G.—l.

6

serve summonses on any of his people, and gave orders for the Native constable stationed there to arrest Tauhiwhi, which he did, handcuffed him, and kept him in confinement for three days, thus making the case a serious one. Tauhiwhi then laid information against Hori Kingi and two others who took part in his arrest. I was compelled after this to take measures to cause these Natives to conform to the law, especially when called upon to do so by one of themselves, a Native bearing a good character. I had some difficulty in getting Hori Kingi to consent to the peaceable service of the summons on himself and the two others, and to persuade him to come to the Court on the day named in the summons. After explaining in a letter the consequences of his not attending, he both consented to the service of the summons and to appear at the time named, which he did. Finding that he was very much hurt (he looking upon it as a great degradation), and although convinced that he had acted wrongly and contrary to law, he was very much afraid that it would lower his status in his own and other tribes, having been accustomed and allowed by them for many years to settle questions similar to the one which was the origin of this offence. Under such circumstances, and Tauhiwhi the prosecutor being willing to withdraw the charge against him on condition that his horse should be returned, and his expenses up to the time appointed for the hearing paid (this being satisfactorily arranged with Hori Kingi), I consented to the case being withdrawn; the object I had in view being obtained— i.e., compelling him and the other Natives to appear at the Court after being summonsed in a criminal case. I mention this case to show the change which is gradually taking place amongst the Natives, proving that there is a tendency to conform to the laws of the white man, and give up their old mode of settling disputes, the former being more suitable to their altering condition. Natives in this district have been very much troubled by trespasses committed by Europeans on their waste lands. This grievance is sometimes caused by members of their own tribe making secret arrangements and receiving money from the party whose cattle commit the trespass. When such is the case it is a difficult question to settle. The Natives residing within the boundaries of this district are, as far as I can judge from their actions aud the information 1 possess, loyal; but I have no doubt most of them sympathize with the party who are endeavouring to form a government to have at its head a Native, and without doubt they are very much influenced by the benefit or not they will derive from adopting such a course. As a rule they conform to the law, aud have when summonsed, with one exception, come to the Court, or left the district for the King country, and when fined have always paid at the times ordered by the Court. In this respect, in this district, they compare favourably with the Europeans. Many of the leading Natives are at present anxiously waiting to hear from the Hon. the Premier when the Native meeting to be held at Hikurangi will take place, they being invited to attend. I have, &c, Thomas Jackson, R.M., The Under Secretary, Native Department, Papakura and Waiuku District. Wellington. Boundaries of Native District. Commences at the south head of the Wairoa River; towards the north-east by the Hauraki Gulf and the Frith of the Thames, following the coast-line in a south-easterly direction to the mouth of the Pukorokoro Creek; towards the south by a right line to the utmost northern source of the Whangamariiio River; thence by that river to its confluence with the Waikato River; thence along the western bank of that river to the mouth of the Whangape; thence by that stream and the northern shore of the Whangape Lake to the mouth of the Awaroa Stream; thence by a line running due west to the West Coast, following the seacoast in a northerly direction to the Manukau Harbour; thence by the Manukau Harbour to the village of Weymouth; and from that village in a straight line to the starting point.

No. 8. Mr. W. G. Mair, R.M., Waikato, to the Under -Secretary, Native Department. Sir, — Alexandra, Waikato, 4th May, 1878. In response to your circular of the 25th ultimo, I have the honor to make my annual report upon Native affairs in this district. Several important meetings have been held during the year : one at Kopua, in February, was for the purpose of greeting the Hon. the Premier and the Hon. the Native Minister. The proceedings were, I believe, rather of a formal nature, preliminary to a more important meeting to take place a few days hence at Hikurangi, when there is reason to believe momentous questions will be discussed. The Waikatos are making great prepai-ations for the occasion. Ngatimaniapoto held a meeting at Te Kuiti early in March, for the purpose of discussing the land question, a section of the tribe living at Lower Mokau having shown a disposition to lease land in that neighbourhood. This meeting resulted in an agreement by all the chiefs of Ngatimaniapoto and several of the