G.—l

18

At Tokaanu, the flour-mill is in good working order. There is no school at present in the district, but preparations are being made to have one erected and opened without delay at Tauranga, on the shores of the Lake. The formation of a road round the Lake, from Tapuaeharuru to Tokaanu, Rotoaira, and on to Murimotu to join the Wanganui Road, is a work much required; also, the road from Taupo to Cambridge. Mr. Mitchell and Mr. C. 0. Davis, Land Purchase Officers, have acquired a considerable quantity of land in the district. Great benefit would accrue to this and tho Lake district generally if a careful analysis of all the waters were made, and the report circulated in pamphlet form in different parts of the world. The importance of such a report would be considerably enhanced if there were attached to it a skeleton plan of the district having all the springs numbered on it, and a table of reference appended setting forth the different mineral properties of each spring. Tuhoe, or TTrewera. This part of the country comes more within the limits of the Opotiki district; but as the affairs of the people of this tribe are so involved with those of the East Coast Natives, more particularly of Upper Wairoa, mention is made of them here. They are at present opposed to the opening up of their territory by means of roads or settlement, but in every other respect they are peaceably inclined. The formation of a road through their forest-clad country, or even having the present tracks cleared, would be of essential service, and tend in a great measure to improve their present backward condition. There are no schools yet within their boundaries. As stated by me in a former report—" In reference to this tribe, closed up as they are in their mountain fastnesses, wedged in between the rising settlements of the East Coast and the open plains of Taupo and the Waikato country, too much stress cannot be laid upon the importance of the position they hold, and the necessity of paying an extra amount of attention to whatever will tend to ameliorate their condition or open up the country." With regard to the Native Lands Act, 1873-74, it appeared to work very smoothly at the late sitting of the Court at Grisborne, but great complaints were made by Europeans dealing with Native lands at the number of grantee 3 admitted to each block. In some cases it exceeded two hundred. On the other hand, the chiefs complained that all who were in the grants were equal—the chief and the serf, the woman and the child. When the question of subdivision comes on, power will be required by the Judge for authority to enter or empower others, such as surveyors or valuators, to enter upon lands for the purpose of subdividing blocks and ascertaining their value ; also, power in cases of subdivisions, &c, and in appointing successors to call for Crown grants; and further, for the appointment of valuators and arbitrators in certain cases. The general policy of the country, in reference to the Maori, having been for the past few years the course commended by Sismondi, in his essay on the " Colonies of the Ancients, compared with those of the Moderns"—namely, of "reconciling the aborigines by striving to associate them to ourselves, instead of treating them as savages, and especially to be careful not to bring among them, as the only mark of civilization, the art of war, to exterminate," —there are, therefore, no exciting events to record ; but, on the other hand, there is a gradual change perceptible, which will require time to develop, effected by the opening up of the country by means of roads, by the force of example set by settlers, and by the carrying out, with a firm and even hand, the course now being pursued. I have, &c, S. Locke, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Resident Magistrate.

No. 15. Mr. H. Wabdell, E.M., Wairarapa, to the Hon. the Native Ministee. Sib,— Wairarapa, 26th May, 1875. I have the honor to report that the state of the Natives in this district in respect to their relations with the European population continues very satisfactory, and that the authority of the Courts of law is fully recognized by them. I have, &c, Heebebt Waedell, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Resident Magistrate.

No. 16. Mr. Alexajtoeb Mackat, Commissioner Native Reserves, Nelson, to the TJndee Seceetaby, Native Department. Sib, — Native Reserves Office, Nelson, 10th May, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your circular of the 6th April, requesting me to furnish the usual annual report on the Natives of my district, and in reply to acquaint you that nothing of importance has occurred to bring under the notice of the Hon. the Native Minister in connection with the subject, since the date of my report of tho 24th June last. I have, &c., Alexandeb Mackat, The Under Secretary, Native Department, "Wellington. Commissioner. By Authority : Gi:okue Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB7s. Price Is.]