Thursday, 5th August, 1847.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 228, 6 October 1847, Page 3

Thursday, sth August, 1847.

Present — His Excellency the Governor, and all the Members, except Mr. Donnelly, and Mr. Domett. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The Governor stated that he had received the resignation of Mr. Donnelly, as member of that Council, and in consequence wished that the Council shou'd be adjourned to Saturday. The Council was adjourned accordingly, to Saturday at 2 o'clock. Reports laid on the table by the Governor, on Saturday, July 31st, 1847. Wellington, 24th June, 1847. Sic, — A year having elapsed since you were pleased to direct the employment of natives upon the military roads under my superintendence, and circumstances having caused their employment in greater numbers than was at first contemplated, I now do myself the honour to submit the result for your Excellency's consideration. In the course of the year, about 350 natives have been employed, the greatest num- ! ber at any period having been 280. They have generally received 2s. per diem, but for a short time the majority received 6d. per diem additional, fcr food. The total amount paid to natives to the 30th of last month, was £3274, and the greatest amount to any one labourer, £17 2s. 6d. During the year, and for this £3274, they have felled about twenty miles in length, by a hundred and twenty feet in width, of dense forest ; have constructed seven miles of bridle road, chiefly cut out of the side of steep hills and precipices, and have helped to construct six miles of carriage road, taking part in every operation, such as bridge making, sloping, draining, metalling, &c. This amount of labour may not equal that which the same number of expert European workmen would have accomplished, but I consider it exceeds what the same number of soldiers would have performed in the time, while the wages paid the natives have been little more than half those of European wotkmen, and when neither they nor soldiers could be obtained ; the natives have converted that which was lately Rangihieata's stronghold into the high road to the Northern settlements, already nearly practicable for the march of troops, and shortly to become so for artillery, at the same time subduing their country, and convincing themselves, by thus opening its wildest recesses, that they can afford them no permanent security. The money thus acquired, appears to have been peacefully expended in the purchase of flour, European clothing, agricultural implements, mills, cooking utensils,, and occasionally in the purchase of breeding cows and mares. In Wellington, the sale of blankets is fast giving place to that of trowsers, caps, boots, blue shirts, &c. As they have thus been employed for a year, and frequently many miles from their supplies, aud (as in the Horokiwi Valley) where the climate, from its constant cold and damp-

ness, has been very distasteful to them, I think it will appear to your Excellency, that the opinion so general here last year, that the natives were incapable of steady industry, though said to have been derived from experience, was fallacious — indeed this has become so evident to themselves, that the settlers are already outbidding the Government by giving higher wages, food, &c, and are even carrying out contracts by native labour. 1 have found it necessary, so far to modify my arrangements, as to substitute intelligent Europeans as overseers, for the rangatiras at first appointed, which has had the effect of increasing the amount of work done, causing the natives to respect the superior intelligence of the Europeans, and removing the prejudices of the Europeans against tlie natives ; the greatest good feeling has existed between them, nor have I heard a case of misconduct alleged against any one of the natives who have been in my employment. I have the honour to be, Your Excellency's most obedient servant, C. Hamilton Russell, Capt. 58th reg. Superintendent Military Roads. To His Excellency the Governor in Chief.