F.—No. 6b

16

FURTHER REPORTS FROM OFFICERS

I took him with me to Parihaka, for the first time on the 18th instant, and, on returning, he told me he should require some medicines, when I requested him to write me a report on the state of health of the Natives and the medicines he required. I enclose herewith a copy of his report, which might bo of some interest to the Government, as it explains the superior condition of Natives who have been alienated from us for a number of years, aa compared with those who have had the privilege of intercourse with Europeans for the same time. I have, Ac, H. Halse, Esq., Assistant Under Secretary, E. Paeeis, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

Enclosure in No. 27. Assistant-Surgeon O'Caekoll to Mr. Paeeis. Sib,— Taranaki, 20th March, 1871. I have the honor to report for your information that, in pursuance of orders, I visited Parihaka, the residence of Tc Whiti, on Friday, the 17th instant. The pa is situated about six miles from the beach, and is about midway to tho mountain (Egmont) from the beach. The position is a naturally strong one, chosen, I should say, for the threefold advantages it has : —Of defence, being surrounded, as all the tracks leading to it are, by dense bush. Of water, having a large stream running through the village. Of wood, being surrounded by rata, pine, rimu, and miro trees, some seventy feet high. It has, however, the disadvantage of being placed in a hollow, which, if the pa were not kept as clean as it is, would engender fever. As the visitant of the pa advances, for a mile before he rises the hillock under which the pa is situated, he finds the track on each side fenced by the well-known Maori pig fence. About ten yarda to the. right is the stream that runs through the village. In all, I should say that about fifty acres wcro either under cultivation, or the undergrowth has been cut in order to commence cultivation. The pa itself is divided into two parts, one-third being on the south-east bank, the remaining twothirds being on the north-west. On the former bank are situated twenty-nine wharcs, on the latter are situated one hundred and twenty-four whares, counting the good substantial cookhouses with which each whare is provided, it being detached. It is the cleanest pa I have ever visited, either in Tauranga, Waikato, or Taranaki. The inhabitants arc the finest race of men I have ever seen in New Zealand. It contains, I am told, one hundred fighting men, seventy women, and upwards of one hundred children. I counted fifty-three children myself in one group. Pigs, potatoes and apples were in abundance ; no peaches, carts, oxen, cows or ploughs. Speaking in my own department, I was glad to find that no cases of syphilis or gonorrhoea were here to be found—the scourge of the civil Maoris of Oeo and Opunake. The prevailing diseases are itch and rheumatism. Scrofula I saw none affected with. I would most earnestly urge the propriety of sending the enclosed quantity of medicine for the relief of the above diseases. I enclose also a list of medicines for patients requiring immediate relief, and for whom I had not tho medicine required with me. I have received a pressing invitation from all to return and visit them again, which I intend to do, subject to your and Major Stapp's approval. I have, &c., 1 P. J. O'Caeeoll, Assistant-Surgeon, Major Parris, Civil Commissioner, Medical Officer in charge Taranaki and New Plymouth. Egmont Districts.

No. 28. Mr. Parbis to the Hon. D. McLean. Sib,— New Plymouth, 10th May, 1871. I have the honor to report, for the information of the Government, that on Friday last I left New Plymouth to go to Mokau, accompanied by Mr. Kelly, M.H.It., and about twenty of our Natives, amongst whom were Hone Pihama, of Oeo, liuakere, of Parihaka, Eopata, Tahana, and lhaia. We stopped at Waiiti on Friday night; and on Saturday morning, before we left, three Natives arrived from Xe Kuiti with a message from Eewi for Ngatitama and Ngatimutunga Natives, warning them to meet him at Mokau next week, when Poutama is to be formally handed over to them. The messengers stated that they were instructed by Eewi to tell the Ngatitama Natives that he wished for the meeting with them not to. take place at the same time as the meeting with himself; for what reason was not tsplained, but in consequence thereof the only one that went with me was the young chief Pamariki. We arrived at Mokau Saturday evening after sunset, and remained on this side of the river for the night. They sent across the river some potatoes for us ; and the next morning they sent across two canoes for us to cross over in ; and on our landing on the other side they fired off some guns, and, according to their custom, a lot of women came out to meet us, and retired before us to a place prepared for our reception. After thu iangi was over^thcy began speaking ; and the purport of all their speeches, except Wetere To Kerei (lterenga), was a friendly welcome. To lterenga entered fully into the question at issue between Tawhiao and the Government. He said that Tawhiao and the King league demanded a discontinuance of road-making, telegraph wires, gold-seeking, and surveying land. That the Government continues to carry those works on, and Tawhiao gives instructions to stop them ; and when the instructions were carried out, those who did it were blamed for the whole, and said to have acted on their own responsibility. That this state of things is the cause of all tho evil works. That is the cause of the trouble at Taupo, at To Aroha, at