G.—3

18

All is going on -well. The day is beautiful, and everybody is in high spirits. At noon Tawhiao came over to the tent occupied by the Native Minister. He was accompanied by Major To Wheoro. An amateur concert was got up by the Europeans, and there was a very creditable performance of vocal and instrumental music. The King was highly pleased. He is evidently very fond of music. Sir George Grey was present and explained to him the meaning of the various songs rendered. Tawhiao remained for luncheon. It is arranged that the meeting will be commenced to-morrow morning, and everything is shaping well for favourable results. I shall send you a full report of the proceedings. [From the Nets Zealander, 10th May.] Alexandra, 9th May. Slight showers of rain prevented the meeting being held in the morning as previously arranged. Towards noon the rain cleared off, and afforded every prospect of a fine afternoon. Shortly before 1 o'clock the bell or pahu used in calling the Natives together for religious services was sounded. Though the sound produced by striking it with pieces of wood can be heard for a considerable distance, it is not very musical, and lacks the metallic ring. It is of a very simple construction, and consists of a piece of porokaiwhiria timber about five feet in length, suspended laterally between two upright posts. All the Hauhaus assembled, and had religious services just before the commencement of the meeting. They occcupied but a short time, after which all the Natives in the settlement, together with the Europeans, assembled on the rising ground in front of the Hauhau meeting-house. Sir George Grey, the Hon. Mr. Sheehan, and the other visitors occupied the vacant space in the centre of the assemblage. Tawhiao was dressed in plain clothes with a white sheet thrown loosely over his shoulders. Several of the Natives had note-books, and seemed busily engaged in taking notes of what was said. When the Natives were all seated on the ground, Taicahiao, who sat in the centre of the group, rose and said: The Ngatimaniapoto and Waikatos are one people ; the people of the whole Island are one. Listen attentively. (He then advanced to Sir George Grey.) My word to you is this ; listen to my word. It is good you are sitting there and listening. lam here ; I conduct my own affairs, and you conduct your affairs. "Wait a minute until I speak. This is one of the subjects: you are here and and law is here, and God is above us. This is love. Love one towards the other. Tawhiao then returned to the midst of the principal chiefs. Tagata Iti, one of his Hauhau priests, asked the Hauhaus to pray, and they complied. The responses were, " O Lord, save us, we beseech Thee, this day." Another priest then said, " Let us have two prayers, one for Tariao and one for the Hauhaus." He then offered up a short prayer which ended, "By Thee alone can we be saved this day, for Thine is the glory." A Native woman then engaged in prayer, which terminated in the same way as the one immediately preceding. Sir George Grey said : You asked me to listen to your speech. I listened and heard it. There is no reason why there should not be love between us. I came here some time ago to try to make that love fast and sure. I have come here again to try and make the love between us firm and lasting, so that it cannot be broken or destroyed hereafter, but that it may last for ever. Patara te Tuhi, cousin to the King, and who was editor of the old King newspaper Te Uokioi said : This word is an ancient saying (meaning, we have met once). The first meeting held at Whakairoro was a friendly one to greet you. The houses there were but small erections, not permanent buildings, but a kind of break-wind. The valuables in them were tears and dribblings. This meeting at Hikurangi is the second meeting, and the dwellinghouses are substantial ones, permanent buildings. At this meeting we discuss all matters of importance—all affairs of the universe. The last meeting was simply one of grieving together. Dive for the people, dive for the land, searching out of all things good for the men in the country. Be kind to the people; be kind to the land. The Islands are wailing, and so are the voices of men. Wi Bopata, a Wanganui native, said: I have one thing to say. Between myself and the Governor the evils existed. The Governor and myself were the origin of the evils. Good feeling should exist between us all. Turn upon me, lam the origin of the evil. Goodwill existed prior to that. Tuhoroa (Ngatimaniapoto) said: lam going to speak a sign or good thing, that love may be announced. This meeting is to show the love which exists. The meeting has been convened by two persons (meaning Sir George Grey and Tawhiao). You cannot prevent love existing. Show us your signs of love. Show your sign of love as an offering to these two persons, for love is a gift from above, sent down to these two persons. Do not be divided: you, the people who are present this day, be united by love. It is through God, who is above, that this love has been shown. Sir George Grey replied : I have heard the words of Patara. I know that the first meeting was a meeting for the indulgence of sorrow. I know that this meeting is for the purpose of transacting business. I wait here to see how the bonds of love may be made firm, in what way we may strengthen them, so that the two races may be bound together for ever in peace. Patara te Tuhi: In the old days it was Potatau. Turning to these days it is Tawhiao. Turning still to the present time, to this last moment, it is Tawhiao. Major te Wheoro said : What I am going to say is nothing fresh, but I am simply going to tell you, to show at once what your real thoughts are. Speak them out, so that we can at once lay hold of them. We are grasping, but cannot take hold. There is no harm in speaking out. Patara te Tuhi said: In the days of Potatau we did not crouch into corners or into baskets. You open the business with speech. Paora Tuhaere said: My friends, this is my word to you. We have assembled here to-day not hiding our words and doing things in a mysterious manner. We are men, and let us talk as men, so that our side can understand what you mean. This people cannot understand your ways. You who understand your ways of speaking can understand what your speakers mean. We have words to reply to you, but we do not know what to speak of. Therefore speak first your words straight at us.