H.—l4a

6

Bay ol Islands (Eastern Part). Constable B. I. Parsons, sub-enumerator for Hokianga (part of), reports, — Part of the living of the Maoris in this district is the fish they catch. The Rawhiti Natives are in the habit of sending fish to the Auckland market. With very few exceptions the Natives now live in floored wooden buildings. Generally their health is good. With the exception of Karetu and Tupui (Whangaroa, Harbour) their cultivations are small. During the last two years the Natives about Rawhiti. Waikare, and Whangaiuru have gone in for co-operative scrub-cutting ; it is understood their idea in so doing is that they wdl be able to hold the land. I have seen no indication of new fences or grass-seed, sown—merely the scrub cut in patches fiom Ito 5 acres up to .10 acres. In a, few instances quite good-sized holdings are found, and the owners have a considerable number of stock on them. The potato-crop is almost nil. kumaras now being the vegetable grown. Very little maize has been grown except at Karetu. Hobson County. Mr. A. C. Black, sub-enumerator for Hobson County, reports. [n compiling the Maori census for Hobson County I received valuable aid from Waaka, tc lima (Chairman of the Maori Council) and the Rev. Wiki tc Paa (advisory member of the Council), both of whom showed an enthusiastic keenness in the compiling. Natives in the Hobson County number 818, being sixty-foul less than the previous census. The decrease is, I consider, of little importance, lor numbers of Natives are constantly on the move. and. moreover, the sawmill at Naumai and farms at Raupo (both of which are in Otainatea. County) employ a fair number of Wairoa employees. It is also certain that the births far exceed deaths, and that the Maori population in these parts is on the increase. Their condition of living has during the past five years vastly improved. Old-time w hares have been replaced with comfortable timber houses, the merits of sanitation are recognized, and in many instances they dwell in better environments than do many pakehas. During the past few years epidemics of typhoid have made their appearance, and only within the last few months twenty-four cases occurred. The Health Department promptly took the matter in hand, and established a special hospital at Ripia. Six cases proved fatal, and there are eighteen cases at present under treatment ; but all the patients, lam pleased to report, are convalescent. Each succeeding winter sees a recurrence of bronchitis and pulmonary troubles, but few deaths have resulted therefrom, as pakeha medicines are instantly sought. The district has for a long time been free from the tohunga blight which exists at Hokianga. where a pakeha professes to cure every disease, and to whom. 1 am sorry to state, several branches of Maori population in '.his county at times repair to seek his skill. You will notice by the returns forwarded that the agricultural and pastoral work done since the last census was taken is gratifying. The Natives an' going in more for farming, and dairying especially appeals to them. If agricultural pamphlets printed in Maori were disseminated amongst them they would be gladly received. The population as a whole is greatly improving. The men are certainly more industrious and thrifty, and infinitely more sober : in fact, sobriety is a. marked feature amongst them. The aged people derive much appreciated benefit form the old-age pension, and are all living in comfort. It may he noted that the bulk of the Maoris in this county have been born and brought up amongst pakeha surroundings; they mostly understand English, thoroughly understand European customs, and each BUCCeeding year sees their further adoption of our generally accepted ways. As a whole, they are eminently law-abiding, and lead highly respectable lives. Otamatea County. Mr. J. H. Jackman, sub-enumerator lor Otainatea. County, reports, — I find that the number of Maoris living in this county is 151, this being an increase of forty-seven, as compared with the census of 1906. The Maoris as a whale arc in a healthy condition, with the exception of a lew cases of pneumonia and influenza. The sanitary conditions of most of the settlements seem to have greatly improved. In the agricultural districts I think you will observe that there is an increase in the acreage of land under cultivation. Wkangarei Count//. Mr. (1. H. Woods, sub-enumerator for Whangarei County, reports, — Owing to the frequent visits of the potato-blight the Natives grow very small patches of potatoes. not caring to run the risk: they chiefly grow the kimiara. They d t cultivate as formerly, a.s a tribe, each parent having their own small cultivation. The general state of their health seems good, very lew sickly persons being amongst, them. The young children seem healthy, and the younger married people have fairly large families. Through the work of the Maori Councils, they are keeping the places where they arc living in a very clean and sanitary condition. I had the Chairman of that Council with mc. and can say that in the whole of the ten days' travelling amongst them in t hose out-of-way places there were not more than five homes which we commented unfavourably on. The drinking habit does not seem to trouble the Natives : it is only when in the towns I hat a, ureal deal is indulged in.