E—No. 7

Mr. M. Eraser.

No. 11. WELLINGTON. REPORT FROM MR. FRASER, DISTRICT SURVEYOR. Wellington, 20th August, 1861. Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 7th inst., requesting me to furnish a general repjrt on the present state of the Natives in my district, as well a3 sucb other information' as might appear likely to prove useful as data upon which a just opinion may be formed as to the present position of the Native question in this country, for the information of his Excellency Sir George Grey. My having been employed specially in the Wairarapa since my location here, does not permit me to report on the state of affairs ou the West Coast at present. And my having been engaged for the past two months in preparing plans of surveys executed by me during the summer, and furnishing duplicates of them, and other plans to Auckland, does not allow me to enter so much into detail, as if time would have allowed me to have prospected the whole District before reporting ; but what information I have furnished, may, I believe be taken as correct, and I shall do myself the honor of again addressing you when I can glean further information. I hive, &c, Malcolm Fraser, Donald McLean Ksq , Government Surveyor.Chief Commissioner, Auckland. **■ Enclosure 1. The District of Wairarapa, in the Province of Wellington, is occupied by a section of the Nga--tikahuhunu tribe, who are also distributed through the Ahuriri District, as far North as Turanga. Its boundaries are the Rimutaka and Tararua Ranges on the West, a line from the gorge of the Manawatu to Waimatu on the East and South. It contains about 1,200,000 acres. At the time of my appointment as a Surveyor tJ the District, in 1859, the Natives were unaffected by the Waikato King Movemenc. In the middle of that year, however, Ngairo Takatakaputea, a chief residing on the Ruamahanga, having returned with Wi Tako, a chief of Ngatikini, froma visit to Potatau in the Waikato, the new Native policy of self government by Runanga under one head (which in imitation of the English, they called a King) was discussed by them, and to this was connected the anti-land-selling league. Many of them who were unhappily in debt from their own indiscretion, joined the moveiTisnt, in hopes that something might transpire from it to ameliorate their condition. They having been previously, from time to time, possessed of considerable sums of money from the extensive sales of land which had taken place in this district, became comparatively extravagant: their natural indolence prevented them from endeavouring to improve their social condition: while they saw with jealousy the run-holders and settlers (who number about 1500) diurnally amassing and improving their properties. The first Runanga was held at Waihinga, a settlement on the Ruamahanga River, by the supporters of the movement, who at that time (1859) resided chiefly in the neighbourhood at Papawai and Mohiki ; while the Natives at boch extremes of the valley too'c no interest in it. The Natives of Hurunuioringie, a pa at the junction of the Tauheru with the Ruanvihanga River, having individually, though not collectively, attended the Runangas at Papawai and Waihinga, soon joined nearly to a man. Hoera, Wakataha and Ksruuria, Rihia, Hape, were appointed upokos of the Runanga on the East Coast. Manihera te [langitakaiwaho and the majority of his followers joined towards the close of the year. In June and July, 1860, after hostilities had been commenced at Taranaki, great uneasiness appeared to pervade the native mind in this District. Armed though not hostile parties assembled ; one meeting, especially, was held at Papawai, when the presence of about 200 armed natives mounted on horseback occasioned great excitement, though I never imagined itto have been done with any hostile intent, but simply to ascertain and show their strength. The conference at Kohimarama most opportunely took place just subsequent to this : although those chiefs who attended from this district returned individually disappointed in the results of the Conference, as they expected some considerable pecuniary advantage would accrue to those who took part in it. I also consider the secession of the Masterton Natives to the Kicg Movement was accelerated by their not having been successful in obtaining the advances they expected would have been made to them, on the lauds offered lor sale by them at the head of the valley.

26

REPORTS ON THE STATE OF THE NATIVES