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1874. NEW ZEALAND.

NOTES OF NATIVE MEETINGS (EAST COAST AND BAY OF PLENTY).

Presented to loth Houses of the General Assembly by command of His Excellency.

Meeting held in Court House, Napier, 29th November, 1873. Present —Hon. D. McLean and Chiefs Tareha, Ihaka Whanga, Hamana Tiakiwai, Te Muera. Mr. McLean to Ihaka : I do not think you were present when I spoke to the Napier Natives relative to the partition of the Patutahi Block between the Government, Ngatiporou, and Ngatikahungunu ; it was then stated that the land had not been surveyed. Since then it has been done, and the Ngatiporou share has been decided. Ngatiporou have disposed of their share to Government for £5,000; what remains is between you, Ngatikahungunu, and Government. At the meeting at Waiohiki I offered to give the Heretaunga Natives money instead of land, which they refused. They would wait until the survey was completed. Tareha is now present as the representative of the Napier Natives. Since then the Commission has sat at Poverty Bay, to decide claims to confiscated land which was to be returned to the resident Natives of Poverty Bay, who were frequently remonstrated with, and warned not to take up arms against the Pakeha; notwithstanding which they persisted in their defiant attitude, and now it is hopeless to expect this Patutahi block of land will ever be returned to them. Mr. McLean to Hamana : This is a word to you about Hapimana's demand to me at Wellington for land to be returned ; this cannot be acceded to, especially when demanded as a right in an angry manner; not one acre will be obtained by such an attitude. Those people persisted in their evil course, and the result was they lost both men and land. Waikato and Taranaki acted in the same manner, and suffered accordingly. It is no wish of mine that the people should be sufferers by their folly, and I hope they will not be so in future; you know I am using my best endeavours to initiate a better state of affairs. Tareha: I support a portion of what you have said. In the first place, the Natives were looked down upon by the generality of Europeans, who said our skins and thoughts were both dark, and not clear like theirs. It was you who first recognized our position, and made it your duty to assist them to the utmost of your power. It was through your exertions that we were represented in Parliament; myself and Karaitiana have both been returned for this district, and I was under the impression that you ought to be supported by those whom you had raised to that position. While I was a member I gave you my hearty support, and we always discussed Maori questions. I resigned my scat of my own free will. When the former Government were defeated, and you took office, I said to you that you were to be careful how you followed the example of the former Government, which slew the people and took the land. After you took office the fight at Taupo took place, where the people were punished for their crimes, but the land was not taken as it was in Waikato and other places. What you say, that nothing would be gained by a defiant demand for land to be returned, is good, and we will talk the matter over quietly. Mr. McLean: I spoke to Hamana that he might understand that nothing was to be gained by " bounce :" the land referred to was taken by former Governments. I have not been instrumental in taking land. The Taupo and Ureweras, with whom we fought, were not deprived of any land. Natives have been punished for their faults. Tareha, although you have retired from Parliament, your suggestions have been attended to; you should still, as a chief, endeavour to act for the general good and welfare of the Maori people. You and I have always worked together, and done what we thought best for the benefit of both races. Tareha: A word about what you said to us about Turanga when in Wellington. There were three of us of this place and Wikiriwhi, and you said one portion was to be for the Ngatiporou, one portion for Ngatikahungunu, and one portion for the Government. Since then reports state that Ngatiporou were to have all the land. I—G. 1.