Meeting between His Excellency the Governor, the Premier, and Mahuta and other Chiefs of the Waikato and other Tribes, at Government House, Auckland, 18th march, 1899.

Among those present were Mahuta Tawhiao, Henare Kaihau, M.H.R., Te Heuheu, Patara te Tuhi, Hori Kukutai, Wirimu Karaka te Aho, Ngatete Karaka te Aho, Muru Paenga, Mita Karaka, Te Aka te Wharakura, Hori Herewini, Tahuna Herangi, Te Rawharitua, Tiki Rahi, Te Arai, Te whena, te Puhi Titoko, Te Wherowhero, Hohua Ruihana, Te Tuata, te Pakuru, Tomopo, Te Hohe, Nanaia, Tohikuru, and the two children of Mahuta, viz., Taipu and Tumate.

His Excellency the Earl of Ranfurly: Friends, Mahuta, and the chiefs, I welcome you to Government House, Auckland. I only wish I was in residence here, so that I might be in a position to entertain you in a fitting manner. I was in residence here, so that I might be in a about here to-day, and I therefore, in welcoming you, invite you to speak freely. I hope to give you my reply in the course of a short time.

Mahuta: Salutations to you, O Governor, who have welcomed us so cordially to Government House. Let me reply that we also welcome the Governor. Welcome on this day the representative of the Queen: welcome to the storehouse of words, the repository of mana; welcome to this diverge from the customs of my ancestors in welcoming you. At a meeting like this I can only use the old sayings and allusions of my forefathers. I am very glad to welcome you here, so that on a voyage to England, and submitted his word on reaching there. That word was returned here, and is now lying in the house of the chiefs. I greet you, the representative of our Mother, the Queen. My heart is full of gladness. Welcome the Governor; welcome his Ministers; welcome those who are in the possession of knowledge. Kia ora te Kawana! (May the Governor live). Long life to the Government and the Ministers.

The Premier: I have looked forward to this meeting for many days. Circumstances transpired which prevented Mahuta and his chiefs from meeting the representative of the Queen, and there have been those who said this meeting would never take place. I am sure it will be for the benefit of both races. All doubts which have existed have now been removed. I have heard from the lips of Mahuta his cordial welcome to the representative of the Queen. My ears tingled, and the sounds were pleasant, when I heard the band belonging to Mahuta to his father paying a visit to England, and going, at great inconvenience to himself, to try and see his Queen, and to pay his homage. It is gladdening to me and all present that the worthy son of so worthy a father should towards her. I know it to be a fact, for I have heard it from the lips of His Excellency, that deep interest is taken in the Maoris by Her Majesty, and that it is her desire that justice should be done to them, and that they should be preserved for their own benefit and the benefit of this country. Enough. The Governor will directly express his wishes, as representative of the Queen, and speak to the chiefs here assembled. Later on we, as Advisers of the Governor, will go into matters of detail, which will be carefully considered. Again I welcome Mahuta, Henare Kaihau, and the other chiefs who are here to-day. I sincerely hope that our Good Father will shower every blessing on you, and that our meeting to-day will be for the good of both races.

His Excellency: Mahuta and the chiefs of the Native race here assembled, again I wish you welcome. I trust that from this out a new era may be established among us, and that the friendship which we should have, living together in these islands as brothers, will be made steadier and stronger. As my Premier has just informed you, you will have an opportunity of placing before him any matters you desire to discuss. I know that he desires in every way to do that which is right and just as regards the laws of the Native race. I know that he is willing in every way to meet your wishes as far as it is possible to do so, but many important matters can alone be dealt with by Parliament, in which you also are represented. Personally, I feel confident that you may rest content that everything you put before him will be fully, fairly, and properly examined and considered, and the best that can be done will be done to further your views. My Ministers are responsible to Parliament, as well as to me as Her Majesty's representative here, and I am responsible to my Sovereign. Her Majesty takes the deepest interest in your race, and she requires to be informed on all matters affecting you. This I make it my duty to do, and for that purpose I have visited a large number of the centres of the Native population. I have visited the Native gatherings whenever it lay in my power, such as that held at Hastings, and recently at Waitangi, thereby showing my interest in your welfare. It will ever be my endeavour to foster the friendship between the pakehas and the Maoris. Even now almost every position in the State is open to your young men. Many of your race are taking an active interest in the affairs of the page break

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The Meeting between His Excellency the Governor (the Earl of Ranfurly), the Premier (the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon), and Mahuta with other Chiefs of the Waikato Tribe, at Government House, Auckland, 18th March, 1899.
First Row (On Grass)—Te Wheua, Te Pakuru, Te Aka te Wharakura, Hori Herewini.
Second Row—Mita Karaka, Henare Kaihau (M.H.R.), Rt. Hon. R. J. Seddon (Premier and Native Minister), Mahuta Tawhiao, Hia Excellency the Governor, Te Tuata, Tihirahi, Te Wherowhero (Brother of Mahuta), Ngatete Karaka te Aho, Te Heuheu (standing).
Third Row,—Te Aral, Hohua Ruihana, Te Puhi Tetoko, Tohi Kuri o Waikato, Puhirawaho, Tonopo, Te Tahuma Herangi (Brother-in-law of Mahuta), Mori Kukutai, Colonei Penton (Commander, N.Z. Forces), Captain Wellesley (A.D.C.), Captain Alexander (Private Secretary to His Excellency the Governor), Hon. C. Hill Trevor (A.D.C.), Hon, J. Carroll (Minister Representing Native Race), Mr. W. Crow (Private Secretary to the Premier), Te Rawhare Kitua, Wirimu Karaka te Aho.
Fourth Row,—Taipu and Tumate (Two Sons of Mahuta), Te Hope, Mr. W. A. Graham, Mateamo Muru Painga, Nanaia, John St. Ciair. Te tutakitange o te Kawana (Rore Ranapare) raua ko te Pirimia (te Raiti Honore Te Hetana), Ki a Mahuta ratou ko etahi o nga Rangatira o te lwl o Waikato, Ki te Whare o te Kawana, Akarana, 18 o Maehe, 1899.

page 81colony, and it is my earnest hope that many more will follow in their footsteps, and endeavour with their pakeha brethren to build up the colony to an even more prosperous condition than it is in at the present time. In conclusion, may I express the great satisfaction I feel at welcoming you, Mahuta, and the other chiefs, here this day. At no distant date I hope to make the acquaintance of many of you in your own district. I trust that during my stay as Her Majesty's representative I may visit every Native district within the colony, and make a personal and friendly acquaintance with all your chiefs.

Mr. Henare Kaihau, M.H.R.: I have only a few words to say at present. All the greetings, all the desire of the heart of the people here represented by these chiefs, are embodied in the expression of Mahuta in tendering you the greetings he did. On my own behalf I wish to make a record on this occasion, that my heart is exceedingly glad of this opportunity occurring for the meeting of your Excellency and Mahuta. As everything has been said that can possibly be said by human voice in regard to the love that should exist and bind our relations from this forward, I will not detain you very much longer. Suffice it to say that I am very glad indeed that your Excellency and your Ministers have so met Mahuta, and have given expression to words which augur a better state of things for the future.

The Premier: I desire to pay a tribute of praise to Mr. Henare Kaihau, M.H.R., for the consideration and earnest desire that be has evinced, and the steps he has taken, to bring about this most satisfactory gathering of the chiefs to-day in order to welcome your Excellency. It had been said that no such meeting would take place; but knowing that the word of Mahuta and his chiefs was given, I felt sure this meeting would take place. As in the days gone by, the words of a chief were respected and adhered to. So on this occasion the words of the chief have been adhered to. The meeting has taken place, and I feel sure good will result from it. I was delighted when I heard His Excellency express to you his intention of meeting the Waikatos in their own home, and making a personal acquaintance with the chiefs and the Native people who are unable to be here to-day. The invitation for that visit was given by Mahuta a long time ago; and had it not been for circumstances over which His Excellency had no control, I know he would have visited the Waikatos some time ago. I will also take this opportunity of thanking Mr. W. A. Graham and Mr. Sinclair for doing their best to bring about this meeting. Convey to Tani Ngakawa—who I regret very much is, owing to ill health, not here to-day—my very best wishes and sincere desire that he will soon be well again.

The chiefs, to the number of about thirty, then entered Government House at the invitation of the Governor. The toast of "The Queen" was proposed by Mahuta, and that of "The Governor" by Henare Kaihau.

His Excellency then proposed the health of Mahuta. He said,—I feel that the friendship started this day will not die. The Bible tells us to live at peace with all men and all races, and all classes in the colony should strive to attain that end. Misunderstandings and difficulties would no doubt arise, but, at a rule, a quiet conversation and explanation would dissipate all that. I look to this meeting as the commencement of a new era, in which all difficulties and misunderstandings will be discussed in a friendly spirit. I trust that the friendship now established between myself and Mahuta and the other chiefs present will not die even when I have left the colony.

Mahuta replied, assuring Lord Ranfurly that though he might leave New Zealand, his memory would live for ever with the Native race.

Mr. Henare Kaihau, M.H.R.: We have finished what was proper for us to do here, but we would like the Premier to fix a time when the Native chiefs may have an opportunity of meeting him, as the head of the Government, on business matters.

The Premier: As I know you are here at considerable inconvenience and expense, I will meet you here at 2 o'clock this afternoon.