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to discuss all these at a great meeting to be held in Gisborne, and to which we have arranged to send delegates. Conclusions might be arrived at there to insure that laws will be framed for the promotion of amicable relations between the two races. If the laws that you are going to make in future are to be like those you have made in the past, the Natives will not cease crying. You must not run away with the idea that we do not appreciate your coining here to-day I say we value your appearance here to-day, and, as I said before, we will try and frame laws ourselves, and then ask Parliament to ratify them. Even though the Premier does not attend this meeting at Gisborne, we request that you, as the representative of the Natives, should attend there and hear all that is to be said, and try and help us to frame laws. Even though your chief, the Premier should stay behind, we wish to see you there. You have stated that you have heard all the grievances in southern districts. Well, if those grievances are allayed we should certainly be relieved in parallel cases. The Premier There was rain on the hills, now when the sun shines it disappears. There was a mist when my friend last spoke. The mist that existed was, that I was of opinion you had no grievances. I was told you had nothing to say, and hence came to the conclusion you were a happy and contented people, and everything was going on well with you. Now the sun has just appeared and dispelled the mist, because he has told me you have grievances. He says I should know these grievances. I am not here amongst you every day how is it possible I should know your grievances ? I cannot know them until you tell them to me. He has only mentioned one, but I have no doubt that there are others, and if they have not been mentioned, the responsibility rests with you, and your not telling them to me when I am here. I can only come to the conclusion that they are not very serious. Now, you are entirely wrong when you say that we have listened to the other Natives, and when we relieve their grievances it will redress yours. I say you are entirely wrong in that. Now, they have differed in the different districts as we came along. For instance, the Mauiapotos had a grievance, with which we have treated to their satisfaction. The Natives in the Waikato had a grievance of an entirely different character and they wanted special relief. Now the Ngapuhi and Ngatihine are degenerating if they desire their grievances to be made known through other tribes. The Ngapuhi are retrograding very much if they are to be spoken for by the other tribes. lam sorry I shall have to say so when Igo back to Wellington. I shall have to say that amongst the Ngapuhi they have no speakers to make their wishes known to the Government, that as regards their oratory they are failing. Why, the early speakers of renown came from Ngapuhi. The Maoris can always make their grievances known to the Government. I must still adhere to the opinion that your grievances are not very great. Perhaps after I have gone, you will discuss matters amongst yourselves, and if later on you submit to me what you think requires my attention, I shall be glad to deal with it, notwithstanding your present reticence. lam perhaps telling the truth, and you may think lam thought-reading—reading your minds—when I tell you that I think the short notice you had was the means of stopping you from meeting amongst yourselves and deciding what you should say, and you have therefore taken up a negative position. It is the same cry " Taihoa, taihoa" (Wait, wait) The world goes on and the Natives are disappearing, and still the cry, " Taihoa, taihoa." The time will come when you will find this is a mistake, and the sooner you recognise this fact and the position you are in the better We have met as friends, and I trust we part as friends let it be always so. Thanking you for your welcome and wishing you all well, I will now take my departure. Waimate. The Premier and party left Kawakawa for Waimate with the intention of holding a large meeting there. On arrival at Waimate, the Natives stated to the Premier that they had only a few local matters to bring before him there, and would reserve all their larger questions relating to their grievances to be discussed at Waima on the following Monday As he was there, they would, however, bring a few local matters under his notice. Hare Matenga said they were very pleased indeed to see the Premier and to welcome him. One of the greatest grievances they had was the dog-tax. It is not that they wished to evade the tax in any way. They had all agreed there to pay that tax , in fact, they did not wish to evade any laws at all. All their prayer was that the price should be reduced from ss. to 2s. 6d. per year. They sent a petition to the County Council last month to this effect—that they agreed to pay the dog-tax. In 1892 there were advertisements out saying that the place to get the collars was at Kawakawa and Eussell. They went like men and got the collars at those distant places. In 1893 the County Council said they could get the collars at the telegraph-office. They all went there and got the collars, and that is where they still get them. Some had paid and some had not paid. He had already said that the petition set forth that they did not wish to evade the law, but simply wished to have the tax reduced. The petition was worded in this way : —lf the police took the collars to each individual house the price was to be 55., and if they went to the office and got them themselves they should only pay half-price. The Council would not agree to this. Pene Taui Salutations to the Premier, Mr. Carroll, and all the gentlemen present ! I stand here now and say that I am very pleased to see you, and that I second and indorse the sentiments of the last speaker I have nothing to say to you on this day, as it has been already stated that Monday shall be the day for talking, at Waima. That day we and the others will address you on our several grievances, and I stand here now simply to indorse the remarks of Wiremu Katene and Hare Matenga in reference to the dog-tax. Our prayer to you is that the tax should be reduced from ss. to 2s. 6d. Now, another question I give you notice of is with reference to the Native Land Acquisition Act. We do not know whether that is law at the present time. Some say it is and some say it is not. The Premier said, —I have listened very patiently and with great pleasure to what has been brought under my notice to-day What struck me was the courteous language and respectful 4-G 1.