H.—l4a

1873. NEW ZEALAND.

THE NATIVE CONTINGENT, (REPORTS FROM OFFICERS OF.)

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by command of His Excellency. No. 1. Captain Gilbert Mair to the Acting Under Secretary for Defence (per Major Roberts). Sir, — Camp Kaiteriria, 4th June, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter (No. 88-Ib, 28th April, 1873), and beg to forward the following imperfect report of the amount of road work, &c, performed by the Native Contingent under my command during the years 1871-3. From its formation in March, 1870, to the end of 1872, the Native Contingent was constantly employed on expeditions after Te Kooti and scouting the Kaingaroa and Urewera country. Since that period it has been occupied, except when on expedition, Ist. In widening and improving bridle tracks to Taupo, Niho ote Kiore, Paeroa, Te Teko, Fort Galatea, Rotorua, &c. 2nd, In making road between this post and Tarawera, excavating rock and fixing culverts on main road between Niho o te Kiore and Taupo, and excavating rock and making approaches to Ateamuri Bridge. Attached is a rough recapitulation of work performed and approximate estimate of its value. From the irregular manner in which the work has been done, and the absence of proper measurements, I find it impossible to give the amounts performed during each financial year. The total amount of work will appear very little indeed when contrasted with that perfoimed by Captain Preece's Contingent, but I would here explain that I had the greatest difficulty possible with the Ngatiwhakaue, Ngatitu, Tuhourangi, and other Natives, they being extremely jealous of any road being made through their land, unless thay were employed by Government. I have, &c, The Acting Under Secretary for Defence, Gilbert Mair, Captain N.Z.M., (Militia and Volunteer Branch) Commanding Native Contingent. Wellington.

Enclosure to No. 1. SCHEDULE. APPROXIMATE AMOUNT and ESTIMATED VALUE of ROAD WORK, &c., performed by Captain Gilbert Mair's Native Contingent, from March, 1870 to 1873.

Particulars. Distances, &c. Value. Remarks. L Road between Kaiteriria and Te Wairoa Settlement, Tarawera Lake, 10 feet wide, all side cutting !. Bridle track to Paeroa & Ohaki 3 miles £ s. d. 230 0 0 A gTeat part of this road is very rocky, obsidian and scoria boulders—a road very much used Building crossings over swamps, side cuttings, &c, at OtuteKaiwharawhara Filling up swamps, cutting down ti-tree and fern,and improving old track Making side cutting, crossings to streams at Waipa, &c. Removing fallen trees, widening road, clearing out rocks, &c. Clearing ti-tree and fern, making side cutting up hill to Pakaraka, side cutting at Okaru Lake 2i miles 30 10 0 i. Bridle track between Kaiteriria and Tapahoro 20 miles 35 0 0 :. Bridle track between Kaiteriria and Rotorua i. Tarawera, Rotorua Roads 1 mile 15 0 0 3| miles 12 0 0 !. Kaiteriria and Galatea Bridle Track 10 miles 50 10 0 Carried forward 379 0 0