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other fast by the hair of the head. That is why we have met eech other here. It is a good thing for the tribes to see us together here, so that we may speak what we hare to say on this very spot, AVaitara. Sir George Grey: Eewi, you asked me to meet you at AVaitara that we might discuss certain things together; that we might talk them over together on the very place where the war began. Here I am, in compliance with your invitation, to talk these matters over with you. Since the war began everything has changed. Now, what we have to consider is the future. At the present time the question is not whether you are to be governed by other persons or not, but whether you are to govern yourselves. Now we all stand on an equal footing, Europeans and Natives. We all can unite in choosing the people who are to make the laws for us. Tho Natives themselves sit in the Houses of Parliament, and help to make laws. Tho Natives themselves are made Ministers for the purpose of carrying the laws out. We now make one nation together. There is nothing to prevent Natives putting a larger number of Natives in the House as members if they please. There is nothing to prevent Kewi himself, or any other leading chief, entering tho Upper House, and helping to carry the laws out. At the present moment the title to their lands is decided by Courts, and not by fighting. Wo are soon going to try to get an alteration in the law by which the Courts will bo much more largely composed of Native Judges who understand Native customs. In fact, every day wn are becoming more and more one people. Even looking back upon the war, there are some things which we all may be proud of. There was great courage shown on both sides, great examples of bravery, in some cases examples of great generosity. But now tho days are come when we, as one people inhabiting one Island, should no longer destroy one another, liather, as wo are one people, wo should all help in defending our country against any enemy. Truly we are one people now. Here is Mr. Sheehan, just as much a New Zealaudcr as one of yourselves, born in this country, attached to it in every way, and intending to live here all his life, and even the person who is interpreting (Mr. Grace) is as much a New Zealander as any one of you. Both of them are just as proud of New Zealand as any other natives, and so there has a whole generation of Europeans grown up. We arc one people, we cannot help being one people ; we are living together, we cannot separate. So much have my thoughts run in this direction that, if a great war was to take place in which England was engaged, 1 formed a design that it might be practicable to raise a regiment to help England in that way —a regiment of both Europeans and Maoris. I thought that the Natives might have furnished great officers and great men who would have done good service in every way. Now, what we are met here for is to discuss this new slate of things —to try to make the Natives wealthy and prosperous, to make their lands secure to them, and sources of great wealth, which they may readily become. We are here because a great nation is rising in New Zealand, and it is your duty as the chiefs, whether European or Native chiefs, to try to build up tho future of that nation. And that nation is really becoming one nation. Intermarriages are taking place every day, and there is no great chief of New Zealand in the present day who is not in some way or other related to the European race. Let us, therefore, try well and faithfully to execute the duty which lies upon us. Myself and the other Ministers, whether European or Native, will give all our knowledge and experience to help in this, and let you on your part help us in return. Let the great chiefs come forward and help to make the laws for their own people, and help to administer those laws. Let them join in with the Government in making the colony as happy and contented aa they can. Let them become Ministers to execute the laws. JSewi said : What you have said is clear. It is right that we should work together for this Island, for us who have caused trouble on the Island. You have come here this day to minister to the ailments of we who brought trouble on the Island, therefore my heart is truly glad ; also because Wi Tako, Karaitiana, Matenc Te AVhiwhi, and other great chiefs are hero with you. You should lay down the subjects for us to discuss at the meeting to-morrow. I will show you the reason why we are hero today. lam going to ask you a question. At which spot shall wo begin the work of producing good ? My opinion is that the place should be AVaitara, so that our tree may be planted here from whence good is to spring (Rewi here alludes to a remark made by Sir George Grey at tho first meeting at Waikato, that he would plant a tree which should grow into a giant of the forest). Let us now plant that tree, and, should it grow well, we may plant cuttings at other places which will also succeed. If it is not planted here you will not bo able to get young trees from it to plant in any other place. This is a subject for us to discuss to-morrow, when I will speak at large and plainly to you. First, let us speak plainly one to another, without any reserve. Secondly, what we say should be genuine and true. Thirdly, that our meeting should bo final; and that is all I am going to say to you to-day. But I should like to say a few words to my friends who are present. Sir George Grei/ : I will meet you to-morrow morning here. I believe you and I are quite capable of planting a tree the offshoots of which may bo transplanted all over the Island, and grow and flourish, everywhere. AYe have also other very able men here to assist us. I agree with, you that what we say should be spoken plainly and fearlessly, and [that wo should speak in gentle terms, but that we should say exactly what wo think, without fear of giving offence to anybody. I believe that by following that course we shall, as you say, come to a good conclusion, which may finish everything. I will say no more to-day; to-morrow we will meet and talk again. I understand that you wish to speak now to your own people ; we will remain or go, just &s[ you think best. Jteici: If you do not stay, who is there to listen to what we are going to say ? Addressing the Natives, Iteivi said: lam just going to speak to you AVi Tako, Karaitiana, and others. My heart is thinking, now that we have come together at AVaitara, I wish to say this word: AVhen Europeans arrived we were destroying one another. AYe were bound by no tie of friendship or of blood to one another. When tho Europeans arrived a God was introduced (a new faith), and the ministers preached that faith was the salvation of men. AVithin three years the whole nation listened and embraced this faith. During those days of faith Sir George Grey was the promoter of all things which helped to establish that faith. AVhen troubles arose he was to the fore in suppressing them. AVhen war broke out at AVaitara our faith was then first shattered. I was amongst those who abandoned it, and in a short time the whole Island had given it up, and was in a flame. Now here to-day