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assistance to enable them to work out their own destiny in a way that will secure the permanent prosperity and happiness of the race. When we, therefore, have any measure which we desire to establish by law for the good of the people, it is our intention to take the people into our confidence. Questions, therefore, of great importance must be settled by the consent of the people themselves. If I could not administer the affairs of the Native people in the way that I have said I should cease to be Native Minister ; but I believe that our policy is calculated in the highest degree to promote the prosperity of the people generally, and therefore I have confidence in that policy, and will pursue it to the end. I have to apologise for not being able yesterday to keep my appointment to meet you. I had intended to leave for Tauranga this morning, but changed my intention in order that I might be able to give sufficient time to the people of Tuhourangi, and therefore I trust you will excuse my not meeting you yesterday. Again I thank you for your cordial welcome, and shall now ask you to proceed to business, so that we may have sufficient time to discuss those matters of importance to both peoples. Himiona te Eura : Come to New Zealand. Come to the Arawa. Bring peace and goodwill. Come to dispel the gloom and darkness, and bring us the light. There were many good actions performed in the past, but we have not benefited by them to the fullest extent. You are a new Minister; you will be able to lead us in the right path. We hope it will be for you to bring us a good policy and to direct us properly. Welcome to Tuhourangi, who are a large and important section of the Arawa people. This tribe has remained under the Queen's laws from the first. My hands have never been stained with blood. None of the Tuhourangi have taken up arms against the Europeans ; on the contrary, the Tuhourangi have always performed the military services required of them by the Government, and upheld the laws. Welcome ! Welcome, our parent 1 We strongly indorse the words you have spoken. Bring us health. Bring us prosperity. Tamehana te Ngarara then led a song of welcome, and said : Welcome my friend ! Welcome ! the father of the Native people. You are like a saviour of the Maori people. It is for you to come to preserve them, and take away all that is evil. You have come to show affection to your Maori children. Come to the resting-place of the canoe. Bangihiwea : Welcome, our friend. Bring us good tidings. Bring us the light of day. Come and see us and listen to our words. Come while the sun shines high in the heavens. [Song.] Mr. Ballance : My friends, I thank you once more for your words of welcome, and I have only this to say, I shall not forget them. Wiremu Pauro : These are the subjects which Tuhourangi wish to lay before you : — {Translation of letter.'] " Te Wairoa, 18th February, 1885.—T0 Mr. Ballance, Native Minister.—Friend, salutations ! These are the matters which Tuhourangi will now bring before you for your consideration—First, Botomahana-Parekarangi Block; let that be reheard. This is a matter which affects Tuhourangi very deeply, and Tuhourangi will listen with great interest to your reply on the subject. Second, let subdivisions be made in this block, apportioning it to the various tribes." Wi Keepa llangvpuawhe : Tuhourangi surveyed their external boundaries, but, when the land was brought before the Court, one portion was awarded to a different tribe, and another portion was given jointly to Tuhourangi and another tribe, and so on for the whole block. It was cut up in that manner. In future we do not wish to have the whole block heard at once ;we would like the various internal blocks taken one after the other, because some people who own a bit of land on the far side have to make a claim to the whole block, and conduct their case as for the whole block. Wiremu Pauro : Third, we ask that the District Native Committee will be allowed to adjudicate upon this block and ascertain the title—that is, to the various pieces that I have mentioned. Fourth, let it be left to Tuhourangi to decide the date upon which this block shall be heard. Fifth, let the adjudication be held at Te Wairoa. Sixth, we ask that authority may be given to the nineteen persons forming the Tuhourangi Committee, that they may be legally constituted. We ask that these nineteen persons forming the local Committee of Tuhourangi may be authorized so that they can act under the direction of the District Native Committee, and so that they may be able to deal with local matters. Seventh, we ask that the District Native Committee may be authorized to adjudicate upon the Paengaroa Block. Eighth, that the charges made by the surveyors may be reduced. These are all the subjects brought forward by Tuhourangi as a tribe; but there are several matters which will be brought forward by the sub-tribe of Tuhourangi, by Ngatiwahiao. First, the Ngatiwahiao ask that a Native school may be built at Whakarewarewa. We will give three acres for a school site. The site must be duly considered, and it must be decided where the site shall be; it will be a little further inland than this. Second, we want a township laid out at Turikuri. Third, that the bridge about to be built across the stream beside here may be widened to eight feet. The Government officer knows about that bridge. Fourth, that we may be allowed to purchase arms and ammunition ; that we may be allowed to buy arms and ammunition at reasonable prices, such as those at which they are supplied to Europeans. Fifth, we ask that a rehearing may be granted for the Pukeroa-Aruawhata Block. Sixth, that the lands over which the Arawa have a right by conquest, and which have already passed into the hands of the Government —that is, lands in the vicinity of Maketu. Let the Government give the Natives some monetary consideration. Seventh, That the Government will give us half a ton of fencing-wire. These are all the subjects we have to bring before you. Mr. Ballance : I will now take the subjects in the order in which you have presented them. The first matter to which you have referred is the rehearing of the Eotomahana-Parekarangi Block. In the last session of Parliament the Government, hearing that it was desirable that this block should be reheard, passed a special Act enabling it to be done. By that Act the land was placed in the same position as Native land the title to which had never bsen determined. You ask that the rehearing of that block shall take place, and I suppose you wish it to be reheard quickly. The