G—lA

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That after all there is no certainty that Mr. Locke is coming. If he were here would he not have written himself to say so ? Even if Mr. Brabant were to consent to wait, his Native companions would not. They are thinking of their kumeras and other work at their homes. Wirernu Kingi states that, in his opinion, if the Urewera had adhered to February as the date for their meeting, all would go well. As to Mr. Locke, he had no power to move the line. The Government had given Mr. Brabant what they had to say on that matter. Perhaps Mr.. Locke may come up after we have gone. If he does, his statements will not differ. Te Ahikaiata: These are my boundaries—Pukenuiora, Ohirau Tokitoki, Motuotu, Toretore,. then to Putauaki. [These places are all in confiscated land. The first and last named are on the line.] . That is my papa tipu. The Government say it is theirs. Paerau asks that the confiscated line may be moved back. Tutekanahau: Let it be agreed that it shall be moved; afterwards it can be settled where the new boundary shall run. Kereru: The land was taken by Government. They said it was a permanent boundary ; but the line has been moved at Turanga and at Waikare. Mr. Locke said the boundary would be moved ; then the map was torn in his office, and it was done. Mr. Brabant: The line will not be moved. I told Paerau so at Whakatane the other day. Since then, I have had a telegram from Government to the same effect —that is a kupu tuturu — it will not be moved one foot. Ask my friends who came with me : they have acquired land on my side of the line. Some of them bought it; to some of them it was given, because they remained loyal; to others it has been given because they wanted land to plant. This land has been assured them by Government. Some of you may perhaps acquire land as they have done, but the line will never be moved. Paerau: You have spoken your word, now I turn to the Natives. Let Matatua be one. Kereru : Let Matatua be one, and let us join our lands to keep out rents and roads. Give me the land, not for myself, but to look after. 1 Hoani Ngamu (Arawa) : Speak on the line —that it cannot be moved, &c. Piahana Tiwai says if the Urewera were under the law he would willingly join them; but he doubted their intentions. As to joining the land, the Whakatohea were willing to join their land to the Ureweras, to keep out leases, roads, &c. That Te Awanui had consented to that when Tamaikowha went down to Opape. [Te Awanui denies this.] Tamaikowha: I made the peace which causes all the island to be at peace now. I made my boundary (the Urewera boundary, made by themselves in 1872). It is not all mine; it belongs to several tribes, but it is for me to look after it. The Whitu Tekau were appointed to look after it. I never promised to acknowledge the confiscated line. I said to Mr. McLean and Major Mair that I would not do so. However, I have acknowledged it, as I am living here within it. Also, I made a road for Government, but I said let it stop at the line. Mr. Brabant consented to that. In this way we agreed to that line. As to what is said about the ture (law), lam willing that the ture should look into it. (H. Kouras' scheme.) But if Government offer me a piece of land in the confiscated block I shall take it. Ngawaka (of Patuheuheu) speaks about his lease (to Mr. Troutbeck). He will not allow the Whitu Tekau to interfere with it. Wiremu Kingi (Ngaitai) shows, that the confiscated block did not belong to the Urewera. Tamaikowha: I resign my claim to the confiscated land. I don't acknowledge what Wi Kingi says to be correct. It did belong to me. The Whitu Tekau didn't give it up. Ourchief's lost it. The chiefs now say that Mr. Locke and the ture will return it to us. If it is returned, it is well, but we shall not insist on it. Wi Patene : lam satisfied with the confiscated boundary. I have taken the Government money. It was for land (from Messrs. Davis and Mitchell). Now the " Seventy " wish the lease i given up to them. It is a question if they are strong enough to undertake it. Paerau: I wanted to stop the road at Te Karamuramu. Tarawera is mine. (Shouts of " Stop \" from the Urewera, who would not listen to him.) March 24th. Hetaraka Te Wakaunua asks Kaperiere to give over to the "Seventy" the Ngatipukekolands. Kaperiere: Our lands were confiscated. The Government have returned us some. We prefer the Government to the Whitu Tekau as guardians for our land. Wepiha Apanui: I compare these lands to fish. The confiscated land is cooked fish ; the Native land is raw fish. Your stomachs cannot stand either, in my opinion. You may be able to eat one of them, but I think you cannot. The Government cannot give back the confiscated land, because of the kuira (the lots which have been disposed of). If you excepted the kuira, then possibly the Government might consent to move (Jiiki) the line. Kereru: I can deaf with the cooked fish, give me over the raw. Give us over Ohope and the rest of the papa tipu, which has been given back to you; that is still raw if it is in your hands. Hemi Kakitu : I have land in the confiscated boundary, some of which the Government gave me and some I bought. I shall take charge of those lands myself. Kereru: I adhere to my boundary. I and the ture will be strong enough to move the line. I shall carry it to Auckland, to Wellington, and even to the other side of the water. I