"Notes of a meeting at Maramaihoea, Rangitikei, on Monday, the 4th December, 1865. Present—About sixty natives (chiefly Ngatiraukawa), Dr. Featherston, and Mr. Buller.

"His Honor replied at some length. He requested them distinctly to bear in mind that the proposal for the sale of the block came, in the first instance, from the natives, and not from the Commissioner; that on separate occasions the land was offered to him by the several tribes claiming it, as their only means of settling the quarrel; and that ho ultimately, in the name of the Queen, accepted that offer, subject to future terms, to be mutually agreed upon. He came up originally not to treat for the land, but to propose an arbitration of title, and to prevent the effusion of blood between the contending tribes. . . . He made no attempt to induce the natives to surrender their disputed claims to the Crown; he said not one word to them about the sale of the land. He simply endeavoured to adjust an angry dispute which threatened to embroil the district in an inter-tribal war, and he suggested to them a plan, the object of which was not to alienate, but to secure to each tribe its fair share of the land,^* His plan was rejected by the Ngatiapa, who of their own accord offered the land in absolute sale to the Crown. As this offer virtually amounted to a pledge that the tribe would not assert their rights by force of arms, or continue any longer to threaten the peace of the district, he felt bound to accept it. But in so doing he was careful to explain to them that he did not accept the land, but such right or interest as they might hereafter be proved to have in the land.' By so doing he disarmed the Ngatiapa and put an end to the threatened collision. He did not, however, take advantage of this arrangement to force either party to terms. He simply explained to the Ngatiraukawa and Rangitane, at Ihakara's pa, what he had done, warned them against disturbing the peace of the district, and pro- page 47 posed the withholding of all rents till some amicable arrangement had been mutually come to.'