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occasion they have mentioned the matter to me. I promised to bring the matter to your notice. The late Native Minister entertained the idea, and promised to assist these Natives. I do not think the distance from the swamp road to the confiscated line is more than a mile. It appears to me that it would be worth while acceding to requests of Natives for roads over the confiscated boundary, especially in cases where the cost would not be great. The desire for Government roads is entirely a new feature amongst the Kingite Natives, and deserves to be fostered, as it breaks through one of their strictest laws. The portion of the road which the Natives would make would be through swumps. I do not think there is any swamp from the swamp road to the confiscated boundary line. These Natives complain that they cannot ascertain where the public roads are : they have asked various Europeans, but did not obtain the information they desired. I think you will agree with me that this is a matter worthy of consideration, as anything which is likely to increase agricultural pursuits amongst the Natives must prove beneficial to the welfare of the two races. On the following day I proceeded to Maungakawa, when I found the Natives contented, and well supplied with both potatoes and flour. Erom here I proceeded to Paritu, where I slept. The majority of the Natives of this settlement were away eel-catching in the Piako. These people seemed contented, and their crops looked remarkably well. On the following morning I left for the Matamata settlements, which are scattered about the banks of the Waitoa River. At Ngaturape there are only two families living. At the next settlement there are the same number, but these people were away in the bush after tawharas, so I did not see them. At Matarakutia the Ngatirangi section of the Ngatihaua reside. These people were all absent planting potatoes on the banks of the Waihou River, consequently I did not see them. At Matamata proper, where I stayed that night, I found about thirty Natives, all well dressed, with an abundance of food. At this settlement I noticed marked increase in the number of new-born infants. These Natives who reside at Maungakawa, Paritu, and Matamata Settlements are the friendly portion of the Ngatihaua Tribe. At nearly all these settlements there are large tracts of land, from two to thirty acres, of grass and clover. It is only within the last two years that these Natives have commenced to "plant artificial grasses for their animals ; heretofore they have let their animals roam where they liked. These Natives possess some tolerably strong, able-looking draught horses. Everywhere the Natives appear to take more interest in agricultural pursuits, and to be more settled. They do not appear to be so ready to listen to the strange stories that are circulated amongst them—stories which a few years ago kept them in a state of doubt, which consequently prevented them from settling down the same as they appear now to have done. I was unable to visit Wharepapa on this occasion, but will take an early opportunity of doing so. At this settlement reside the sons of the late William Thompson, with a few others of their tribe. There have been several deaths amongst this tribe since my last visit. Some very good men have died, particularly one young chief named Tuwhakaraina, who had a very good, well-farmed piece of land at Tamahere, of about six hundred acres. He will be much missed by 7 both his own people and his European neighbours. Everywhere there was a marked improvement in the extent of the cultivations and fencing, showing a desire to return to their former industrious habits. Another thing I could not help remarking on this occasion—namely, the utter want of speculation as to the fortune of the King movement, a question which up to the present time has received much attention at their hands. There were a good many inquiries as to whether it was a fact that the late Government were defeated, and, if that were the case, whether their successors would follow out the same policy or initiate a totally new one. I stated that I did not think there would be any material change from the policy which had been followed for the last ten years. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. R,|S. Bush, R.M. By Authority: Geobok Didsbt/et, Government Printer, Wellington. —1879. Price 3d.]