D.— No. 7a

Wellington. The Act under which this officer is appointed, " The Intestate Estates Act, 1865," has, as yet, not been put in operation in this district, no estate having fallen under its provisions. The salary of this officer has not been fixed. He is also Clerk to the District Court, £250 ; Inspector in Bankruptcy, £200; and Deputy Sheriff, without salary. As Curator, he is entitled to 2| per cent, commission on each estate ; 5 per cent, charge is deducted also from eacli estate as a payment to the Revenue. Both deductions are to be paid into the public account. The Curator entered seven pages of copies of letters despatched during this year. NATFVE DEPARTMENT. This Department is conducted under a Minister of the Crown, and consists of the following officers: — Under Secretary, £000. Assistant Secretary, £500. Translator, £2.10. ' Five Clerks, £250, £175, £150, and two at £150. Messenger, £1(10. It includes under its administration the Native Lands Courts, the Compensation Courts (under the New Zealand Settlements Acts), Native Resident Magistrates' Courts, Civil Commissioners, Medical Officers for Natives, Native Education, and Native Eeserves. Ministerial Office. The Under Secretary, under the direction of the Minister, conducts correspondence on Native affairs, and has the supervision of the office. The Assistant Under Secretary deals with Maori letters, in which branch of the business he assists 1 he Under Secretary. The Interpreter translates Maori letters into English, and replies into Maori. He has also charge of the Maori Gazette. One clerk records letters received, of which there were 1049, from the Ist of January to the 31st of May, 1800, and keeps a record of references ; also a record of Native letters, of which there were 232 from the Ist of January to 31st May, 1806; and occasionally copies letters from the Under Secretary's drafts. A clerk copies letters. There were 761 letters entered from the Ist of January to the 31st of May. 1566. The Maori Clerk copies Maori letters, of which there were 109 within the same period ; assists the 1 uterpreter, and acts as a Messenger. A clerk keeps a record of authorities for expenditure, and another of incidental expenditure; and also copies drafts of letters. The clerk who has left the office since our inspection, and whose place has not been filled up, copied enclosures and drafts of papers. Further consideration has confirmed us in the view, expressed in our first Report, that in a short time the correspondence of this office could be conducted in a branch of the Colonial Secretary's office, and that this change, accompanied by- a distribution, to which we shall presently advert, of the business of the Native Department, would effect a large economy, and, in our opinion, tend to the greater efficiency of administration. AYe" propose that judicial correspondence connected with Courts in Native districts, should go through the Judicial Branch of the Colonial Secretary's office; and all correspondence connected with the action of the Native Lands Court and of the Compensation Courts (the latter are only temporary), and with the Beserves, and with Surveys of Native Lands, should be conducted by the Secretary for Crown Lands, who would receive such general or special instructions as he may require from the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. AYe attach much importance to this arrangement of business, and we consider that the present system leads to conflict of authority, uncertainty, confusion, and unnecessary expense. Cmx Commission™*. Auckland—£6oo ; also Judge Compensation Court. Clerk, £200. Translator, £150. Cadet, £109 10s. Tauranga—£soo ; allowed house and firewood. „ " Clerk, £150. Taranaki—£6oo ; Fees its Licensing Officer, allowed £34 10s., Inspector of Native Police-, Commissioner of Native Reserves. Ditto—Clerk, £150 10s. Nelson and Marlborough—£ 100. Total—£27so 10s. We have already in our first Report recommended that these officers should be substituted by Eesident Magistrates. Native Resident Magistrates. Mongonui— Clerk, £150. Eesident Magistrate, Hokianga-— AVaimate — Resident Magistrate, £350. Resident Magistrate, £350. Clerk, £150.

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REPORT OF THE CIVIL