E—No. 9 Sec. II.

Proceedings of the Runanga of the Hundred of Whaingaroa. Whaingaroa, llth April, 18G2. Hone Firihi: Some say in reference to the Waipa road, " let the trees be felled, let there be no cutting and no stumping." What is the use of a road uisless it is finished; therefore I say let it be well completed, that produce m;iv be brought over here from Waipa. Wiremu Nero: This road is a matter in which Hone Pirihi can shew his firmness. I do not say let the Maoris make it. No, let the Europeans and Maories make it together; although it should be in Waipa, let the Europeans and Maoris make it together. Mr. Armitage stopped this discussion, as the object of the Runanga was to decide about the erection of a jail. Hone Pirihi: I want to speak about a jail. There are few of us here certainly, but there are many days in which what wo now say can be communicated to the whole tribe. Hetaraka Nero: We have got laws complete, and we are iu a large district, therefore we should have a jail. As to payments for crime, the system does uot answer; perhaps the criminal does not pay the money; Auckland is too far off to take prisoners to. I think it would be a saving for Government to let us have a jail, and, by doing so, they would strengthen the hands of justice. Eawiri: I don't like a jail, lest I or others should be sent there. Hori Pikitia: I am policeman; I want a jail that my work may have a place of ending. Pita Toto: The tribe have accepted the laws, and by that acceptance they have consented to a jail. Maoris and Europeans are mixed here, and I therefore wish for a jail; if there is no jail, we policemen have to look after criminals night and day. Piripi: We grasped the Gospel when it came, and also the law; let us have a jail to complete the law. To Rira: I am consenting to the road; if evil arises it will not be my fault. We are a pakeha. tribe, therefore I wish for a jail, let us build it at once. Hetaraka: We have others to consult, it is true, besides ourselves; for instance, the people of Aotea, those inland, and those at Horea; but we are the town, and I have seen theft, drunkenness, assaults, and " puremu," unpunished because there is no jail. Waata Tarahina: We want a jail for those who can't pay or won't pay. When we get a jail we shall see whether the people are sincere or not; my advice is wait till the tribe is more used to the white man's laws. Perhaps the effect of the establishment of a jail would bo to send men over to the King party. Wiremu Nero: The greatest evil iu my eyes is fighting. I have lost many relatives, and I have been asked to seek payment for their deaths. The law comes, wo accept it. The two last Governors and myself made covenants, and both they and I kept them. I wish for a jail; let the jail laws be mildly carried out at first (ill the people get used to them. The jail is not to bo feared; if a man does not commit crime, it will not harm him. Although we are few, we are the root, not the branch. There is another matter, too, to be considered, who is to be paymaster? Is the Governor to pay for the entire cost of the jail? Waata: Let the Governor pay for it, it is his affair. Hori: I say let us swallow the whole of a " ritenga" if we get one. Let us have a jail at once. Pita Toto: If the jails frightens any of our party away to the king, they will not be worth detaining. W rhat is the use of bringing a man to Court to let him away again without punishment as we do now if he is " pakeke " (obstinate). Waata Tarahina: I think the tribe ought to be more numerously represented; I don't think the tribe will consent generally. Hetaraka: The affairs of the tribe are in Hone Pirihi's hands (the Warden). If any of ours go to the king, I will fetch them if the Ture is strong enough. One reason why Hone Pirihi should not have influence (whai mana) in this matter is because many of his " runanga" do not belong here to us, but to Waipa. Wiremu Nero: If the Waipa people consent to a " kai-whakawa," let us go to Waipa to hold " runangas." We are all officers here. The tribe is in Waipa. I wish your district (to Mr. Armitage) to extend to Waipa so as to include all my people. If Mr. Gorst had the whole of this district from Waipa here I should be satisfied. I wish your district extended; I wish to live at Waipa, at the road's end, so as to protect it from the king-party. Mr. Armitage: I consider that there should be a more numerous attendance for the discussion of this subject, as it is a very important one. There will in all probability be only one jail for the whole district, but the Governor will arrange that and as to the cost of erection.

Resolutions passed by the Runanga of the Hundred of Whaingaroa. 1st. That the road from Whaingaroa to Raglan shall be made; that the trees shall be cut down, the stumps taken out, the sidelings levelled, and the creeks bridged over. 2nd. That Crown Grants ought to be given for our lands in Whaingaroa. 3rd. That the feelings or opinions of the elderly men be in accordance with the views of Government and continue so for ever.

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REPORTS OF OFFICERS: