19

G.—l

Maka, was handed over for school purposes, the expense of altering and repairing being borne by the Government. The master, Mr. T. Lewis, who is ably assisted by Miss Lewis, his daughter, reports very favourably of the attendance and progress of his pupils. The average daily attendance is about twenty-five, besides a class for young men in the evening. I noticed after the school had been in working operation one month a marked improvement in the appearance of the children, all of them having on decent clothes, and faces and hands clean. As neither Mr. nor Miss Lewis know a word of Maori, the pupils are of necessity obliged to try and speak in English. Preliminary meetings for the establishment of Native schools have been held at Putiki, Whanganu and at Kaipo, Waitotara. Before the end of this year I hope to have schools at both the above places. I have, &c, G. S. Cooper, Esq., Under Secretary, Wellington. James Booth, B.M.

No. 19. Tbe Resident Magistrate, Upper "Whanganui, to the Under Secretary, Native Department. Sir, — Native Office, Whanganui, 10th May, 1873. I have tho honor, in accordance with the direction of the Hon. the Native Minister, as contained in your circular letter of 27th March last, to furnish the following report on the state of Native affairs in my district. Firstly, "As to the state of Native feeling generally," lam again able to report favourably. lam not aware of any circumstance having arisen to weaken the feeling of confidence and friendship on the part of the Natives towards the Europeans during the past year, such feeling having rather increased than otherwise, owing to the friendly relations that continue to exist between the two races, and owing to the increased knowledge derived by the Natives in their frequent intercourse with the Europeans, thereby tending to secure a permanent state of tranquillity in these parts. A greater disposition has been manifested by the Natives to refer their differences to European Courts for adjustment, including several serious land disputes (which are of frequent occurrence) ; and as respects my own Court, no difficulty has been experienced in enforcing the law, through the instrumentality of the Native Assessors, a highly useful and influential body of men. A disturbing element that formerly existed, namely, the enforced banishment of the Ngatihine and Ngarauru Tribes from their homes in the Patea and Waitotara country does not nqw happily exist, said difficulty having been satisfactorily arranged by the judicious management of tho Hon. the Native Minister, with the terms of which arrangement the Natives of my district have expressed much satisfaction. Many of these Natives were living with their Whanganui friends and relatives at different settlements on the river, and the fact of their being allowed to re-occupy a portion of their ancestral homes has been the means of preventing disaffection amongst themselves and family connections, and will operate favourably in helping to secure a permanent state of peace and quietness in these districts. A further step has been taken towards securing the settlement of the Native difficulty, by enlisting on the side of peace and good government the services of the powerful chief Mamaku, of the Tuhua country, and his tribe, such result having been brought about during the late visit of the Native Minister to Whanganui, Te Mamaku having long previously sought an interview with Mr. McLean, which meeting was gratifying to both parties, and said chief has now returned to the interior, imbued with feelings of friendship and goodwill towards the Government and Europeans generally ; and I can safely affirm that he will in future be found to prove himself a staunch supporter of the Government, and that he will exert a powerful influence for good. Such men as Te Mamaku, Pehi, and Tahana Turoa, and others, chiefs of rank and power when maoridom held sway in the country, having now given in their adherence to the Government, is a matter of much importance, and will go a long way towards weakening and breaking up those hostile combinations now so difficult to counteract or in any way control. Said chiefs have still a name and influence throughout this Island, and much good may be effected through their instrumentality. I would here take occasion to mention the good effect produced by the example shown by Major Kernp —a truly loyal chief, and a worthy representative of his late uncle, George, King Te A nana, — (the former Tamati Waaka of the South), more particularly in the course pursued by him with respect to the settlement of land disputes as between his people and the Ngatiraukawa Tribes ; Kemp having given it out that he would look to the law, and to the law alone, for a redress and settlement of said outstanding and serious differences, which have now disturbed the Maori mind for a number of years, and which expressed determination has had a good effect upon the Natives generally in these parts, who are now much more likely to refer their local land disputes to the Land Court for adjustment, instead of having recourse to fighting as a means of redress, in accordance with the practices of their forefathers; and lam of opinion that more frequent sittings of said Court at Whanganui would, upon the whole, be attended with beneficial results, and give greater satisfaction to the Natives. The system of Native Councils in connection with the settlement of Maori titles to land might also be beneficially introduced, the Natives for the most part having expressed themselves as being much pleased with the intent and meaning of the Act introduced at last sittings of Parliament, which would have provided the machinery requisite for affording the Natives a further and more effectual means of adjusting many of their differences and disputes (particularly land quarrels) in a manner satisfactory to themselves and without the risk of future complications. I am not aware of the existence of any disturbing influence iv these parts at the present time, as most outstanding claims and matters of complaint have been arranged by the Hon. the Native 3—G. 1.