G

G.—2

treatment until the Maori doctor has exhausted his skill, and naturally enough, when brought to the hospital, are past all hope. The Hauhaus often send their sick to the hospital for medical treatment. A little girl from one of their settlements met with a very serious accident from a thrashing-machine: one arm was broken and the other dislocated. On being brought to the hospital she was promptly attended to by Dr. Bell, who was in medical charge of the Constabulary and Natives during Dr. Armitage's severe illness. The child is so far recovered that she will be able to return to her own home iv a few days. The Whareroa School is steadily progressing, and since the building of a weather-board house for the accommodation of pupils coming from a distance, the attendance has been greatly increased. There are at present thirty-six scholars on the returns. The school is now under the charge of Major Wood, late master of the Eotoiti School, he having succeeded Mr. Oldfield, who resigned. During the summer vacation a certain number of the Maketu scholars came to Whareroa, by invitation of the scholars of that village, for the purpose of trying their skill at the different English games, such as cricket, football, &c, which were well contested, aud on the whole would have done credit to many of our English schools. I hope to be able to send in, shortly, a correct return of all the Natives in this district: the chiefs are making out lists of the names of every individual in their several hapus. I think, if I were supplied with a set of Eegistrar's Books, I might induce them to register the births and deaths occurring among them. I regret that my many duties prevent me from visiting the Natives as often as I would wish. They like to be visited at their own villages, and shown that some interest is taken iv their agricultural and other pursuits. When Ido visit them I always receive a very hearty welcome. During the past year no public work has been undertaken by the Natives. Many have been employed, during the harvesting, by the settlers: they have given great satisfaction, and are considered very good workmen. In conclusion, I have much pleasure in stating that we in this district are living iv a state]of profound peace at present, the fruit of which is seen in the progress that is being made. I have, &c, Hopkins Clarke, The Under Secretary, Native Department, Officer in Charge of Natives. Wellington.

No. 8. The Eesident Magisteate, Opotiki, to the Hon. the Native Ministee. Sib,— Opotiki, 25th May, 1874. I have the honor to submit my annual report on the Natives in the Opotiki district, as follows: — I. — Condition of the Natives, Physical and Moral. "Within the last few weeks a census has been taken of the Native population of the district, which shows 1,547 adults and 614 children, exclusive of the Uriwera Tribe. This census is a nominal one, and has been taken with great care to insure correctness. I have before me Major Mair's return of the population in 1868, which shows only 1,288 adults and 490 children. lam not aware whether this return was an enumeration or merely an estimate, and therefore do not build any hypothesis on the apparent increase; but I am inclined to believe that some of the bapus on the coast have been increasing in number during the last few years, in which they have enjoyed peace and prosperity, while the others are not decreasing at the rapid rate reported to be the case in many Native districts. The proportion of children to the whole population of the district is 26 per cent., but in many of the hapus it is much larger; as, for instance, in the Ngaitama hapu of the Whakatohea, where it is 44, in the Ngatipukeko 36, in the Whanau Apanui 35, and in the Ngaitai 30 per cent. I beg to submit that some system for the registration of Native births and deaths might now be introduced with good effect, and, as I believe, without any great amount of opposition from the Natives themselves. The Natives during the past year have been visited by no epidemic, and the deaths have been few ; the only ones of any note who have died being Eewiri Te Bangimatanuku, of the Whakatohea— a good old chief, much respected by the Europeans —and Haimona, of the Whanau-a-Te-Ihutu, a Native catechist. The Natives have been assisted with medical advice and medicines to a great extent, and I believe that many lives are saved through the gratuitous medical attendance provided by the Government. Gratuitous vaccination is of course open to them as well as to Europeans, and I have continued to urge on them the importance of it. As regards crime, the charges brought before the Court against Natives have been few. During the year 1873 but one conviction took place for an offence against the person, and that merely one of common assault. Several convictions took place for larceny: these being mostly between the Natives themselves, and of a trivial nature, were dealt with under section 105 of " The Kesident Magistrates Act, 1867." In one, however, the defendant was convicted and sentenced to imprisonment. I fear that drunkenness is very prevalent, though I do not believe it is on the increase. The change in the law, by which the restriction on the sale of spirits to Natives has been taken off, does not appear to have any great effect, either one way or the other, chiefly, I presume, from the restrictive Ordinance having been constantly evaded in country districts. The drunkenness amongst the Natives is mostly confined to their feasts and liuis, their innate hospitality preventing even the sober and right-minded of them from refusing the rum that they know will be more acceptable to their guests than any other entertainment. One tribe has lately forbidden spirits to be brought into their pa, in consequence of a disturbance having taken place from its use, but I imagine this restriction will be