E—No. 9 Sec. II.

No. 18. REPORT BY J. ARMITAGE ESQ, OF A VISIT TO THE NGATIWHAUROA. Resident Magistrate's Office, Lower Waikato, 22nd May, 1862. Sir,— I have the honor to inform you that, in accordance with instructions to that effect, received by me from the Honorable the Colonial Secretary, I proceeded up the Kahumatuku to organize the Runanga, &c., for Ngatitohauroa. On arriving there, I found that Hona, the proposed Assessor, had been suddenly called away to Hauraki, on domestic matters, and that consequently no definite arrangement could be made in his absence. The tribe are still very desirous to have the new Institutions, and I would beg to suggest that the early attention of my successor in office should be drawn to the matter, as I consider their accession a very desirable object. I have, &c, The Honorable James Armitage. the Attorney General.

No. 19. LETTER OF RESIGNATION FROM J. ARMITAGE, ESQ. Resident Magistrate's Office, Lower Waikato, 22nd May, 1862. Sir,— I have the honor to request that you will forward to His Excellency the Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.B., my resignation of the office of Resident Magistrate under "The Resident Magistrate's Ordinance," and under " The Native Circuit Courts Act, 1858," and farther to request that you will signify to me that I am relieved from all further responsibility in respect of these offices. There is a Court to be held at the Kohe Kohe on the 18th of June next, which will require the attendance of a Resident Magistrate there, as there are three cases to be heard then between Native and European. I have also to request your instructions as to papers, &c, in my possession belonging to the Government. My accounts shall be made out and forwarded to you as soon as possible. I have, &c, The Honorable James Armitage. The Attorney General, Auckland.

No. 20. FURTHER REPORT FROM J. ARMITAGE, ESQ., RESPECTING THE NGATIWHAUROA HAPU. Resident Magistrate's Office, Lower Waikato, 4th June, 1862. Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 29th ult., requesting me to carry on the duties of my office until His Excellency the Governor has been communicated with, and in reply beg to state that as I believe my retirement from office at the present time would be prejudicial to or otherwise injuriously affect the success of the new institutions in this District, I shall be happy to comply with your request. The Ngatiwhauroa came to see me last week to enquire the truth or otherwise of my rumoured retirement, and informed me that if correct they should decline accepting the new institutions, as they objected to being placed under Mr. Gorst. I have now sent for Hona, the proposed assessor, who has returned from Hauraki, and will arrange with him for an early meeting to complete the organization of their Runanga. I have also written to W. Te Wheoro respecting the cases to be heard at the Kohe Kohe on the 18th inst., (as to which I wrote to you on the 22nd May ult.,) and have informed him that I will attend there on that day to hear them. From there I purpose proceeding to Taupiri to hear other cases and to arrange as to the Court House, and thence to the Waikato Heads to see about the Ferry Service there, so that my arrangements for this month are completed. It will be necessary in July to take another circuit to the West Coa3t, Whaingaroa, Aotea and Kawhia, but of course I shall await your further instructions in the matter before making any arrangements in respect thereof. I have also the honor to inform you that I have replied to the letter of Hetaraka Nero (forwarded to you on the 26th ult.,) in accordance with my instructions of the 25th of May last. I should reconTmend that he be supplied with the grass seed he has applied for, viz., two bags. I have, &c, The Honorable James Armitage. The Attorney General.

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REPORTS OF OFFICERS