11

G.—IB

Te Ngakau: lam not desirous, nor do I intend to speak about the past. It is the present wo have to deal with. I say, therefore, let the sale of land, leases, roads, surveys, and telegraph cease. I cannot return by the old road, as that has been blocked up by the flash of the gun. You are the " Tuari o nga matapihi kotahi tekau marua." We only know you as belonging to our race by your tatoo; in everything else you are a Pakeha. I cannot do as you wish me, as the flash of your gun blocks the road. lam small, but lam not afraid to die. Te Maihi: The roads wbich I have made are in my own district, and I deny your right to interfere with them. I proclaimed my boundary, and when Te Waharoa went to fetch Ngatiporou, I would not allow them to pass; they persisted, we fought, and you know the rest. I. do not acknowledge Tawhiao as King of this country. He may be your King, and of AVaikato. As long as matters are in this state, it is impossible for me to sheath my sword. If you would only come to some satisfactoryarrangement, it would then be an easy matter for Tawhiao to meet the Governor. Aporo (This is the man who was imprisoned for stealing the printing press) : If you consent to what we ask, then we might act on your suggestions; but as long as you continue this course, that is impossible. In the meantime there is no mediator. Maihi: The law. Aporo : The law has been tho cause of this ruin to the country. Maihi : Lay the testament down between us, so that both of us can sign our names (to a peace). Aporo : My testament are the boundaries we claim. Henare : Ngatiraukawa, I cannot consent to what you demand, as I have become used to European clothing and customs. If I were to consent, I should have to do without European clothing, which would be the death of me. Tarapipipi Tikopara (Ngatipaoa —an old opponent to the telegraph at Piako) : I should like to speak on the subject of the last speaker's speech, but cannot, in consequence of a pledge which I took on the 23rd May, 1860. I have sold land; the clothes which I have on are the proceeds of it. I cannot without the consent of the persons to whom I made this pledge. [Rewi here crossed over to him and said : " Kua kore tena oati naku i whakateke kite toto." " That oath is no longer binding, in consequence of my having caused bloodshed."] lam now free to express myself: I say that this state of affairs must cease ; the King has no right to interfere in sales, Ac. Te Hira Te Tuiri (Ngatitamatera) : There is no reason why there should be a division amongst us; let us become one people, then we shall become great. Let us endeavour to live peaceably. Welcome Petera, and the Arawa. Wahanui (Ngatimaniapoto) : Cease land sales, Ac. J£ we cannot stop this, how can we expect to come to any satisfactory decision ? Petera Pukuatua Maihi (Arawa) : Our telegraph and road are made, they cannot now be stopped. We have not sold any land, simply because we have so little, not from fear of you, Make peace ! you say your sword has heen sheathed for a long time. Wahanui (Ngatimaniapoto) : I have no peace to make. Is not this sufficient ? You are here, face to face with me ; what more do you require ? Has not my sword been sheathed for a long time ? How can any other arrangement be made as long as this state of thing lasts ? The Governor's hand is on my head, and my hand on his : who is strong enough to separate us ? I say, if the small things which we ask of you cannot be accomplished, how can those much greater be brought about ? The matter rests with the Lord of hosts, who is strong ! If you agree, it will be well; if otherwise, we do not care. Maihi : Farewell! the talk is ended, is it not ? Farewell! we shall return to our homes without having sheathed our swords, and from there watch your movements. This ended the discussion. R. S. Bush. By authority: Geoege Didsbuey, Government Printer, Wellington. [Price 9d.]