F.—No.

3

The Hon. the Native Minister to Officers in Natite Districts. ■Sir, — Alexandra, 3rd June, 1872. As the General Assembly is about to meet, I have to request that you will, with the least possible delay, be good enough to furnish a general Eeport of the Natives in the district in which you are stationed; the state of Native feeling generally; their moral and physical condition ; their or otherwise to agricultural pursuits; the progress of public works undertaken by the Natives, and any other information which may bo interesting to the country. Donald M'Lean.

No. 1. The Resident Magistrate, Mangonui, to the Hon. the Native Minister. Resident Magistrate's Office, 'Sir, — Mangonui, 21st June, 1872. I have the honor to report that the Natives of this district are quietly and peacefully pursuii their usual avocations ; their feeling towards the Government has always been of the most friend] and indeed, dependent character, for they know perfectly well that their geographical position, as w( as their comparative paucity of numbers would compel them to look outside for support, and thi appreciate the fact that the Government can and does afford the most trustworthy support. Prom n first intercourse with them, September, 1848, I have never had occasion to doubt this. I can venture to report a more favorable state of morality. Very few cases have been broug before the Courts ; they seem to live in more friendly intercourse, and with one or two exceptioi which I think are naturally accounted for (about land) no disputes or quarrels have occurred. I am glad to report upon what may be called enthusiasm, which has seized the people relative schools ; that at Pukepoto continues to afford general satisfaction, the children improve wonderfull Mr. Masters, I was informed by Colonel Russell, was to receive £20 per annum extra from t) Government in lieu of Timoti Puhipi's contribution. At Awanui the children are also getting on we Colonel Russell informed me that authority was to be given me for £10 for this school, which I ha not received. At Ahipara the schoolhouso will be completed in about six weeks. At Parengaren; the Natives have the timber ready (or most of it), and are only waiting to know what the Governme: will do for them. , < The people at Kaitaia and Victoria want to start a school, and are prepared to do as at Ahipa and Parengarenga. I have written on this subject to Colonel Russell. I am not at all sanguine that th enthusiasm will last; I fear the people will fall off in their contributions, and I cannot help regrottii that the Native contribution has been dispensed with at Pukepoto, as it will form an example f< others to resist or refuse to pay after expense has been incurred in the erection of buildings, &c, & The people have been much occupied in kauri gum digging, and though this pursuit is no dou profitable to them, I fear it is fraught with evil to the races of the North, generating, as it must d from the exposure and want of proper food, all sorts of disease. This call upon their energies is mui greater than in former years ; there is more competition, consequently they are induced by the hi_; prices generally ruling to work all through the year, and in the winter months great mortality ensue I have been often, more particularly of late, urged to represent to the Government the advisability > appointing a medical man to attend them ; we are unfortunately circumstanced in that respect, the; is not a medical man in the district. Mr. Trimnell, it is true, is farming at Pukepoto, but he will m attend to medical practice except he receives a very high fee, and is very inattentive j consequentl he is beyond the reach of the inhabitants. I am satisfied that if the Government could give a salai of say £150 to a medical officer, that he would make a good income by general practice amongst tl Europeans. In agriculture there has been a marked improvement, ploughs, carts, and Europea implements and style of farming are much adopted. A much larger quantity of wheat has been sovs this year than for years back ; post and rail fencing, laying down grass, &c, which show a ya improvement in their views on this subject. Many of the young men here have taken contracts 1 draw timber from the bush with their own bullocks, and show an unmistakable desire to share wil the Europeans the profits of industrial pursuits. With regard to public works, all that have been undertaken by the Road Boards of Ahipara ar Mangonui, the Natives have shared in the profits ; taking contracts from the Board to form road make culverts, &c, an^ have performed their work well. Under the Provincial Goverment, money hi been spent on the bush road to Victoria Valley, the contracts being almost entirely taken up t the Natives, but the sums spent here have been comparatively very small. Much disappointment is fe throughout the district, by both Europeans and Natives, that no work was undertaken, as wi generally understood at the end of last Session would be, by the Public Works Board. Mr. Katen

REPORTS FROM OFFICERS IN NATIVE DISTRICTS.