G.—B

6

Hira Kawau : There were two persons doing good in the Island—Sir George Grey and Tawhiao. Waata Tipa condemned claims founded upon conquest, and lighting fires, and cultivation. The sale of lands could not be stopped, because a man would claim the right to sell his own. Te Tatana: Do not let tho land be sold that has not passed into the possession of the Government. If they did they would soon be without a dwelling-place. Arama Karaka: Let their griefs aud sorrows be placed before the new Government. The Maoris should retain their reserves, surveys should cease, and no further lands be sold. Eoad Boards and County Councils should be abolished. He thought Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan meant well to both races. He complained of the large interest charged upon deposits on land. The Conference adjourned at 5 p.m. to next day. Seventh Day.—sth March, 1879. The Conference was resumed at 11.30 a.m.; Paul Tuhaere in the chair. The Chairman put a series of resolutions, which were carried, to the following effect: —That surveys, Land Courts, and Crown grants should cease ; that the Maori mana should remain over lands not surveyed aud adjudicated ; that private purchases should be permitted ; that Eoad Boards and County Councils should not deal with Maori lands, except in the case of lands leased to Europeans ; that reserves should be inalienable ; that deposits on land and mortgages should cease. The Chairman directed the attention of the meeting to the question of the meeting at Te Kopua. He thought they should go and assist Sir George Grey. Te Hemara complained that lands at Mahurangi were sold wrongfully, and described the boundaries. Sir George Grey and Major Nugent promised him compensation. He had waited thirty years, but had received no money. The lands at Mangawhara had been secretly surveyed. Let the Government reserve his land at Whangateao. The Chairman said Te Hemara's lands were taken at the Treaty of Waitangi. He thought the Maori Parliament should suggest subjects for the Parliament at Wellington. Let them work together for good. Eramiha said they would attend Mangonui's Parliament when prepared. Mata Tukuwa complained that the land at Mangawhara was wrongfully included in the survey of Pakiri. A road had been taken five miles through his land without his leave. Pairama : If the Ngatiwhatua returned a member to Parliament at Wellington, it would be only for money. Wellington is too far away. The Maoris have established Parliament on the spot. They should support Sir George Grey, and accompany him to Te Kopua. Orakei would be the most convenient site for the Maori Parliament. The Maoris should not keep all their land, but sell some and reserve the rest. Sir George Grey should pay him for timber taken from his land at Kaipara. Eenata thought the Maori members should be continued. The Parliament at Wellington would do good for the Maoris if they were properly represented ; but the Maoris should pay their own members, so that they could remove them at will. Kaipara should return a member. Wirihana Huhu spoke in favour of Crown grants. He complained that Adam Clarke had Kakariki at Otaotea. Te Tatana: If the Government paid Maori members they would not be independent. They should leave their complaints about Mangawhara to Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan. Arama Karaka : The Maori Parliament could do more than any member sent to Wellington, because it gave every man an opportunity to express his grievances. He had seen the evils of sales to private purchasers. The next Parliament should be at Orakei, being the most central place. Hemara: A piece of land called Kaherutahi was wrongfully taken by the Government. The conference adjourned at 1.30 p.m., and resumed at 3 p.m. Te Keepa complained that a sum of £100, received by Manukau, a Native, had been misappropriated. He wished to sell a piece of land called Wakatere. Wiremu Paitaki had seen, from the words of Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan, that they would soon witness the rising of the sun. It would rest with them to redress the grievances caused by the action of the late Government. The Ngapuhis sold Mahurangi wrongfully. Let the people of Kaipara return no member to the Parliament at Wellington,. Let Paul Tuhaere be member. Te Hemara approved of the Maori Parliament being at Orakei as a central place. Parata Mate knew that the present Government would do justice to the Maoris. Ho complained that Mr. Fitzgerald was running cattle on his (Parata's) land at Kakaraia. Let Fitzgerald fence his land, or evil would happen. Wiremu Tarapata opposed election of members. Ngapuhi had been loyal to the Queen, because she did not confiscate land for the war. Puhata Eawiri desired that a piece of land reserved at Paparoa (Howick) —reserved by Sir George Grey for the Maoris —should be given to them. Paraone Ngaweke thought the Government should pay something for the lands formerly sold from Tiri Tiri Matangi to Mangawai. Eramiha Paikea complained that his land at Wairoa was awarded to persons who claimed on the ground of having lighted a fire on the land. The Conference adjourned at 4.30 p.m. till next day. Eighth Day.—6th March, 1879. Conference assembled at 11.30 ; Paul Tuhaere in the chair. The Chairman explained the European law with regard to the confiscation of territory as war indemnity. He then put a series of resolutions to the following effect, which were carried":—That they would attend the Ngapuhi Parliament at Waitangi; that the Government ought to pay for the Mangawhia Block; that Kaipara, Auckland, and Hauraki shall not elect a member.; that this runanga will do its utmost to support Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan in carrying out their plan for the settlement of all the difficulties between the two races,"