E—No. 9 Sec. 11.

Police: Te Wetini Mahikai, Horea £10 Te Wairama, do 10 Henare Ngatai, Rangikahu , 10 Hemi Hapitana, Pukerewa 10 This district extends from Waikato to Whangaroa, and is inhabited solely by one tribe, Ngatitahinga, and the sub-tribe, Tainui. The villages occupy valleys, at average intervals often miles. We had many meetings, and the contention between the villages was great, each desiring to have the Officers. T was obliged to consent to tlie appointment of two Presidents; but I hope that the Governor will disallow the second appointment (Wirihana), and explain to the people that there must be oue Tumuaki, and one only. The three Magistrates are placed one at each end of the district, and the third in the middle at Rangikahu. I recommend that they should receive £20 each, at first ; if the whole £90 is divided amongst them, their salaries will excfed those of tlie junior Magistrates of Taupari, and these latter would be dissatisfied. The Police are fairly sc;ttered amongst the villages. The tract of country comprised in this Hundred is admirably adapted fur sheep-runs; but if so let, the money would not be at the disposal of the Runanga, but would be simply allotted by it to tlie several proprietors.

WllAINGAROA. President, fyc: Salary. Hone Pirihi, Whaingaroa (nominated by W. Nero). Assessors: Hetarake Nero, Whaingaroa £10 Hakopa Te Whare Ngiri, Whaingaroa 30 Police : Hori Pikitia 10 Koniria, Ohiapopoke 10 Te Riru, do 10 Pita, Waiietuna , 10 Mahi, do 10 Piripi, Whaingaroa 10 I am not clear about the judiciousness of Hakopa's appointment as an Assessor, and advise that the Governor should talk with Y\. Nero, who is now in town, on the subject. Pirihi, as President, was nominated by W. Nero, and concurred in by the whole tribe. He is an intelligent young man. Whilst I remember, I will place on record the names of two other men related to this tribe, who live on the Waipa, and who should receive recognition from Government for past services, and be appointed as soon as their districts are recognized :—Molii Te Rongomau, Hemi Matene, and Te Rewiti. Indeed, I am of opinion that two Hundreds might be organized there at once. If Mr. Gorst went to Watawata, and commenced operations there, I think he would be received well. My impression is, that the Natives do not want a Magistrate or laws at Rangiawhia.

I will now call your attention to a few matters that occur to me as deserving your notice. William Nero complains loudly of false statements in the newspaper about him and his people. " A Waitetuna Settler'' has been in the habit of writing scandalous letters to the Southern Cross; the last, and mo9t untrue, accused Nero and his people of shooting cattle. These things are very injurious. Without giving the newspaper an avcrtissement, I think the editors miuht be requested not to insert any letters of this description, until they had made some inquiries. The letter which especially annoyed Nero was, I believe, the production of Mr. Stewart, AI. P. C. Nero also complains of injurious treatment from Capt. Johnstone. Court-houses. The discussions were on the question whether the Natives should entirely build the Court-houses, or the Government build them, and have the land conveyed. I think £50 advanced to the Natives would complete a wooden house; and I advise this course, the site being ceded by the Natives. Nero begged me to tell the Governor that he thought peace would not be desirable if concluded without compensation being got from Ngatiruanui. I promised Tamati Koa Paraone, of Waiparera, Pirongia, that in the event of Mr. Gorst holding a meeting there he would consult with the aforesaid Tamati. Te Ao o te Rangi desires to have a Union Jack to hoist on his hill. I told him that I would tell the Governor. At present, this flag does not fly on the coast, except at Whaingaroa.

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LOWER WAIKATO.