H.—l4a

There are a number of Waikato Natives in this district, chiefly at Waipu, working on farms and gumfields, and there are a Uw families away from home visiting relatives in the Kaipura. and Bay of Islands disl ri( Is. A kind of fever (swamp) visited the Takahiwai Set I lenient some three years ago. and a few deaths resulted. This summer the Natives (mostly young) were again struck down with the same sickness, resulting in two deaths. On the former occasion Drs. Baxter and Buck visited the kainga. and on the latter Drs. Baxter and Pomare made a visit, reporting officially to the Health Department. You will notice a number of Natives have dairy cows ; these are milking for the respective butterfactories, ami are doing very well. This industry not only keeps the families together, but encourages them to clear and grass the land. I should like to see the Department send some person to lecture amongst them, pointing out the advantages of the dairy industry. Rodney County. Mr. G. E. Thompson, sub-enumerator lor Rodney County, reports, — The Maoris have increased in the Rodney County from 132 in 1906 to 100. an increase of twentythree ; sixty-nine arc children under fifteen years of age. as compared with forty-eight in 1906 (an increase of twenty-one). I met with no sickness in any of the camps, and only one ease of asthma,. They all seemed, in good health, especially the children. Their houses and whares were in a. much bettei state of cleanliness and order, and their surroundings were cleaner and tidier than heretofore. The potatoes were a complete failure. They have no area of kumaras growing which looks very well. They have a few patches of maize and a, few acres of water-melons. There are only two engaged in the grazing of sheep and cattle, one is a bushnian. and the rest depend on gum-digging and odd da.vs labouring on public works and for farmers. Each family grow their own small patch of maize and kumaras. I consider the Maoris have more ready money and are better dressed in this county than they were five years ago. The children attend the Native school at Makarau and the public school more regular than hitherto. Waitemata ('ounty. Mr. W. R. Fosbroke, .1.1.. sub-enumerator for Waitemata County, reports, — The cultivations in tin' Maori settlements are. willi a lew exceptions, very small ; this is accounted for by the number of men who go out working for the pakeha fanners. The small amount of cropping done by the Natives is chiefly done by the women. The health of the Natives is. on the whole, good, but there is still a considerable number of chest complaints. Scrofula, a most common disease in bygone days, seems to have almost disappeared. probably owing to the disuse of putrid foods and the adoption of the pakeha diet. A good many of the Natives belonging to this district were included in the Eden census, where the Native Land Court was sitting.

2. MANUKAU, COROMANDEL. THAMES. OHINEMURI, PIAKO. MATAMATA. WAIKATO, RAGLAN, WAII'A. WEST TAUPO, OHURA, WAITOMO, AWAKINO. AND KAWHIA. Sin. Auckland, 9th May. 1911. In accordance with tin' instructions contained in your memorandum of the 19th January last, I have the honour to forward herewith a summary of the Maori census in the Counties of Manukau. Coromandel, Thames. Ohinemuri, Piako, Matamata, Waikato. Raglan. Waipa, West Taupo, Ohura, Waitomo, Awakino, and Kawhia. Matamata and Ohura are new counties, and were at the time of the last census included in the Piako and Waitomo Counties respectively. . It will be seen that, though there has been a decrease in some instances, the Maori population of the counties above enumerated has ill the past live years increased by 573 persons. The increase is. of course, slight in comparison with the large increase In the European population during the same period, but it must be remembered that the Maori .population, unlike the European, cannot be augmented by immigration, and that any increase can arise only on there being an increase of births over deaths. In this connection it is worthy of note that there is a. large excess of males of a. marriageable age (between fifteen and forty-five years) over females of a similar age. the exact figures in the counties named being 2,321 males. 2.001 females. Right through the returns it will be noticed that males preponderate in number oyer females. The taking of the Maori census is naturally a. work presenting great difficulty, inasmuch as the Native population is so scattered. I am glad, therefore, of this opportunity of placing on record my appreciation of the manner in which the various sub-enumerators have carried out their duties. 1 was fortunate ill being able to obtain the services of gentlemen who had the interests of the Native race at heart, and who had a, knowledge of their language, and I can say without hesitation that the details now forwarded compare very favourably, on the score of accuracy, with those compiled at any earlier enumeration. Many of the sub-enumerators have complained of the reluctance of some of the Natives to supply the necessary particulars, and in some places information was refused unless the sanction of the prominent chiefs was obtained. However, a threat of criminal proceedings had due effect, and thereafter no further opposition was offered.

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