E—No. lc

TO NATIVE AFFAIRS.

but sufficiently to let the people known that he disapproves of it. I hear that Pukewhau and Te Kereihi have both been summoned to town. Previously to this knowledge I directetl them to meet me here on Wednesday. It if inconvenient, this concurrent jurisdiction, without any reference. It must often happen that plans and dates will conflict. In the Customs, and I believe in the Land Purchase Department, references are always matle to the local authority on matters concerning his own district. His knowledge of facts and people must necessarily be greater in bis own district than that of officers resident in town. When the minute of the local officer is matle on a paper, the Governor has, as a rule, the best anel most perfect knowledge that can be obtained on which to found his ultimate decision. If, besides a statement of the facts, an opinion is given by the local officer, it is rejected or accepted as the Governor thinks best; but still the Governor, on one side, knows all, and the local officer is also acquainted with what is going en, and acts accordingly. In this very instance the inconvenience appears. Pukewhau, who ought to go to Auckland, appears before me as a litigant, on Wednesday, or gets his summons dismissed. Moreover the knowledge that the district authorities have a voice with the Governor in local matters, that they can represent to him ths good conduct or misbehaviour of the correspondent, must not only increase their influence, as officers, but to a certain extent, discourage misconduct. I put this clown as a matter well deserving reflection. It is very important, just now especially, that the Governor should have the hest information.* I do not think that the Auckland departments, under the operation ofthe present centralizetl system (it is a French centralization not an English one,) can afford it, for natives do not now tell them the truth in many cases, andin very rare instances do they unfold the whole truth. The local officer gathers correct information, from his private friends amongst the natives, from the native teachers, and the native magistrates, with whom he is on terms of intimacy and confidence, and whose views soon learn to run in the same channel as his own. Why the sole coneluct of all matters should be carried cm in perfect independence ofthe political agents at the out-stations, and as a consequence, sometimes in opposition to their views and acts, it is difficult to see, with the knowledge belore one, that their statements and explanations have never been made. It tends to perpetrate the " mystery of native matters, —which is altogether opposed to the spirit ofthe new movement. If the political department was, as it used to be in Major Nugent's time, distinct from the Land Department the objection would not be so strong, for one great cause of jealousy and consequently of secrecy would be removed, I cannot banish from my thoughts the conviction that considerable part ofthe present uneasy and suspicious tone of the Maori mind, is to be attributed to that unhappy union, and its consequences. The fusion commenced when Major Nugent went to Taranaki; gradually the political department became absorbed in the Land Department, until finally its distinct existence was definitively ended shortly after the last session ofthe General Assembly. I may be wrong in this viexv, but many think with me. In any case the present discouraging state of the Maories tells a sad tale of neglect or mistake somewhere. I use the word " discouraging" in a limited sense, for the present activity ofthe native intellect, although caused by our refusal to govern them, presents a noble opportunity for the assertion of higher principles of action. The chiefs of this place are anxious to see the Governor and tell him their cares. It is well that they should do so, for His Excellency ought to rely on nothing but the best information. The difficulty is, when the Maori gets into the Governor's presence, to induce him to say what he really thinks, fears, and wishes. He wastes the opportunity in generalities. It is the Polynesian politeness which I have before alluded to. If the Governor had an interpreter of his own, free from all connexion xvith any Native officers, the Natives would speak out more freely. At present they have txvo fears, one— to give offence to llis Excellency; the second—to give offence to the Native Department. Sir George Grey always had his own private interpreter ; and Ministers, I respectfully state, made a great mistake in striking that officer fiom the civil list. Many of these reflections, perhaps, should not appear in this journal; but I cannot help thinking that it must be of more use to the persons for whose information I am directed to write, to put doxvn thoughts as they arise, and record events as they pass, rather than to present a castrated edition of daily doings, omitting every thing but ?uch as is sufficient to account for the employment of one's time. I expect the whole of central Waikato here on Wednesday. August 18, Tuesday—Paetai: Pukewhau antl party came to-day. Long conversation with him. Have seen two more letters of Mr. Davis—one was admirable exhortations—the other, if I properly gathered the meaning, injudicious and improper. The one to Te Ngaungau was almost all about religion. Pukewhau wants another man teaching the trade of blacksmith. I discouraged the idea at present on account of Paul, but told him the Governor must decide. The letter to Te Kereihi from Auckland, to whie-h I have alluded, I fine! to be in reply to one which he never wrote, about land. It must be some other man of that name in another district Issued subpoenas for witnesses in Pukewhau's case. The tale they telhabout Ihaka of Pukaki is in this wise:—Having received a letter from the Governor stating that His Excellency proposed to appoint him Native Assessor, he assembled the people, and they went in a body to Potatau, and said "The Governor appoints me a magistrate, but we are unxvilling to recognize him as the source of dignity. You are King, anel if you make me magistrate, I shall stand; if not, there is an end, for you are the source of dignity." To this Potatau gave no reply. This is as Huirama reported the matter here with great delight. He xvill be asking for a loan for his mill soon, even if he has not done so already. Although myself I find this King business a nuisance and an obstruction, I always tell the Maoris it is nothing, anel advise them to take no notice of it; but it forms the leading subject in their evening discussions. Paora Tirua expressed his intention of going to Auckland to tell the Governor his ideas about these matters. It is well that His Excellency should learn these things from the people themselves. I wish they could be taught to speak honestly to him. I hope the Governor xvill approve of my assembling the magistrates and chiefs of assemblies—a declaration of

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