9

H.—26a

storms and floods. I notice that, as a matter of fact, the books supplied for the taking of this census were headed as for " the third week in February," which I know was the time when the Maori census was taken in 1891. Under separate covers, I am forwarding to you eighty-four books containing returns received from sub-enumerators, together with twenty-six unused books. 1 have, &c, H. Dunbae Johnson, Enumerator. The Under-Secretary, Native Department, Wellington.

Extracts from Reports op Sub-enumerators. Mr. Mita Karaka, sub-enumerator for Waiheke and Ponui (or Chamberlain's) Islands, states, — At both islands the general health of the Natives is fairly good. There were complaints, however, of a general attack of what appears to have been a kind of colic (he ngau puku), which lasted several days, but there was no mortality. The cause of this sickness is obscure. There was a general willingness to assist me in my inquiries. The potato-crop was a complete failure owing to blight. The people therefore hope that their distress will procure them help. Their only source of sustenance from the land is a small crop of kumara, which can only last a short time. I sincerely indorse the above application. The same remarks apply to the Maori crops on Ponui Island. Mr. A. E. Mellsop, sub-enumerator for part of Manukau County, states, — Throughout the district I found very few Maoris residing in their regular homes, except in Henare Kaihau's settlement, in Waiuku-Tahunakaitoto. They are scattered about, working in small gangs—usually about a dozen at each camp—either draining or clearing land, or cutting flax for Europeans, or else gum-digging. From Waiuku to Mercer I might say that the Natives have absolutely no potatoes, owing to the ravages of the potato-blight. This I believe to be the principal reason for their being out working, as really they have no food at their own home. Nevertheless, there appears to be plenty of suitable work available for them, at which they can make current wages, and, therefore, it cannot be said that they are suffering any hardships through the potatoblight, With regard to the health of the Natives, I did not see or hear of any sickness in any part of my district. I also found them more willing than I ever knew them to be previously to give the information required of them, with the exception of a few cases where they stated that they had previously been taken by Remana. Then I simply had to prove my district by the map, and they gave me the required information. I have taken n district for collecting the Maori census each of the last four or five times that the census has been taken, and never previously knew them to be even half so scattered as they are at present. Mr. A. A. Preece, sub-enumerator for part of Coromandel County, states, — The country (in Coromandel County) is very rough, wooded, and mountainous, and therefore cannot be got over as speedily as level country could be. The duty has been performed with the utmost care, accuracy, and speed possible, and can be relied upon as correct, every Native settlement and every cultivation being visited and inspected, thus extracting full information from the Natives of each settlement, which information I have noted down. The Natives were mostly away in the mountains and swamps digging gum, scattered all over the district—not many in each camp. This is the first time in this district that all the Native settlements have been visited by the subenumerators, and, therefore, a great difficulty lias been experienced in extracting the "necessary information from the Natives, as the matter appears entirely new to them. They think it is for the purpose of taxing them on their land, crops, and stock, stating that there must be some evil in connection therewith, as it was quite a new matter to them, and, therefore, must carry with it fresh troubles. The} , say that they are being continually troubled with suchlike, and refer to the dog and land tax, arguing on that as a proof of trouble. Re the health of the Natives in this district, I may say that they appear to be, as a rule, very healthy, there being very few cases of sickness. All I can report are a few cases of infantile ailments and two cases of consumption, which I have noted down in the census books. One of these Natives, an old man, has died since being entered—namely, Hopa Hakima, eighty-six years of age. So far there is no other sickness in the district, excepting a few cases of muscular rheumatism and a few cases of influenza. I have seen three cases of want—by two men and a girl. These are all crippled, and cannot do anything to support themselves, but they are not old enough to receive the old-age pension. Something should be done for them. The Charitable Aid Board say that the Act allows no provision for them, as it only applies to Europeans, not to Natives. Mr. J. W. A. Preece, sub-enumerator for part of Coromandel County, states, — The Natives in my division of the county, with a few exceptions, are merely gum-diggers, and are continually moving their camps from place to place in search of kauri-gum. As you will see, they are an entirely mixed lot, being Natives from all parts and all tribes, and very much scattered about in search of gum. A considerable amount of unwillingness was shown by the Natives in giving the necessary information, as they considered that there was some harm to result from the census-taking.

2—H. 26a.