A.—No. 8a

32

PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY OPERATIONS

Parete Tawaewae. —I did not rise to address you, but to ask you to reply to the words of Matene. Mr. McLean.- —Your word is good. It is well that we should consult together, and that you should express your sentiments. My opinion is this; that you should all collect together, and I promise you that if you are attacked by a hostile force you will be supported. If this madman who is troubling the peace of this Island should venture here, I feel sure he will meet his deserts at your hands. Disturbances have arisen in this Island in years gone by, but we have always been left in possession of the field, and have always the advantage. Look at Ngapuhi, at Waikato, and other places. I have visited Waikato with the hope of establishing peace in the Island. It remains with them to carry out their own desires for peace in their own district; but if we allow murderers to wander about at will, Ido not see how peace can be established, —wc shall always be liable to disturbances. With regard to the question of pay, Ido not wish to hear it raised. When I was at Ngapuhi the other day they offered their services, only stipulating for food, —they said they would not ask for money, lest their good name should suffer. Money should not be the only object; the desire to have a lasting peace and prosperity is of much greater importance. Parete Tawaewae.—l am not a Kupapa; lam a soldier; I have fought for you and have always been with you. We have taken the field not in any quarrel of ours but on yours. My hands are soiled with blood. You have no reason to distrust us; our pa is not for ourselves, it is for your defence likewise. Mr. McLean. —I am a stranger, comparatively, to most of you; I do not know who are faithful, or who may be unfaithful. I say to those who are wavering, that it would be much better if they would at once decide on the course they mean to take. Ilicre is some reason in what you say about your having fought on our side, and that your present position is a protection to this place. I will therefore consent to your getting nominal pay, to enable you to keep together and not wander far to your cultivations; but the arrangement for this I will leave with Mr. Clarke; he knows you; he knows who may be trusted, and who may not. Again, with regard to the pay, Ido not like to hear too much stress laid on it. Who ever heard of a person reaping a harvest before he had sown the seed. I say, therefore, that the proper time for raising the question of pay will be when good service has been performed; but, for the present, a limited number of you will be taken on half-pay, and when you take the field in reality you will then be paid as Militia. Kuka Te Mea.—l have only one word; give us guns, then I shall know you have regard for me; if you entertain any suspicions, keep them to yourself. Te Whare hera. —Give me guns; keep your suspicions to yourself. Hamiora Tu.—Welcome to the place where is plenty of land but few people. Welcome to the few faces that are left. We (you and I) have been long united. I have acted up to my speeches of old (Kohimarama conference); you know that lam on your side; you must aid us. I have waited long, but now the canoe is directed by one, the paddlers in the bow, centre, and stern all keep time together ; Urunga te ranga is the canoe that has caused us trouble; at one time we were divided, now we are united. Tiemi.—l am a half-caste ; give us guns; watch us closely, you will see that Ngaiterangi does not go wrong; if we do go wrong, then charge us with it. Give us guns. Hohepa Hikutaia.—l speak for Ngaiterangi; give us guns; there is trouble in store for us, you can save us from it. The Arawa are at their own homes, we have got to protect ourselves. Te Kooti is the enemy of Ngaiterangi; we cannot go to the hills to fight him, but must act on the defensive. Place confidence in us. Mr. McLean. —We have not enough guns here, but I will send for some. Ido not know you all. It is said that there are some among you who are not fit to be trusted. If any are double-hearted, let them decide at once which side they will take; let there be no deceit among you at this time. Let those who think any other canoe the safest go in it, but this is the only safe canoe. Others have upset before, and will do so again; they are not like this canoe, which can go out to sea in stormy weather and return again in safety to the shore. Enoka.—Give us guns ; send the Sturt for guns; let the whole tribe be armed. Let the people of Rangiwai have two shillings a day as well as those of Maungatapu. It is accessible to Te Kooti by Urunga-te-ranga; by that way Ngatimaru took a number of the pas of Ngaiterangi. Wc will not have anything to do with Waikato; they brought us into trouble before. Put faith in Ngaiterangi; if one man should turn traitor what can one gun do? Send the " Sturt" at once. Wi Parera. —You know Ngaiterangi. I was a Kingite once, but saw the evil of it. Ngatihaua threatened to destroy Te Papa. If Mr. Clarke had been here when the troops came, there would not have been any fighting. Tauranga was defeated and made peace. I have fought in the ranks of the Arawa against the Hauhaus. Kohimarama did away with the old enmity between the Arawa and Ngaiterangi. We have determined to be loyal, give us guns that we may be strong and able to work with you. Kuka te Mea. —Give us guns, we will be faithful. (Song and chorus about " Which way shall we look ? we will look outwards," i.e., the Government side.) Hamiora Tu.—l am satisfied that all the rowers will keep stroke (Ngaiterangi will be loyal and united). One garment will not keep a man warm, he must have a full suit. Do not trust