E—No. 8

out. Will you condemn it in anger with war ? Rather let him (the king) stand :if you let him alone he will fill of himself. His Excellency : I think that each Chief in his own tribe, should, with his Runanga, come under the Governor ; then they could all work with me. Tipene : Leave that, we will convey it to the people. We are not going to pluck out the various tribes, i.e., for their adherence ; if a man comes to join us, we will not tell him to stop away. This will be our plan of imaping (gaining adherents) ; if a tribe come to us, we shall say, the system is with us (Waikato) Tnis will be ri<rht, for they will have come of themselves. Letters have reached us from Hauraki, and we have answered ; letters from Tauranga, which we have answered ; letters from Ahuriri, which we have answered : we have received as pledges (of adhesion to the king), from Hiuraki £10 ; from Tauranga £15 ; also, further on from Ahuriri, from Porangahau, te Wairoa and Wairarapa : all of their own accord. From Heretaonga, we have received a pledge (or payment) of £300. From Whanganui, we have also received letters. With regard to Rangitaake Wiremu Kingi, he fetched our flag as a protection for his land : and now he is residing in Waikato. As to the Ngapuhi, Ido not kjiow about them : but one man of the Raravvas, a relative of mine, has been to us. At the present time, whilst both races are at peace, perhaps we shall be divided, or perhaps we shall be united. Let goodness, peace and love be joined together : that may be done now, and I say therefore, proceed gently (cautiously) in working out the plans you (the Governor) have spoken about. The only thing that remains dark (unsettled) is the king : your own plan is to unite us all. His Excellency : Let the several Runangas send up laws for my approval. The laws so assented to, would be laws for Europeans as well as Maories. Tipene : Enough ; your word has been given us ; leave us to work. This is all at present. His Excellency : D> you know what I want to see ? These Runangas and people prosperous and happy, with their chiefs, clergy, artizans, &o. : farms springing up, cattle and wealth abundant. I want to have ears that can hear for me, eyes that can see, hands thit can work for me, in every part of the island. I want to forget the past, with all its shortcomings, and begin again afresh.

SPEECHES AT KOHANGA. December 17th, 1861. His Excellency : I have come here to help you, and I think the best thing is for you to ask m; questions about anything you do not understand. (Addressing W. Kukutai). Do you understand what the duties of tha Runanga will ba ? (Waata : Tes). The work of the Runaaga, when it sits as such, will be different from that of the Magistrates ; it will be to make laws and regulations for the government of the district. When these rules have been made by the Runanga and approved by the Governor, then the Magistrates will have to enforce them as any other laws are enforced. Then there will be other work for the Runanga to do : it will have to consider all things that are good for the district ; e.g., if a Ferry is wanted by any people, the Runanga will have to consider if it is necessary, and report to me before I do anything ; it will have to consider and recommend what the ferrymau will have to be paid, and what people should pay for crossing, In the same way if Roads are wanted, it will have to enquire if it is so, and what are the best lines, and when I have consented to their being made, it will have to superintend them and the expenditure, and the Secretary of the Runanga will have to keep the account, and the Runanga will have to arrange with the owner of the land over which the road will pass, if he is to be paid anything. In the same way when the boundaries of a pieca of land or the ownership is disputed, the Runanga will appoint a commission to examine into the matter and report, and it will have to consider if the commission has reported correctly, and it will report in its turn to me as to what I ought to do. In the same way if a Hospital is wanted, the Runanga will decide upon the site, and what fees people should pay, and who should be let in free without paying. Then if the people want a School, they will, in the first instance, have to apply to the Runanga, and it will report to me if the School is necessary. For all these thmgs it will arrange its own time of meeting, perhaps once a month, perhaps once in six weeks, and it will sit for five or six days if necessary, and will give puhlic notice that all may know of the sittings and attend them if they wish. This is all. I now think that you will understand about Runangas. About Magistrates I need say nothing, you all know what they have to do. If you want any more information upon any subject, now you can ask me, and I shall be glad, if I can, to give it. Te Ao-o-te-rangi (Tainui) : My part of the talk will be on the same subject as yours, Waata. You spoke about peace, about an enlightened system, and about everything which is good. That side (of the question) is correct, but, brother, you and I have never been found in fault up to this period. (To His Excellency.) After you, the Governor, left us, there arrived another Governor, and when that Governor turned round, it was against me. That is the reason why I am dark. I am an orphan, O Governor, an orphan, all are orphans by accidents and by war ; by your arrival in New Zealand, either we become possessed of parents, or we do not. Well, be kind to the children according to your word ; and let not the Maories say that you are speaking deceitfully (or with flattery) ; do not curve your road, let it be straight, that carts may travel on it. Our discourse will not be at an end, it will be mouth to mouth, we shall not be separated ; at the present time, I am pleased with your korero, but if my reply is wrong do not be gloomy, nor find fault with it. Now this is what 1 say : I consent to the Governor's word. The Governor calls for the road and the runanga, and everything has been mentioned by the Governor. My (present) road is the outside road, on the sea, and its opening (commencement) is at Whaingaroa. A road is the thing which I approve of, on the Governor's side, because of the mud and the

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SPEECHES AT THE MEETINGS HELD BY