G.—B.

3

Te Tatana said the Native chiefs were responsible for the misfortunes. The Government acted rightly in appointing magistrates. Misfortunes were produced by selling blocks of 6,000 and 10,000 acres. They had better wait, in order to see what Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan would do. The Maoris should cease selling lands. Kiwaro te Eongo : The troubles were not caused by the Treaty of Waitangi or the Kohimarama Conference, but by the Maoris themselves and by the late Government. The desire for surveys and sales of land began with the Natives. He desired that Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan should redress his grievance in regard to a block of 3,300 acres, upon which £300 was paid through Mr. Nelson. Wiremu Paitaki said the Queen was responsible for the meddling with land by the missionaries. He complained of land having been purchased with iron pots, spades, axes, needles, and pipes ; also that a piece of land of his at Piako had been improperly included in a block sold to the Government. He urged the Maoris to elect their members at the annual Parliament. Te Otene: The Maoris were the cause of trouble. They scaled this fish, New Zealand, by selling land. He would not pay road rates and mortgagees. He would have nothing to do with the Land Courts, but would live under the Queen. Tamihana: The descendants of the old chiefs would hold fast to the Treaty of Waitangi and Covenant of Kohimarama. The settlement of all difficulties should be left with Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan. Maori members should be elected at these Parliaments. They should have a member for Kaipara. Hori Winiata would submit to the authority of the Government. The Chairman said the Maoris formerly sold their lands of their own will, and now complained. Neither the Queen nor the Government was to blame. Wiremu Eevveti desired that Paul Tuhaere should represent the district in Parliament. He should communicate the wishes of the Natives to Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan. Herewini (Kaipara) supported the Treaty of Waitangi. He desired that his mana should continue over his 7,000 acres not yet surveyed. Paul should be elected as their member. Kipa wanted Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan to restore his land called Tehepekapeka, for which he had applied to the late Sir Donald McLean. Waata Tipa would not condemn the Ministers, because they do not buy land. He complained that none of the money received as dues from ships was paid to the Maoris, to whom the Queen had granted the mana over their sea fisheries. She guaranteed the mana over the forests ; but the Maoris had to pay licenses for shooting. He complained that the Maoris suffered from the pheasants, and that laws were passed against taking oysters at certain seasons. The Conference adjourned at 3 p.m. Fourth Day.—2Bth February, 1879. The Conference resumed at 11 a.m. The proceedings were opened with prayer. Paul Tuhaere presided. Tho Chairman again urged the Natives to cease speaking of religious subjects and reiterating expressions of loyalty, requesting them to freely make known their grievances. Waata Tipa complained of land being sold before adjudication, condemned deposits on unsurveyed lands, and the apprehension of Natives for burning bush on their own land. The Natives themselves were to blame for their misfortunes. Te Waru Taikorekoro (Ngatipaoa) complained of the inactivity of the Maori members of Parliament. He complained, also, that a piece of land at Waitakarutu, leased to Mr. O'Keefe for £70, had been wrongfully taken by the Government without payment. Poihakene (Eaglan) said Mr. Turton had frightened him into selling land at Eaglan by a threat that it would otherwise be taken without payment; also that a piece of land at Whatawhata was taken from him during the war, though he remained loyal. He compared the law of the pakeha to a ploughshare, that goes along under the land. Mauihera (Uriohau) said the proceedings of the last Parliament before at Otamatea had been sent to Wellington, but had produced no result. The lands at Ohukuru, Pukehura, and Otamatea were sold after the Parliament had agreed that land-selling should cease. If they did not now succeed Hukatea would be sold. He approved of sales if properly conducted. Paul said the wrongs of which the last speaker had complained belonged to the past, and should not be again discussed. Tiopira Kinaki saluted Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan, "who are working for our good. May your Government live long, so that you may protect your Maori people!" Misfortune had come from Crown grants and County Councils. He complained of having to pay for roads. The Government were not to blame for these Councils, but the Maoris who agreed to them. Perhaps Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan would remove the grievance which the Natives suffered through the Eoad Boards. Arama Karaka complained that Crown grants rendered the Native owners liable to taxation ; also, of deductions from purchase-money by private purchasers for fees payable to the Government. Paraone Ngaweke said it was for the new Government to protect the Maoris. The troubles were produced by private purchasers of land. "My opinion of Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan is, that they are now protecting this Island. It is for them to look into the grievances of the Maoris." The speaker complained that a piece of land called Waipiri was wrongfully taken from him by Dr. Pollen, who bought it from other Natives. He complained also ofthe destruction of pheasants, of his being compelled to take out shooting licenses to collect oysters. Paul read a Maori translation of the message from Mr. Sheehan, which was received with cheers. He distributed printed copies of the message, and invited discussion thereon. Pairama wanted the telegraph extended from the pilot station at Kaipara Heads to the Township of Wairoa. It was through Mr. Sheehan that the Kaipara Eailway was made ; aud he should also make