr. Cooper, Minister, Tamihana Te Eaupaeaha. In the absence of Mr. McLean, Wellington.

No. 20. Mr. Halse to Tamihana Eaupaeaha. Tamihana Eauparaha,— Wellington, 9th May, 1870. Friend, —Salutations to you. Tour letter of the 25th April has been received concerning the meetings which are to take place at Otaki. The Government thank you for writing to them. The