A.—B

3

approval, by the Commissioner appointed under the West Coast Settlement Reserves Act. The process of letting these reserves will be pressed to completion, in the interests alike of the Native owners, the occupying settlers, and the colony. These reserves are of large extent and great value. They far exceed in value the total amount of the confiscated land on the West Coast at the time of confiscation. So ample indeed is the provision, that the doubt is suggested whether it is altogether wise to provide means sufficient to keep these Natives in a state of idleness in perpetuity : still it is felt that the error, if error it be, is upon the right side. I believe the Maoris are beginning to realize that what is being done will be of great advantage to them, and at any rate they accept it as inevitable, and obstruction is not now thought of. They are living quietly with their European neighbours, and there appears every prospect of their continuing to do so. The old fighting Chief Titokowaru, when released from prison seven months ago, instead of showing the bad disposition which was feared, exhorted his followers to obey the laws and re-nain at peace. So encouraging is the state of things in that neighbourhood, that I think the time has now arrived when the Parihaka Chiefs, Te Whiti and Tohu, might be returned to their village. It is true there is some little risk that large and dangerous gatherings of Natives might again assemble at Parihaka. Te Whiti's influence, so deeply ingrained in the minds of his followers, is not yet wholly gone ; but I confidently hope that his re-arrest may not become necessary. If lam right in this, by the time the West Coast Royal Commissioner, Sir William Fox, concludes his labours, which will be in a very few months, the West Coast Maori troubles may be finally dismissed as a source of anxiety. Turning now to Waikato and Ngatimaniapoto country, where the Natives have so long kept their concerns separate from the white man and his law, I think there are not wanting assured indications that our Native difficulty there, also, is rapidly passing away. Any one who reflects on what the condition of these Natives was only three or four years ago, and on their tone and temper at that time, can scarcely fail to come to the same conclusion that I have done. Little more than eighteen months ago, the whole country between the mouth of the Mokau and the Waikato confiscated line, including the port of Kawhia, was closed to Europeans, nor could they have intruded with safety. Now, the port of Kawhia has been opened and the channel buoyed, a township is being laid-off, and the Maoris acquiesced so cheerfully that, although the party which accompanied Mr. Rolleston and myself included two ladies, we felt that we could without the slightest risk cross through the very heart of the so-called King Country into the settled districts of the Waikato, and the result justified our confidence. Explorations for roads and railways, and surveys for the profitable occupation of the land, I feel assured can be safely undertaken at a very early period. Only yesterday, communications passed between certain Maori Chiefs and myself, which I feel certain have removed a great difficulty from our path. The Proclamation of pardon under the Amnesty Act of last session has not yet been made. The Government desired, if at all possible, to make the pardon complete and without exception; but it was currently rumoured that Te Kooti, a fighting Chief of evil notoriety, had been recently uttering threats of an alarming character. It was felt by the Government that Te Kooti could not be a fit subject for the Royal pardon, unless he were prepared to give assurances of good conduct; and in order to settle the point, I determined to question him face to face. There was difficulty in bringing an interview about, for ever since the capture of Winiata, which was followed by his execution for murder, Te Kooti has kept European and half-caste visitors carefully away from his settlement. However, a few days ago I sent for him through Rewi, Chief of the Ngatimaniapoto Tribe, to meet me at a place called Manga-o-rongo. He met me accordingly, and I had the honour this morning to furnish your Excellency, by telegraph, a report of what passed at the interview between us. I think the result must be considered satisfactory, and nothing in my opinion need now prevent the Proclamation of pardon being as complete as is desired by the whole of your Excellency's Government. With the issue of that Proclamation, a great source of danger and distrust will be removed from the minds of the Maoris; and, with respect to the colonists generally, lam sure that they would far rather forget, so far as may be, deeds of violence committed many years ago, than see the remembrance of them revived by State trials, which would be certain to embitter the minds of many persons of both races. This memorandum is but a hasty sketch of the present condition of Native affairs, which I trust will not be considered altogether unfavourable. Certainly, the view taken here cannot be thought unfavourable, if contrasted with the asjiect of Native matters in former years. John Beyce, Hamilton, 13th February, 1883. Native Minister.

Enclosure 2. Memorandum for His Excellency. In considering the present condition of Native affairs, it will probably be convenient to state briefly the policy of the colony in respect of the Natives, so far as it was embodied in the legislative enactments of Parliament during its last session, and to follow the general course of events and the action taken by the Government in pursuance of that policy to the present time. The principal legislation affecting districts where difficulties have existed in respect of Native administration, was contained in three Acts :—(1) The West Coast Peace Preservation Act; (2) the Amnesty Act; (3) the Waikato Confiscated Lands Act. The first of these Acts, which has operation until the close of the next session of Parliament, made legal the detention of Te Whiti and Tohu without trial, not " with a view to the infliction of punishment " upon them, but to prevent the possible repetition of meetings which might "cause apprehension and distrust among the peaceable inhabitants of both races, and involve danger to the peace of the colony." The Act further made provision, should action in that direction become necessary, for the prompt suppression of meetings similar to those which had taken place at Parihaka, and which were calculated to endanger the peace of the country. The necessity for the Act was the more apparent, having in view the prosecution of the policy laid down by the West Coast Settlement Reserves Act ot the previous session, under which the work of apportioning the reserves and preparing the way for