REPORTS ON THE STATE OE THE NATIVES AT

A.—No. 4,

8

Lands Court, about one half have been either for land previously disposed of, or were encroachments into such pieces. Education. In the first place there are in this neighbourhood but few children to educate, secondly, the Natives by no means now place the value upon its benefits which they used to do. Education in their own kaingas (villages), I look upon as futile, children will be sent to school when parents like, or they themselves choose to go, and maintenance of regularity or discipline is impracticable. At the Church Mission School recently established at "Waimate, when a demand of £1 a year from the parents of the younger boys was made for the purpose of providing suitable clothing, although the children were well fed, taught, and clad, every boy (some 30 or 40) was withdrawn from the school. I am afraid that even education has its disadvantages as well as its blessings, the girls educated at the old Waimate Mission School, through they even now continue to be tidier and cleanlier than their untaught sisters, have not proved more virtuous. Several of the boys brought up at St. John's College have distinguished themselves by taking a prominent part on the rebel side in the late war, thus displaying their gratitude for our exertions on their behalf. Representation. Maoris here are utterly indifferent to representation, they say that we Pakehas have passed a law that they should be represented and how; that this preliminary procedure is wrongs that we should have consulted them as to the number of representatives, and manner of electing them ; that as we have initiated the plan, we had better carry it out. I would advise the repeal of " The Sale of Spirits, &c, to Natives Act, 1846," this law is habitually broken both by whites and Natives, and the Government cannot enforce its observance ; the disregard with impunity of one law tends to lessen the respect in which the remainder of a code is held, and I believe that the Maoris drink more out of bravado, than they would do, if they could legitimately procure a supply. They have even commenced distilling their own spirituous liquors, and I have been informed that three stills are in operation between Waimato and Hokianga. Lastly, whether it may be that youth is the time for sanguine views, and that with age comes distrust and. despondency, I must confess that the longer I dwell among my dark-skinned brethren the more I become impressed with a conviction that no means can now be adopted which would arrest, or even sensibly protract the decadence of the Maori race. It may be that when but a few, a handful, of survivors remain, our control over these shall "be so direct and absolute, that we may be able to enforce sanitary and dietary regulations, and as it were compel them to exist in spite of themselves ; it is painful to stand by with folded hands and let be, but I am bound to admit that I can suggest no remedy for what to me appears the inevitable passing away of the Maori. E. C. Babstow, Eussell, 7th March, 1868. Ecsident Magistrate, Eussell.

P. C. Barstow, Esq. continued.

Enclosure in No. 5. CENSUS of NATIVE POPULATION, Hundred of Kororareka, 1st November, 1864.

Natives have but indistinct ideas of the ages of themselves or families ; and unless you can jrat such a distinct question as, " Was the birth previous to the burning of Kororareka? " the reply would be of little value: the limit of eighteen was fixed for the purpose of using an era well known to all these Maoris. E. C. Babstow, Resident Magistrate.

Residence. Ilapu. Men. Women. Male Children under 18 years. Female Children under 18 years. Total. Eatapouri Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Vsukaxe iawhiti Do. Kainga Kuri Whanauwhero Akitai Patutahi Urioliikiliiki Ngatiwai Ngatikura ... Aupouri Kapotai Ngatikopae Ngaitawakea Ngatikuta ... Te TJrihaku Parupuha ... 9 23 3 10 7 16 14 4 34 18 35 8 5 7 8 14 2 5 5 4 7 1 34 10 36 9 3 6 4 8 1 1 3 1 9 0 21 2 11 11 2 0 7 9 0 0 3 1 4 0 10 3 8 1 2 2 28 54 6 16 18 22 34 5 99 28 90 29 12 15 toturua 'aroa [ororareka Arohia and Motu 15 22 11 1 Mixed 49 Total 203 166 85 51 505