5

G.—l.

It is worthy of note, as showing the confidence felt by the Natives in the old settlers, that several of these gentlemen were requested by both parties to act conjointly with certain Native chiefs whom they had named, and much pleasure was manifested when it became known that they had agreed to do so. The Court met at Wairnate on the Ist September, 1874, and after two days' close sitting a decision was given, which was well received. Much credit was due to the arbitrators for the careful manner in which they investigated the case, and the Natives were pleased with the results, some, to whom the proceedings were a novelty, remarking that there were ways and means of settling disputes otherwise than by powder and ball. In the case of a dispute at Whangaroa, respecting a block of land named Otangaroa, Hongi and Paora Ururoa, two of the disputants, proposed that the question should be decided in the same manner as Eakau Waahi, by arbitration; and this proposal would have been carried out had they not subsequently agreed to have the lands surveyed and passed through the Native Lands Court. I mention this circumstance as showing the general satisfaction felt in the termination of the Eakau Waahi case. In the month of October last, the Eawhiti Natives were thrown into great consternation and trouble by the loss of a boat's crew of their people, commanded by Eewiri Tarapata, one of their chiefs. Mangonui and Ihaka Te Tai, each in command of a boat, were out at the same time; and but for the prompt assistance rendered by Kingi Hori Kira and the Natives of Te Ngaere, whither the two boats had been driven, all would have shared the fate of their comrades. They were rescued in a state of utter exhaustion, Ihaka To Tai quite delirious, and one man, a Wahu native, lying dead in one of the boats, having succumbed to the hardships he had undergone. These Natives had formed themselves into a whaling party, and on the occasion in question had succeeded in killing a whale far in the offing, which they commenced towing late in the afternoon; night set in upon them, ushering in a cold south-easterly gale, which, with the rising sea, compelled them to abandon their prize and seek safety by endeavouring to make the land. The boats got separated during the night: two were picked up as described, and the third was never afterwards seen or heard of. In the month of January last the Hon. Wiremu Katene and myself accompanied to Whangaroa a large party of armed Natives, headed by the Chief Mangonui; the ostensible object of this journey, of which due notice had been given to the Whangaroa Natives, being the removal of the remains of the unfortunate Native Timoti, killed by Paapu, in the month of March, 1873, the real object being, as the Natives expressed it, to make peace with the Ngatiuru Natives, the tribe to whom Paapu belonged. Much dissatisfaction had been expressed at the leniency of Paapu's sentence, and an unfriendly feeling towards this tribe was iv consequence gaining ground. Hence Mangonui's anxiety to allay this feeling, and re-establish friendly intercourse. On the day following the arrival at Whangaroa, both parties met, fully armed; and after the usual war dances, speeches of a conciliatory nature were delivered, ratified in the usual Maori manner by an exchange of arms, Mangonui giving a greenstone " mere " and a whalebone " paraoa," and Heremaia te Ara a double-barrelled fowling-piece and a handsomely carved long-handled hatchet. The meeting terminated in the most friendly manner, all parties expressing satisfaction at the results. During the past year the natives have had the opportunity of realising large sums of money by the extensive land sales which have taken place, by the expenditure of public money on the telegraph line through the district, and by the increased demand for kauri gum, which they can dispose of in any quantity, and is to them a most lucrative trade. The regret is that so few among them have any idea of a judicious disposal of their funds. Many will hoard up their earnings, depriving themselves and their families of many comforts which they might enjoy, and yet at the preparation for some meeting or feast, should a general contribution be called for, they will lavish their expenditure in a most reckless manner, and hundreds of pounds be literally wasted and squandered away. The extension of the telegraph line into this district has been hailed by the Natives generally as a great boon, and the work of clearing cheerfully performed by them. Opposition, in some instances, was attempted by a few indolent and turbulent characters, who thought to make capital of the line passing over their lands by preferring heavy and outrageous demands for payment; but, by a determined stand made against such demands, and Native presssure brought to bear upon the parties, the difficulties were overcome, and in no instance has one shilling been paid, except for labour performed. The Natives have already begun to avail themselves of telegraphic communication, and there is but little doubt that eventually the lines will be extensively made use of by them. A large and interesting meeting of Natives took place at Waitangi, on the 14th of last month, the occasion being the celebration of a marriage between Ihaka Te Tai's son, of Te Eawhiti, and a niece of Hira te Awa's, late chief of Kaikohe. It was evident from the extensive preparations made that this was intended to be no mean marriage feast. A building, 70 feet long and 20 feet wide, the floor of which was neatly spread with Native mats, had been erected for the occasion. A table, the length of the building, laid with plates, knives, forks, and drinking cups, and loaded with edibles, was in readiness for the return of the bridal party from the church at Paihia, when it was immediately occupied, eightyseven persons taking their seats. When these had been regaled, they withdrew; the tables were again spread, and all Europeans present invited to partake of refreshments in the form of roast beef, plum puddings, cake, wine, and other luxuries in great profusion. A large ornamental wedding cake procured from Auckland adorned the centre of the table. The Europeans in their turn withdrew, when a succession of relays followed, until 500 Natives and 100 Europeans had partaken of the good things spread before them. Native mats were placed in line upon the ground outside the building, along which 100 children were treated, when ten times as much food as they could consume was placed before them. Enormous supplies of bread, tea, sugar, and cakes were stacked out for the evening repast, and distributed amongst the different tribes present. The same process was repeated in the morning, the amount produced being almost unlimited in quantity. At the lowest computation this feast could not have cost the Natives less than £400. In the evening a meeting was called to discuss the propriety of the building having been named " The Treaty of Waitangi." Mangonui was the first to speak, who stated it was he who had adopted this name, following the example set by Natives in the South, who,