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and favour of God we have been permitted to meet each other. We have lived apart in former days, and in these later days we have met and have become as one family. And in one family, when you think of it, there should be only one heart. This day we have heard of your love and wishes towards us on account of our meeting together. Our hearts are glad on account of that. We hear what you have said: that it is your purpose to seek some means for our good, because we are living in darkness and not in the light. It is true that some of us have a glimmering of light, but others have not. It is for you who are enlightened to think of us who are not enlightened, and to find out some means that will be for our good and benefit, and we shall be very glad on account of that. This day we shall part. We shall not forget this meeting, neither shall we forget the words that you have spoken to us. We shall keep remembering you because we believe that you are engaged in seeking our good. Now salutations to you all of you. May you live. On account of our approaching separation may you who go be attended with all goodness and gladness, and may we also who stay also have all goodness. May you all live. Rev. Mr. Lawrence (after conferring with Pa Ariki): He says he does not thoroughly understand the nature of the things he should ask you. He wants to know what you would like to have his ideas about. Hon. Mr. Mills (to Mr. Lawrence) : Ask him, please, if he wishes to mention anything with reference to island matters that he thinks require attention, so that our members may have the opportunity of hearing an expression of his ideas. Also ask him as to the opinions of the people on the island—are they on the whole generally satisfied with the way the laws are being administered at present ? Eev. Mr. Lawrence having put the question to Pa Ariki, — Pa Ariki : Concerning our part of that question —that is, the Native part of that question—with the laws and administration at present the Natives are perfectly satisfied. We all know that there are law-breakers, and that in all probability the law-breakers who have fallen in the way of the law are not likely to be satisfied. But those who are law-abiding, the chiefs and Eangatiras, and the people who obey the law, are perfectly satisfied with the law. On account of our connection with New Zealand, the people are perfectly satisfied concerning that. They have raised no trouble or question on that matter. Concerning the European part of this question, and those who live here, we do not lcnow exactly what they think, neither do we know exactly what they want. They have come from those parts of the world where wisdom grows, and they are more enlightened than we are. Whether they are satisfied with our ways, and. customs, and manners I cannot say, but there has been no definite trouble on the whole, and they respect our laws and live under them, and they have caused no trouble. Hon. Mr. Mills (to Mr. Lawrence) : Kindly ask Pa Ariki what is the opinion of the Arikis with regard to the establishment of a licensed hotel on the island. Pα Ariki : To the Minister who has come from afar : This is my reply to you. We formerly had some talk about this matter among ourselves, and we asked each other unto whom should this work be intrusted. And now this is what we have thought, and it is the thought of our hearts, and that is that a suitable man in New Zealand might be found who would have knowledge and wisdom enough to conduct this house. But we here are in darkness and do not know who that man is likely to be. Hon. Mr. Mills (addressing Mr. Lawrence) : Ask him, please, whether they approve of having a hotel or not. Mr. Fowlds : Or would they prefer having it a Government institution ? Pα Ariki: It would be very much better if the Government should take charge of this matter, but if this cannot be arranged, then it should be a man that can be trusted to carry out the work in accordance with the law. Let it be forbidden that this work if established should become a matter for deceiving the law. Now, this is what we said : that liquor might be sold to the white man (intoxicating liquor —that is, spirits), but that beer and wine only might be sold to the Natives ; but it may be that the sale of wine and beer to the Natives may be made the occasion of letting them have spirits also, and if that were done it would not be in keeping with our purposes, and therefore we say that it must be a man that can be trusted to carry out the law, and not make provision for getting behind the law —that is, a man who will not forget the honour of the Native race and behave ignobly. Hon. Mr. Mills (to Mr. Lawrence): Please ask him if they think, collectively, that it is advisable to grant a license for the purpose we have mentioned supposing we enforce very strict regulations ? Pα Ariki : 1 think that it is right that in the hotel there should be provision made for all the needs of travellers. Some travellers think that they ought to have liquor, and will have liquor ; and others, again, do not want liquor, but for that reason we would not stop the sale to European travellers. But we would emphasize the fact that you must have a fitting man in order that only that may happen. Hon. Mr. Mills : That is all right. Mr. Arnold: Would you ask him, please, to what extent Natives get spirits now. Hon. Mr. Bowen : Do I understand the Ariki to say that he does not wish a license given to any man for his own advantage, but that it must be under the control of the Government, and the man in charge not interested in the sale? That is the question which I should like put to the Ariki, in order that the matter may be perfectly clear. Hon. Mr. Mills: As I understand the position, it is that if it is possible the Arikis wish to have somebody appointed by the Government whom they could have implicit faith in. Hon. Mr. Bowen : But I thought he referred to giving a license. Hon. Mr. Mills : We will ask him again to make it clear. Ask him, Mr. Lawrence, please, if he thinks that the Government officially should manage and control the house, or did he mean that if they could not appoint a man, then a suitable man should be found.