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Her Majesty, and I will prove by this that the Government, of which I am the head, are your friends. When the pakeha boy or Maori boy goes to school you give him a slate he makes figures and writes upon the slate. When he does not do it right, he wipes it off, and makes a fresh start. I want the tribes and your representatives to do the same here to-day Now, we will say, we will bury the past, wipe it out, as the boy would wipe it off his slate. Let both parties determine that what they do shall be in the interest of both races, and of every man, woman, and child here. I have gone through the centre of the island, I have met thousands of the Native race, and, wherever I have met them, we have had our explanations, and we have parted on the very best of terms , we have parted as good and true friends. Just the same as I have met face to face the Native race belonging to the different tribes, North, South, East, and West, I say I am here to meet you as representative of the Government. I know that there are enemies, and that there are those who are not true friends of the Native race. They send their emissaries, who are trying to poison your minds. They are enemies, coming with evil tongues before me but when I meet the people and explain matters to them all these lies will be set aside, and they will believe the man who is the chief rangatira in this country, and who, when he gives his word, always keeps it—whether to Europeans or Natives. Having thus put the case, I challenge them. I say, Why slink behind bushes? Come out in the open, and meet me face to face. lam here to meet them alone; and if they come before me I will, single-handed, subdue them, and prove their words are untrue and evil, —that they are not your friends, and are doing you an injury They come to me as head of the Government, they tell me, "We are your friends," and actually draw money from the Government, and then go behind the Government and create evil amongst the Native race so as to elevate themselves and get money from the Government. I say "I do not want you stand aside, your hands are soiled, your hands are not free Ido not want you, stand aside." I will go through the Native districts and meet the Maoris as man to man. They are wise men, and I will speak to them so that they may be able to understand that what we desire to do is in the interest of themselves and the country My heart is not made of stone. I see a noble race, and see that they are disappearing from the face of the earth. I say, it is my desire to preserve that race. I see them living in absolute poverty not having sufficient food, not having the comforts they ought to have. We wish to alter this state of things, and let them live happy and contented by our side. I have thus given you briefly the object of my visit and now I wish you to open your minds to me —to speak freely as man to man. You have now got a chance to speak to meet face to face the head of the Government of the country Speak to me as a friend do not let your words disguise your thoughts, let your mind and words be open, so that we may thoroughly understand each other, even though you speak unpleasant words to me. Do not be afraid to be truthful. I know that there is trouble amongst you, and that there is trouble in your minds, these troubles are easily removed, if you will only be open and truthful to me, and let me know really what the trouble is. If you do not do so, and disaster follows, the responsibility is with you. If you do yourselves, your wahines, and your children an injury, the responsibility is with you, not with me , therefore, I say, speak out plainly Kereru said, —Salutations to you, the Premier and your younger brother, Mr Carroll Salutations to you Mr Carroll, who have come to see your people formerly you were their representative. This is your second coming here. Welcome to both the Premier and yourself, who come to benefit me or injure me—even though it may 'be to strike the land or the people ! My ears have listened to rumour, which I have been inclined to believe, that you are evilly disposed towards us. I have heard that you were here to destroy me. I will now sing a song of welcome. [Seng.] Again I offer you salutations and greetings for coming here, lest you should think lam standing without the pale of the law In former times I was not an upholder of the law I was in rebellion. Now, in these days, I am endeavouring to carry on the affairs of the Natives in accordance with the law of justice. That is why I offer you the sincere welcome I have. I give you the welcome of the Tuhoe people, and offer my congratulations to the both of you who have met upon this open space to see us here to-day I have no such word as this to say to you, " Go back to Whakatane ", on the contrary I invite you here that I may lay my words before you in your presence. Some of the remarks thab have fallen from you I will eagerly devour, those that are palatable , those that are bitter I will reject. Tutakanahao said, —Welcome Welcome ! I wish to express my great satisfaction at your coming here to look into the matters we wish to place before you. Welcome to you, 0 my parent! Your coming here is what my heart has so earnestly desired, as also that of what I might call the orphans and the poor It is only by the law that difficulties can be removed and remedies can be obtained—that is, through you, who have brought words of love to me, and who represent the law When the law became established the evil passed away Welcome to you who have come here, bringing with you words that the heart may seize hold of. The desires of the heart shall be fulfilled , those things that the heart does not desire shall be rejected. Welcome again. It is well. I again pay my respects to you who have so exerted yourselves in coming this distance to see us. This is the second time the Government have come here. I regard with great importance your visit here it will, I hope, be of great good to the Maori race, and may God protect and guide you and us in our works. Makarini said, —Welcome, Mr Carroll, to this part of the country —come to the place where you spoke your words on a former visit, come to have those words carried out. In those words which you spoke, and your presence at that time amongst us, was our salvation. You pointed out and assisted in the laws that were laid down to benefit us. I voted for you to be returned as a member of Parliament to represent and conduct the affairs of this Island, and now I desire to express my approval and satisfaction at your again coming amongst us. We see one another again, and can exchange our thoughts. If any difference of opinion had taken place between us I should have let it be known. I should now like to address myself to the head of the Government of this colony I have seen many chiefs of the Government of New Zealand. I have B—G 1