IN NATIVE DISTRICTS.

A.—No. 10.

5

likely to lead all the other Natives in the North to join in the same measures. I would however remark that, when the Ngapuhi petition states that the law for the European and Maori be henceforth the same, they must be taken to mean that they wish it to be the same as far as their knowledge ofthe law goes; they are however sufficiently informed to allow of the petition being made tho foundation of a progressive movement. Anel in conclusion, I beg to state that, as lam much interested and somewhat hopeful as to the measures proposed to be initiated by the Government, I shall be always most willing to give any information or assistance that my long residence here may enable me to do, to the Magistrate who may be appointed to carry those measures out. I have, &c, G. S. Cooper, Esq., Under Secretary, Native Department. P. E. Maxixg.

No. 4. Copy of a Letter from Mr. P. E. Maxing to Mr. 11. Halse. Native Lands Court Office, Sin, — Hokianga, i)th November, 1888. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter 524-1, of* the 20th ultimo, together with a copy of the Petition of several Ngapuhi Chiefs to the House of Representatives. On the 31st ultimo I had the honor to transmit some remarks on the Ngapuhi petition, as far as I understood its purport from reading the Resolution of the House of Representatives thereon. Having now the petition before me, I have nothing to add to those remarks, except in reference to the seventh paragraph of the petition, which asks for the enrolment of soldiers to support the law. On this point I would most seriously advise the Government to make no display whatever of military force, but to fairly test the sincerity of the Ngapuhi chiefs by leaving it to themselves to support the law and the magistrates, a thing most desirable, and which I think by good management they may be brought to <lo to a valuable extent, though perhaps not perfectly at first. In asking that soldiers may be enrolled, I do not think the petitioners mean anything more than that a certain number of men shall be named in each of their sections or hapu as the persons to be in the first instance called upon in case of need to support the Magistrate ; and that in case of that force being found insufficient they promise (paragraph 8) to support the Magistrate with their whole remaining power, if called upon to do so. I notice that the promise made in the eighth paragraph of the petition is made in case a murder should be committed, and suppose the reason of this implied condition, as it might appear to be, is merely that the petitioners did not contemplate any very serious resistance being made by any offenders, except where the criminal might be subject to the punishment of death. I have, &c, H. Halse, Esq., Assistant Under Secretary, F, E. Making. Native Department.

No. 5. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. C. Bahstow to the Hon. .T. C. Richmond. (No. 140.) Resident Magistrate's Court, .Sir,— Russell, 13th November, 1868. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter, as per margin, forwarding copy of a Petition from some Ngapuhi Chiefs assembled at Rawene, Hokianga. and accompanying forward a report thereupon. I have, <&c. The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. R. C. B.utsxow, R.M.

No. 378-2, Katirc Secretary's Office, Wellington, 20th October, 1868.

Petition of Hokianr/a Natives. 1. Maoris by no means object to pass resolutions declaring that laws should bind all alike, but they make a tacit reservation, each in his own individual favour. 2. Doubtless, when English law adjudges imprisonment as punishment for an offence, such punishment should, when practicable, be enforced also in a Native case ; hitherto at any rate, in many instances, a fine may be levied when imprisonment could not be attempted. The question has hence arisen, whether the alternative of a line was to be preferred to leaving an offence altogether unpunished ? 3. A. lock-up and district constable in charge are much required at Rawene, Hokianga ; the distance thence to Russell, the nearest place provided with a place of confinement is about fifty miles. Waimate, being only sixteen miles from Russell, could do without. On an emergency, a room of the Native Hostelry might be used. 4-5. The Government have apparently decided that two Magistrates shall do the work of the three (old) Hundreds of Hokianga, Waimate, and Kororareka; but Petty Sessions might easily be held at Rawene. Five Justices of the Peace reside at Hokianga, three of whom are iu receipt of pay or pension from the Government. Mr Williams. E.M., holds four Courts annually at Rawene ; these supplemented by eight sittings of Petty Sessions, would give a monthly Court. (>. Frivolous eases often arise amongst Natives, which a few words spoken in time usually settle, but I cannot indorse the memorialists' statement, that the crimes committed are very great in these districts —though within the last two years there has been an unusual amount of intertribal fighting on the subject of the disputed ownership of lands. 7. Natives always fancy that the law should be maintained by a resort io force ; they cannot comprehend the universal obligation under which all are placed, of each several individual being bound to assist in maintaining peace, or the orderly submission of each person to the judgments or decisions of 2