15

G.—l

I may say they are anxiously waiting for employment on the Thames and Waikato Railway, in accordance with promises made them by the Hon. the Native Minister, and which have been of material assistance to myself in acquiring the land for the line of railway between this township and Puriri, which, owing to the exertions of the County Chairman and myself, assisted by an intelligent and influential Native committee, has thus far been carried to a successful issue at a very reasonable rate. I have, &c.; The Under Secretary, Native Department, E. W. Puckey, AVellington. Native Agent, Thames.

No. 14. Mr. R. S. Bush, R.M., Raglan, to the Hon. the Native Minister. Sir, — Resident Magistrate's Office, Raglan, 2nd June, 1879. I have the honor to furnish, for your information, the usual annual report on Native matters in the Raglan and Kawhia District. Condition of Natives. I have visited the different tribes at their settlements throughout the district as heretofore. There has been no infectious disease amongst them during the past year; consequently the deaths have not been so numerous as in former years. The greatest mortality is amongst the infants, which may be attributed in a great measure to the neglect of the parents, Maori infants being exposed like their parents to all kinds of weather. No chief of any note has died, excepting Tukarawa, of the Ngatimahanga Tribe, a Hauhau residing at Te Kauri, Kawhia. I cannot say that the moral condition of the Natives has improved during the past year, but iv this respect the Natives of this district will compare favourably with those of other districts. So long as the Natives continue to follow their present mode of living, I fear no great improvement can be made in this respect. It affords me much pleasure to report that the tribes in these districts still maintain their character for sobriety, not a single Native having been convicted of drunkenness or other offence during the past year, although not a day passes without several Natives visiting the township, from all parts of the district. Disposition. There is no change in the disposition of the Natives resident in these districts, the majority of whom are Kingites; they are still anxious to live on in the same quiet way that they have for some years past. It is very probable that Tawhiao and his AA raikato followers will shortly take up their residence in and about Kawhia. AA rhares have been and are still being erected for Tawhiao near Pouwewe. It remains to be seen whether this immigration of Tawhiao will in any way alter the sentiments of these people; he is simply doing now what he was asked to do several years ago by the Kawhia people—viz., to come and live amongst them. AA'hile at Kawhia, the other day, Tawhiao is reported by Hone te One to have made an important declaration to the effect that all fighting in this country was to cease; that there would be no more fighting. AA rith respect to roads, he said, when roads are being made, persons will be sent to the makers of the roads to request them to discontinue the work; if they will not listen no further notice will betaken, and theroadwork will be allowed to be carried on. Tawhiao also ordered that the people should give up making evil threats aud talking in a bounceable manner, aud that they are not to take upon themselves to commit crimes. Tawhiao also states that the late AVaikato rebellion was not his work; he was always opposed to it; it was the work of the chiefs; and now he intends to live with a full determination that there shall be no more fighting. Hone te One thinks that matters will yet terminate satisfactorily, his words being, "Xi taku whakaaro tera c puta he marama" (in my opinion light will appear.) AVith reference to the late meeting at Kopua, I would state that it was the largest Native gathering that has taken place in AVaikato since the rebellion, and probably the largest that ever will take place. I estimate the number of Natives present at about six thousand. I was much surprised at the position taken up by Tawhiao and his chiefs at the meeting, as he seemed only to have had the one thought from the time of the Hikurangi meeting of last year up to the end of March, when I saw him last, and that was—Sir George Grey's and his day. Hone te One also, with whom Tawhiao has lived a greater part of the time since the Hikurangi meeting, and who accompanied him from Kawhia to assist in transporting the mataitai (fish, &c), states that Tawhiao to within a few days of the day of meeting continued to speak to him of his and Sir George Grey's day; that it was not until the arrival of Tc Ngakau with the Maungatautari flour at Kopua that he noticed a change in Tawhiao's sentiments, who then said that he had been informed by Europeans that the proposals of Hikurangi to return the lands were not bond fide, and that, if he accepted them and went to look for the lands therein alluded to, he would find a small piece in this corner, aud another small piece in that corner, to find which would cost more than the laud would be worth, and that it was never intended to give him more than these small pieces. Matters probably would have terminated very differently had Tawhiao not been tampered with,