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which meant the impoverishing of the senders and their children in order to gain the goodwill of the renowned prophet. It was only the winter before I was at these Islands that a disastrous boat accident happened while the Natives were getting albatross for Parihaka, in which nine of the most promising young men were lost. I landed quite expecting to have great contentions concerning Governmental matters, and I was not disappointed. I gathered the entire Native population together, and, with Sir William Steward and Mr. Florance, the local Stipendiary Magistrate, I spoke to the Natives. Sir William Steward and Mr. Florance both made impressive speeches in regard to the Councils Act. This meeting was continued for a whole week, during which time I spoke constantly day and night. Needless to say that at the end of the week the Maoris were persuaded to have a Maori Council, which meant the breaking of the power of Te Whiti, at least in these Islands. Members for the Council were there and then elected. The Council since that time has done excellent work. The condition of the Maoris in these Islands has materially changed for the better since the formation of the Council. Instead of sending their all as an offering to Te Whiti, thus inviting poverty, they have now sufficient food and clothing to keep them and their children in a healthy state. Many of the suggestions concerning sanitary matters have been carried into effect. Many are being considered, and many will soon be enforced. I am very happy to state that there have been far fewer deaths from any cause these last two years than has ever been knovfn in the history of the Islands. The first time I visited the group I noticed that there were very few Maori children attending the Native school. This was, no doubt, due to the Te Whiti influence, for Te Whiti does not believe in European education. Upon my second visit to the Islands I found only two families who kept their children away, but since my last visit, I am glad to say, every family in the Islands is represented in the school. I cannot speak too highly of the gentlemen who have this branch under their control, for their influence for the betterment of the Maori has been most satisfactory. It is hoped that the Government will find room for some of the brighter scholars in our larger Native colleges. The drugs which the Government so kindly gave to the Islanders, and which were put into Mr. Sigley's hands (the schoolmaster), have been a boon to the sick Natives. In this connection I might say, considering the fact that there is no medical man in the group, it would be most advantageous and beneficial to the Islanders if the Government were to send a doctor there two or three times a year; or, upon their next appointment of a Magistrate, to select a medical man to fill the place. lam sure, after my experience, it would be the best thing to do, and perhaps many lives could be saved by so doing. I found the pamphlet on small-pox had stirred the Natives to the vaccinating-point. So when I arrived, I had no difficulty whatever in getting all the children vaccinated, both Natives and Europeans, which all resulted most excellently. lam glad to state that the Chatham Islands have awakened to better things. Under the Council's influence, the Maoris have improved the sanitary condition of their homes, acres of sandhills have been planted with the marram-grass, and the Natives have been stimulated to go into the pig industry, giving them constant occupation, and'thereby making them healthier and better contented. The following notes of the first meeting were taken by Mr. E. S. Florance, S.M., and the object of it was to discuss the question of electing a Maori Council for the Islands under " The Maori Councils Act, 1900 " : — About three days before the meeting the Hon. Major Steward and Mr. Florance were invited to be present and to speak. Accordingly on the Bth January, 1902, directly the passengers per " Toroa " for New Zealand had left for the ship, these gentlemen proceeded to the pa. On arrival they found that chairs had been placed for tbe doctor and the other visitors in front of the residence of Mr. Pomare, the doctor's brother. It was not long before the doctor made his appearance, amid hearty handclapping from the numerously attended gathering. In rapid and well-rounded sentences, the force of the reasoning of which could be read in the faces of the speakers and hearers alike, although the address was delivered in Maori, the doctor spoke of the past history of his people, and especially those of the Chatham Islands, amongst whom the early years of his life had been spent, and of whom he had lasting and pleasing recollections. He spoke feelingly of their somewhat recent sorrow—namely, the unfortunate boat accident, which occurred whilst getting food to send to Te Whiti, in which so many valuable lives were sacrificed in a valueless cause. Then he touched upon the future in store for his people, and the love and brotherly sympathy which their pakeha fellow-colonists had extended to them one and all; their endeavours to give them equal rights and liberties with the rest of the people of New Zealand ; their recent legislation in relation to public health and local self-govern-ment, &c. He said that the Government of New Zealand confidently hoped that the Native race would grow up a healthy, law-abiding, and noble people, whose industry and probity would become an object-lesson among the great nations, and who would ultimately learn to bless the day that brought them under British rule. He hoped the day was not far distant when ignorance and superstition would vanish from among them as the night vanishes before the day. Wherever he had been—and they must allow he had travelled far, and seen much of the world since he left them—he had found no place where the aboriginals were treated better or more liberally governed than in their own New Zealand. Equal rights, equal laws, equal affection, was the rule not the exception among the Europeans ; why then, he asked, should not the Natives' inherent love of fair play lead them to throw off the yoke of separatism and racial enmity and join hands in making one great people. " Let their people be your people, their God your God." " You sent for me, and I have responded to your call. I have come in my own person, and with the law of your own choosing in my hands ; let me not return empty. Let me carry to far-away Taranaki and the whole of the Maori people the good news that I, Maui, your