New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, JULY 23, 1875.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4475, 23 July 1875, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, JULY 23, 1875.

Among the papers presented to Parliament are despatches trom the Governor of New Zealand to the Secretary of State. The first in the series is a despatch from Sir James Fergusson, dated from Government House, Auckland, June Bth, 1874, giving an interesting account of his tour through the native districts of the North Island. Although somewhat out of date, this despatch is not without interest to the general reader. He states that he left Napier on the 16th of March, and travelled by Lake Taupo to Tauranga. This is a well-known route, being the mail coach line opened under the administration of the Native Minister since 1869. Sir James had an opportunity of meeting four considerable bodies of natives during this journey. He says: "They are. "uniformly contented and well affected. " They prize highly the advantages they "enjoy by means of the main line of " road now complete through the district, " along which a mail coach now runs " twice a week, travellers and live stock " are continually passing, and the electric "Jelegraph is in operation. Several ""schools are established, and are well "attended. At Ohinemutu, Rotorua, I " visited one attended by nearly fifty chil- " dren, whose attendance and drill were "remarkably good. The chief requests "made to me were for more roads, " telegraphs, and schools. Towards " the support of the last they are " willing to make liberal grants of lands." This must have been a gratifying report for Lord Carnarvon to receive from a New Zealand Governor, so different from the tone of similar despatches not so very long ago. Then follows a narrative of his Excellency's tour in the Upper Waikato and Taupo district from Auckland. On this occasion Sir James was accompanied by Governor T>v Cane, of Tasmania, the Colonial Secretary, and all the local officers of Government. Speaking of industrial progress, Sir James writes : '' Settlement is rapidly increasing in '' Waikato, and fine farms are to be seen " throughout the district, indicating a " growing sense of security and an in- " creasing investment of capital. The " railway is in course of construction as " far as Newcastle, where there are coal- " mines; and its completion so far, " which may be expected by the end of " another year, cannot fail both to ad- " vance rapidly the progress and pros- " perity of the district, and to secure it " against disturbance from without." From Cambridge, Sir James FERacsson and party travelled, without any unusual escort, through the native district to Rotoraa, by a track not previously traversed by any Governor. Here he had an opportunity of witnessing the settlement of the long-standing dispute for the Horohoro block, the native disputants leaving it to the arbitration of the Governor.

On the 13th May Sir James left for the northern districts, visiting the Bay of Islands, Hokianga, Wangaroa, and Mongonui, the districts occupied by Napughi and Rarawa clans. He observes of this journey : "It is gratifying to see the " cordial relations existing between the " Europeans and Natives throughout the " Northern district. Large numbers of " the latter are employed by farmers, " timber merchants, and others at the " current wages of the colony, with " mutual satisfaction." The despatch concludes with the following paragraphs, which we copy entire :

It is proper that I should inform your Lordship that during the last two months there have been decided indications of a desire, on the part of the Hauhau party among the Maoris, to put an end to their estrangement from the Government. Their chiefs appear to ho divided among themselves, and both they and their people desire to share in the advantages which the loyal tribes enjoy. A meeting lately held by Tawhiao, the Maori King, for which preparations had been made during many months, and which had probably been intended to unite his party, proved a failure, and upon its separation the principal chiefs came to the neighborhood of the frontier, where they have stated that they remain in hopes of receiving terms from the Government. A loyal chief of the Waikato, who has for many years been active in support of the Government, has twice waited upon me, and assured me of his belief in the willingness of the separated tribes to come under subjection, provided that they be permitted to manage their own affairs under their own chiefs, upon which basis they would be ready to admit communication through the district, and provide for the surrender of criminals. I trust that the Government will not lose an opportunity of so desirable a consummation, but in tho moantime nothing is being done, on account of the absence of Mr. McLean,- the Native Minister, upon public business in Australia. It remains to be seen, indeed, whether tho Hauhau chiefs are really disposed to surrender their independence, a stop which would bo distasteful to many of their followers. With the exception of the danger of incursions of some turbulent members across the boundary, against which due precautions are taken, there is no disturbing element in connection with the native population. Europeans are constantly becoming more intermixed with them, and they more habituated to, and dependent upon, the comforts of European products, and the monoy derived by the sale or lease of their lands.

There is.lhowever, much cause for regret in the demoralising influences which invariably accompany the influx of Europeans. Few natives of any class can resist the temptation to drink, habitually and to excess, while they have the means of indulging in it. There are chiefs who set an example of sobriety or total abstinence, but it cannot be doubted that the frequent excess in ardent and often bad spirits by both sexes, and their inordinate use of tobacco from a very early age, are permanent causes of the rapid and almost general diminution of the numbers of this fino and capablo race, which is presented alike by the paucity of births, and the mortality among the children (rather than among the infants). At tho same time there is reason to hope that a remnant will bo saved, and that the considerable number of children receiving instruction upon the English system in our schools may raise up a certain number so educated as to resist the temptations which proved fatal to so many. The full capacity, both of Maoris and half-castes, to acquire and employ all branchos of knowledge, Induces the belief that there will long survive in New Zealand representatives, and more widely infusions, of the Mhori race. I wish that some systematic effort were made to fit tho children of chiefs by higher education, for their proper work among their people, and even for taking a part in tho future Government and business of the country. In spite of the comparative failure of some former attempts, I hope, through private association, if not by the action of the Government, to set on foot some definite organisation for this purpose. Since then, much that Sir James suggested as possible has been realised, and his successor in the Government, Lord Normanby has been able to announce to Parliament, in his opening speech, that the estrangement between a section of the native people and the Government is nearly at an end, King Tawhiao having sought an interview with Sir. Donald McLean to talk over matters with him. Lord Carnarvon, on the 30th July last, expressed the satisfaction of the Imperial Government at the receipt of Sir James Fergusson's despatch.