13

G.—l

derive benefit from the medical attendance and drugs provided for them by the Government. When the small-pox broke out in Auckland, I received instructions to have as many Natives as possible vaccinated. I found most of them willing to have themselves and their children operated on, provided it were done at their own settlements. As a rule, however, they would not take any trouble themselves to get it done. The following statistics will show that I had considerable success in this matter:— Natives Vaccinated in OpotiJci District, July to December, 1872. Adults. Children. Total. Whakatohea ... ... ... ... 202 144 346 Whanau Apanui, and Whanau Te Hutu ... 186 62 248 Ngatiawa ... ... ... ... 46 70 116 Ngatipukeko ... ... ... ... 17 28 45 Ngaitai ... ... ... ... 82 83 165 Arawa ... ... ... ... 15 10 25 Vaccinated by Medical Officers at Maraenui") „_ and Whakatane, but not classified ) 1,025 In addition to these a considerable number were vaccinated by the Natives themselves, of which no record was kept. Most of those recorded were performed by the medical officer attached to the Armed Constabulary. In the remote parts of my district, however, from Omaio to Cape Runaway, the medical man, being unable to go so far, I, at the particular request of the Natives, took down lymph and instructed them in vaccinating, myself. The Urewera were to have been visited with this object, but by an accident the supply of lymph failed. I intend, however, to make arrangements for this to be done shortly, and I shall continue to urge the Natives to take advantage of the gratuitous vaccination provided by the Government. Some improvement may be seen in the morals of the Natives. The criminal cases brought before the Eesident Magistrate's Court in which Natives are defendants are few, and in no case has any serious crime been charged against them. Drunkenness certainly prevails to a great extent, especially among the chiefs, but I think there is improvement. In their social habits I fear, however, there is no change. One can only hope that the schools now being established may effect by degrees an alteration for the better. All the tribes, including those lately Hauhaus, now profess Christianity, and indeed seem very anxious for visits from clergymen, there being none who minister to Natives resident in the district. II. — Crops and Native Industries. After the poor harvest last season, lam glad to be able to report an abundant one. Throughout the district the crops of wheat, maize, potatoes, and kumera are above the average. More wheat has been grown than for some years past, and I hope the quantity sown will be further increased next year. In other crops, also, the breadth planted by the Whakatohea and the Whanau a Te Hutu exceeds that of last year. Hira Te Popo's farm, adjacent to the township of Opotiki, has been especially admired by Europeans. Out of the 100 acre reserve allotted him by Government, his small hapu have this year planted about 75 acres in corn, kumera, and potatoes, and were rewarded by large crops. The Whanau a Apanui have been as usual successful in whaling. The Ngatai expended some money in the purchase of lines, &c, for this pursuit, but did not kill any owing probably to their want of skill. The Kahawai fishery, at the mouth of the Motu River, has been as productive as usual, many tons of fish having been caught and cured. 111. — Disposition towards the Government, Political Feeling, Sfc. Last year this district had still Te Kooti's band concealed in the mountains; he however in June last escaped through the various parties who were watching for him into the Waikato, and since then nothing has occurred to disturb the peace of the district. The friendlies at Whakatane have been struck off pay, and have commenced again to depend on peaceful pursuits for their living ; the force at Ohiwa, although not entirely struck off, has been reduced in numbers. The Natives all through the district may now be said to be well affected towards the Government and hostile towards the Kingite faction. Perhaps I should except the Urewera, who are but half won over ; but unless under some strong temptation, I believe they will remain friendly. In December last, a Native named Hoani (a released prisoner), with six others, visited the whole of the coast settlements of the Bay of Plenty, as emissaries from Manuwhiri, Rewi, and the King party. Hoani's ostensible object in coming was to invite the different tribes to a great meeting at Maungatautari; his real one, however, turned out to be to endeavour to stop road-making through Native land, and to declare that Tawhiao had not given up his claim to the confiscated lands, cither here or in the Waikato. This man did not meet with the encouragement he evidently expected ; and it appeared to me that the Whakatohea felt what they told him, that the King had ruined them once, but they would take care that he did not do so again. The King party is at present very unpopular with the Bay of Plenty tribes, and, unless under the temptation of some signal success achieved, I think there is no probability of their again joining it. A rather unusual incident, resulting from the late war, occurred here some months since. A girl about fourteen years old, a daughter of Mokomoko (who was executed for Mr. Volkner's murder), had been taken prisoner by the Arawa, and had been with them about two years. She now claimed the right to return to her tribe, the Whakatohea, and ran away to them. The Arawa claimed her on the ground of conquest and of her being the allotted wife of one of them, and sent a large party to demand her back. At one time I feared the quarrel might have a serious result j but the Arawa,