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1877. NEW ZEALAND.

REPORTS FROM OFFICERS IN NATIVE DISTRICTS.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. The Under Secretary, Native Department, to Officers in Native Districts. (Circular No. 4.) Sir,— Native Office, Wellington, 23rd March, 1877. I have the honor, by direction of the Hon. the Native Minister, to request that you will be good enough to furnish your annual report upon the state of the Natives in your district, to reach this office not later than the 31st May next, in order that it may be printed, to lay before the General Assembly at the commencement of the session. I have, &c, H. T. Clarke, Under Secretary.

No. 2. Mr. W. B. White, E.M., Mongonui, to the Under Secretary, Native Department. Sir, — Eesideut Magistrate's Office, Mongonui, 21st May, 1877. In compliance with the request contained in your circular letter, No. 4, of 23rd March, 1877, I have the honor to report, for the information of the Hon. the Native Minister, that the Natives of this district have, since the period of my last report, continued to conduct themselves, as has been usual with them, peacefully and loyally. At this distant part of the country it is seldom that events occur calculated to effect change among so orderly, scattered, and sparse a population. With the exception therefore of the slight local excitement caused by the judgment of the Native Land Court, reported March 14th, nothing lias occurred to disturb the even tenor of our way. The crops have been generally very good—a fortunate circumstance, iv the absence of anything like active, stirring progress in the district—no work of which the Natives are capable being in execution. The very small amount of work under Eoad Boards has not, as a rule, included much Native labour, nor has kauri-gum-digging been prosecuted with such vigour during the last year, and now that the large majority of the lands have passed out of the hands of the Natives greater difficulties are put iv the way of their obtaining it. Sickness has been less fatal than in many years past, though some serious accidents have occurred, the most notable that of Komene, who, whilst climbing a tree after honey, had his hand jammed and held in a slit in the tree, by which he lost his hand, as reported on January 11th, 1877. The cases disposed of in the Courts show, I think conclusively, the peaceful character of the population. Criminal cases since June 30, 1876, to date: — Between Europeans and Natives .. .. .. .. 3 „ Native and European .. .. .. .. 1 „ Natives only .. .. .. .. .. 11 Total .'. .. .. .. .. 15 I—G. 1,