H.—l4a.

6

At Te Teko, a weather-board house is in course of erection inside the new redoubt, 68 feet by 12, with partitions for orderly room, issuer's store, non-commissioned officers' and men's quarters. Also, one weatherboard building, 28 x 12, for guard room, and tools store, and a building 32 feet x 12, outside the redoubt, for officers' quarters, with two partitions. New raupo houses have been built at Fort Galatea. At Te Teko. 29 chains 17 yards of close manuka fence, with ditch and bank 3 feet wide and 3 feet deep, has been made across from one point of the river to the other, enclosing 40 acres of good land. The manuka was cut by the Native Contingent, and carted one mile ; the fence is fastened to the rails by "aka" vine. About 10 acres has been cleared, ready for sowing grass, but owing to great delay in obtaining seed, no grass has yet been sown. Old paddock, containing 12 acres : Manuka fence repaired, and clover seed sown in places where it had not taken before. Manuka dividing fence made in 12-acre paddock. Three strong double gates, 14 feet wide, made and hung to gate-posts with iron hinges; timber sawn by Native Contingent. At Fort Galatea, a manuka fence has been made, enclosing a paddock of 7 acres of land laid down in grass by Native Contingent in 1871. 450 rimu rails and 280 posts have been split at Ohui (10 miles distance), and carted down by dray for new fence on Government boundary of the 12-acre paddock at Te Teko. The erection of this fence was delayed, in order that the correct boundary line might be laid out by Captain Turner, Resident Engineer. This has been done, and the work is now in progress. All timber for use at this post has to carted a distance of 10 miles. A quantity of grass seed has lately been purchased, and will be sown at Te Teko and Fort Galatea early in August, the weather being too cold at present. In addition to the above duties, one Government bullock-dray (team) in charge of the force was engaged up to the 31st of March in conveying rations for the men stationed at Fort Galatea, and bringing timber down from that post for public works and defence purposes. Since the 31st of March the dray has been employed in carting timber from Ohui and Fort Galatea, and drawing fascines and earth for road works. The Government whale-boat at this post is, when required, used for the purpose of conveying Government tools, clothing, and other property, from and to Matata. Men of the Force have on several occasions been employed on road survey works under Captain Simpson and Mr Crapp, of the Public Works Department. In conclusion, I beg to state that the company of Native Contingent under my command is composed of active young men from 18 to 35 years of age, and are well disciplined, and under thorough control. I would suggest that they be allowed a small sum from the Public Works Department for road work, in addition to their ordinary pay. It would give them much greater zeal for their work, and would be beneficial to the public service. In event of the services of the Contingent being required in the field, I would recommend that they be armed with the .Snider carbine, instead of the long rifle, as it is a much more efficient weapon for bush fighting. I have, &c, Major Roberts, Commanding District, George Preece, Captain, Tauranga. Commanding Native Contingent.