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EL—3l

district I found many of the Native hamlets deserted of man, the people thereof having removed, bag and baggage, to the Messiah camps, of which more anon. At such places (seven of the principal kaingas) there was no person from whom I could obtain information anent work done, &c. I hoped to obtain such notes from the Council-members at the meeting of the 20th March, but five of the members absented themselves from that meeting. I have frequently asked members to send in reports of work done, &c, when they 'do not attend meetings, of which request not the slightest notice is taken. It is also necessary to explain my inability to visit hamlets with any degree of frequency. I am in receipt of a travelling-allowance of £20 per annum. As I have to pay for horse-hire, horse-feeds, ferries, and my own accommodation when travelling, it means that the allowance will not admit of more than twenty-six days' travelling in the course of the year. Now, out of this at least eight days are consumed in attending Council meetings. In 1906 there were five Council meetings that I attended, besides the election of new members, which occupied two days and a half. These expenses have to come out of the £20. Also any expenses incurred in carrying out instructions from Captain Mair, Mr. Edgar, or others —all have to come out of the same sum. With the balance I am supposed to visit all settlements in the district four times per annum. Comment is needless. Yet again, I am supposed to insist on certain sanitary improvements where needed, and, if necessary, to summon those who heed not. This course I cannot possibly pursue. It is marked "N.S.F." Natives observe this apathy and lack of coercion, and ignore all advice, instructions, &c, in respect to sanitary improvements —hence impure drinking-water, stagnant sloughs, ffiko rauraha and typhoid fever at Tauarau. These people are not superior to or more amenable than Europeans, and should be made to respect and obey such laws as it is deemed advisable to enforce by the same process as is employed in dealing with Europeans. They must be made to keep kaingas decent, to erect and use latrines, &c. It is of no avail to ask or advise them to do these things. Observe that in all such useful work as sanitary improvements I receive no support from the Council. They never back me up in the slightest degree. Registration of Births and Deaths. —You will observe that the numbers have fallen off considerably. This is owing to the number of births and deaths not having been registered. I suspect the Messiah craze to be responsible for this. The situation is not satisfactory, -inasmuch as Natives simply please themselves as to whether they register or not. This law should be enforced. The Messiah Craze. —This peculiar cult is as strong as ever, and will not, apparently, soon fall into innocuous desuetude. A great number of Kua's followers have been for some time past living at large camps —one at Haupapa, one at Te Waimana, and one near Te Teko. All Natives have been warned by Rua to leave their homes, sell all portable property, and go and live on the hills in order to avoid an appalling deluge which is soon to overwhelm all lowlying lands. At Te Waimana I recently found sixty tents full of Natives so living, besides numerous parties living in whares, cottages, &c. Many left Ruatoki, sold horses, ploughs, &c, and are now living at Kekataone, as we term the Waimana camp. These people have ceased to work for Europeans, and are spending their money on food-supplies. You will ere long hear a cry for Government assistance. The influence of these madmen is also seriously affecting the Native schools, and militates against the success of any plans for the betterment of the Natives. Outbreak of Enteric Fever at Buatoki. —This outbreak does not in any way surprise me, for the conditions of life at the Tauarau kainga are by no means of a healthful nature. There is a body of stagnant foul water just below the hamlet, the water used for domestic purposes is bad, and the people will neither build nor use latrines. Those they were forced to build for the meeting three years ago are not used by the people. I have spoken and written to these people about improving their kainga, all of which remarks were treated with the silence and apathy that betoken contempt. It is unfortunate that two Natives here were obliged to desist from taking milk to the loTuil dairy factory owing to this epidemic. The few W T aimana Natives who were milking for the factory have now ceased to do so. The only marked improvement in the building line is in the line of guest-houses or meetinghouses, four of which have lately been erected. Much of the spare moneys has been donated by Natives to Rua, who is utilising it to purchase food for his camp of loafers. The few Natives left at Waikirikiri, Ruatoki, have cut a track from their hamlet up the range near by, through fern and scrub, so as to be able to quickly escape from the predicted deluge when it comes. The sickness at Tauarau has not claimed any more victims the past few days, and may possibly disappear soon. I have had si talk with Numia, of Tauarau, and asked him to help me to get the Natives to improve that place. Elsdon Best, Sanitary Inspector. Russell, Bay of Islands, 27th March, 1907. Dr. Pomare, Health Officer to the Maoris, Wellington. Salutations to thee. Herewith I send my annual report. The people in this district have been alive to the advantage accruing from the possession of proper houses. A great difference can be seen throughout this district during the last few years. Nearly all the old whares have been destroyed, and the order of the day is the " whare pakeha."