ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

A.—No. 1*-

105

whawhai ehara ia matou ma te Kawana e kauhau, he ngangare tonu ta nga tangata tokorua no te mea no Ingarangi koe no Nuitireni a te Petatone, na te hoko penei ano i nga whenua ka tae mai koe, mau e wawao, ma te Petatone e wawao, ma te Upoko o Parakaia ko koe hoki toku upoko, mau e wawao. Titiro maihana koe ko taku wahi kua oti te rohe, he iti nei, to Nepia wahi he iti, to Eawiri wahi he iti, to Takana wahi he iti, to Wariharai wahi, to Hoeta wahi, to tena to tena, kaore e aetia e ratou. Katahi Kawana ka tahuri ki a te Paki ui ai mo te ingoa o Nepia ka korerorero ratou a mutu noa-ka uia e Kawana kia te Paki, kia uia hoki a Eawiri kia rongo ia, ko to Kawana ranei i marama, ko to Parakaia ranei. Hamumu ana a kawiri te Wanui, kaore au i marama ki ta raua korero, ko taku, kua mate nga kaumatua, ko ta ratou kupu pupuri, e mau nei ano, kua rongo ano Kawana i reira, ko Bangitikei no mua, ko nga wahi o te motu nei no muri, e haere nei ano Bangitikei, ora ake nei ko matou, ko taua pupuri ano, ekore e mahue, e ngari, ko te kupu riri anake, kaore i puta ia ratou kua mate atu ra, ekore nei hoki e puta i naianei taua kupu kino i a matou, i nga uri e ora nei. Kawana Kerei —E pai ana to korua haerenga mai ki au, e marama ana, ka pai e Parakaia. Keoi kua mutu ta tatou korero. Ko te Eetimana —ko to Baki—ko te Hareti. Parakaia Tokoroa. Eawiri te Wanui. * Wellington, Government House, 26th November, 1866. This is what was said about Bangitikei: Governor Grey —Parakaia, the reason why I send for you is that lam alarmed. Trouble is near; this is what I fear, and why I wished to learn what you think about Bangitikei. lam much alarmed; hostilities are now likely to take place at our end of this island. What I now desire is that you should consent to the sale of Bangitikei —give it up to Dr. Featherston. If you persist in retaining it you will quarrel among yourselves about it. Parakaia —You do well to be alarmed at the probability of hostilities; but go and talk to Featherston. What has been said about fighting does not proceed from me: that threat of fighting came from Featherston's friends. Governor —Those tribes (Whanganui, Ngatiapa, and Ngatikahununu) are angry because you refused to sell Bangitikei. lam grieved very much—grieved about this, Parakaia. Parakaia —I was not aware those tribes intended to fight: it must be Dr. Featherston having offered them money caused them to be elated, and to act in that way. What right would men have to go from this to Taranaki to fight? Should we think of going to fight about the land belonging to the men of Ahuriri, as you say Ngatikahununu are coming over to the country of these tribes, without any cause, for the purpose of stirring up strife ? Besides, it is^not my business to lecture those tribes ; it is your duty to admonish them. Governor —Don't be headstrong, Parakaia. If you are obstinate you will only be drawing other people into trouble. You resemble a man hauling on to the rope of a canoe, until suddenly it is smashed on a rock. You are also drawing the Government into a war there. Parakaia —I am not responsible for that war which you imagine will come. That talk about fighting comes from Featherston's friends. Governor- —If you will yield to what I advise, just sign your name to the deed of cession, and say to the people —" I have assented to sell this land to the Government. Featherston will take care that my piece of land shall be excluded from the block which is alienated, as well as tho lands of those who are opposing the sale." And say to Featherston—" Have their lands excluded from the alienated portions." This is a prudent course to adopt. Sign your names to the deed, that your own pieces of land may be secure; these will not then be touched. Parakaia —Why have you not hitherto advised me during these months that have elapsed ? Had you spoken then I could have communicated what you said to the tribe for their careful consideration, which possibly by this time might have been agreed to; but the day of trouble about Bangitikei is near at hand. It is too late now to deliberate with my tribe. Besides, had I been dealing with McLean, who understands these questions, instead of Featherston, I might be induced to think there was some feasible plan in what you two propose, for Featherston made me a similar offer. I declined it. He pressed me to consent to the sale of Bangitikei, and promised me money. I declined it, and said lam not a servant working for hire. No master said to me retain your land ; I retain it of my own accord. Governor —Parakaia, you possess land in many parts of this island. You have lands at Maungatautari and elsewhere. Give up this particular piece of land to the Government, in order that the Government may treat you with consideration in reference to your claims to those other lands. Parakaia—Stay; one thing at a time. You are now confusing the matter in hand with irrelevant allusions to other land claims. I said to you some months ago, '; Speak out your mind. Do not remain silent, lest your silence be taken advantage of by Dr. Featherston as consenting to his evil doings." Had you spoken then, what you now aim at might have been accomplished; but now lam taken aback —I am not clear what to do. I said earnestly on a previous occasion, " Governor, speak out your mind." Governor—My son, I did speak before, nevertheless I now speak again distinctly:—l am right in what I now propose ; you are to blame in refusing to attend to it. Parakaia—What can Ido ; can I break a tough tree ? The tribe has come to a determination not to sell. I have no power to alter their resolution. I might now, perhaps, influenced by fear of you, give a hasty and useless assent to sell; but what then ? Governor —If you fear me, give your assent. lam a wrathful Governor—assent. Parakaia —If it were Maori anger, I should be afraid ; but it is a Governor who is angry. I trust he will soon see he is angry without a just cause. Governor —My words are good. You are a madman. You ought to be sent to the lunatic asylum at Karore. Parakaia —You ought to send Featherston to the madhouse at Karore. lam no madman. The land on one side of this block has long since been ceded to you; you heard then that there was a 27