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orders for the following day were then made anent the Counties Act, and the meeting adjourned to ten o'clock a.m. on the following day. 5. At ten o'clock a.m. on the 17th, the hall was filled and the gallery occupied by members of the other sex. There were also present—the Chief Hare Hongi, the only surviving son of the late wellknown Hongi Hika; the Chairman of the County Council, H. Williams, Esq., by invitation and on the part of the Government; the Eesident Magistrate, and myself, including Dr. Aggazzis and other gentlemen, all of whom were in attendance by request, and gave explanations of the clauses and working of the Act. Altogether about 100 delegates assembled, and, on the motion for considering tho provisions of the Counties Act in so far as they trenched upon Native interests, a warm discussion ensued, which continued with but little intermission until nine o'clock p.m. The question then as to whether the Act should be set aside, or be allowed to take its course subject to some amendments, was pressed to a division. The doors being locked, the votes were carefully taken by the Chairman, and resulted in a majority in favour of the latter course. While this was being done, the excitement was at its height, and the announcement from the chair was received with cheers from both sides. 6. On the 18th the House resumed, and, after touching in approving terms on the withdrawal by the Government of the Native Lands Bill, and other minor local matters, an adjournment was made to that day six months, when they would offer suggestions on the Act referred to. I have much pleasure in saying that the proceedings throughout were conducted in good order under Mr. Katene's direction. The forms in use in our public debates were as nearly as they could be observed. Some of the speeches were well and logically rendered, and if to this be added the not less interesting and successful feature of the meeting—viz., that of deciding a knotty point by the votes of the majority, the Government will, I think, willingly accept the result as an indication of that better state of things which in some districts have marked the political discussions of the Native people. I have, &c, The Under Secretary, Native Department, H. T. Kemp, Wellington. Civil Commissioner. By Authority: G-boug h Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington. Price 3d.]