G.—l

18

had become not uncommon, and I fear would grow in time to be established usage, if no check were placed on it by Government. I have, &c, Heebeet W. Beabant, Eesident Magistrate. The Under Secretary, Native Department, Wellington.

No. 19. Paoea te Eatjhihi to the Hon. the Native Ministee. Tapuaeharuru, Taupo. This is another word in reference to persons who practise witchcraft. They are equal to murderers, and therefore, in my opinion, the Governor ought to favourably consider that man's case. Paoea te Eatjhihi.

No. 20. H. W. Beabant, Esq., E.M., to the Hon. the Native Ministee. (Telegram.) Opotoki, 11th February, 1876. Youb telegram received. I will make careful inquiry and report if I hear, anything. Heebeet W. Beabant, The Hon. the Native Minister. Eesident Magistrate.

No. 21. The TJndee Seceetaey, Native Department, to Officees in Native Disteicts. (Circular No. 9.) Sic,— Native Office, Wellington, 30th March, 1876. I have the honor, by direction of the Native Minister, to request that you will be good enough to send in the usual annual report on the state of the Natives in your district before 31st May next, in order that no delay may take place in printing the report for Parliament. I have, &c, H. T. Clack, Under Secretary.

No. 22. Mr. W. B. White, E.M., Mangonui, to the Uxdee Secbetaet, Native Department. Sic, — Eesident Magistrate's Office, Mongonui, 18th May, 1876. I have the honor to report that the inhabitants of this district are, as usual, peaceable and loyal. In this distant part of the country it is seldom that anything occurs to unduly raise the excitement of the people. G-um-digging, farming, and that most wasteful abuse of time for which the Native inhabitants of the whole country are much on a par, follow on, season after season, without much change. The Eoad Boards occasionally employ the Natives, and find they do their work well — that is forming, but are scarcely to be trusted with the building of culverts, lload-making is a work they appear to like, competing eagerly with the Europeans in obtaining it. The last year has been fatal to many of the old chiefs: Kingi Wireinu; Te Morenga, a most influential and well-known man ; Pororua Wharekauri, also a well-known chief ; Reihana Kiriwi, my most valued assistant; Hohepa Poutama, a faithful and zealous Assessor, have been taken from us during the last year. Some little feeling and intrigue have been displayed as to filling up the vacancies in the Assessors list thus caused by death; but I have refrained from moving in this matter. I am very glad to state that a very marked improvement has taken place in the health of the Natives, which I attribute principally to their increasing sobriety, since the convictions which took place of Natives and Europeans for selling intoxicating drinks without license, which had grown to be a great scandal in the district, the penalties being spent in the opening up of a more direct line from Victoria to Ahipara. This is a great convenience, and has given much satisfaction. There has been very little crime during the last year; three prisoners have been sent to Mount Eden Gaol for periods varying from six to twelve months. AYarrants are issued on the information of Natives, and culprits are apprehended by Native constables without difficulty, no one attempting to interfere. The Natives of this district are naturally disappointed that Mr. Timoti Puhipi was only second on the list of candidates for the Northern District in the General Assembly. I thought there would have been a case of bribery at elections. It was stated the successful man was returned by the admission of the votes of little boys; but the fact was that some of Mr. Puhipi's own people so much objected to his going from the district, that they refrained from voting in numbers which, had they voted, would have placed him at the head of the poll. The recent visit of His Excellency the Governor and the Hon. Sir Donald McLean gave great pleasure, affording au opportunity of expressing not only their loyalty but their wants, and hopes for the future. I have, &c, W. B. White, The Under Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. Eesident Magistrate.