G.—2

6

at all, a large percentage of those born die before reaching the age of puberty. Doubtless much of this is owing to their mode of living, insufficient nourishing food, and general want of attention and care during illness, and neglect of all sanitary precautions. Gum-digging is a great source of disease, living as they do, when at that employment, without sufficient shelter or means of drying their wet clothing during the winter, brings on severe colds and coughs, these often end in consumption and death. At Kaikohe and its neighbourhood there have been many cases of typhoid fever during the present summer, from which cause there has been several deaths among the young people, it being next to impossible to get the Natives to attend to the directions of a medical man, his attendance in such cases is but of little avail, plenty of good nourishing food, good nursing and attention to sanitary rules being what is required, in the absence of these, the wonder is that so many recover. ■ Perhaps, by-and-by, when much fewer in number than at present, they may adopt from the teaching they are now receiving in their schools, and European example, sanitary and dietary precautions, or they may be forced to adopt them, and so be compelled to live in spite of themselves, this will, however, but prolong the time, for it seems to me there is no remedy for what appears the inevitable passing away of the Maori race. I have, &c, J. H. Geeenway, The Under Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. Clerk of Court.

No. 5. J. S. Olesdon, Esq., R.M., Whangarei, to the TTndee-Seceetaey, Native Department. Sic, — Resident Magistrate's Office, Whangarei, 27th April, 1885. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Circular, No. 85-913, March 25, 1885, requesting the annual report upon the state of the Natives in the several districts under my charge, and, in reply, to report for the information of the Hon. the Native Minister as follows:— Kaipara. The Natives throughout this large district have during the past year chiefly occupied themselves in cultivating their lands, and gum-digging in those portions of the district in which gumfields exist. Their behaviour, with few exceptions, has been quiet, orderly, and loyal. Very few cases of crime have occurred amongst them, and of these only two were instances of larceny. Their general health has been good, but a number of cases of typhoid fever have appeared, some of them resulting in the death of the patients. The cause of the disease is generally ascribable to their reckless and neglectful habits, and manner of living when on the gumfields, without sufficient protection from exposure to the inclemency of winter weather, and also to their utter disregard of sanitary arrangements and precautions at their several settlements, the location of which are usually some swampy place near a creek. At a meeting of the principal chiefs of the Ngatiwhatua and Uriohau tribes at Aoteroa (Shelly Beach), a few miles from Helensville, on the 14th instant, a bust of Her Majesty Queen Victoria was set up, and twenty guns fired in honor of the event. Te Pahi Hihi, a chief from the Northern Wairoa (nephew of Parore te Awha, the old nonagenarian chief of that district, and first cousin of the late Te Tirarau) attended the ceremonial. Te Puhi Hihi was one of the chiefs who visited England about two years since, with Hirini Taiwhanga. The speeches were of the most loyal character, but as the meeting was simply an intertribal one, and of no political importance, these speeches have not beon reported. In point of numbers, the Native population of the Kaipara district are slowly decreasing, especially in the northern portions. I feel it a matter of congratulation that during the past year the Natives have given up drinking to a very great extent, cases of drunkenness amongst them having been of rare occurrence. Notwithstanding a number of attempts at agitation have been made by parties from the districts both north and south, the Kaipara people remain steadfast in their principles of peaceful relations with Europeans generally, and loyalty to Her Majesty. The schools at Otamatea, Pouto, and Woodhill are fairly attended, and, doubtless, beneficial effects will result in many instances from the education the scholars receive; but I regret to say that a certain amount of apathy and indifference which appears in the behaviour, Native parents will, for a long time to come, prevent that advancement in knowledge and study it is desirable the pupils should attain. Wiiangarei. This is the smallest in Native population of the districts under my supervision, and, at the same time, one of the richest in natural resources of gum and timber. Many of the Natives employ themselves in felling and squaring timber for the mills in the Northern Wairoa, or for private persons. Gum-digging is also a remunerative source of employment in the winter months. They cultivate a small proportion of their land, but rarely more than sufficient for their immediate requirements. The only schools now in operation are those at Mangakahia and Ngunguru, and both are fairly attended. The Mangakahia school has suffered a considerable diminution of scholars from typhoid fever, which has been severely felt in that valley. Here again, as in the earlier part of my report, the causes of the disease are mainly attributable to the unhealthiness of the localities in which the settlements or villages are situated, and the total absence of sanitary arrangements. Very few cases of this (to the Natives) terrible malady have occurred nearer Whangarei, where,