G.—3

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No. 9. Captain Pobteb, G-isborne, to the llndee-Seceetaky, Native Department. Sib,— Native Office, Gisborne, 22nd April, 1881. In compliance with the instructions of the Hon. Mr. Rolleston, contained in Circular No. 14 of the 9th February last, I have now the honor to furnish result of the Maori census of this district as comprised within the boundaries of the Cook County The return is to the 4th April, 1881, and may be deemed as thoroughly authentic, even more so than anticipated by me. Referring to the tabulated summaries herewith, a total of all ages and sexes is shown as 4,161, divisible by the two principal tribes of—Ngatiporou : Adults, 2,124 ; children, 859 : total, 2,983 ; —and Kongowhakaata: Adults, 819 ; children, 330 : total, 1,149. In comparing the total of the present census with that furnished by me three years ago on the 30th May, 1878, as up to April of that year a deficiency of 305 is shown, the total being 4,466 as against 4,161 for the present year. This difference is, however, not attributable to the death-rate but to the migration of the tribes, particularly the Ngatiporou, who will be found scattered in various parts of the country; also to the hapu of Ngatikohatu, resident at Te Eeinga, having been included in the former census of this district, and who will now be included in that collected by Mr. Preece, Wairoa, which I estimate at about 100. In the final completion of the tribal returns I should point out that the Whanauapanui tribe, resident between Cape Eunaway and Opotiki, which will be shown in Mr. Bush's returns, is a sub-tribe of Ngatiporou ; also the hapus resident at Mataora and Kennedy's Bay are emigrants from that tribe. With regard to the question of increase or decrease so far as refers to this district, it would appear, by the comparison above mentioned, to be almost at a standstill; but the undoubted tendency is to decrease, and there is one very remarkable circumstance worthy of note, that in hapus further removed from civilisation and European influences the proportion of children is much greater than when brought into contact with such influences. The general health of the tribes has been fairly even, free from any remarkable epidemics, excepting last year, when low fever spread among the tribes residing near Europeans in Poverty Bay and Tologa Bay Districts, by which a number of all ages were carried off, chiefly owing to their ignorance of the proper curative measures for such disease, those adopted by them having the tendency to kill rather than cure—the great specific being immersion of the patient in cold water in cases of fever, as in many other diseases. The vouchers for the necessary expenses incurred in collecting this census will be forwarded to Wellington by the first opportunity I have, &c, Tiios. W Poetee, Enumerator East Coast District, The TJnder-Seeretary, Native Office, Wellington. Maori Census, 1881.

No. 10. Captain Peeece, Native Agent, Napier, to the Uiodee-Secbetaey, Native Department. Sir,— Native Office, Napier, 7th May, 1881. In accordance with the instructions contained in your Circular of the 9th of February. No. 14, I have the honor to forward herewith census papers for the Napier and Wairoa Native Districts. Napier District. In this district I am unable to compare the numbers at each settlement with former census, owing to the fact that hitherto the Natives have opposed the collection of a Native census, and returns sent in have been a total of the numbers, without showing where they reside, and it is indeed very difficult to ascertain their proper residences owing to their migratory habits. The census of 1878 showed a total of 1,690 ; in the present census I have taken down the names of individuals, and find a total of 1,635, but I have ascertained that 280 Natives belonging to this district were away at Wairarapa and Taupo ; this would bring the total to 1,915, from which has to be deducted 193 —namely, Natives included in the Wairoa District last census, visitors from Urewera and East Coast, and children from other districts attending schools, leaving a total of 1,722 belonging to this district against 1,690 in last census. I purpose having the names collected entered into a tribal register for future reference; by this mode the census returns hereafter can be easily checked. The returns are fairly correct, although numbers shown may not be permanent residents at the several Icaingas. Wairoa District. This return shows 2,186, to which is to be added 115 taken in the Napier census, who were previously enumerated in this district, making a total of 2,291 against 2,530 in Dr. Ormond's return of 1878; but no doubt the number shown at Nuhaka and Nukutaurua in the said return was over-estimated. Formerly the names of Natives were not taken, but merely the numbers at each Icainga, and on comparing these of last census with those of present I find there must have been an error in the number of men at the above settlements. In other Icaingas the present census practically agrees with the former. I think, however, that there has been a slight decrease in the numbers of the whole district. The returns for Wairoa have been carefully collected by Mr. J T. Large, who has had considerable experience in this duty, having acted in the capacity of sub-numerator in Gisborne in 1874 and 1878. There has been no epidemic amongst the Natives of these districts during the past year. A number of deaths have occurred from consumption and other causes, but principally from consumption.