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Mr. McLean: No; they had their share—no more. Tareha .- When we held our meeting at Waiohiki this was explained to us, and you offered us money for our portion, to which we said, No. We understood that it was the land we were to have, so let yours remain with you. You proposed to return the land to the Poverty Bay Natives. I said, Eeturn your share if you wish to do so; give us ours. You said, " Wait until the survey is completed ;" and we have done so. Mr. McLean : The survey has only very lately been completed. I proposed to return lands beyond certain boundaries. Those have been returned by the Commission. Tareha : Now that the survey is complete, we find that Ngatiporou, who are Poverty Bay Natives, and Mokena, are disposing of the land, and we think we might as well do the same. Ihaka Whanga : Let the talk be short. I appear here as the representative of the Wairoa portion of the Ngatikahungunu, who have sent me to receive the money for their share of Patutahi. I said I would go in a straightforward way to Tareha, and then go with him to meet the Europeans. I have now come for the money. There is one question I want to ask: Do Ngatiporou receive both money and land? Mr. McLean : No; but while the arrangements were pending, they said the land was to be set apart for school purposes. After this they decided to receive money instead of the land, and to have a certain portion set apart for school purposes. They have lately paid about £267, a balance of Patutahi money, for school purposes. You are mistaken in supposing they received both money and land. Was Ihaka Ngarangioue with your people ? Ihaka Whanga : No. He belongs to Turanga, and went with Ngatiporou. Let him look to them for his money. Tareha : The best plan will be to divide the money, one portion for Ihaka and them commencing from Wairoa to Table Cape, and the other portion for us Napier Natives. Ihaka Whanga: With respect to the payment of this money, I would suggest that you write to Mr. Burton to come and fetch the money and pay the Natives, as I cannot divide the money. You, Mr. McLean, have the list. Mr. McLean read list of numbers of different hapus who were engaged in fighting at Poverty Bay. Ihaka: Let the money for each individual be explained clearly. Hamana : Your remarks to me about what was said by Hapimana to you in Wellington are good. My idea is, that when he made that demand it was not done intentionally in an obnoxious manner. It was not right to suppose that that land would be returned. It is gone for good. When Mr. Locke reached the Wairoa, we knew that the land question was to be settled. We were told to trace our claims by ancestry, at which I and other soldiers complained about our wasted labour in fighting against the Hau Haus. Hapimana got all his people, who were chiefly Hau Haus, inserted in the deeds; while only four of us, Ihaka, Maraki, Paora, and myself, were nominally inserted in the deeds. Mr. McLean ; The land is vested really in you, the chiefs. The names of Hau Haus are inserted, but you hold that land for their benefit. There is one question which ought to be settled, that is, the boundary between you and the Urewera; it ought to be done, if possible, this summer. I have appointed Tareha, who is related to both parties, on behalf of the Government, to adjust the matter. Temuera : What acreage are the people to have ? Mr. McLean: If Ngatiporou had received land, they would have received 10,000 acres. Your people would have received the same. Ihaka : Mr. Burton proposed the chiefs should have a larger portion than others ; but we objected, and said that all should be equal. Mr. McLean read off list. Ihaka's party, 319 men; Heretaunga party, 223 men; Ihaka's party to receive J2,942 15s. 6d.—each man at rate of £9 4s. 6d. * The same day Mr. McLean left Napier, and arrived at Poverty Bay on the 30th. The next day a number of Natives assembled in the Court House, and met him there. One of the requests brought forward was for leave for the Hau Haus now living at Torere to return to their old friends. As, however, it appeared that some had come away without permission, they were ordered to return at once. The following is the report of the meeting:— The Hon. the Native Minister had an interview with the Turanga Natives in the Court House, Gisborne, on Monday last. Mokena, Ropata, Henare Potae, Ihaka Whanga, and others were also present. Mr. McLean having invited them to state their grievances, the following interesting proceedings took place. Paora Kati: We have nothing particular to say; we come here to listen to you. Matenga Tote : We wish the Hau Haus of the Ai tanga a Mahaki, that are in Wiremu Kmgi s charge at Opotiki, returned to us. Wi Haronga : Te Ai tanga a Mahaki welcome you here. If you intend to return land to them and Rongowhakaata, and to give them the power of administering their own affairs, it is well. Let chiefs from other places cease from administering our affairs ; no matter though they may be Hau Haus, let them give expression to their sentiments. Perhaps some one here will have something further to say on the subject.