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of the Natives. You have no need to go to England for rights and justice. There is both the power and the inclination in the Government and the Parliament of the colony to do full justice to the Native race. I know that you have grievances and troubles. It has been said that perhaps I have come here to-day as a swallower of the land. I reply that that is not true. It is the wish of the Government to protect the lands of the people. I have told all the tribes that it is for their welfare that they should not part with their lands, but that they should keep sufficient for themselves to maintain the race in independence. My belief is that, if you part with all your lands, you will become a race of paupers, and that the welfare and independence of the race depend entirely on their keeping sufficient of their lands in their own possession. I firmly believe that the day of wars is past in this colony, and that a much brighter day has dawned for the Native people—a time when they can devote themselves to industry and to peace ; when their happiness will be found in the cultivation of the soil, and not in making war upon the colonists and upon themselves. This, then, is the policy of the present Government: to consult you, to listen to your grievances and to try to remove them, to assist and strengthen you in the possession of your lands, and to see that, when you part with your lands, you do it in the light of day. The Government, therefore, holding these views, desire earnestly to promote your permanent welfare. We ask you to discuss these questions together. You have amongst you many chiefs of great intelligence and zeal, and I feel certain that, if you listen to the advice of those chiefs, you will not go far wrong. Wi Peri has referred to the present occasion as a time for greeting only, and I hope that I shall be able to-morrow to explain more fully the intentions and views of the Government; and I shall not, therefore, on the present occasion, interfere further with your enjoyment, but again thank you for your cordial words of welcome. The meeting was continued on the 25th February. Wi Pere said : The object of this meeting is to carry out the business of the Church. It was notified in the invitation that this meeting was in connection with the Church. There are some other matters which affect us very deeply. These are the troubles affecting ourselves; but no intimation was given in the invitation concerning those matters. I want to tell you that to-day will be completed the matters affecting the Church; after that, we will proceed with the matters which we have to lay before the Native Minister. We want to proceed with the business relating to our Church, so that it may be strengthened, so that we may return to the Church which we deserted some time ago ; we are now coming back to the fold. I ask that all the people who came here will remain for the present. The people belonging to the place must proceed to get food to entertain the visitors. To-morrow this meeting will come to an end and separate. It may be decided that we shall not separate for some time, that the work shall proceed. That, however, depends upon how we arrange matters to-day. I want you to be united to-day, and not to be distracted by anything else. My people will not separate to-day or to-morrow; they will remain in ono place. We will remain together until the business of this meeting is completed. Wi Peiiuhairangi, of Ngatiporou, said : Wi Pere has explained the object for which this meeting was called. The second word is contained in this document, which I shall read : " Whakato, 25th February, 1885. This is a request of ours the Native people living on the East Coast which we are now making to the Native Minister. We ask that you will consider the various matters which follow: (1.) The election of Committees to administer various blocks of land —that is, Committees for the various hapus of the East Coast Natives. This matter has been brought under the notice of Parliament. (2.) Let Boards be elected consisting of two Native members, and one European member appointed by the Government. (3.) Do not let the Native Eating Act apply to lands which have not passed the Court, or which are not occupied; let that be repealed for the present. (4.) Let an alteration be made in the Duties Act, which now provides that the whole of the duties shall be paid in one sum whenever lands are leased—that is, the duty has to be paid for the whole term. Let that duty be paid annually as the lease goes on. (5.) Let the custom of buying shares of Native land cease—that is, where there are a number of owners in one block. Let the duties of the Frauds Commissioner cease. (6.) Let a Eoyal Commission be appointed to inquire into the grievances affecting Native lands on the East Coast; let it be appointed in conformity with the existing laws, and in accordance with Native custom. (7.) The trustees for minors' interests in blocks of land : let these trusteeships be put a stop to—that is, they must not be allowed to sell the shares of those minors, but rather let that matter be left in the hands of the Native Committees. (8.) Let the Native Land Court laws be amended in certain directions. (9.) Let the Native Land Court now sitting at Waiomatatini be adjourned sine die at once, for the reason that the Native claimants have no money to pay the Court fees. Secondly, let it be postponed till the Native land laws are amended, and until Native Committees for the various blocks have been appointed or elected. (10.) The power for granting or receiving applications for rehearings now vested in the Chief Judge should be taken away from him. Let the applications made by Natives for rehearings be dealt with by the Government. Let these matters be considered by the Government and by certain Natives. (11.) With reference to the power now exercised by Government and by County Councils in taking roads over Native lands, before making such roads let application by made to the Native owners as to the best line to be adopted." These are all the subjects mentioned in this document. I wish to make some remarks in explanation of the ninth subject for discussion. It is with regard to the adjournment of the Waiomatatini Court. I support that proposal. This is a matter which is a grievance to the Natives of the East Coast; they know that some troubles arise in the Court. We know that certain people are entitled to certain blocks of land ; but, owing to the action of the Court, these peoples' claims are not upheld, and they lose their land. There are some people who are well known to be owners of land; but, owing to their ignorance and incapability of conducting their case in the Court, their land passes into the hands of people who are better educated, or who know how to conduct their claims better: and those people lose their land. Secondly, with regard to the Court fees, the