17

H.—l4a

counties show an increase ; all the other counties show a decrease. In the case of the Hutt and Makara Counties the decrease may be accounted for by the fact that at the time of the taking of the last census there were a considerable number of visiting Natives, and also that this year some twenty Maoris were away in the South Island. It'is also assumed that about twenty-five Maoris were absent from the Horowhenua County during the period the census was taken. It may therefore be taken as a tact that the population of the Natives in the above counties, as compared with that of last year, has increased by about 250. The sub-enumerators report that the general health of the Maoris in these counties is good there having been no epidemics amongst them. It will be worthy of note that there are two persons who are centenarians, being 101 and 102 years of age respectively. Their names are Merekaahu Rangi and Hakana Taratoa. 8 The Maoris generally have adopted the European methods of living in houses of their own in preference to the old communistic habit of living all together in big meeting-houses. They are also much more industrious than formerly, numbers going in for farming, while others have found employment as labourers, mechanics, &c. Not a few of the young lads have taken up clerical work They are, on the whole, comfortably well off, in that they have their own homes and sections, and in addition to their earnings, they are interested in what is known as the New Zealand Company's "tenths " which is administered by the Public Trustee. The old saying " Keep your cradles full," is being well carried out by the Maoris (see returns, which show 296 children under five years of age). With regard to the agricultural statistics, I am informed by the sub-enumerators that it is a difficult matter to obtain the information required. Why it should be so lam imable to say From personal knowledge I might add that in the majority of cases the sub-enumerators have not been supplied with the full areas owned by the Maoris, and on perusal of these returns it will be found in many instances that they own, say, 300 sheep and only 25 acres. If I may be permitted might I suggest that in the future the census as regards the population and general health only be taken and that the agricultural statistics be left to the Agricultural Department, which, I understand, collects annually. Further, I might mention the fact that quite a number of the Natives cultivated oats but as the census was taken after they had gathered their crops it was impossible to arrive at the'true position of the agricultural statistics. In conclusion, I beg to state that I have every confidence in the sub-enumerators appointed by mc. They are all personally known to mc, and, further, they know every inch of the districts to which they were appointed, and were well acquainted with the different kaingas and homes. Such being the case, I can confidently assure you that the taking of the Maori census for the districts intrusted to mc is accurate, and that same has been carried out as expeditiously as possible. No matter of note to warrant publication has been reported by the sub-enumerators, therefore I have made no extracts. j nave & c The Under-Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. Vm.' Pitt, Enumerator.

8. RANGITIKEI, WAIMARINO, WANGANUI, AND WAITOTARA COUNTIES. SlR '~~ T , , , Native Land Court Office, Wanganui, 12th April 1911 1 have the honour to report on the returns of the Maori census taken for the above-mentioned counties. On comparing the figures with those of 1906, it will be seen that there is a decrease of 309 persons for the combined counties. r I enclose reports by the sub-enumerators for Waimarino (inland), Waimarino, and Wanganui by which it will be seen that some of the Maoris were averse to giving information The Enumerator's summary is attached hereto. I & c The Under-Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. A. H. Mackay, Enumerator.

Extracts from Reports of Sub-enumerators. Rangitikei County.—Sub-enumerator R. Davies. ■ li?d\JightI i ? d \J ight throu g h , tne arld wherever I came across Maoris, whether amongst Europeans or in the Maori pas such as Moawhango, Mangaono, Parewanui, Turakina, and Wangaehu I found them all enjoying good health This I attribute to the fact that the old style of communistic living is fast receding, and in p ace of it each family appears to be enjoying the comforts of a private home although, of course, not far removed from one another. The majority of Maoris right through the Rangitikei County have within the last four years and since the last census was taken gone in largely for dairying, some milking as many as sixty cows in farmm BeaB ° n ' eB P e «a% around the vicinity of Taihape, have started sheepI might mention that I was not received at the Maori propheters pa at Parewanui. When I paid my first visit there the Natives got away into the bush ; others would not give their names, saying that the Government had taken all the Native lands, that the Maori mana had gone, their rangatiral had all died, and now the Government was curious to know how many survived this great battle between white and brown. Of course, I kept cool and explained the object of the census, but to no avail I therefore left and returned a few days after, again without success; so I took their names from the Maori parson, Te Iwiora.

3—H. 14a.