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No. 34. Mr. J. H, Campbell, E.M., Waiapu, to the TJndee Seceetaet, Native Department, Sic,— Waiapu, 23rd May, 1876. I have the honor to report that during the past year the conduct of the Natives of this district has been on the whole very good; no land disputes of any importance have occurred. This may be attributed in a great measure to the beneficial influence of the Land Court. A long and most important sitting of this Court is now drawing to a close. The decisions of the presiding Judge have given general satisfaction. Although the attendance throughout has been unusually large, the greatest order has prevailed, and much interest in the proceedings is shown by all assembled. Owing to the disastrous floods during the early part of the season, a large amount of crop was destroyed. The people, however, bear their losses cheerfully. For the future, they will probably cultivate more of the higher land than of the river flats, as they have hitherto done. A great deal of sickness has prevailed during the last two or three months, and several deaths have occurred, chiefly among the children and old people. A very useful work has lately been completed by the Natives of this part of the district —namely, a road over the East Cape Hill, which for many years past has been a great difficulty in travelling from Waiapu to Hicks' Bay. It is now a really excellent road, and one or two men are always employed keeping it in repair. Their intention is to continue the work of road-making next season. This shows that there is a spirit of progress growing in them which deserves encouragement. The schools at Kawakawa and Akuaku still promise to be successful. Those of Waiapu and Tokomaru are not attended as they should be. This is owing in a great measure to the indifference on the part of the parents in compelling their children to attend school. On the slightest pretext they absent themselves for days, and the teachers naturally complain that all that may have been taught during one month is forgotten on their return to school after an absence of the same length of time. I have, &c, J. H. Campbell, The Under Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. Eesident Magistrate.
No. 35. Dr. Nesbitt, E.M., Grisborne, to the Hon. the Native Ministee. Sic, — Eesident Magistrate's Office, G-isborne, 18th May, 1876. In reference to circular No. 9,1 have the honor to report that there is very little change in the state of Native affairs in this district since the last annual report. The Natives have been almost exclusively occupied by land matters in connection with the Native Land Court. They have cultivated very little, and a great portion of the food they did plant has been destroyed by floods, so that they are now living chiefly in the bush on the natural productions of the country. They express great dissatisfaction at the difficulty of obtaining ammunition, owing to the recommendations for licenses being sent to Wellington —this causing great delay. Their dissatisfaction is, I think, not unreasonable, as the want of ammunition depriyes them of a large quantity of food, a deprivation much felt in a season of scarcity like the present. The Natives in this district, as a rule, continue to obey the laws, and have rather too great a desire to take advantage of the Eesident Magistrate's Court in all difficulties, both amongst themselves and with Europeans. There has been no epidemic amongst them this year, and their sanitary condition is good. I regret to say that the Native schools are not in a flourishing state. The Gisborne school-house has been closed for some time, and the attendance of pupils at the Whakato school is small. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister, "Wellington. W. K. Nesbitt, E.M.
No. 36. Dr. Osmond, E.M., Wairoa, to the TTjtoee Secbetaey, Native Department. Sic, — "Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, 15th May, 1876. I hare the honor to report, for the information of the Hon. the Native Minister, that no event of any great importance has occurred in this district during the past twelve months. The Natives have been quiet and obedient to our laws, invariably bringing any disputes that may arise before the Bench, and abiding by our decision. Intemperance has been steadily decreasing, notwithstanding the large amounts of money that have passed through the Natives' hands, and the numerous tangihangas that have been passing and repassing; and some of the leading men among them are now advocating the starting of a Tent of Good Templars. A decided improvement seems to be taking place in the minds of many of these Natives ; numbers of them are subscribers to the Waka Maori, and the amount both of letters and telegrams received and despatched by them is astonishing—the very men who opposed the erection of the telegraph line through the district being now fully alive to its advantages. I regret to say that deaths have been numerous—measles, influenza, and other epidemics sweeping them down indiscriminately. Two men of high rank were among the victims —namely, Paora te Apatu and Ihaka Whanga, both of them Native Assessors and powerful chiefs. The former, as a political leader, was much missed at first by his people ; no chief has succeeded him, and in consequence the old agitations and excitements have ceased. The latter's character is so well known throughout New Zealand that it is almost unnecessary for me to state that a braver or more loyal chief never existed.