15

G.—l

report that their relatives residing on the Upper Wanganui Biver above Pipiriki are living in a wretched state : their dwellings are mostly mere hovels, not even wind- or rain-proof, and with the most filthy surroundings ; their clothes are of the most unsuitable description, and not the slightest regard is paid to the most common laws of health. This is more particularly noticeable at Otapu and the Manganui-a-Te-Ao settlements, where the inhabitants are converts to the Paitini Hau religion, and employ most of their time in travelling about from place to place performing religious ceremonies. It is to this mode of life, I think, that the decrease in numbers of up-river Natives shown in the last census returns may, at any rate, be partly attributed. At Pipiriki and Hiruharama it is pleasing to note a very different state of things. Here the Natives are far more advanced. Their houses are neat and clean, and in good repair. Many wooden dwellings have been and are now being erected, giving the settlements an exceedingly attractive and home-like appearance. The advancement has, no doubt, been brought about to a great extent by the influence of the Boman Catholic Mission established at Hiruharama, where a fine church has been built and a school started, which is effecting a wonderful change for the better in the behaviour and condition of the children in. the neighbourhood. Judging by the results at Hiruharama, it would seem that the establishment of schools in the Manganui-a-Te-Ao Valley and at Taumarunui would be attended by the most beneficial results to the Natives there. The crops generally in the district have been good, and sufficient to provide plenty for all. There has been no lack of pork and potatoes at any of the kaingas visited on my trips, and in season, quantities of fruit, such as apples, cherries, and quinces, are produced without any cultivation or care—a fact which goes far to show that the valleys off the Wanganui Biver will, when brought into a proper state of cultivation, produce fruit of almost any kind, and in quantities to supply all demands. The Native Land Court, which has recently completed its session here, investigated the title to considerable areas of land, including the Baetihi, Ngapakihi, and Urewera Blocks, on the main trunk line of railway; and most of the Natives interested have returned to their homes, on the whole well satisfied with the Court awards. Serious complaints, however, have been made by them of the want of accommodation while attending Court in support of their claims to land, and with some reason, for no doubt they are subjected to hardships on these occasions when they are compelled, in their own interests, to be in attendance for a great length of time, which they would not perhaps feel so severely if sittings of the Court were held at shorter intervals, and were not so protracted as they are at present. Large areas of land have been acquired by the Crown from the Native owners during the year, the most important being the Waimarino Block, which has a frontage of about thirty-five miles to the Main Trunk Eailway. The purchase of this block was commenced on the 14th of April of last year, and last month the Court made an award of 417,500 acres to the Crown for the interests acquired, the balance of 41,000 acres remaining to those of the owners who preferred to retain their interests. The health of the Maoris has been as good as could be expected, taking into consideration the way in which they live. There has been no serious epidemic among them. During the last sitting of the Court, however, the death-rate, among them was seriously large: they were all living in tents, some of which were old and of inferior quality, affording little shelter in bad weather. The mortality was principally among children who caught cold from exposure, and invalids suffering from serious complaints who were brought down from the settlements, there being no one to attend, them there. There were also several deaths from measles, which might possibly have been prevented by the medical treatment applied, if the patients had been better housed. I have, &c, W. J. Butler, The Under-Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. Land Purchase Officer.

No. 13. Mr. W. Bennell, Native Officer, New Plymouth, to the Under-Secretary, Native Department. Sic,— New Plymouth, 29th April, 1887. In my last annual report I mentioned that the Natives of this district were very unsettled, and employed themselves in inarching about in large bodies up and down the coast from the White Cliffs to Patea, at the instigation, primarily, of the Parihaka leaders, Te Whiti and Tohu. This at length culminated, during the month of July last, in their attempting to take possession of European freehold land and build thereon. The ring-leaders, including Te Whiti, were arrested, tried, and served a term of imprisonment in Wellington gaol. During the imprisonment of Te Whiti everything was quiet in Native matters along the coast. After his release and-return to Parihaka a me3ting was held here, at which a large number of Natives attended, expecting some important revelation or advice ; but, so far as I have learnt, nothing of a startling nature took place, Te Whiti merely advising the Natives in an ambiguous manner to stop at their own homes for the present. This meeting was held in February, and since then the Natives have been quietly living at their own villages, comparatively few visiting Parihaka, and no renewal of the marching up and down the coast by large bodies of Natives has since been attempted. It would be premature to say what effect the lesson Te Whiti has had will produce on his fanatical mind, but there can be no doubt that it has fully shown to the Natives the ability and intention of the Government to punish any attempt to disturb the peace of the district, and that no offender is now safe from arrest by the police, no matter where he may shelter himself. In the southern portion of the district (Patea and Waitotara) the Natives have returned