12

G.—l

It seems unnecessary forme to report on any matter connected with the Thermal Springs District, as the Government have now a special officer in charge at Rotorua. 3. Confiscated Lands. During the past year I have finished settling the titles to the lands returned to Natives in the Tauranga District; but as I am preparing a special report on this subject it is unnecessary to enlarge on it here. I have also subdivided the large Native reserve on the right bank of the Rangitaiki River, in the Whakatane District, and I have settled the titles to several other reserves in the same district. The Crown titles now in course of issue to Natives for returned confiscated lands in the Bay of Plenty have from time to time been referred to me by the Crown Lands Department, and have received careful revision at my hands. The issue of these long-delayed titles is giving great satisfaction to the Natives concerned. I have, &c, Herbert W. Braisant, Resident Magistrate, Native Officer, Bay of Plenty. The Under-Secrctary, Native Department, Wellington.

No. 7. Mr. R. S. Bush, R.M., Opotiki, to the Under-Secretary, Native Department. Sin,— Resident Magistrate's Office, Opotiki, 3rd May, 1886. In compliance with your circular letter I have the honour to furnish the usual annual report on the Natives in this district. Condition of the Natives. It affords me much pleasure to report some slight improvement in the condition of some of the tribes resident in this district, notably the Ngaitai, of Torere, and that section of the Whakatohea under Te Hira te Popo. It is to be hoped that at no distant date a like improvement may be noticeable in other sections and tribes. There is a marked decrease in the consumption of intoxicating liquors. At settlements where a great deal of spirits were given to visitors on occasions of tangis and suchlike, none is now distributed amongst those tribes residing in the eastern portion of this district. The WTianau-a-Apanui, at Maracnui and Omaio, arc the only people who are not advocating temperance principles. The Torere, Te Kaha, and Raukokore Natives, however, are becoming strong advocates of those principles, and I trust their good example may ere long be followed by the Whan'au-a-Apanui Tribe. When at Raukokore in the early part of last month, adjusting matters with respect to a site for a school, the Natives there particularly requested that no one should be appointed to their school as teacher unless he was a total abstainer. Out of a population of 3,951 Natives only seven have been convicted of drunkenness since the last annual report. This fact is the best proof of the improvement in this direction. The Whakatane Natives have much improved in their habits with respect to drink, but 1 think a considerable quantity of liquor is still consumed by them at their uhungas. The Urewera, the most uncivilized of the tribes residing in this district, when visiting our settlements, do not even indulge so freely as they did a few years ago. Until some plan can be devised to individualize the Native lands, so as each Native or family can hold his or their land separately, without the interference of the hapu or tribe, I much fear no very great improvement will be perceptible in their condition. Besides the cases of drunkenness, twelve Natives have been charged in the Police Court with the following offences: two witli assault—one convicted, and one dismissed; five with using abusive and threatening language—three convicted, and two dismissed ; two with furious riding —both convicted ; two with exposure of person —both convicted; and one, an Urewera, with larceny, for which he received seven days'" imprisonment with hard labour. In the Resident Magistrate's Court here only twelve cases have been heard in which Natives were concerned— viz., six in which Natives only were parties, and six in which Natives were defendants. No epidemic of any kind has visited the Natives during the past year. They have enjoyed average good health. No chiefs of more than ordinary importance have died except Mihaere Tamatamarangi, of the Whanau-o-te-Ihitu, the principal chief at Te Kaha. Two violent deaths, however, have taken place—viz., that of an old Native named Tumene, accidentally drowned, and that of a Native girl named Hutita, who hanged herself in the vicinity of Te Kaha. With respect to the death of Mihaere, who came here for medical attendance while suffering from a severe attack of pleurisy, I would state that this chief made rapid progress towards recovery, and there was no reason why he should have died if he had only acted up to the doctor's instructions, one of which was that he must not return home from here for at least a fortnight later than the time he actually stopped. The doctor cautioned him, when he persisted in going, of the risk and danger he ran, whereas on the other hand if he remained as suggested he could travel home without much or any risk. He would listen to neither the doctor nor myself, but started for