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Mr. McLean: Will you explain what you mean by your reference to chiefs from other districts administering your affairs ? Wi Haronga : I refer to Henare Potae, Meiha Ropata, Mokena Kohere, and Paora Te Apatu. Wi Pere: Salutations! I have just returned from Wellington, where I went to see if I could make arrangements for getting some of our lands returned to us. I saw Mr. McLean, who said " Return and stay quietly; a new law is being made which would simplify and adjust all such matters." After my return, I conferred with Mr. Locke, on his arrival here, and was satisfied with the arrangements that were made about the land. There are two or three matters which I wish settled: Give us back our burial-grounds at Patutahi, at Wahanui, and at Kaikaitaratahi. Secondly, Let the Hau Haus of Te Ai tanga a Mahaki, who are in Wiremu Kingi's charge at Opotiki, be returned to us. And, thirdly, We should also participate in the Patutahi money, and receive £5,000. Panapa Waihope : Salutations ! I second what Wi Pere says respecting the restoration of the burial-grounds. Secondly, We wish the Hau Haus at Opotiki to be returned to us; some of their number have already returned and are among us, as Mr. Locke knows; let us also receive money for Patutahi. Pita Te Huhu .- [Karakia, incantation.] I approve of your administration, Mr. McLean. I approve of what Wi Pere said about the restoration of the burial grounds ; let that be done. I wish the Hau Haus at Opotiki returned, and some of the money for Patutahi. Hoani Ruru : The land belonging to Rongowhakaata was taken by the Government for the crimes of all the Hau Haus of Turanga, and but a small portion of that belonging to Te Ai tanga a Mahaki j Ngaitahupo did not lose any land, Paora Te Apatu and others had made application for the adjudication of lands within the " rohe potae;" Rongowhakaata did not, as their land had all been taken. I wish you to give me back a portion. Do you carefully consider this matter. Paora Kati: If you have any complaint to bring forward, do so now. You are wrong in objecting to Ropata, Henare, and Mokena, for it is through their administration that we have benefited. Money is now asked for Patutahi. If I receive any of the Patutahi money, I shall not go there; if Ido not receive some, I will not go there. I wish for some of the Patutahi money. Raharuhi's Crown grants, twelve in number, have not been properly conveyed by him to his relatives, consequently they revert to the whole tribe. Raharuhi signed a document drawn up by the Natives, but the lawyers say it is of no use. I asked Mr. Skipworth to prepare a document conveying his (Rararuhi's) interests in the different blocks to me; he said, Taihoa. I also saw Captain Porter, but he did not arrive till Raharuhi's death, when it was too late. I was very pouri, about these Crown grants and could not sleep. Wi Pere : Patutahi was taken and divided amongst Ngatiporou, Ngatikahungunu, and the Government. Those tribes said they would give the land back to us as an act of grace (tohu rangatira) ; this has not been done, for the land has been divided amongst themselves, therefore we do not want their interference with our affairs. Paora Parau .- You see the remnant of Turanga and Rongowhakaatu before you; some perhaps were too lazy to come, while others may have been ashamed or afraid of you. Let the request for the burial-places be granted, and let the Hau Haus under Wiremu Kingi's charge be returned to us. With respect to people from other places coming to administer affairs amongst us, let them attend to the affairs of their own settlements. Mr. McLean, in reply, said : You, the people of Turanga, have not hitherto shown yourselves capable of managing your own affairs, although you talk largely of your powers. You could not do it even when your old chiefs of authority were alive; and you have always evinced a fickleness and a desire for change, without considering the consequences which would follow. When the Hau Hau doctrine came among you, you readily adopted it, and you were completely led away ; now you express your jealousy because other chiefs are desired to come here. If you refer to the Ngatiporou chiefs, I tell you they have a right to come here at any time, and will do so whenever requested. I have asked them to come here, and will do so again when I consider it necessary. You have no chiefs to whom any attention is paid; and the old proverb holds good, " Turanga tangata rite ;" or, Chiefs and all are of equal standing at Turanga. The land question has been already satisfactorily settled by the Commission which has recently sat here, and I am not prepared to make any further concessions in either land or money, as you may consider yourselves liberally treated. I told some of you lately in Wellington, when you spoke to me on the subject of your lands here and at Wairoa, that you would not have met with so much consideration had you assumed a defiant attitude; and I tell you so again. I have always warned you that you will get your grievances redressed and claims recognized more readily by bringing them before the Government in a friendly and proper spirit, than by adopting an opposite course, by which you would gain nothing. No attempts at unfair exaction on your part will be to your advantage, however much you may at times be led to think they are. Some of you have asked for the return of the Hau Haus residing with William King at Opotiki; and I hear that Wi Pere has advised them to come away stealthily. If such means are employed, you cannot expect me to assent to your wishes. Had a frank request been made for their return, and security offered for their good behaviour, the Government might have entertained the application; as it is ; they will not be permitted to return. In reference to certain burial-grounds you have asked for, that

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