3

G.—IB

on the Mangape block. As things were looking rather serious, I called a meeting of all parties concerned, to discuss the affair amicably. The meeting was rather stormy, and the contending parties very stubborn, as is usually the case where land is the question. I managed, however, after two days' talk, to arrange the affair to the satisfaction of all parties, since which I have heard no more of it. I wish I could speak in the same terms of the Morioris; but I cannot. They certainly are the most quarrelsome set of people among themselves I ever saw, and appear never to be happy except when bickering together. Their disputes, however, are very harmless, rarely going beyond personal abuse of one another. They are a very inferior race in every respect to the Maoris. The fact of their having been kept in subjection for so many years may have possibly made them more so than they would otherwise have been. The race is fast dying out, there being very few women left, and the children rarely reach years of maturity. Among the few crosses between the Maoris and Morioris, I notice some fine-looking people; but the Morioris themselves, although to all appearance strong and healthy, are not so in reality, and soon give way under sickness of any kind. Among the few survivors, I observe a large proportion of cripples or malformations. As I am on the subject of Morioris, I may mention that I find great difficulty in acquiring their language, as it is never spoken even by the oldest inhabitant, and not even known by the middle-aged and younger portion. I have succeeded in getting a large portion of a vocabulary partly completed, but it requires numerous alterations before I should consider it to be satisfactory. I am now getting some of the old traditions translated into Maori and English, which I think will be interesting. I have received a good deal of assistance from Mr. A. Shand, who is working in a similar way. The greatest difficulty I find is the pronunciation, which is very peculiar. The words in writing would be similar to those in the Maori language, but the pronunciation is indescribable. I think some light may be thrown upon their first arrival in this country in some of the old legends, and for that reason I am anxious to get all the information I can relative to them. The few surviving Morioris are very well off, having good reserves of land in various parts of the island. They also have somewhat about 3,000 sheep among them, besides horses and a few head of cattle, and, notwithstanding their quarrelsome propensities, are tolerably industrious. Referring to the quantity of fish on the coast, I have had several conversations with the Natives, and have endeavoured to induce them to commence a fishing establishment on a small scale, as I am quite convinced that, could such a thing be started, it would prove very remunerative, on account of the plentiful supply always to be obtained, and also on account of the superior quality of the same. The Natives have, at my suggestion, joined with the Europeans, at and near Waitaugi, in procuring a large seine net by way of trial, which, if it succeed, may eventually prove the means of establishing a proper fishery on a large scale. I have, &c, S. Deighton, The "Under Secretary, Native Office, Wellington. Eesident Magistrate. By Authority : Geokgb Didsbttby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB7s. Price 3d.]