G.—l

14

Napier District. There is but little change in the condition of the Natives in this district during the past year. The health of the Natives has been fairly good, and no epidemic has visited the district. I regret to report the death of the loyal chief Harawira te Tatare, who was a thoroughly good man of the old stamp of Maori chiefs, who are now rapidly dying out. During the first part of the year a number of blocks of land were leased to Europeans, and a few were sold; but since the Ist of January only a few transactions have taken place—in cases where lessees wished to complete their titles. The Natives have not availed themselves of " The Native Lands Administration Act, 1886 ": the reason given is that they object to handing over their lands to Native Committees, as they have no confidence in them, and that they consider the proceeds of the land would be swallowed up in charges ; they think that the 5 per cent, should cover all expenses except survey, and that the Native land duty should be abolished with regard to sales under the Act. The following cases were disposed of in the Besident Magistrate's Court; Napier, Hastings, Waipawa, Ormondville, and Woodville, in which Natives were concerned:— Criminal cases : Cattlestealing—committed for trial, 2 : breach of municipal by-laws—convicted, 3 ; assault—convicted, 1; dismissed, 1; drunkenness—convicted, 9 ; disorderly conduct—convicted, 1; Sheep Act—convicted, 5; dismissed, 1 ; railway by-laws—dismissed, 1; wilful damage, convicted, 1; Police Offences Act —convicted, 1; vagrancy—convicted, 1; lunacy —convicted, 5 ; discharged, 1. There were only two cases of a serious nature, and, taking into consideration the Native population in the district, the number of cases is, lam pleased to say, very small. Civil cases : Between Europeans and Natives, 111; amount sued for, £1,495 14s. 7d.; recovered £976 9s. Between Natives and Europeans: Three cases—amount sued for, £29 18s. 9d.; recovered, £14 19s. 9d. Between Natives only : One case—amount sued for, £35 ; recovered, £20. Industrial Pursuits. —The Natives planted large quantities of wheat and oats, but the crops were not very good owing to the drought; they however harvested a very fair amount at the several settlements. The potato crops were generally a failure. Wairoa District. This district maintains its character for orderly behaviour amongst the Natives. The following cases have been heard at the Besident Magistrate's Court : Assault —convicted, 1; dismissed, 1; malicious injuries—convicted, 2; dismissed, 2; larceny—convicted, 3; Public Works Act —dismissed, 1; Dog Begistration Act—convicted, 11 ; dismissed, 3; drunkenness—convicted, 3; discharged, 1; dismissed, 2; lunacy—committed, 3. The Maori population is 2,044, against 1,115 Europeans. The criminal and summary cases against Maoris were thirty-three, against Europeans fifty-one, thus showing that there is comparatively little crime amongst the Natives. Industrial Pursuits. —The Natives have been fairly industrious this year. The following crops have been grown by the Natives of Wairoa and Mahia: Wheat, 4,42obushels; oats, 3,576 bushels ; maize, 10,882 bushels. Their sheep have produced 186 bales of wool, and at Te Mahia the Natives have captured thirty whales, which produced 43 tons of oil, valued at £879. A great deal of sickness has prevailed amongst the Natives of this district. The loyal old chief Maraki Kohea, I regret to say, died suddenly a few months ago ; and Hotene te Arahi, a minor chief of the Kahu Tribe, died recently. • I have, &c, George Peeece, The Under-Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. Besident Magistrate.

No. 12. Mr. W. J. Butlee, Land Purchase Officer, Wanganui, to the Undee-Secretary, Native Department. Sir,— Wanganui, 18th May, 1887. In compliance with the instructions contained in your circular letter of the 24th ultimo, I have the honour to report upon the state of the Natives in the Wanganui District. It is a matter for congratulation that, although large numbers of Maoris from all parts of the country lying between Taupo and Otaki have been congregated here during a considerable portion of the year, only a few criminal charges have been brought against them, and these mostly of a trivial character; a prosecution for rape being the only serious case, in which the accused was acquitted. About a dozen convictions for drunkenness for the year are recorded in the books of the Besident Magistrate's Court, which, taking into consideration the number of Natives moving about for months with nothing whatever to do but to try and amuse themselves, cannot be considered large; and, although it is possible that offenders against the law in this respect may have escaped punishment, it is none the less a fact that there has been less drunkenness among them during the last twelve months than there was in the year preceding, and not for the want of means for obtaining drink, because there has been more money circulating among them during the last year than ever before. This is a healthy sign, and, with the absence of serious crime, may fairly be taken as an indication that the moral character of the Maoris is improving. it is gratifying also to be able to state that fewer of the Natives properly belonging to Wanganui now find their way to Parihaka to waste their time and money in supporting Te Whiti, than was the case even so late as last year : in fact there are very few Wanganui Maoris at Parihaka to-day, and many,of those who have returned express their intention of remaining at home, being convinced that the prophet's predictions will never be fulfilled. Those living in localities occupied by Europeans around Wanganui are fairly prosperous, and evince a desire to improve their condition, a number of them having erected wooden dwelling-houses and invested in stock; but I regret to