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EEPOBT OF THE WAIKATO COMMITTEE.

The Select Committee appointed to " enquire as to the circumstances under which an " attempt was made, in the year 1857, to introduce institutions of Civil government " amongst the Natives of the Waikato district, the practical effects of the same, and "the causes which led to its discontinuance;" have considered the matters to them referred, and have agreed to the following REPORT. Is consequence of the short time which remains before the termination of the present Session, Your Committee are able to do little more than lay before the House the evidence taken by them, and some general conclusions at which they have unanimously arrived. The Evidence deserves serious attention, as relating to a subject of vital importance to the colony, and embracing, with few exceptions, the views of persons best qualified to form a judgment upon it. Your Committee have adopted as the basis of their enquiry, Mr. Fecton's Report and Journal of Proceedings as Resident Magistrate in the Waikato in the years 1857-8, printed amongst the Sessional papers of this Session. The general soundness of the views propounded in this very able paper has not, in the judgment of Your Committee, been impeached. The following is the Colonial Secretary's Official iMinute upon it :— " Referred to the Native Secretary on the 9th October (not returned till the I 7th instant). This is a most valuable and interesting report; very unlike the dry bones, or at most rechauffes, usually submitted. It demonstrates powerfully that the system jointly recommended by the Governor and the Responsible Advisers of the Crown in May last, is calculated to effect that great desideratum (if the Native race is to be preserved and the peace of the Country maintained) the elevation of the mere Maori into a reasoning citizen. Mr. Fenton deserves the highest credit for the judgment and prudence which he has displayed in carrying out His Excellency's instructions communicated to him on the 10th May last. November 18th, 1857." E. VV. Stafford. Amongst other papers laid before them, Your Committee direct the attention of the House to the following, as haviug a special bearing on the matter of their enquiry :— 1. Despatches of the Governor to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, expressing his Excellency's views on the subject of the King movement: dated 9th May, 1857; 23rd September, 1857; 9th November, 1857; 17th June, 1858; 19th August, 1358; and 25th May, 1859; with their respective enclosures. 2. Memoranda by the Native Secretary, Mr. McLean, dated 7th September, and 16th November, 1857. 8. Memoranda by His Excellency's Ministers, dated 6th May, 1857, and 29th September, 1858. 4. A paper on the subject of Civil Institutions for the Natives, submitted by Sir William Martin, late Chief Justice, to Governor Gore Browne in 1859. 5. Papers relating to a very interesting, but unsuccessful, experiment, having for its object the encouragement of the Natives in Waikato in pastoral pursuits, by introducing grass seeds. These papers, with the official Minutes thereon of Ministers, and the Native Secretary's Department, deserve consideration as illustrating the general character of the relations between the two departments, and their method of transacting business. Your Committee have also incorporated with the Evidence, in order to make their Report as "complete as possible, the very able Minutes of the Native Minister, Mr. Richmond, published in the Sessional papers of 1858 and of the present Session, so far as they relate to Native affairs. Your Committee have examined the Minister for Native Affairs, Mr. Richmond; the Native Secretary, Mr. McLean; the Assistant Native Secretary, Mr. Smith; Mr. C. O. Davis, late Interpreter in the Native office; and Mr. Fenton, the late Resident Magistrate at Waikato : the Bishop of New Zealand, Archdeacon Maunsell, the Rev. B. Y. Ashwell (Church of England); an instructive letter was received from the Rev. Mr. Morgan (Church of England), who was personally unable to attend; the Rev. T. Buddie and the Rev. J. Hobbs, (Wesleyan). The Rev. Father Garavel (Roman Catholic) was requested to give evidence, but declined on ecclesiastical grounds. Your Committee also examined Sir William Martin, the late Chief Justice, whose long experience and intimate acquaintance with Native affairs, entitles his opinion to peculiar weight. Your Committee also "examined Wiremu Maehe, Hoani Takurua, Te Whero Haerehuka, Ruka Taurua, Rev. Heta Tarawhiti, Reihana, Hone Wetere, Mohi Te Rongomau, Te Horqhau, Reweti, Taneti, and Hopa, all Chiefs of some importance. At Mr Fenton's suggestion, they examined Mr. Arrnitage, a European settler on the Waikato ; and Waata Kukutai, one of the principal Chiefs of the tribes of the Waikato. At the instance •of Mr. McLean they examined Tamati Ngapora, a very influential Chief, of excellent character, whose views are entitled to great consideration; also Takerei Te Rau, one of the principal Chiefs of Waikato; and Captain Johnstone, Mr. Strauss, and Mr. Marshall, European settlers on the Waikato. Your Committee do not lay any stress on the evidence of these last three. Your Committee have not been able minutely to analyze the valuable mass of evidence thus collected, but they have unanimously arrived at the following conclusions :— They recognize as an undeniable fact, that of recent years, a great movement (attributable to a variety of causes) has been going on amongst the Native people, having for its main object the establishment of some settled authority amongst themselves. This movement is not, in the opinion of your

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