Or.—l

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The Premier said, —To you of the Native race here assembled, men, women, and children, I give you friendly greeting, and that greeting comes from over six hundred thousand Europeans in this country. I speak for them. We do not forget the time when the Native race was as plentiful and as numerous as we now find the trees that represent them, and that we the pakehas were few You then behaved kindly to the Europeans, and you gave them a welcome to your land and treated them as brothers. Now we find the position reversed we find the pakehas are growing more numerous every day, and we find the Native race is passing away from the face of the earth, therefore it behoves those who wish them well to go amongst them, speak to them, and endeavour if possible to preserve them. It is painful for me to have to admit the fact, which you have stated in your words of welcome, that the hills are all that are left to welcome me , that your fathers have passed away, and that you are a remnant only of a noble race. It is not yet too late, however; there is here before me now a representative gathering, and I think, if we go the right way about it, you may still increase in numbers, in greatness, and prosperity , for I wish you and the Europeans to live side by side, and all be happy and contented in this beautiful country of your ancestors which you inhabit. There is room for all. It is not the wish of the Government, it is not the wish of the pakeha, it is not the wish of our noble Queen under whom we serve, and whom we love, that you should degenerate or pass away When the Treaty of Waitangi was signed the Government of the day promised you protection your forefathers saw that protection was necessary, and in the interest of yourselves. It is the boast of all who live under the British flag that there is freedom, and each has his liberty The Queen is the mother of us all, of both races, no matter what colour We are her children. She is pleased when she finds we are prospering, contented, and increasing. It is not her wish, neither is it the wish of those who serve under her, that your race should pass away and be a thing of the past and her representative, the Governor, when I arrived in Auckland a few days ago, expressed to me the very great pleasure he felt at my going through the country speaking to the Natives personally and inquiring as to their wants. I feel sure that your voices will be heard across the sea, and that your Queen, whom you acknowledge, love, and respect, will hear the words and feel the loyalty shown by her subjects now assembled in this room. She will be pleased to learn that you obey her laws, and that you are her liege subjects, that you desired to do that which is right and in conformity with the words of your forefathers. Words have been spoken to-day expressing regret at the absence of her representative, the Governor, but, on his behalf, I must state that he has not been long in the colony, although during the time he has been here he has endeavoured, so far as his time and the business he has had to transact has permitted, to visit the different parts of the colony and I hope before the term of his office expires that he will stand as I do here and speak to you as Her Majesty's representative. As his chief adviser as the Prime Minister, speaking as I speak and wish to speak to-da,y on behalf of both races, rest assured that whatever takes place shall be made known to Her Majesty's representative. I shall tell him of the welcome given me to-day by the two great tribes mentioned, the Ngapuhi and the Te Earawa. Believe me that before I decided to visit the Natives in the different parts of the North Island—before I left Wellington—in fact, from the first time I entered Parliament—my heart has always warmed to the Native race. I have met many in the number of years that I have been in Parliament —from 1879 until the present time I have sat there continuously—and I have seen many representatives of the Native race in the New Zealand Parliament. I have listened to their pleadings on behalf of their fellow-countrymen, and I have been aware of the laws that have been passed to alleviate the condition of the Natives. To me it was a great pleasure that the son of an old friend, who was once a representative of the Native race in Parliament, should be the first to welcome me. I feel sure that had Mohi Tawhai senior been in good health, and could have been here, nothing would have given me greater joy than to have shaken hands with him. Now, lam here to-day, and shall speak plainly to you. I shall not hide my thoughts. I know a mist has overhung you and your destinies for many years, and I am here to-day to endeavour to remove that mist. When friends meet, and both are troubled in mind, an interchange of thoughts, open words, and speaking plainly to each other gives light in itself. To use words merely to dissemble, to disguise your inmost thoughts, will not tend to improve your condition, but if there is a free interchange, if you tell me your thoughts, tell me what you believe is against you and against your race, I am prepared to listen, and act towards you as a friend. Now, when there is trouble with the pakehas, when they have grievances, Ministers go to see them, and discuss matters with them ; they ascertain their wishes, and legislation is introduced to give effect to what is considered for their good. So we are now treating the Native race the same as we treat the Europeans. You have here to-day the Prime Minister, who has come to give you friendly greeting, and to hear what you have to say We want you to understand this that the Parliament which rules supreme is open to the Native race as it is open to the pakeha. It is in that Parliament that they are on the one floor and the one plane. There is no distinction , and it is from that Parliament that I honestly believe the only redress of a permanent character can be given to the Native race. It has been said—l have heard it from the mountain-tops, from the lakes, I have heard it on the hills, and have heard the wail in the valley—that the Natives cannot obtain justice from the Parliament. So far as lam concerned Ido not admit that, but in order to advance from our present position we must set aside the past and commence afresh. The Parliament is open to you. Any measures that you desire to be introduced must go before that Parliament. So long as they are couched in respectful language—so long as they deal with subjects that affect your interests—that Parliament is open to you as well as to the Europeans. The special representation which was given to you by those who framed our laws was not given to you simply as a myth, it was not given to the Native race to be played with , it was given in the belief that those representing the Native race in the New Zealand Parliament would be able to introduce measures, and help to pass such laws, as would be beneficial both to the Native and European races. Now, the Native rac&