A.—No. 1.

NEW ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

89

Pothipi Ttjkairangi : The Ngatituwharetoa chiefs will take care of their people, and see that no mischief arises within their boundaries. The boundaries of Taupo district are these : Commencing at Horohoro ; thence to Arawhena (near Titiraupenga), Maraeroa Tuhua, round by the back of the mountains to Euapehu, on to Ruahine and Titiokura ; thence to Herewiwi, and back to Horohoro. Let chiefs of other tribes be responsible for the good conduct of their own people : they must not interfere with us. His Excellency Sir G. F. Bowen then spoke to the following effect:—o, my friends, chiefs and people of the Ngatituwharetoa, I have already addressed you in the pa of that loyal subject of the Queen, and firm friend of the Pakeha, Poihipi Tukairangi. He deserves the title of Horomatangi, because he has been an enemy to all crime and evil in this district, even as in the legend the Horomatangi destroyed the cruel monsters (taniwlias) of the Lake of Taupo. Poihipi is one of the few survivors of the chiefs who signed the Treaty of Waitangi, when the sovereignty of these Islands was ceded to the Queen, who on her part engaged to protect the lands, the fisheries, and all the other rights of the Maoris. This treaty remains inviolate. The law protects the property of the Maoris as it protects the property of the Pakehas. The Government fully recognize the merits and services of Poihipi and of the other loyal chiefs, and will assist them in making the roads, building the mills, and in the other good works which they contemplate. lam glad also to meet here to-day so many of the great tribe of the Ngatiraukawas. Matene Te Whiwhi, and many of that tribe, have welcomed me at Otaki; and now Hori Ngawhare is waiting to welcome me at Orakei-Korako. I rejoice that so many of the chiefs of the old times —the old trees of the forest—are still standing; and that a noble growth of young trees is rising around them. I trust that you will join with the Government in founding schools here, such as those already established at Pakowhai, Maketu, and elsewhere, in which the youth of the Maori race learn the language and arts of the English. As I said at Tokano the other day, there was once a time when the ancestors of the English were little more advanced in civilization than the Maoris are now; but wise and good men arose among them, and taught them to make roads, and to build ships and houses. About the time that Hongi, the Ngapuhi chief, went to England, a Scotchman, McAdam, discovered how best to make roads, and his is the system now in use both in England and in New Zealand. You have not to make new discoveries for yourselves, but only to adopt the useful discoveries of your Pakeha friends. What Poihipi said in his speech just now was correct. Each tribe can do what it likes within its own boundaries. For example : Whenever a tribe wishes to make roads, the Government will assist with money and tools ; and no other tribe has any right to interfere. The Government has no desire to make roads, or other useful works, except in those districts where the Maoris willingly co-operate. You already understand the advantage of roads. A horse does not cost so much to feed as a man, and yet it is eight times as strong. When you have got roads, one man with a horse and cart can carry as much corn or potatoes as eight men could carry. As there are no other points on which you wish to address me, I will now conclude. I thank you once more for the hearty welcome you have given me, and pray that peace and prosperity may flourish among you, like the everlasting green of your native forests. At the conclusion of His Excellency's speech, which was received with cheers by the Natives assembled, the Natives danced Tiakas and other Maori dances. Afterwards His Excellency visited the Tails of the Waikato, situated amidst fine scenery, about four miles from the point at which the river issues from the northern end of the lake. There are fine rapids above and below the falls, which resemble in height and volume of water those of the Rhine at Schaffhausen. After visiting the falls, the parly bathed in one of the natural hot baths in the neighbourhood, where a cascade of tepid water falls into a rocky basin. April 13.—The Governor and suite, leaving with regret the shores of the great lake, or sea (moana, not roto, as the Natives call it) of Taupo, and, after four hours' easy riding over fern-clad hills for about twenty-five miles, reached Orakei-Korako, a Native kainga on the left bank of the Waikato, belonging to the clan of the Ngatiraukawa. Here the Governor was welcomed by the influential chief Hori Ngawhare, who, though in extreme old age and infirmity, had travelled more than fifty miles to meet His Excellency. This portion of the Ngatiraukawa had been, in former years, engaged in rebellion. Several chiefs, however, had gone to meet the Governor at Taupo to invite him to their country; and he was received by the assembled clan with the most hearty respect. The substance of the speeches delivered at Orakei-Korako is as follows : — Hohepa Taupiri: Come, 0 Governor, come and see us, your people! You are the father of the people. (Song of welcome.) Salutations to you, O Governor !We have been swimming, as it were, in the ocean, and knew not where to go. We feel that we are now touching the shore, and you have come to help and guide us to land. Salutations to you, O Governor ! Tuiri Rangihoro : Salutations, 0 Governor ! Come and see us. We hand over all the roads in this district to you ; they are in your hands. It is for you to direct what should be done here. Salutations ! Here Matenga : Salutations ! Come, O Governor, and visit us. We rejoice to see you here. We shall ever remain faithful to the Government. The people and the land are all yours ; we cannot say more. Akanut: Welcome, 0 Governor ! Come and clear away the doubts and darkness that surround us. Come and see Hori Ngawhare. We have long been searching for a proper course to take, so as to save the people. We are now beginning to think we have found out the right way. You have now arrived, and we will listen to you, in hope that our troubles may now end. All the Ngatiraukawa, and the followers of the King will hear what you say to-day. Salutations to you. Hori Ngawhare : Come, 0 Governor, and search for yourself what is required for us. We are searching, we, the Maoris, for a proper course. We wish you, 0 Governor, to point out to us what to do. His Excellency Sir G. F. Bowen" then addressed the meeting to the following effect: —0 my friends, Hori Ngawhare, and chiefs of Ngatiraukawa, salutations to you all! I thank you for your loyal speeches, and am very glad to visit you in your own country. I also rejoice to meet your cele--23