G.— l

12

Te Waimana road, is now being formed under the Public Works Department by the surrendered Urewera. The w-ork was allotted by me as follows: —2j miles to Hemi Kakitu ; 2 miles to Eakuraku ; and 4£ miles to Tamaikowha. When I visited Te Waimana a few days since, I found that each of these parties have completed a considerable portion of their several contracts ; altogether about five and a half miles being finished. Considerable difficulty and delay was incurred from Tamaikowha's unwillingness to undertake the work ; but although I told him that (being through confiscated land) the work would, if not done by him, be given to some other Natives or to Europeans, yet I refrained from recommending this to be done hastily, as I was of opinion that he would at last undertake it if repeatedly urged, and the event has justified this expectation. Tamaikowha expressed to me his wish that some of the Europeans to whom the land in the Waimana Valley belongs might be induced to reside there when the road is finished. I fear that the Government have no good land left there. If they had, the advantages of a special settlement there, more particularly if established with the consent of the Natives, are obvious. I have, &c, Herbert W. Brabant, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Eesident Magistrate.

No. 12. The Eesident Magistrate, Opotiki, to the Hon. the Native Minister. Sir,— Opotiki, Bth May, 1873. I have the honor to report for your information that a Native meeting, called by Wiremu Maihi, Hori Karaka, and others, took place at Ohiwa, on the 22nd ultimo, and following days. In addition to the Arawa stationed there, there were present 150 of the Ngatirangiwewehi and Ngatipikiao hapus, under Petara Te Pukuatua ; also 60 of the Whanau a Apanui, under Te Tatana and Hoani; 150 or more of the different hapus of the Whakatohea, and sundry Natives from Whakatane and other places. The primary occasion of this gathering was the removal of the bones of certain chiefs of the Arawa to Puhirua in the Eotorua district; the remains being those of Hakaraia Makiha, who was killed by Kemp's party in 1870, in the Waioeka Gorge, and whose bones were brought down from there by Wi Maihi last year ; those of Hetaraka, son of Wi Maihi, who was killed by Hauhaus some years since; besides those of other chiefs. The subjects discussed at this meeting were —1. The road from Taupo to Cambridge ; the meeting agreeing that the Ngatiraukawa and the Arawa were the only tribes entitled to veto this road, and that the Arawa could and would put it through in spite of tho " King," if the Government wished. 2. Tho proposed " Native Councils Act." The Act was approved of by all; the only questions discussed being the division of the coast into districts, the effect of such division, &c. 3. The only other subject discussed Mas that the meeting generally promised to support Wiremu Maihi at the next election as a Member for the Native District in opposition to a candidate from the Ngatiporou, or some other of the East Coast tribes. The Eotorua Arawas have since gone on to Cape Eunaway, to visit the different tribes on the coast. I have, &c, Herbert W. Brabant, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Eesident Magistrate.

No. 13. The Eesident Magistrate, Opotiki, to the Under Secretary, Native Department. Sir,— Opotiki, 23rd May, 1873. Eeferring to your circular No. 3, instructing me to send in the usual annual report before April 30th, I have the honor to explain that the circular did not reach me till the second week in May, just as I was leaving for Maketu on duty. I have forwarded it at the earliest possible moment. Eeport on the State of Native Affairs in the Opotiki District. In accordance with your instructions, I have the honor to submit the 'following report on Native affairs in the Opotiki District from the date of my last general report in June last to the present time. I.— Condition of the Natives : Physical and Moral. During the year I have visited all the tribes in my district, and have been able to make myself better acquainted with the persons and dispositions of the various chiefs than I was last year. It is difficult in the absence of statistics to speak with certainty, but I am of opinion that the Bay of Plenty tribes are slowly increasing in numbers, and that the births are considerably in excess of the deaths. There are few children as compared with the offspring of Europeans, but those born appear to thrive, and as the Natives, being well off, are ablo to give them a good deal of European food, they are better nurtured than those in some districts. The Natives have suffered from no epidemic during tho past year, aud the deaths have been few ; the only ones of any note who have died being Hohaia and Mita, of Whakatane. The Natives generally show a great desire for the services of European doctors in their illnesses, and I doubt not