These natives sent to inform me that they did not desire to dispose of their claim, which I now ascertained, by admission of the Wanganui chiefs, to be of greater extent than anticipated.

On the 17th I visited Kai Iwi, having sent a message to the natives expecting to meet me up the Wanganui, that I should see them after I had settled and walked round the north-eastern boundary.

The objections by the Kai Iwi natives to the disposal of their land were, that they as a distinct tribe, possessing a distinct claim, were not bound to confirm the sale by the Wanganui natives, or recognize imaginary boundaries on maps which in any way interfered with their rights, without their knowledge or sanction.

This party were evidently actuated by strong feelings of jealousy toward the Wanganui tribes, which I endeavoured to remove, and convinced them that a settlement of their claims and disputed boundaries (which I had given them an early opportunity of arranging, by sending eighty miles to invite them), would be the surest means of extinguishing their long pending animosities, and of ultimately introducing Europeans to live on the lands they were desired to part with; who would promote peace and harmony, and confer lasting benefits on themselves and their posterity.

Having succeeded in bringing these natives to an understanding respecting their claims, I requested the most influential to accompany me to witness the cutting of the north-east boundary line, while the others should go on to Wanganui, where I had advised the natives to entertain them in a friendly manner until my return.

While engaged on this boundary, which occupied some days, natives were arriving from different parts of the coast, some of whom had travelled day and night to oppose the boundary; this opposition was, however, overcome, and the opposing natives induced to form an accession to our working party.

I despatched a native policeman to request the Tunuhaere natives to meet me, that they might have the boundary explained to them; a party of them did so on the day I got into their district; they expressed their satisfaction at meeting us, and assured me that they fully understood the boundary as represented to them by Mr. Wills and myself, that it was therefore quite unnecessary to cut any further, as some of them had, in one thousand eight hundred and forty six, accompanied Mr. White, the surveyor, to the termination of the inland boundary, and perfectly understood where the line we were cutting would join Mr. White’s.

At Tunuhaere I met with a cordial welcome, large quantities of food being provided for our party. The chief and several influential representatives from other tribes who came there to meet me spoke in a most favourable and decided manner about parting with their land to the Europeans.

From this place I took a canoe down the river, calling in my way at Waipakura reserve, where I found Pehi Turoa, Ngapara, and Hamarama, the principal chiefs (excepting Mamaku), who were engaged in hostilities against the Europeans, and whose claims I had been instructed to take into consideration.

These chiefs appeared less decided about parting with their land than those of Tunuhaere; they, however, agreed to have a conference with me on the subject, on any day I should appoint, objecting, at the same time, to enter into any negotiation in concert with the Putiki tribes, as a feeling of enmity existed between them, and no reconciliation had taken place since the late war.

I informed the chiefs of this party that all the other tribes with whom I had been negotiating promised to make up their differences, and unite in a friendly spirit to dispose of their claims, therefore I did not expect that they, as chiefs, would allow petty animosities to influence them against doing the same.

In my visits to the different tribes, which were now completed, I took every pains in instructing them as to the binding nature, on themselves and their posterity, of the engagements they were entering into respecting the transfer of their land.

My intimation of having a minute and public investigation of claims, induced many of the principal chiefs to moderate their exclusive ideas on this subject, and to admit the equitable rights of others, as well as of the members of their respective tribes, to participate in the compensation: I was therefore enabled before convening a public meeting to obtain a more accurate knowledge of the several claimants, and of the extent of land owned by them individually and collectively.

To afford the natives every opportunity of adducing their claims and of fully reflecting on the engagements they were entering into, I gave timely notice that I should hold three public meetings, namely, on the twenty-sixth, twenty-seventh, and twenty-ninth days of May.

On the twenty-sixth the several tribes and claimants, to the number of about six hundred, assembled. The natives appeared fully impressed with the importance of this meeting, which was attended with more than usual native pomp and ceremony.

The elder men were dressed in their best dog-skin and kaitaka mats, some of them had their heads decorated with Huia and Kotuku feathers, not neglecting their Meri panamas, and every other ancient emblem of chieftainship, by which they could distinguish themselves; the younger chiefs and members of tribes were generally dressed in the best European garments they could procure for the occasion.