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until they can entertain their friends. In contemplating a meeting, the first question asked is, where is the food to come from ? The public therefore should not think it unreasonable that ihe Government, in meeting the Natives, have found it necessary to adopt Native custom, providing them to some extent with food for the occasion; nor does it deserve on that jiccount to be denominated a flour and sugai- policy- It is nothing moie than supplying them with food for services performed; being called by the Government to meet them on business, having perhaps to travel 50 or 60 miles, it does appear unreasonable to expect such a service from a Native at his own expense. Although the getting up of a Runanga is a very expensive .-sffair, and only to be accomplishad by influential chiefs, yet such is the importance attached to it, and the honor connected with it, that they will sacrifice everything, plunge themselves into debt, and almost famish their people for the attainment of this object: objectionable therefore as they are, they require grave consideration. The disposition of the Natives to break up into small communities, claiming for themselves independent action, control, and management of their own local affairs, though inconvenient, is yet obvious, and will (unless carefully watched and provided for) render the complete organization of the district difficult, if not impossible. The object, however, to be obtained by centralization appears so paramount, not only for the sake of unity and co-operation, but also for economy, that it appears to me that no amount of labour should be spared to accomplish this object; and to secure which, the District Runanga has been made the foundation of the Native policy. Had I commenced by formirjg Village Runangas, I should have despaired of ever having it in my power to have formed a District Runanga; but, having accomplished this object, I am confident of the other. While, however, the Village Runanga is in existence, and it will be so as long as Native custom continues, they need not be lost sight of, and if they cannot be so beneficially vised as might be desired the mischievous tendency may in a great measure be counteracted by making it to work in harmony with the District Runanga ; by giving it a measure of self-government, through the chiefs of District Runangas and Magistrate of the Hundred, who will be appointed to preside at all Village Runangas, and through them the Runanga may be convened. After this digression, I will proceed to notice the powers claimed and exercised by the small or Village Runanga. They are great, extending over all local matters affecting the Hapu over whom they claim jurisdiction. They are as follows: — Jurisdiction on all cases brought before them, civil or criminal. They determine when and what fences are to be put up lo secure crops. Upon what land and upon what terms pigs are to be kept about a settlement. Selling land, when, and at what rate. Executive powers:— Exacting payment by Tauas. Banishing refractory Natives from Villages. Levying money for surveys or any public works. With these powers, and with no two Runangas alike—at one time making regulations, at another neutralizing them; an Executive with no definite rules to govern it; exacting payment guided by partiality and the extent of a man's property instead of the extent of his crime; governed by love of plunder and covetousness ; shows them to be a formidable heterogeneous mass without order, and always in difficulties; to reduce this chaos to order so as to harmonize with the Magistrates' Courts, requires not only tact, but persevering efforts, time, and patience. With these general observations, I will close this letter, purposing in my next to confine my remarks to the Minutes of the District Runanga which will accompany it. I have, &c, George Clarke, Civil Commissioner. The Hon. the Native Minister, Auckland,

No. S. REPOKT BY ME. TUKTON ON FENCING ANP CATTLE TRESPASS IN NATIVE DISTRICTS. Auckland, December 3rd, 1861. Sir, — have to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 1 Gth ultimo, in which you state that, with reference to the subject of fencing and cattle trespass in Native districts adverted to by me, you are directed to request that I will at once furnish the Government with such suggestions as my experience in so many parts of the country may enable me to make, as to the plan that should be adopted to remedy existing evils. I quote from your letter thus at length, as an excuse for any observation which I might otherwise he considered presumptuous in making. First, as to the evil itself. The subject of cattle trespass, in Native districts, naturally divides itself into two partg. Ist, as to cultivations which are said or supposed to be fenced; and 2nd, as to the cultivated and waste lands ■which are altogether unf'enced. The frequent recurrence of trespass, as amongst themselves, was a standing trouble to the Maoris long before the colonists occupied the country; but that was chiefly

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RESPECTING MAORI RUNANGAS, &c.