E.—No. 4.

old Tower muskets (perfectly useless), an equally ancient tomahawk, and an iron pot. The Runanga is per force compelled to be satisfied ; the man says he won't or can't pay any more, and his friends say he shan't. The Runanga names four horses ; he gives four articles—four and four are equal numbers, and so the matter drops. From what I have said, I think it will be seen then that this is a matter requiring speedy adjustment. At present they will bring the cases before the Magistrates ; but, if discouraged, will as certainly revive the old Maori tikamgm —a very hot-bed of evil. If the offender be fined, he will pay a horse, a cow or so, placing his own value on the animal; for money is a scai'ce article. This is unsatisfactory ; because, if I want to buy a horse, a Maori asks me £20, while the real market value is below £5. I think, at least, the Magistrate should be satisfied that there is some fair equivalent for the amount sterling of the sum demanded by the law, if the offence is to be made punishable by fine. I have, &c, William B. Baker, Resident Magistrate. The Honorable the Attorney-General.

No. 14. RESIDENT MAGISTRATE, EAST CAPE, TO THE HONORABLE THE NATIVE MINISTER. Resident Magistrate's Office, Rangitukia, 1st August, 1862. Sir,— I have the honor to request that I may be authorised to procure a whaleboat, with oars and fittings, for the use of this District. At present, I am frequently inconvenienced, for want of a boat to ship and land mails, or to communicate with vessels which touch off this place. The Natives have none nearer than Te Awanui, five miles distant, and lately some of the evil-disposed among them have prohibited the use of Native boats there, nor will they allow goods to be landed for me by the Europeans, unless I will consent to pay them a high price for the right of landing. This, of course, I have firmly refused to do, as it would form an inconvenient precedent for further extortion. This latter question is quite apart from the desirability of easy and certain communication with vessels in this open roadstead, where they rarely venture to send a boat ashore. The season, too, is rapidly approaching when whalers call for supplies (one is lying off and on this morning); and it will be in the recollection of the Government that an American whaler landed powder near the Cape a few months ago. I would recommend, therefore, that I may be authorised to expend any sum not exceeding (£30) Thirty Pounds for this purpose. I have, <fec, William B. Baker, Resident Magistrate. The Honorable the Minister for Native Affairs.

SECTION IX.—BAY OF PLENTY. No. 1. JAMES FULLOON TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Whakatane, February 13th, 18G2. Sir,— Owing to unavoidable delays in the settlement of the business that I am engaged in, I have not been able to return, so as to be at the Office at the expiration of my leave of absence, but hope His Excellency's Government will be pleased to grant me an extension of leave. I cannot report so favorably as to the present state of the Native feeling from this place to Te Kaha and inland as when I was here last; owing in a great measure to the active correspondence that William Thompson has been keeping with the Natives of this Coast, all tending to keep up a state of excitement and prejudice against the Government, and to cause them to look upon the actions

51

NATIVE AFFAIRS.