G.—l

6

them the desirableness of wheat-growing, the more so as they possess a mill at Ohinemuri, which is doing no one any good at present, and which might be tho means of adding most materially to their comforts. The conduct of the Thames Natives generally in the matter of the fracas between McCaskill and Hoani Pahau, and which resulted in the seriously wounding of the Native with a shot gun, may be taken as evidence of their desire for law and order; as, instead of inflicting a serious bodily injury, and it might have been a fatal one, upon the white man, when they had him down on the ground, the witnesses repaired at once to Shortland, a distance of about fifteen miles, and took the same course which in similar circumstances might have been expected from Englishmen in a European district. And although, upon the acquittal of the prisoner, there was a general outburst of dissatisfaction against our institutions, and a threat expressed that in case a similar attack was made by a white man upon a Native in the out-districts they would take the law into their own hands, it was nothing more than what might have been expected from a more enlightened people. I have, &c, E. W. PtrcaTET, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Native Agent.

No. 6. The Eesident Magistbate, Eaglan, to the Hon. the Native Ministee. Sic,— Eaglan, 22nd April, 1873. Since the report I had the honor to forward to you last June, nothing very particular has happened in or around this district, the most noticeable occurrence being the appearance of the " Luna " in Kawhia Harbour in the beginning of the present month. That visit has rendered it evident that a large and increasing section of the Natives wish to resume trading and friendly relations with the Pakeha, and it is an opinion pretty generally held among us, " that, except distrust be engendered by the Europeans being too eager or by the friendlies being too forward and officious," before very long the harbours of Kawhia and Aotea may be opened again by the wish of the majority of the Natives themselves. I again venture to suggest that employment on the public roads and works would tend more to break down the distinctions of Kingites, Queenites, friendlies, or pakehas, than anything else. The season has been favourable, and the Natives better fed than they were last year. There has been no epidemic, and altogether I may say they have been and are remarkably healthy, but it is a melancholy though undeniable truth that they are decreasing. During the last twelve years the Europeans number at least six births to one death; the proportion among the Maoris is very different in this district. In accordance with your instructions, I have vaccinated very many of the Maoris ; in fact, all I could persuade to submit to it. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. We. Haesant, E.M.

No. 7. Mr. E. S. Bush, Eaglan, to the Hon. the Native Ministee. Sic, — Eesident Magistrate's Office, Eaglan, 14th April, 1873. I have the honor to report, for your information, that I returned from Te Makaka, Aotea, on Saturday evening, where I had gone to be present at a meeting which was being held there for the purpose of an uhunqa, in consequence of the deaths of Kuni, and Mohi Tewara of the Ngatihaua. About fifty of the Ngatihaua from Wharepapa were present, among whom were Wikitoria Te Kanawa (wife of the late Wi Tamihana), her daughter Neta (till lately wife to Tutawhiao, the King's son, her tribe having taken her away in consequence of her husband having taken a second wife), Maiha Ngakuku, Te Timuhura, Karaka, and others ; Kopuera and Te Wharepu, sons of the late Wharepu, of the Ngatinaho Tribe, were also present from Te Kuiti. I attach an account of the speeches, of which only a few were made, Kopuera being the only speaker on the Hauhau side. His speech was a most extraordinary one, the speaker being apparently a very eccentric old man. After the speech-making was over, Kopuera sent for me, and told me not to take any notice of what he said, and that he did not mean it. I asked him what he thought of your visit to Kawhia? He replied that he did not approve or disapprove of it. He was not there: had he been there, he would have insisted upon your going back and into Aotea, so that that harbour might also be opened. He also told me that his expression about three years in his speech, meant either three months or three days. The Hauhaus appeared extremely friendly and well-disposed. So far as I could understand from their demeanour and their conversation, they would all be delighted if the two harbours, Kawhia and Aotea, were opened. I cannot but think that were it not for a little jealousy on the part of Tawhiao, this would be brought about almost immediately ; it is, however, to be hoped that in a short time his reason will have got the better of his jealousy, and that he will concur with the majority of his people, that it is to their advantage to remove all obstacles to the opening of these harbours. The Natives in this district are just recovering from their first surprise at your visit to Kawhia. One and all approve of it, and look upon it as being a severance of one of the last links which has hitherto been a barrier to a permanent peace being established. Tapihana is reported to have said to you " that his sword was now sheathed under your vessel." This speech, coming as it does from one of the most turbulent of the Kingites, must show to the small number of this party that their persistence in isolating them-