Major Kemp Te Rangihiwinui.

And now, before dealing with the evidence called by me, I should like to say a word or two about the unique position of my client, Major Kemp-I was very sorry to hear the gentleman who is representing the Crown on this occasion refer to that chief in contemptuous terms, summing up his record thus—" First post-boy—then policeman—then fighting his own people." If Mr. Fraser used this language under instructions from the Government—which I can scarcely believe—then I say it is still more scandalous. Is there discredit to a Maori chief, any more than to an English gentleman, in having been Specially sworn in as a special constable to help to preserve the peace? page 8 Is it not matter of recent history that during the Strike of 1887, when London was almost under mob rule, hundreds of men of fortune-Knights and gentleman, members of Parliament and citizens—came forward voluntarily and were sworn in as special constables ? Has Mr. Fraser never heard how these special constables held Trafalgar Square during the whole of a bitterly cold Sunday morning against the seething mob of rioters? I was there and know all about it is it then a matter of discredit to Major Kemp that as as a young man, in the early days, he volunteered to carry the overland mail, at a time when perhaps any other messenger would have been stopped on the coast and relieved of his burden ? Well might Te Rangimairehas exclaim in surprise, " That is the pakeha side. Who knows of anything wrong in it? He never lost caste with us because of that"' Well, Sir, what is Kemp's subsequent record? It is true that he has been fighting his own people—but in what cause and under whom? Fighting valiantly, Sir, on our side—holding the Queen's commission as Major-and proving, as Sir George Whitmore once said in public, of as much value in his own person as any two hundred ordinary men! He commanded the Native Contingent in several successful expeditions-he was thanked by the Colonial Government—was decorated by His; Excellency the Governor with the New Zealand Cross for personal valour in the presence of the enemy—and finally received from her Majesty the Queen a handsome presentation sword, the blade engraved with the flattering inscription, " Given by Queen Victoria to Te Keeps for his unfailing loyalty and valour." I doubt if there is any Maori chief in the land who has individually done more to maintain law and! order among the people. And, forsooth, because it suits the tactics of the other side, this is the man who is now referred to scoffingly by the agent for the Crown !

Now, let us enquire into Major Kemp's position in relation to the Muaupoko tribe and in regard to the Horowhenua Block. Much has been made of the fact that Kemp has not lived permanently in the district. But, as he told you himself, he is the chief of six tribes, and lives at Wanganui, which is about the centre of his great tribal domaia. His father, Tanguru, lies buried at Horowhenua; and ever since he came to manhood Major Kemp has been the paramount chief of the Muaupoko tribe. The evidence shows that it was he who took the foremost part in the early days in resisting the claims of the Ngati rankawa and Ngatitoa—burning their houses on the Horowhenua Block and turning them out of the district. When the first investigation took place before the Native Land Court in 1873 it was major Kemp who defined the boundaries and took the leading part in proving the Muaupoko title; and when the claims of this tribe had been established, it was in Major Kemp's name as Trustee (under the 17th Section of the Native Lands Act of 1867) that the certificate was issued, the names of 143 other owners being registered by endorsement on the back of that Certificate.