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who are anxious for the Court to proceed; it is not the wish of the majority of the people. I urge you to be strong and not to content yourself with simply representing to the Chief Judge that it is the' wish of the people that the Court should be adjourned, but rather instruct him to adjourn it. I wish you to communicate with the Chief Judge to this effect: "In my opinion, the Court ought to be adjourned." I say this because the Native lands are surrounded with troubles, and this is the first time that any light has come upon them. The rays of light are endeavouring to come down on our land; but the law shades it and prevents it from coming. It is my wish that, if your Ministry is defeated, it will only be defeated on account of works that you are doing in the day-time, and it will eventually become known that, even if you were defeated, you fell by good measures —it was not because your Government was carrying out a bad policy that you were defeated. It would be quite right, if the Waiomatatini Court were only dealing with lands upon which Europeans have claims—lands upon which there is a dispute between Europeans and Natives—for it to proceed. No exception can be taken to any word that you have spoken to-day. You have made no promises ; but you have told us plainly that you will do what you can, and that you will bring new measures before Parliament hereafter. I suggest that you ask your various colleagues to advise the Chief Judge to postpone that Court, so that a speedy answer may be given to Tamanui Tera. You have agreed to our request with regard to the District Committee. I ask you to instruct Mr. Booth specially in that matter. I am very much pleased with the reply you made about Whangara. The Maoris, of course, are rather unreasonable in pressing for action to be taken immediately; but it is only natural in them to urge that. No other European speculators have behaved in such a manner as the European is doing with regard to that land. Other Europeans buy land that is not restricted, held under memorial of ownership, or otherwise. I would suggest that the present Government select some Natives to advise them upon all matters affecting the Native people, so that a representative person may be obtained from the East Coast District, some man who is acquainted with the wishes of the people. Ngapuhi may be represented, and other tribes as well, that their wishes may be known ; but you are acquainted with the wishes of the people of this district, on account of having met them to-day. While we have been engaged in speaking, a large present of food was made to you and the Europeans associated with you; but some greedy people have taken it. Mr. Ballance : I shall now refer to the questions which have been brought before me. First of all, permit me to thank you for the present of food which has not reached me. I hope it will do the people good who have got it; and that will be some consolation to those who have not got it. We are often called upon in life to make sacrifices for others—that is said to be the highest duty ?of civilized man; and in the case of the food I gladly make the sacrifice for the benefit of those who obtained it. Now, there was one question which I omitted to notice in my first speech. It refers to trig, stations. The object of trig, stations is not to define the boundaries of land belonging to people, but to enable the boundaries to be afterwards made when the land has passed through the Court, or is passing through the Court. The trig, stations, therefore, cannot affect the title to land. I wish you to clearly understand that. Therefore, I hope you will all assist in the work of making the trig, survey, and not obstruct it, because it cannot affect your interests prejudicially in any respect. I hope that I have made myself clear on this head. Now, with regard to the Waiomatatini Court, I have this to say : this is a matter that ought to be settled amongst yourselves, or, rather, amongst the Ngatiporou people. I do not think that I can go farther than this—to represent to the Chief Judge what you have said about the matter. I have no right to advise him, but I can represent to him what you say. My position is this, that I can only hear one side of the question to-day. The Court at Waiomatatini can hear both sides of the question, because both parties are there; and no Judge is called upon to decide on hearing only one side of the case. I hear to-day the wishes of those who are opposed to the Court going on ; but there are some important chiefs, and, no doubt, a great number of people, at Waiomatatini who are in favour of the Court going on; and that is my great difficulty. With regard to the prophecy that some person might be injured or killed, that I do not attach much importance to, because I am fully persuaded that Ngatiporou will never resort to violence in a matter that concerns their own affairs. I have seen the loyalty of that people myself when they rallied to the call of the Government to put down rebellion, and I will not believe that they are now going to break the law. lam as desirous as Wi Pere or any one that the lands should not pass out of the hands of the Native people, and I would use every power placed in my hands to prevent it, and, therefore, if he can show me any means by law by which I can assist him, I shall be only too ready to respond to his call. The law at present affords us many means of doing so, and I hope that next session we shall be placed in possession of complete power in this respect. I do not think that very much harm can be done before Parliament meets. Wi Pere will remember that last session he assisted us to pass an Act by which four and a half million acres of land was prevented from falling into the hands of speculators; and if he will assist me —and I am sure he will—we will take care that the remainder is placed in the same position. In the meantime I am using all the powers that the law has placed in my hands to save the lands from spoliation. Now, as I have said, I shall represent to the Chief Judge the opinions expressed by Wi Pere, Tamanui Tera, and others. I believe that both my duty and my power end there. With regard to the District Committee, I have already asked Mr. Booth to lose no time in bringing the Committee into existence, and I am sure that no delay will take place. With regard to the surveys of land in future, 1 have instructed that the notice of all surveys to bring land under the Court shall be referred to the Native Committee. This will enable the Native Committee to know what is going on. I had forgotten to say one word with regard to the Waiomatatini Court, which is of importance. You can ask the Court to place restrictions upon the land, and, if you can show that the quantity of land that is passing through the Court is not too much for the people, I am sure that the Court will accede to your request. With regard to the Government undertaking the charge of the legislation to which I have referred, it is the intention of the Government to bring in the Bill. I shall myself