49

G.—3

Eewi at Orunui, near Taupo, and made the same request to him. At that meeting at Peria my word to William Thompson was, " Stop ; if you are afraid to trust me with the decision of Waitara, I shall decline to be involved in the same trouble with you. What trouble will come to you will be of your own seeking. AVhat troubles come to me will be of my oavu bringing." Having now told you what I told William Thompson about AVaitara you understand Avhy I have nothing to say to you about that place to-day. My reason for coming to AVaitara now is because of the words spoken to me by Sir George Grey at the close of last session of Parliament. I have now begun my visits to the whole of the people of this Island, to advise them to let his word have the force of law for the proper guidance of what remains to us of the Island. AVhy I say this is, that no one has helped me in getting men to go into Parliament. I then was left alone by myself to speak in the Parliament concerning matters of the Island. When Sir George Grey came into Parliament then I had a friend to support me in my proposals for the benefit of our Island. Here is my father (pointing to Sir George Grey), and here is my friend (pointing to Hon. Mr. Sheehan). Mr. Sheehan was my true friend —not a Maori. He was my child, he was my friend. I had no Maori assistance, and I was one of those who helped to make him a Minister of the Crown. He had no blue blood in his veins. It was I who brought him to Napier to act as a LtAvyer io myself and the Native people. When Sir George Grey came into Parliament he and Mr. Sheehan helped mo in carrying into effect the proposals which I had made for the benefit of the Avhole of this Island. I remember the first trouble to the Island arose under Governor Fitzroy ; but Sir George Grey put an end to it. Then, again, the AVaitara war broke out in Governor BroAvne's time, and Sir George was sent for to put an end to that also. It is because of these things that I stand up and say that he is the man who will carry out my proposals for the benefit of the Island. I refrain from speaking about AVaitara. Rewi said: AYe are going to talk again, and it is useless talking about all these things to-day. (Turning to the Government side, Eewi said :) I have taken you and embraced you in my arms this day. (The friendly Natives loudly applauded this remark.) I do not want to know Avhat you did, Karaitiana, for lam one of your own party. (Applause). I am met Avith you here. We inhale the same atmosphere. We will now cease speaking to-day. Do not go into details to-day. I have fixed on to-morrow. Consider that lam going for the first time to join you, full of hope. Don't startle me as you Avould a bird, lest, being a stranger to this business, I fly aAvay. This concluded the meeting, and the Natives dispersed. When Sir George Grey and the chiefs who had been in the building came out they found the food was in process of preparation. About eighty pigs had been killed, while the kumaras and potato kits had been piled up in heaps. Sir George Grey walked through between the piles of food, and the Natives were so glad to see him that it was Avith difficulty he could make any progress. The Natives spent the remainder of the evening in feasting, and general hilarity prevailed in the settlement amongst Europeans and Maoris. The meeting will be resumed to-morrow, and it is hoped will be finished. The " Hinemoa "is lying off New Plymouth, waiting to take Ministers to AVellington when they have concluded their business here. AVaitara, 28th June. During this forenoon nothing Avas done in the way of business Avith the Natives, but in the afternoon a meeting was held in the open air, Avhich, though brief, was of considerable importance, and has brought matters between the Government and Eewi to a decided point. Yesterday representations were made to A Standish, Esq., Mayor of New Plymouth, that it was the desire of the people of the town that to-day should be observed as a general holiday, in order to enable people in business to visit Waitara. The Mayor at once acceded to the request, and proclaimed a holiday. In consequence a large number of the citizens of New Plymouth came out to Waitara by the trains, while the road thither Avas thronged with vehicles and horsemen. It is intended, I believe, by the people of New Plymouth to celebrate the meeting by giving an entertainment at the conclusion of the proceedings, to which Sir George Grey, the Hon. Mr. Sheehan, Eewi, and all the Europeans and Natives will be invited. Should the weather be fine the festivities will be held in the open air, a programme of sports will be arranged specially for the Natives, aud the rejoicings will be brought to a close by a display of fireworks. In the early part of the day the Taranaki and the Ngatiawa Natives were engaged in piling the food into an immense heap in the centre of the meeting ground. The pile was 23 yards long, 5 feet broad, and about 5 feet high. First there came several hundreds of kits of potatoes, kumaras, and taros. Above these were laid rows of dried shark, while on the top were stretched the pigs. The value of the food, at the lowest computation, is not less thau £1,000. When all had been prepared, Eewi and those who have come with him from AVaikato marched down from the Manukorohea Pa. This is the pa Avhere William King was born, the meaning of the name is " The singing bird." The Parihaka Natives and the NgatiaAva met them at the bridge, waving shawls and branches of trees and ferns, and calling out, " Welcome ! welcome !" The Natives from the pa were headed by Eewi, Te Taonui, and Te AVetere. The Ngatiawa retired as they advanced, chanting and singing. On coming to the place where the food had been piled the two parties sat doAvn at some distance apart. The Parihaka then issued in a body from the building which had been erected for the accommodation of the Natives, and, advancing to within a short distance of Eewi and his followers, halted and commenced a tangi in the usual Native fashion. The Parihaka Natives were headed by Petera, Hori, Petene, and Tukina. It Avas someAvhat singular, Avhen the Aveeping was going on, to hear the scream of the railway engine, Avhich passed within a hundred yards of the assembled Natives. The crying having been concluded, the food Avas formally given to Eewi, who sent one of his principal men to distribute it amongst the tribes. A large portion was allotted to Sir George Grey and the Europeans. I may mention that in the afternoon the Native Minister, in Native fashion, returned the immense heap of pigs, potatoes, and sharks to Eewi and the Ngatimaniapoto. Speeches then took place. Eewi repeated a long incantation, in which it would have been considered a very ill omen if ho had broken down. He was followed by To AVetere. On the other side Ngatiawa, the chief of the famous Pukerangora Pa, welcomed Eewi and his people. He was followed by several speakers in the same friendly strain. 7—G. 3.