G.—6

2

It is unnecessary, I think, to relate fully two or three days' discussion. The result of it all was a most friendly termination of the meeting, and a letter written to the Hon. the Native Minister and signed by the leading chiefs agreeing to the arrangements suggested, which letter I have already delivered. I may, in conclusion, state that I fully believe that, with ordinary care and caution, the whole country can be explored for minerals, timber, and other objects. The general feature of the country is a mountainous, forest-covered region of great extent, portions of which —such as the Waikaremoana Lake and other parts—are very romantic, but quite unfit for the purpose of agriculture. William Kelly, Esq., M.H.R. for Tauranga, reached Ruatahuna, by way of Ahikereru, at the same time I entered the Whakatane Gorge, but I presume he will probably send a report of his journey to the Government. I would beg to suggest that a reply, of course, be sent to the letter from the chiefs ; and that the outlines of the arrangement fixed at the Thames and other places where the mining operations are carried on on Maori lands, such as the miners-right fee, &c, be drawn up and circulated amongst the Tuhoe for their information, after which a small but carefully-selected party be sent into the district to explore and report generally in regard to minerals, timber, and other necessary matters; and that, until these arrangements are complete, the chiefs of Tuhoe should feel that their full reliance in Government that surreptitious interference should not occur, as the chiefs pledged their word that not any European should be injured, but only turned back, while the above matters were being carried out. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister, Auckland. S. Locke.

Translation of Letter from Native Chiefs to the Hon. the Native Minister (referred to in Mr. Locke's Reportj. To the Hon. the Native Minister. Ruatoki, Whakatane, 17th April, 1889. Mb. Locke has been here to Euatoki, when the chiefs of Tuhoe and the people assembled to hear what he had to say: Firstly, re the rohepotae, general boundaries of Tuhoe ; secondly, that some persons should be elected to prevent and to consent to (consider ?) the desires of some PakehaMadris who had applied to the Governor for permission to come to do certain works on the Tuhoe land. Both these subjects have been agreed to. The boundaries will be forwarded and the names will be sent as soon as the persons are chosen. The boundaries will be begun. Beginning at Pukenuiaraho, Moutehera, Puhikereru, Eangitiki, along the lino to Kaimatahi, Euaparapara, Paemahoeowhakatoro, Te Tapuae to the Bangitaiki Stream; then following the stream and turns to the south to Tukutoromiro, Okahu, Aniwaniwa, Nutukapi; thence along the line of Kuhawaea to Kopua, Ohotu, Otamapare, Tapuketaru, Tawhinau, Hangarau ; thence following the Nohirinaki Stream to Te Tuwatawata; thence towards the eastward to Maungataniwha, Waiau, Tauwharetoi; then following the line of Waikare to Te Korokoroowhaitiri, Whanganuioparua, Waikareiti, Waipawa ; then following the line of Te Papuni, Tauwharetoroa te Unuiotainanuhiei, Okania, Kahuinui, ,Te Kaharoa; thence to the starting point to Pukenuiaraho. From Kekeeu te Pukenui and eight others.

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