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prevent you coming to Wellington and seeing me there. I think it is only right that Her Majesty's subjects living in isolated places should be brought more together Kereru said, —I would be glad if you would carry out that remark of yours in respect to having the Court here. Bring it to this house. lam very pleased you have made that suggestion. If the Court is held elsewhere only a few people could get to it, but if it is held here all parties could go to it. I wish you now to give an assurance that the Court will be held here. I said I had very little to say, and I have said it. That is all. The Premier I have long seen the evils that have resulted from the Natives being brought long distances from their homes, and having to take their families with them into the towns, and evils have resulted which have been a curse to their families ever afterwards. I have seen the men drinking their substance, actually " swallowing their land." I have seen their wives and daughters defiled in these large cities, and the evil arises through their being there with temptation surrounding them. I have always said that that was a wrong that should not be perpetrated on the Natives. When dealing with matters affecting the pakehas, wherever the majority of the Europeans are their convenience is always consulted, and the Courts are placed accordingly and if we therefore think it is just and right and in the interest of the Europeans that their convenience should be consulted, then I say we should follow out the same course with regard to the Natives, and do equal justice to them. And I believe it will be right and proper that the evils of the past in that respect should cease once and for ever And believing that to be the case, even though we may have to go to some expense in making a convenient place for the Court to sit, and where the Judge may reside, that expense would be more than justified if we are doing it in the interests of both races and I now give my word that the Court shall come here convenient to this place, so that the titles may be ascertained, and that it may be proof at once that we are sincere in what we have said to the Natives. And I feel satisfied that in doing this I am doing that which is in the interest of the owners of the land, and only what is just to all concerned. We shall have to go into the question of detail as to what convenience is wanting. People may have to come from far At the same time, however we trust that their convenience will be consulted by the Natives who are here and, in making this request on behalf of Tuhoe, I know Tuhoe will do that, and will assist the Government in what they are doing. Some people will object, and say it is too far away, and it is not safe to come here. Everything will be done in the interest of the colony You speak on behalf of Tuhoe, I speak on behalf of the Government, and I say the Court shall come here, and I feel sure good will result to all concerned. On resuming after lunch, Hetaraka said, —I wish to explain with regard to the subject I have brought before you. I am speaking with reference to what Mr Carroll said at the close of his address a little while ago—that we should consider the subjects he and his colleague had brought before us. That observation of Mr Carroll s was generally assented to. This is what I have to say to the Premier and Mr Carroll with regard to internal surveys and other minor matters. The Ngatimanawa and Ngatiawa wish matters in reference to the Witi Block and the Patuheuheu Hapu, and also Tutakangahau, to remain in abeyance. It has been decided amongst us that the question relating to the surveys should be held over and cease until such time as we can interview the Government in Wellington. This is what I have to say to the Premier and his colleagues that these surveys should not proceed until we have had an opportunity of interviewing the Government in Wellington. By that time the thoughts of Tuhoe with regard to the surveys will be known. These surveys are all within the external boundary of the land of Tuhoe. That is the reason why I want this matter held over. Purewa said, —It was arranged that an hour should be left so that we could consider over the matter you submitted to us, and while you had an hour to consider the points we had raised. We have considered the matter in reference to the school, and have decided as to that particular subject. You have heard what Hetaraka said to-day ; and what I say is, We are not prepared to go on with the school. This is in reply to what was said, that the question of a school should proceed. The tribe have consented to the establishment of a school, but in this way Let the titles to the Euatoki Block be first ascertained and determined, then let us have the school. That is the reply we have to make with regard to the school. Let the titles be first determined, and then we will agree to the school. Hetaraka said, —The reason why I speak again upon this subject is because I was the one who laid the matter before the Minister. lam most anxious that the school should be established, not for the sake of my children, but for the children of us all. You have heard what the others have said on the subject, and I will explain to you the reason why I take up the position I do. This is the third year that myself, Numia, and others have been solicitous that a school should be established in the district. It is in consequence of dissension amongst us that Numia and myself have been unable to have a school. The reason why we have both been so anxious that the school should be put up is because we know the rising generation are growing up in the same state of ignorance that their fathers were in. It is for that reason we urge upon you to let us have a school, so that the children now growing up may not grow up in ignorance. Now, with regard to what Purewa says —that we should not have the school until the titles are determined—l would ask, Who are the owners of the land ? Irrespective of the owners of the land, the school would be for all the owners of the Tuhoe Tribe. Numia and myself have, during three years past, also thought of waiting until the titles of the land were ascertained before having the school erected, but we came to the conclusion that we might have to wait too long, and that the erection of the school should be proceeded with at once. Tutakangahau said, —Now, with respect to what has just been said, the request for the school is from us. You, the Premier, are the light of the world, therefore it is that I appeal to you to determine this matter If you say that the school should not be put up until the titles to the land are ascertained, very well. If you say the school should be erected forthwith, it is well. That is all I have to say on that subject, because the matter is in your hands. I will now direct my observa-
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