MAJOR MAIRS NATIVE REPORT.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1254, 13 July 1880, Page 3

MAJOR MAIRS NATIVE REPORT.

Strangely enough we have not received Major Mairs report, and we are indebted to the Star for the following summary :— Major Mair states that drunkenness, especially among the Kingites, seems to be decreasing, that the death rate during the past year has been lower than usual, and that there appears to be a growing inclination to make use of medical aid when necessary. Tawhiao is a firm believer in the old Maori adage "that the fame of the warrior is less lasting than that of the man who is industrious in the production of food" and as a consequence the King natives are far more hard-working than the Government natives or 'Kupapa.' At Kopua last season and all along the banks of the Waipa a large quantity of wheat was grown, but the prices obtained for wheat and oats were anything but encouraging, and the people turned their attention to gum digging, fully four hundred of them being now employed at the various points extending from the neighbourhood of Hamilton to the shores of the Manukau Harbour. It ia also satisfactory to know that crime is decreasing, and that when Maoris come before the courts they are treated just as Europeans would be. There have not been any large political meetings during the past twelvemonth, but Tawiiiao has had numerous small gatherings of chiefs at Hikurangi chiefly with a view to consolidating his people, who have shewn a disposition to drift away from their allegiance. This has been in a great measure brought about by the desire of the people to sell land, and Tawhiao feels that so long as he can keep this desire in check he will retain some portion at least of his authority; but the only way in which he can prevent land-dealing within theSUstrict called the "King country" is to have the people constantly under his eye* and, yielding to his wishes in this respect, Rewi, Wahaoui, Taonui, Te Rerenga, Matuahu, and other leading chiefs have consented to make Hikurangi their head-quarters, and bring all their followers there to live. Major Mair doesn't think the plan will answer, as numbers of the natives will not respond, and those who do are likely to quarrel. It is however, he points out, clear that Tawhaio wishes to live at peace with all men. He has no sympathy with aggressive action, andfor this season no outbreak on the West Coast is even likely to take place, &s, unless assured of his aid Te VVhiti and Tohuwoul^ never dare to resort to arms. In conclusion Major Mair states that the native affairs in his district are in a tolerably satisfactory state. The large reductions made a few months since in the salaries of native officials and pensioners produced in some instances a little soreness, and there were not wanting gratuitous advisers who fostered this feeling and made it their business to impress upon the natives that it was the beginning' of a policy of oppression under which the Maoris would gradually lose all their rights. This soreness has in a great measure passed away. It was explained to them that it was necessary for the general welfare that large reductions in the expenditure of the colony should be made, and afortZiat European officers suffared as well, Wides which, the natives recognized the fact that none of them ever performed any duty worth naming, and the sources which gave had a right to take away. ______

Cattle plague has made its appearance in several parts of China.' Baled hay is now being exported from New York to England and Cuba. Sheep husbandry inFranceis declining. At one time the number of sheep in that nation was 40,000,000. It had declined to 30,000,000 in 1870, and stall later there was a decline of over 5,500,000 in nx yoars,