5

H.—l4a

The Natives at Wliangape West are increasing, and in good health, mostly living on the land; a few working at the sawmill and in the bush. There is a good Native school here, well attended. The kumaras and com have no blight at all. The Natives here are willing to work the land, which does not appear to have been surveyed or apportioned, and this prevents much cultivation. At Whangape East the Natives have increased considerably, and aie mostly working on their lands. The kumaras and corn seem to grow well. There is a Native school here, also well attended. The Natives arc not healthy, living on swampy land which requires draining. This place requires regular visits by a. Sanitary Inspector. At Mitimiti the Natives are not increasing in prosperity, although the} - may be in number : gumdigging is their occupation ; the land is very poor. There is a Native school hero, well attended. At the loot of the Golden Stairs there are five families. A visit from a Sanitary Inspector seems necessary. The children are running wild. Hokianga (Centred). Mr. C. H. Irvine, sub-enumerator of Hokianga (Central) reports, — The Natives in this district are certainly on the increase, and the returns would show a larger population but for the fact llial many of the young men are away working in other districts, in sawmills and at bushfelling. There has been very little sickness and few deaths since the last census was taken : the increase in births has been considerable. The Maori houses and kaingas are much improved in comfort and cleanliness, which I think chiefly accounts for the better health of the Natives. Maori Councils are doing a lot of good work, and if a copy of each census (in Maori) could be sent to the Chairman of each Council it would be the means of removing the present apparent a ni agonistic feeling most Maoris have towards sub-enumerators. Hokianga (South). Constable 11. Cox. sub-enumerator for Hokianga (South), reports. The Maoris in this county are, on the whole, a healthy people ; no disease or epidemic has visited them since last census was taken. I regrel I cannot report any improvement in the indust rioiisness of tin' Maoris. A few of them have taken up the dairying industry, with. I am informed, satisfactory results, but it is a pity more of them do not follow the good example ; from inquiry, I was informed that, the non-individualizafion of the land was the chief cause which prevented them doing so. It frequently happens that an industrious Maori clears a piece of land and sows it in grass for the purpose of raising stock, and, when the grass grows, other Maoris interested in the block turn their stock in, thus discouraging the industrous Maori and preventing further cultivation. Very little cultivation is indulged in. each Native simply cultivating a small plot for liis own use. I'igs are scarce, owing to the action of Maori Councils in preventing pigs being allowed to stray at large. Maoris mostly follow the occupation of gum-digging, bushwork, road-work, and working at saw mills. Bay of Islands (South-western Part). Constable T. Cahill. sub-enumerator for south-western part of Bay of Islands, reports,'— According to the census I have just completed, there appears to have been a. very satisfactory increase within the last five years in the number of Maori inhabitants in this portion of the Bay of Islands. The majority of the people have an abundance of food and clothing. Excellent health has been enjoyed, and no epidemic of a serious nature has occurred. Senile decay and pulmonary diseases have been responsible for almost the whole of the mortality. Among the wealthier Natives, houses of European design are supplanting the slab whare, but the latter style of building is yet almost universally preferred. The neighbourhood is generally in a sanitary condition, which is due no doubt to the regulations of the Maori Councils. The adoption of European habits of life must, however, necessarily be a slow and gradual process. It is gratifying to note that some of the Maoris have adopted the occupation of dairy-farming. It is confined chiefly to those who possess an area of fertile land, and for whom facilities exist for the carriage of cream to the factory. The potato-blight has not been so prevalent of late as in former years, but it is still active enough to deter the Maoris from making any extensive plantations. They rely almost wholly on the kumaracrop. A very interesting innovation is observable here. A telephone system has been arranged, with Orakau as its centre. Within the last three years considerably over a hundred miles of lines have been constructed. Several remote forest villages by this means enjoy communication with the chic! centres of the district, Kawakawa and Kaikohe. Among the various settlements south of Kopuru the absence of schools is keenly felt, and the Maoris assured mc that if one or two schools were placed among them their children would derive great benefit. At Awarua. a settlement of sonic size lying sixteen miles south of Kaikohe, the Maoris asked mc to mention the fact that they were prepared to furnish a. schoolroom and a European teacher themselves if the Government would supply the necessary school equipments. In conclusion. J might say that I was afforded the fullest information and assistance by all tho Maoris with whom 1 came into contact during the course of my inquiries.