G.—l

32

As regards the Taranaki tribes between Stony Eiver and Opunake, they are still, most of them, under the influence of the prophet Te Whiti and his cousin Tohu. They are opposed, to land selling or leasing. As regards any steps that the Government may deem it proper to take for telegraph or roads across that district, Te Whiti and Tohu both deprecate any armed resistance being offered. Their efforts have been, and are still, to keep the peace between the two races, and they deserve great credit for their success; but, in their view of the interests of the Native race, they have hitherto advocated isolation. This isolation is, however, getting irksome to the Natives. An uneasiness is arising at the prospect of the road and the telegraph inland of Mount Egmont diverting the traffic entirely from the coast, which is showing itself in a disposition of the Puketoretore tribe (between Parihaka and Opunake) to improve the line of road in their land, so as to avoid the worst part of tho road by and near the beach. Te Whiti has also taxed the faith of his supporters severely, in having monthly meetings at Parihaka. As a consequence, the end of the fanaticism will take place the sooner. I can say that the indications of the Native feeling in this province are altogether averse to any renewal of hostilities with us. There are isolated individuals who have not forgotten or forgiven the deaths of relatives in fair fighting: such an one as the son of Pakau, who still bore us ill-will for the death of his father in 1861, till he died himself a few weeks ago. But there are none of sufficient influence in their tribes to carry any weight with their feelings, which are recognized by the Natives as legitimate but not as of general interest. I have, &c, Chas. Brown, The Under Native Secretary, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

No. 39. Mr. E. "W". Woon, E.M., to the Under Secretary, Native Department. Sib,— Native Office, Wanganui, 26th May, 1876. I have the honor, in conformity with the direction of the Hon. the Native Minister, as contained in your circular letter of the 30th of March last, No. 9, to furnish the annual report on the state of the Natives in my district. Native feeling generally may be truly characterized as being in a transition state. The Native mind, at all times active, seems intent upon searching out some new way whereby advantage may accrue to the race, and is ever open to the many influences at work amongst them, whether for good or evil. The race may be characterized as most imitative in its proclivities, and every year a change of some kind or other comes over this remarkable people. Unfortunately, suspicions are often raised in their minds by designing persons, and their faith in the good intentions of the Government rudely shaken, and a feeling of restlessness generated which cannot but prove prejudicial in its effects. They are evidently not satisfied with the way in which they are represented in Parliament, and seem to be casting about for some influential personage who will act as their protector, and in whom they can confide. Great efforts were made lately by the Whanganui Natives to return Major Kemp as the member for the West Coast Maori Electoral District, as being a highly influential and intelligent chief, possessing the confidence of the tribes, including the Waikatos, and one who would look well after the Maori interest in Parliament; but his candidature was unsuccessful, the Hauraki people, by their superior electioneering tactics, having succeeded in putting in their man, Hoane Nahe, who has since his return entered into friendly correspondence with the Whanganui chiefs, with the view to advocating their claims should occasion arise. As, of necessity, the Land question mostly engages the attention of the Maoris in. these days, seeing that the bulk of the country is still held under Native tenure, and the Whanganuis are some of the largest landowners in the island, this question has a most unsettling effect, and is the topic of the day. Numerous assemblages take place in all parts of the district, and serious disputes are often arranged by a mutual concession and consent to defer all differences for final settlement at the Land Court, and steps are being taken to have the land surveyed and mapped prior to going before the Court for investigation. Much money and time are expended for such and like purposes, and large houses are constantly being erected at convenient spots for the accommodation of the parties interested, and inordinate feasting and other kinds of dissipation prevail, to the impoverishment of the Natives, and whereby habits of indolence and vice are fostered and encouraged. In my opinion, it will be well for the Maoris when they have disposed of their surplus lands and they settle down to improve and make use of their ample reserves, when they will in all probability revert to a more normal condition, and engage themselves in industrial pursuits and other profitable employments whereby special benefit will result to them as a people, and a good opportunity obtained of assimilating themselves to our manners, customs, dress, mode of life, whereby a check will be given to the present deplorable decrease in the race, and signs of its regeneration and perpetuation will become manifest. As far as I can judge, the Natives all around, are anxious to maintain peaceful relations with the Europeans, and an increased disposition is apparent on their part to look for redress to the law in all matters of difference between the races, and they are certainly becoming more submissive and tractable as time rolls on. Even in disputes amongst themselves, greater readiness is shown on all hands now to submit such matters to some Court for adjustment; and as instances of this I would mention a serious land dispute up this river last November, which was settled by the prompt interference of the Assessors and Maori police; and a robbery case in the far interior was referred to my Court by the injured party for adjudication and redress. As a proof of their compliance with our laws, I might instance the matter of an unfortunate accident which happened not long since at the Aramoho Pa, Whanganui, when a fine young man lost his life by being accidentally pushed over a cliff by a Maori lass in play, whereby his neck was dislocated and death ensued. The lad was the son of an influential chief of a certain tribe, and the girl was a member of another and a neighbouring tribe, and in former times a feud would have resulted between them, and further life aud pro perty been sacrificed,