5

G.—3.

say this, lam not speaking to Sir George Grey; lam speaking to you. I will just say this. [Song.] The latter part of the song is my own—that is, feed the child well and it will thrive [meaning that the new state of things should be promoted]. Some days our thoughts are verified. This saying is true. It is now seventeen years since we have seen Sir George Grey. We are thinking of the time when he was Governor. Tapihana said: I agree with what you have said, that the weeds should be cleared away that the tree should grow well. I will take Sir George Grey back to-morrow, —I myself alone, and he will bring me back. This is a small matter ; do not oppose me. Do not bear malice ; this is the day of Tukaroto; do not leaven it with bad thoughts. Let the plant grow. I will not' leave this alone; I will see him next, and carry out matters. I am going to escort back your father to-morrow morning or the next day. I have had the first chance to claim this position, because you all omitted to do it. It would require some one to sit down and write a commentary, in order that the above speeches might be understood, and then lam not sure I would succeed. The bringing of the treasures from Hauraki alludes either to Captain Cook's visit to the Thames, or to the visit of the ship " Coromandel," which went into the harbour of Coromandel to get spars. Sir George Grey, in addressiug the Natives, spoke in Maori. There would have been even a larger attendance at the present meeting than there is had it not been that many of the Kingites are compelled at present to attend to their wheat harvest. As it is, those who are present are sustaining or risking considerable loss. The law of the meeting is that no intoxicating liquor should be allowed; and, although, no doubt, the law is. sometimes broken, there is no drunkenness to be seen. The Natives are mostly lodged in tents on the small flat cf Whakiroiro. Three tents have been pitched for the accommodation of Sir George Grey and those with him. To-day Tawhiao came over to see Sir George, and his sister Tiria came over and dined with Sir George Grey. Tawhiao is apparently in good humour, and is most friendly. Sunday evening. Sir George Grey has decided not to leave Alexandra this evening. Deputations are here from the other Waikato settlements, asking that ho should visit them. He will visit Te Awamutu to-morrow, and will probably not reach Auckland till Tuesday. Tapihana, one of the speakers at the late meeting, seems to have lost influence considerably with the Natives. It will be remembered that he was one of the prisoners of the hulk. Tapihana, as will be seen from his speech, evidently wanted to associate himself with Sir George, by conveying him down the river in a canoe ; but he disappeared from the camp, and was not in the canoe. Te Wheoro will accompany Eewi to Wellington during next session. Eevvi is about to build a good house at Te Kopua, as he said he was ashamed of not being able to lodge the Premier and Native Minister better. Several of the Natives spoke about getting reapiug machines, to enable them to go much more extensively into wheat cultivation. During the whole meeting not a single word was said about giving back the Waikato. On the contrary, instead of indulging in such a dream, Tawhiao and Manuhiri were anxious to obtain Crown grants for small pieces of iand, to which Potatau was entitled, at Mangere, Pukapuka, and Ngaruawahia, showing that they take for granted the irrevocable nature of the confiscation, and now, for the first time, acquiesce in it. Eewi said to Sir George this morning that he must see the Kingites four times. The first was the planting of the tree, the second would be the promoting of its growth, and at the third and fourth times the tree will be flourishing and bear fruit. Eewi pressed upon Sir George that it was an unfortunate thing that certain persons should be allowed to pass the border and negotiate for land. Eewi had a conversation with Mr. Sheehau in reference to some land disputes. The feature that the pieces of land he referred to are all beyond the confiscated boundary is important, as all his conversation was a palpable acceptance of the position of affairs as left by the war. The blocks of land referred to are Horahora (the property of Messrs. Williamson and Co.), Otautahanga (the property of Messrs. Tole), and Kokako, at Patere. Mr. Sheehan promised to inquire into matters, and send Eewi an early answer. Eewi showed Sir George and Mr. Sheehan the seal of Potatau. Sir George said he had the original sketch from which Mr. Watt cut the seal. Eewi said he had made the sketch. Two children connected with the principal Hauhau families are coming to St. Stephen's School, Auckland. Mr. Sheehan had a good deal of business with Hauhaus, just as if they had been Queenite Natives. There can be no doubt that Sir George throughout has been much indebted to Major Te AV^heoro for his active exertions in the matter; in fact, for any success that may result, the Natives themselves will be in part entitled to the thanks of the Colony of New Zealand. Takeeei te Eau's Widow. One of the most touching sights of the meeting was the widow and family oE the great chief Takerei te Eau, who died a few weeks ago, and to mourn for whose death all these people had assembled. It is necessary perhaps to explain, otherwise few would distinguish the fact that this man took Sir George Grey's name during his first Governorship. Takerei is the Maori form of "Sir Grey." Before the war, although he was not equal in rank to Te AVherowhero, he was his superior as a laudowner; indeed, he was all-powerful over a greater extent of land than any other chief in Waikato. Then he lived in a good house; he himself was clothed like a well-to-do Englishman ; his wife was well dressed, and his family were being educated. But when the war came he could not remain quiet; the mass of his people were strong for war, and he could not cut himself from them. His eldest son, a fine young fellow, was killed at Eangiriri; his daughter was accidentally shot while looking at the troops taking up position ;he himself was taken prisoner in the redoubt. Then all his land was confiscated, and he and his family were left without an inch from which to obtain subsistence. He had given 1,000 acres in Waikato in free gift for educational and religious purposes. Consider these things, and look at the family now ! When Sir George Grey went to visit the widow on Saturday, she tried to keep up the conventionalities of mourning. She wanted to show respect to the memory of her husband in the European fashion, and she had clothed herself as well as she could in black shreds and rags, which she had managed to get together. The younger members of the family are growing up in utter ignorance,