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great many people who live under Wahanui's mana, and the same might be said of Tawhiao. He hoped that the Minister would be able to visit Waikato. Hikawera Mahupuku, of Wairarapa, wished the law amended so that the franchise might be extended to all the Maoris, whether their land was subdivided or not—whether it was held in common or under Crown grant, or even if it had not passed the Court. He thought that it was the desire of all the Natives that there should be universal suffrage for the Maoris. Tawhiao had received a letter from Lord Derby, who, in reply to a despatch from the Governor of New Zealand, stated that he was very gratified to learn that it was the intention to increase the representation of the Maori people. He (Hikawera) would support that idea, and hoped that additional representation would be given to the Natives at the forthcoming session. Ho would not be satisfied with having European members in Parliament. He wished that there should continue to be Maori members in Parliament, but thought that, to be of any benefit to the Natives, there should be more. Matenga Taiwhanga (Arawa and Ngapuhi) welcomed the Native Minister, and said that no Native Minister had displayed such consideration for the Natives as Mr. Ballance. Sir Donald McLean's intentions towards the Native people were very good, but, notwithstanding that, he used to pass laws in Parliament without ever consulting them. Benata Kawepo : All the talk is ended. Eeference has been made to what has been done in England. It may be that good will come from that, but Ido not know. I say that the Queen is here present; her laws are over us. Why should we go to England to look for her ? Perhaps her laws do not extend to Ngapuhi; as we find that Taiwhanga has been going elsewhere to look for her. I say that the Queen lives at Wellington, and that Tawhiao went to look for her in the wrong place. He went to England, and had to come back without seeing her. Deputations to England come here and ask us to pay their expenses ; we give them money, and never know what becomes of it. Probably it is thrown into the sea. If we want to see the Queen, we should first go to her representative in New Zealand, and then it will be time enough to talk about going elsewhere. As our meeting is now at an end you will go away and leave us here. This is a greeting of mine to you ; I thank you for having met us here and endeavoured to comply with our wishes. During the first days of the meeting, when this Bill was first submitted, I trembled within myself because I had my own misgivings. I say that we all had misgivings within our hearts. I was afraid that it would be quite useless for us to submit our suggestions to you, the Native Minister. I thought that perhaps you would cast them on one side, but I am delighted to find that every suggestion we made you have considered and endeavoured to give effect to. I now bid you farewell, and hope that you will be strong to carry out your good works. Go back to your place; we will stay here, waiting and watching. We will now part. I say, go back to your place and to your labours. I will remain here and count the few days that are left for me to live. A'poro Wharetaniiuha, of Tuhourangi, greeted the Minister, and expressed his pleasure at the result of the meeting, to which he only came to listen. Ho would go back with his heart full, and tell his tribe what had taken place. In his district the Minister was looked upon as a kotuku rerenga tahi. His tribe had been waiting patiently year after year, and Mr. Ballance had not yet come to see them. He (Aporo) was a representative of Tuhourangi, Ngatipikiao, and Ngatiwhakaue ; but he only came to listen, and not to take an active part in the meeting. His last word of a farewell was a request that the Native Minister would visit the Tuhourangi Tribe in the month of March. Maihi te Ngaru, of Ngatiwhakaue, said that he came to the meeting because it was called in the interest of the Native people, and would go back and fully inform his people of what had been done. He wished to request the Minister to empower their Committee of Ngatiwhakaue. The tribe elected a Committee, and now ask that it should be endowed with the proper legal authority. Henare Tomoana: I wish you farewell; go back to labour for the colony. There will be no other thought in our minds after you go away. You have met us and agreed to what we have asked, and I am extremely gratified at the patient way you have waited and met us here day aftar day. Henare Matua: I wish to speak about what you said with regard to the unity of the Natives. I accept your advice, and I shall act upon it. I say that this meeting will treasure up that advice. The meeting knows that you will go back to Parliament and do what you can for the benefit of the Maori people. I say, go back and work for the good of the land. May God preserve you and us also ; and may we all be spared to meet again. Bongowhitiau wished Mr. Ballance farewell, and thanked him for his visit; he would also like to thank the chiefs for their hospitality. Wi Pere thanked the Minister for attending the meeting, and for the consideration he had shown to the Natives. He would like to mention to the Minister that there were lands in Gisborne which paid no less than three rates ; he hoped that the law respecting that would be altered, and also that regarding the Native land duty. Hikaivera Mahupuka wished to thank the Native Minister for the work done at the meeting. He had been intimately acquainted with all previous Native Ministers, and none of them had treated the Natives so considerately as Mr. Ballance. Matcne Buta, of Wairarapa, expressed his gratification at the result of the meeting. [Song.] Hoani Maihana te Bangiotu: Saluations to you, Mr. Ballance, and to your friends, the Native chiefs. This meeting is now ended—all the work has been done. You have promised us that when you get back to Wellington you will embody the result of this meeting in a new Bill, and distribute it amongst the Natives. Let there be no delay. You are treating us like Sir Donald McLean used to treat us, only we did not know his thoughts as we know yours. I bid you farewell. Go back to the Waranga. [Song.]