D.—No. 7a.

Wo propose that the Native Circuit Courts should go circuit as frequently and in as large districts as time and business will permit, and that the work done and distances travelled should bo regularly scrutinized in the Ministerial office, so as from time to time to reduce or increase the staff employed as occasion requires. The limitation of the duties we have suggested w-ill enable these alterations to be made without confusion or risk. We append a Return of the business transacted at each of the Resident Magistrates' Courts in tho Native Districts during the Quarter ending March 31, 1806:—

Instead of the variable salaries at present paid to Assessors, a scale should be established, according to which they should be paid only for services performed, on the certificate of the Resident Magistrate or Judge of the Circuit Court. Payments to Natives as Assessors should be carefully separated from payments to Natives as pensioners or as a recognition of loyal services, or for the sake of securing the active co-operation of influential Chiefs. NATIVE POLICE. There are at present 120 Native Constables or Kareres paid by the General Government, under the titles of Kareres and Wardens. The total payment made to them is £1963 per annum. At present these men are totally undisciplined and of little practical use. If their services are retained they should be incorporated in the Constabulary Force which we have already recommended the formation of, but when employed in a civil capacity they need not be armed. NATIVE LANDS COUBTB. The Staff consists of— The Chief Judge ... ... ... ... £800 Four Judges, each £600 ... ... ... ... 2100 One Judge (also Resident Magistrate, £175; Registration Officer, £25; Registrar of Births, Ac, fees to £100; Coroner, fees.) ... ... ... ... 400 £3000 Chief Clerk ... ... ... ... ... 300 Two Clerks, £225, £200 ... ... ... ... 425 Translator ... ... ... ... ... 200 Messenger ... ... ... ... ... 30 955 £1555 This Staff acts also for the Compensation Courts. Tlio number of letters on Native Lands Court business received during the first half of this year was 1052, and 1774 were despatched. On business of the Compensation Court during the same period 349 letters were received and 347 despatched. The Native Lands Court should be relieved of all administrative business. It appears that much of the time of the Chief Judge and of his office staff' is occupied in the transaction of preliminary business, chiefly in respect of the survey of land, as to which the Court seems to undertake some responsibility. With respect to surveys under this Court, we have made some recommendations when reporting 011 the subject of survey, under the Crown Lands Department. AYe suggest that the express intention of the law should be carried out by the promulgation of Rules, provided for by the 14th section of " The Native Lands Act, 1805," and that the survey business should be matter of evidence, as provided by the 25th section, and not a preliminary proceeding under tho extra judicial control of the Chief Judge. This change would occasion economy and expedition, and removo from a judicial office administrative business incompatible with its proper functions. We append a Return of the transactions of the Native Lands Court and Compensation Court.

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SERVICE COMMISSIONERS.

kJ TO - W > "J o o fi -i *< . a to M TO TLACE. v. . s a hH TO PLACE. Waiuku Coromandel Wangarei ... Kaipara Eussell Hokianga ... Maketu Mongonui ... Upper Waikato, Alexandra Central AVaikato Lower AVaikato Baglan Tauranga ... Eotorua 6 15 10 1 10 1 9 35 15 9 12 7 3 3 !) 3 19 o !) 0 ::.-. 21 7 if Taupo Wanganui ... Porirua Otaki Manawatu ... Upper AVanganui AVairarapa ... Chatham Islands AVaipukurau Ngaruroro ... VVairoa Nelson Campbelltown 146 1 20 8 22 106 11 19 11 30 7S 5 19 3 10 102 4