12

H.—26a

I experienced some little difficulty in obtaining information in three instances—at Waikawau, Kiritehere, and Te Anga. In consequence I had to get what information I could from others. You will notice that in some cases I could not get the full name, and there were six children whose names I could not ascertain at all. At Waikawau and Kiritehere the excuse given was that they were followers of Te Whiti and Tohu, and in the other case, at Te Anga, the person was an adherent of Mahuta, and declined to give any information without his permission. Mr. J. Holden, sub-enumerator for Waitomo County, states, — The general health of the Natives in my district is good, although in some of the kaingas they are very short of food. Those who are able to work earn a few shillings by fungus-picking, flaxcutting, roadmaking, &c.; but those who cannot work have a very hard time. I had no trouble in getting any information required, excepting in one case, and that person was a religious fanatic. Mr. lhaka Hotene, sub-enumerator for part of East Taupo, states, — The Natives in the East Taupo County are all well. No sickness has visited them for some considerable length of time. On reaching Murupara I was told by the Natives there that they had been already taken by the sub-enumerator for the Galatea District. I looked at my lithographic plan, and found the position of that settlement, which is at the junction of the two streams marked thereon. That place is fully a quarter of a mile south of "my northern boundary, and those persons ought therefore to be included in the census as inhabitants of East Taupo County. Mr. Te Nguha Huirama, sub-enumerator for parts of East Taupo County and part of West Taupo County, states, — At Waione I saw a good many Natives, but did not know one of them. They gave me food, but when 1 told them that I was taking the Maori census they refused to give their names. The principal persons there were Marunui (or Te Wharekoka) and his wife. They told me that they had nothing whatever to do with the Government, and that they belonged to King Mahuta. They said, "You can stop here to-night, but to-morrow morning you can leave." Early next morning I went to Ongarue, and saw Te Houpapa te Whakauruhanga. He agreed to go with me Upon arrival there he addressed the Natives, but still they refused to give the required information. We returned to Ongarue the following day, and there I managed to obtain through him the names of the Waione people. At Taumarunui some refused to give information. I found that the Natives there were greatly upset in consequence of the way in which their cattle were being killed by the train, owing to the Government neglecting to fence the main trunk railway-line. That was one reason why they refused to give their names and other information. With the assistance of Hakiaha Tawhiao I obtained the names of those who had refused to give information. I may mention that I visited places which had never before been visited by any sub-enumerator. The weather was against me, and the rivers were high. I think that the census ought to be taken some time during the summer season of the year.

i. BAY OF PLENTY. g IK __ Magistrate's Court Office, Tauranga, 25th May, 1906. I have the honour to forward my summary of the Maori census taken in the Counties of Tauranga (including adjacent islands), Whakatane, Rotorua, and Opotiki, together with a table showing the increase (the most notable of which is that in the County of Tauranga) and decrease in population, crops, and cattle in the several counties as compared with the census of 1901. Through the failure of the different kinds of crops on which most of the Maoris are entirely dependent to meet their necessary requirements, I am of opinion that it will be found necessary as the winter advances to assist them by employment on road-work. _ The Maoris in the Urewera Country have already expressed a wish to be so employed. The general health of the Natives has been favourably reported upon by all the sub-enumerat-ors engaged. There is no doubt that considerably more attention has been given to sanitary arrangements, and a marked improvement is noticeable in several of the settlements in the method of living and housing. The labour required by the Rangitaiki Drainage Board (in the Whakatane County) to carry out their scheme was undertaken by Maori contractors, who are making good wages. The flax-milling industry at Whakatane, Matata, Pongakawa, Te Puke, and Waiotapu is largely supplied with Maori labour. The Maoris at Motiti Island are placed at a great disadvantage compared with those on the mainland in not having a school on the island. Those parents who are anxious to have their children taught can only obtain their desire by sending them to their friends and relations on the mainland, which some of them do. " I have, &c, J. M. Roberts, Stipendiary Magistrate, Enumerator for the Counties of Tauranga, Whakatane, Rotorua, and Opotiki.