E—No. 9 Sec. II.

No. 9. REPORT BT J. AEMITAGE, ESQ., ON A NATIVE MEETING AT PAETAI. Taupaii, 25th March, I8(J2. Sir,— I have the honor to inform you that the great meeting at Paetai dispersed on the 20th inst., with a peaceable result. The ostensible cause of tliis meeting was a dispute about an eel and fish pa called Te Keapea, alleged to belong from time immemorial to the late Potatnu and now to his son Matutaera, but now claimed by Ngatiwhauroa. The decision arrived at by the meeting was in favor of the former party ; the latter tribe were much disappointed at the result, and sent me a message to say they wished me to delay niy journey for a day in order that they might be admitted within the pale of the Ture. I consented, and waited at home all day on Friday last accordingly ; but it appeared there were ulterior matters to arrange which prevented them from keeping their appointment. On Saturday I started and met them on the river about a mile from my house ; they wished me to return and hfar what they had to say, but other engagements prevented me from acceding to their request, and 1 therefore told them they must either await my return from circuit or see the Government on the subject. Apart from the natural disappointment caused by their failure in substantiating their claim, I believe the Ngatiwhauroa are very desirous to have the benefits of the new institutions extended to them ; and I have already written privately to His Iixcellency on the suuject, at least, so far as concerns Takerei Te Rau, who forms part of them though not of tbe same immediate tribe. I hey are beyond the present boundaries of mv district, and I have nothing further therefore to say than to bring the matter before you. They have threatened to sell to His Excellency a portion of their lands lying near my present residence ; should thcv do so in my absence, I would recommend that the offer be received with very great caution, as I know from my own knowledge there are many conflicting claims on the land in question. i I have the honor to inform you that the officers of the Hundred of the Kohekohe have, with the exception of Tipene Hori Aripata, been duly sworn in and taken the oath of allegiance. I have the same information to convey to you also respecting the officers of the Hundred of Taupaii. If you wish the original oaths of office to be sent to you, you will perhaps instruct me thereon. In accordance with my instructions of the 24th February last, I have purchased four working oten for the use of the Nuatitipa. I am requested by W. P. Kukutai to inform you that he has now eight acres of land ready plouuhed and tilled for grass seed, and to convey his wishes that twenty of the fifty bushels of grass seed already promised him may be forwarded for his use immediately, as the season is advancing. I am informed that the Ngatimaniapoto tribe on the soutli side of Kawhia harbour are anxious to accept the Ture, &c. ; should I find this to be the case on arriving at Kawhia, and should they invite me to see them, I propose, unless I receive instructions from you to the contrary, to go and hear what they have to communicate to me ; but of course I shall make no promise whatever to them connected with this matter. I have read with pleasure in the Karerc Maori of the 13th instant, a circular letter addressed to Native Assessors, containing instructions as to their duties; and I would, iu connection with this subject, wish to call your attention to the fact that the duties of Native Constables, though perhaps not so important, are still of a very onerous and serious nature, and that it would facilitate the duties of the Resident Magistrate if some plain practical directions were drawn, printed and circulated for the use of the Native Constables. I have just had the opportunity of seeing a copy of the Bill called " The Constabulary Force Act, 1862," and in this proposed Bill I find in Schedule B, some most excellent practical directions, which I think might form the basis of some for Native use. If this question has not already engaged your attention, I should be vury glad on hearing from you (o that effect, to submit for your approval some directions, which, iu my .opinion, are adapted to the altered circumstances of Natives. I proceed to the Waikato H»ads this evening or in the morning, and will communicate with you from time to time as occasion may require. I have, &c, James Akmitage, R.M., The Hon H. Sewell, Attorney-General, Lower Waikato. Auckland.

No. 10. EXTRACT FROM REPORT BY J. AUMITAGE, ESQ., AS TO HUNDREDS OF TEAKAU AND TALTARI. Hundred of Teakau. This Hundred extendsalong the seaboard fir forty or fifty miles, the bulk of the population being at each extremity. When Mr. Fen ton and myself were on circuit, the Natives weve very desirous to iiave a Ronanga for each, North and South. A Warden was nominated for the Southern but not completed for the Northern, and in the latter I find no step whatever has been in consequence taken to carry out the Ture, &c. The person proposed for the latter was le WirihanaTe Kapa, who would not accept the

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REPORTS OF OFFICERS: