G.—4

1880. NEW ZEALAND.

REPORTS FROM OFFICERS IN NATIVE DISTRICTS. [in continuation of G.-1a., Sess. 1., 1879.]

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

No. 1. The Undeb-Secbetaby, Native Department, to Officees in Namye Disteicts. (Circular No. 1.) Sib, — Native Office, Wellington, 16th March, 1880. I have the honor, by direction of the Hon. Mr. Bryce, to request you will be good enough to furnish your annual report upon the state of the Natives in your district, to reach this office if possible not later than the 31st May proximo, in order that it may be printed for the General Assembly. I have. &c, ' T. W. Lewis, L Tnder-Secretary.

No. 2. Mr. G-. Kelly, Mangonui, to the Hon. the Natiye Minlstek. Sib, — Resident Magistrate's Office, Mangonui, 6th May, 1880. In compliance with instructions contained in your circular of 16th March, 1880, No. 1, I have the honor to report that the Natives of this district are in a very satisfactory condition —peaceable and loyal, as has always been their character. There has been less crime amongst them than usual, and drunkenness but rarely occurs. But one arrest was made since my last report, as against eleven in the previous year. Pour Natives were brought before the Court on sth March last, charged with breach of the Dog Nuisance Act, and, although they expressed great indignation on being served with the summonses, which they tore in pieces as soon as they received them, they all appeared in Court, and, upon conviction, paid a fine of ss. and costs each, besides taking out collars for their dogs. They behaved so "well that the Bench expressed surpise at their calm submission to the order of the Court, this tax being so very distasteful to the Natives. I feel proud to say that there could scarcely be found a more law-abiding people even amongst a European community than the Natives of this district. The people are chiefly occupied in kauri-gum-digging. This article has for the last six or seven months commanded so high a price that the Natives have been better off than usual: in fact, it is their only means of obtaining a living. They subsist almost entirely upon their gum earnings. The small price they obtain for produce from their cultivations, owing to the difficulty of getting such to a market from want of roads (no money having been spent in this district for opening roads through Native land for many years), so disheartens them that they have almost abandoned their cultivations, and do not grow sufficient for their own consumption. I trust the road works now about to be commenced by the Public "Works Department in this district will have the effect of bringing about a more wholesome state of affairs. Now that the young Maoris are being educated in the rudiments of an elementary education, I hope soon to see them further educated by the example of thrifty settlers, induced to settle in their neighbourhood through the opening-up of our district by roads. The kauri gum will soon be exhausted: five or six years at the most I think will terminate this source of subsistence, when they will be compelled to cultivate their soil. The only stirring event which transpired during the past year was the marriage of Mr. Leopold Puhipi, the eldest son of Mr. Timoti Puhipi, the principal chief of the Earawas, with Miss Hardiman, of Hokianga. He obtained a certificate under the Marriage Act, and the marriage was solemnized in the old Mission church at Kaitaia, in the end of February last. Natives from all parts of the district, and also a great many Europeans, assembled to witness the celebration, and take part in the festivities, which lasted over two days. The health of the Natives has been above the average during the past year, and by the following statistics it will be seen that mortality amongst them is on the decrease. I—G. 4.