PAPERS RELATIVE TO NATIVE ASSESSORS.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1861 Session I, E-03i

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PAPERS RELATIVE TO NATIVE ASSESSORS.

PRESENTED TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BY COMMAND OF HIS EXCELLENCY JULY Bth, 1861. '

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No. 1. Resident Magistrate's Court, Mongonui, January 31, 1861. Sir,— In accordance with the request contained in your letter of the 21st of January, 1861, No. 23, I have the honor to forward herewith a list of the Chiefs at present acting as Assessors in this District, as reported in my letter of February 3rd, 1860, with the salary I would propose to give each. I would suggest that the Resident Magistrate should have authority to call upon any of the Assessors to accompany him on circuit occasionally, giving them extra pay and travelling allowance whilst so employed. In this way a greater intimacy would arise between the Assessors and the Magistrate. He would be made acquainted on the road with many things, which he can only arrive at after much labour and difficulty. And some of the Assessors who display a greater aptitude than others, would, by visiting other places with the Magistrates, be more likely to improve. There are some of the Assessors who in this way would be very valuable. I should prefer to select one man from the number to be attached to the Resident Magistrate, but under such circumstances it would be necessary to give him a salary sufficient to support him, the Magistrate having authority to appoint and dismiss as he sees occasion. And I could not recommend less than (£6O) Sixty Pounds per annum and travelling allowance. In the list of Assessors with the pay I would recommend to each, I have shown two columns, one the pay for last year's services, the other, the proposed pay for the year 1861. This last of course would be likely to be modified. Those who do not exert themselves should not receive the full amount against their names. I hope the apparent large amount will not influence the Government in the matter, as I feel assured that it will not only be a real saving, by preventing perhaps unforeseen expenditure, but will be of great advantage to the Native population, by making the Chiefs more responsible for their acts to that power which it is not only our duty to cause them to submit to, but the only means by which the Native race can be preserved. I have, &c, The Native Secretary, W. B. White, &c., &c, &c. Resident Magistrate.

Enclosure in No. 1. 1861. LIST OF NATIVE ASSESSORS ACTING IN THE DISTRICT OF MONGONUI.

W. B. White, Resident Magistrate's Court, Resident Magistrate. Mongonui, January 31st, 1861.

PAPERS RELATIVE TO NATIVE ASSESSOBS,

Name. Eesidence. Qualifications. Pay for Service in 1860. Proposed Payment for"l861. Puhipi Te Repi Waaka Rangaaunu Wiremu Kingi Rangaaihi Penetiti Te Huhu Popota Te Waha Reihana Te Morenui ... Tipene Te Taha Pororua Warekauri Hare Hongi Ika... Heki TIruroa Ahipara Do Do Do Mangatcte ... Parapara Waikainga ... Kohimaru Wangaroa ... Do Head Chief of Northern tribe Very intelligent, much influence ... Very sensible Do Chief of Kaitoti Most intelligent and clever... Very promising intelligent Chief Clever Chief, \but dissipated A head Ngapuhi Chief ... A very influential Chief, but he has kept aloof from the business of the Court. I hope to overcome his objections this year ... ... Very sensible, promising Chief Very clever men, and by far the most zealous and active Assessors, but Chiefs of , Ngatiura, a beaten tribe. The influence they have acquired has been principally by the wisdom and firmness of their acts. £ 15 10 8 8 8 5 8 5 5 £ 20 15 10 10 10 10 10 ia 10 PaoraUruroa Heremaia Te Ara Naihi Kotohike } Do Do ) Do J 0 8 10 10 10 10 IS 15 £100 £155

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PAPERS RELATIVE TO

No. 2. ME. TURTON TO THE NATIVE SECRETARY. Wellington, 17th January, 1861. Sir,— Having now been again through my District, I am enabled to make a few remarks and suggestions on the subject of Native Assessors, as lately requested by the Honorable the Native Minister. In the first place, I beg to draw His Excellency's attention to the enclosed list of those Chiefs who have hitherto been officially recognized by the Eesident Magistrates and the Government as the Assessors of this circuit. They are eighteen in number, and as I am now pretty well acquainted with each, I should not like a single name to be struck out. Nepia, Te lioia, Taringa Kuri and Wi Tako are (at least in a great measure) Maori Kingites, but then we cannot rule the people without them ; and to cancel their names before they have (in Native estimation) committed any overt act against the Crown, would only be to fix them more permanently in their new and bad position. But though I would have their names published with the rest, to save them from disgrace, yet no salary should be paid to any of them who might refuse to act. And eventually, in more peaceable times, it would bo well to Gazette their dismissal or retirement from office in the same formal manner as with European Magistrates. Let them resign if they think proper, and be registered accordingly ; but to allow delinquent Assessors " silently to drop," without public notice, would have a bad effect on the people, and especially on the corps itself. Mere local excitement, however great, occasioned by such a step, would be as healthy as harmless : it has ever been the practice of the churches with their Native Ministry, and the certainty of its application would be beneficial to every one. 2. As to the amount of salary to be given to these Assessors, that is a financial question which only the Government can decide. But I hope the principle of uniformity will be adopted in reference to each class, whether full and accredited Officers, or merely Probationers. I have long seen that the opposite course excites the worst feelings of jealousy amongst those who ought to be of one mind ; but let every class carry its own salary, without respect of persons, and then we avoid all cause of offence. 3. I think that perhaps three classes would be sufficient, for the simpler the scheme the better. (1.) That of pupils, or " akongas," as they should be called, consisting of such young men, (a limited number) ar> have gained the highest repute in working their own Kunanga. These should be taught by the District Magistrate, as far as possible, like any other scholars, and should be required to attend in their own places at every periodical sitting of the court, and might be made useful in subordinate capacities. These disciples should receive no pay whatever, being taught that, so far, the benefit is all their own. Under these terms, perhaps one year, as a rule, would be enough either to raise them to a higher position, or to reject them altogether, as unfit. (2.) The class of Probationers, or those on trial, comprised of those only who have been advanced from the class below. They would bo called by the Natives the " Tuarua," (the second) as the chief Assessors are called the " Tuatahi," (or first.) These might receive five pounds (£5) per annum ; or one half, or any other fixed proportion of the higher rate ; only that they should each receive alike, whether "rangatira" or "tutua," such distinctions being there unknown. Their duties (for the present at least) should be like those of the upper order; and their right of speech, voting, &c, should not be less, since they will, in fact, be the more intelligent of the two, and as such, will command the greatest influence. And from this class the vacancies of the other will be recruited, or its numbers enlarged whenever necessary. (3.) The class of fully accredited Assessors, consisting of all those who are acknowledged by the Government as such at the present time, and who are already so numerous that even at Ten pounds (£10) per head, the aggregate sum will be rather startling. This class is very properly made up of the most experienced or best born of the Chieftains of every primary Tribe, and therefore cannot with advantage bo curtailed. And yet it must never be overlooked that, under the new Maori regime, the chief internal governing power has been assumed, and is now being exercised almost everywhere, by the younger and more energetic of the Chiefs. So that, whilst the others are retained, these must in some manner be provided for, or otherwise all our attempts at guidance or restraint will be but as labor lost. 4. From the above it will follow that the position of Assessor must of necessity be held rather as an honorary distinction than otherwise, since no funds at the command of Government would be at all sufficient for the satisfactory remuneration of these men. But the real power possessed by so many who are grasping for it, would bo so extensive and tangible, as in a short time to overcome all disappointments arising from this source. 5. To effect this, some distinctive mark or symbol would require to be adopted. That already conferred, in the shape of clothing or uniform, seems rather to excite the ridicule than the respect of the people, besides being so very expensive, and opposed to the ordinary dress of the individual Whereas a simple staff or baton, so marked as to distinguish the class, whether first or second, and so portable (not above 18 inches long) as to be carried about, or hung up in court, as occasion might require, would be quite sufficient for the purpose, and more in accordance with Native ideas of self-importance. All commissions should likewise be duly forwarded from the seat of Government, and signed by His Excellency's own hand. These should be written on parchment, and not on paper, and with the Crown seal attached, and made returnable to the office on the demise or removal of the party in possession.

NATIVE ASSESSORS.

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There should also be a kind of public installation by the District Magistrate, of every Assessor so appointed. Without something of the kind here indicated, it will be difficult to convince the people of what is meant by "honorary distinction;" whereas its adoption, if seriously performed, would be a flattering appeal to their strongest of feelings, and would hardly fail of success. 6. I think that all salaries should be paid to them quarterly, at their own places, and by the District Magistrate. 7. The mode of appointment to the several grades of office is the only other subject to which. I need refer at present. Although the principle of election is adopted by the Natives in several respects (though not extensively) I should not like to see it applied in the present case, except under the strictest guard. I would therefore suggest some such scheme as the following, viz.: (1.) That the "akonga," or pupil class be elected by the male adults of the tribe, on the nomination of the District Magistrate. (2.) On the expiry of their term (whatever it be), that each name be submitted to the same body, but that three-fourths of the votes shall be required to secure the election of any candidate to the second or probationary class. (3.) That the vacancies in the first class be supplied from amongst the probationers, on election by themselves. That all voting be by ballot, and that the successful names of either class be at once forwarded to the Governor for appointment, and commissions be issued accordingly. Such a plan would, I think, contain sufficient checks against abuse; it would probably secure the submission of the people; it might in some measure restrain them from Kingism; and it would safely introduce, or rather extend, the elective principle (already acknowledged by us) into almost the only form of Government for which this people are at present adapted. The choice of Assessors, allowed them as Arbitrators by the Resident Magistrate's Ordinance is full of difficulty in its working and very unsatisfactory in its results in most of the cases in which it is adopted. In this District the Natives declaim against it severely, as a mere sham and nullity of justice, and some of the Assessors themselves boldly tell mo that they are generally actuated by motives of friendship, &c, in the decisions they give. And hence it is, that so many prefer the European Magistrate solely as their Judge. I have, &c, H. Hanson Turton, District Magistrate. The Native Secretary, Auckland.

Enclosure in No. 2. ASSESSORS IN WELLINGTON DISTRICT.

Name. Residence. Tribe. 1 Taringa Kuri 2 TeRiraPorutu 3 Honihona Te Puni 4 Mauihera Ngatoro 5 Hemi Parai 6 Hohepa Tamaihengia 7 Ropata TJrumutu 8 Wi Tako 9 Wiremu Tatneliana .0 Wiremu Tamehana Te Rauparaha... .1 Mateno To Whiwhi 2 Hukiki Te Ahukaramu 3 Horomona Toremi 4 Te Hoia 5 Ihakara Tokouui 6 Hori Tβ Waharoa 7 Nepia Taratoa Eangitikei .8 Ropiha Moturoa Upper Hutt Middle Hutt Lower Hutt (Pitone) Wellington (Ngauranga) Do. (TeAro) Porirua Wainui Waikanae Do ,... Otaki Do Do Do Porotawhao Manawatu... Do Do Whareroa Ngatiawa. Do. Do. Taranaki. Ngatitoa. Do. Ngatiawa. Do. Ngatitoa. Ngatiraukawa. Do. Do. Ngatihuia. Ngatiraukawa. Do. Do. Ngatiawa.

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PAPERS RELATIVE TO NATIVE ASSESSORS.

No. 3. MEMORANDUM BT THE ASSISTANT NATIVE SECRETARY. Submitted for the consideration of His Excellency's Government. I concur generally in Mr. Turton's suggestions. The division of the Assessors into three classes appears to me a good arrangement. As regards the mode of appointment, lam disposed to think that it would be better to let the first class only be elected as proposed, by the tribe, on the nomination of the Magistrate. The second class, or probationers, should be selected from the rauks of the first by the full Assessors and the Magistrate, without election. The full Assessor should receive his appointment only on the recommendation of the Magistrate. I object to the vote by ballot, as unsuited to the character of the Maori people. I concur with Mr. Turton in thinking that the remuneration of Assessors should be upon a uniform scale, though it may be necessary to grant an extra allowance in some cases to cover expenses incident to the position of an Assessor, which vary in different places. I think no full Assessor should receive less than £20 per annum, nor should the probationers, if paid salaries at all, receive less than £10. Salaries should be paid through the Magistrate, whose certificate that the recipient had discharged the duties of his office, shouldl)e required before the salary could be drawn. I think commissions and batons should be given to the full Assessors only, to whom the Probationers would act as deputies as occasion might require, the symbol of office being borne by the latter when acting under the authority of his superior. Thomas H. Smith. April 13, 1861.

No. 4. MEMORANDUM BY MR. WARDELL. In reference to the appointment of Native Assessors, I submit the following list of names of Chiefs who I consider eligible for the office, viz.:— Te Manihera, Ngatuere, Wi Potangaroa, of Castle Point, Raniera Te Iho, of Turanga-nui, Ilemi Te Miha, of Te Kopi, Ihaia Whakamairu, of Masterton. It will be desirable at a future time to appoint two other Assessors, who shall be residents of the coast between Te Kopi and Castle Point, but I am not at present prepared to name those I consider qualified for the office. To each of these I would suggest that the same allowance of, say (£l2 or £15) twelve or fifteen pounds per annum should be made as an acknowledgment of their services, and to cover expenses incidental to their office. In the event of particular service being rendered by any Assessor, I would suggest that it be acknowledged by a present from the Government. This would, I believe, be more gratifying to the Assessors, and would prevent that jealousy which a difference in their annual allowance would be likely to produce. Herbert Wardell, Resident Magistrate. 24th December, 1860.