5

G.—4

opposition; and I believe, as I have already informed the Government, that the road could be now made without a breach of the peace. I have reasons for making this statement which Ido not feel called upon to make public. The employment of the Natives upon the section of the Thames and Waikato Eailway between Totara and Kirikiri —the portion which, by arrangement, they were to form —has been a failure, the price agreed upon being, in their estimation, too low; and I very much fear this will cause a difficulty, and the Government will have to pay a higher price per chain for such other land as they may require within the Thames District for the line. Hotereni Taipari, the last of the old chief's of Ilauraki, died on the 20th March last. Since I took charge of Native affairs at the Thames in 1809, the following chiefs, all of the highest rank and prestige, have died : Te Taniwha, Taraia, Haora Tipa, Tamati te Otatu, liapana Maungaroa, To Moananui, and, last, Hotereni Taipari. All these men had great influence for good, and inculcated friendliness to the pakeha during the younger days of the colony. I regret to say the younger men who have succeeded them do not seem to ha\e the same influence for good; or, if they have, do not appear to exercise it. The Natives in this district are, as a whole, very favourably disposed towards the Government at present in power. I think care should be taken lest they dispossess themselves of all their lands before it is too late. I may say this question perhaps may not assume so great importance at the Thames, as the most of the land they have sold has been purchased by the Government, and the best portions of the same so acquired have been reserved for them (the Natives). I think care should be taken also to reserve from the action of the Waste Lands Board suitable blocks of land for Native school purposes. In giving effect to the policy of retrenchment, and more particularly in the case of Wata Tipa, I think the Government might have borne in mind the services rendered by his father, the late Haora Tipa. The saving of a few pounds (£3O) should surely be of less moment than the tangible assurance that his father's services were recognized and appreciated. The young man bore the loss of his salary very well to outward appearance : slightly adapting the words of Job, he said, "The Government has given, and the Government has taken away : blessed be the name of the Government." I do not think, however, he meant the word " blessed " in its proper sense. I will add in conclusion that, being one of the unfortunates myself, my services having been dispensed with, I have found it very dry work writing this report, and I have acceded to your request only because I thought it would be narrow-minded to have done otherwise. I have, &c, E. W. Pitcket, The Under-Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. Late Native Agent.

No. 7. Mr. T. Jackson, E.M., Papakura and Waiuku Districts, to the Undeb-Seoeetaet, Native Department. Sib,— Eazorback, 13th May, 1880. In compliance with instructions contained in your circular of the 16th March, 1880, I have the honor to report upon the state of the Natives in the Eesident Magistrates' Districts of Papakura and Waiuku. Since my last annual report no change of importance has taken place in the above districts. The number of Native Assessors has been reiuced by the death of Nini Potaua Kukutai, and the removal of Hori Tauroa. Nini Potaua Kukutai died at Taupiri, Lower Waikato, on the 10th of December, 1879. He was a chief of the Ngatitipas, and a Native of some note. He was descended through the female line, but the fact of his being the elder man, and an Assessor, gave him the status in the tribe which ho held. It was through his interference a short time since that the trig, station in his locality was not permitted to be erected. Hori Kukutai, his nephew, will probably represent the tribe, but, from his mind being affected, he will not have the influence he otherwise would. Hori Tauroa, a chief of the Ngatiteatas was removed from his office on the Ist of November, 1879 ; leaving two Assessors in this district—Hori Kingi te Whetuki, of Maraetai, and Henare Kaihau, of Waiuku. The salary of the former has been reduced from £10 to £10 per annum. The Native policemen have been reduced by the resignation of Eapata Tamihana, on the 30th of December, 1879, and the removal of Ihimera Ware, stationed at Waikato Heads, and Hemi Manu, stationed at Waiuku, on the 31st March, 1880—leaving one Native policeman in the district, stationed at Mercer. The Natives during the past year have, upon the whole, been well-behaved, and no serious crime has been committed by any of the permanent residents. Two Natives have been convicted of larceny, both belonging to the Ngatumahutas—namely, Te Eopiha, who, on the 19th of June, 1875, stole, in this district, two horses, a saddle and bridle. He was arrested by the constable stationed at Mercer some days after the theft, and, on the same day, rescued by Natives who were present when the constable arrested him. He escaped to the King country, [n November, 1879, coming into the Township of Alexandra with other Natives, the constable stationed there recognized and arrested him on the above charge. He was brought to Papakura, and committed to take his trial, found guilty, and sentenced to two years' imprisonment. Te Eopiha was convicted of larceny in 1870, and, on that occasion, escaped out of the lock-up at Papakura by tearing up the floor of the cell in which he was confined. This Native holds some important office under Tawhiao. The other Native convicted of larceny was Manga te Teko, charged w rith stealing from Natives engaged in gum-digging: he was sentenced to one month's imprisonment. There have been fewer Natives charged with drunkenness during the past year than in any previous year.