G.—lo.

2

doubt whether the Town of Opotiki is a town within the meaning of "The Outlying Districts Sale of Spirits Act, 1870," or not, consequently "The Sale of Spirits Ordinance, 1847," has not been enforced by the police. I beg to suggest that "The Outlying Districts Sale of Spirits Act, 1870," be amended, and that the towns in which the Act is in force should be clearly defined. In conclusion, I beg to state that I delayed sending in this report until I had ascertained the general feeling of the Natives on the subject. I have, &c, Geoege A. Peeece, R.M. The Under Secretary, Native Department, "Wellington. Enclosure in No. 2. [Teansi.ation.] Fbiend,— Opotiki, 20th July, 1879. Salutation?. Will you send our petition to the Governor, to have the Native Licensing Act proclaimed in our district. These are the boundaries of the locality: Commencing at the mouth of the Torohanga Creek, thence by inland line of the surveyed road until it strikes the Waiaua River, thence to a peg at the back of the Omarumatu Hotel, thence following the Awapirau Stream to Te Hou, theiice to Puketapu Point, thence by the sea-coast to Hawai, thence in a direct line to the southern extremity of the confiscation line, thence following the said line until it strikes the Torohanga Stream, thence by the course of the said stream. Wiremu Kingi. Te Henaru Tarui. Awanui Aperotanga. Marino Kurei. Ranapia. Pera. Rawiri. Hemi Karepatata. The Hon. Mr. Sheehan. Eru "Waikapu.

No. 3. Mr. H. W. Bbabant to the Undek Seceetaey, Native Department. Sir, — Native Office, Tauranga, 31st August, 1879. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your circular letter of the 22nd April, on the subject of bringing " The Native Licensing Act, 1878," into force within my districts, and to make a preliminary report as follows :— 1. I beg to submit that the Act hardly seems suitable either to the Te Papa or the Tauranga Licensing District — certainly not to the former, which consists of the Town of Tauranga and the adjacent lands settled on by Europeans. In the Tauranga Licensing District there are at present four licensed houses—three at Katikati and one on the Taupo Road. I have indicated by the schedule of boundaries and plan herewith a district which might be proclaimed under the Native Act if the Hon. the Native Minister thinks it desirable. At present there are no licensed houses -within it. The chiefs are divided in opinion on the subject, and cannot be said to be in favour of the Act being brought into force. 2. In the Maketu District the Natives are everywhere in a majority, and I have taken every opportunity since the receipt of your circular to bring the Act under the notice of the chiefs, but it is only in the Ohinemutu portion of the district that they seem willing to co-operate. I held a meeting at that place on the subject on the 11th ultimo. The meeting was a large one, and a majority of the Natives present were in favour of the Native Licensing Act being brought into operation, their idea being that the hotels at present licensed (two) should be shut. The course I should recommend, however, would be that these hotels should be allowed to remaiu for the use of European travellers, but that it should be made illegal to sell to Natives. It was resolved to prepare a petition on the subject, which has been or will be forwarded to you. With the assistance of the District Surveyor I have divided the Maketu District into four parts, a tracing and schedule of boundaries of which I forward herewith. It does not seem necessary at present to define the district on tho ground. To avoid unnecessary trouble I have included Rotorua and Rotoiti in one district. The Rotorua District is the only one in respect to which I can at present report that there is any disposition on tho part of the Natives to bring the Act into force; but I will again bring the matter before the chiefs of the other districts as occasion offers. I have, &c, llehbeet "W. Bbabant, E.M. The Under Secretary, Native Department, "Wellington.

Botodabies or Maketu Licensing Distbict Subdivisions. Maketu Division. —Commencing at Trig. Station L at tlie mouth of the "Wairakei Creek on the sea-coast of the Bay of Plenty, thence following confiscation boundary line in a south-westerly direction to trig, station on the summit of Otara, thence in a south-westerly direction in a direct line following confiscation boundary to trig, station on the summit of Otanewainuku, thence in an east and southerly direction in a direct line to the southern boundary of the Kaikokopu Block at the Kaikokopu River, thence following the southern boundary of the Kaikokopu Block to the Pungakawa River at southeastern extremity of said block, thence in a due east direction by a straight line until it intersects the confiscation boundary line, thence in a northerly direction following confiscation boundary line to the mouth of the Waitahanui River at Otam&rak&u on the sea-coast of the Bay of Plenty, thence following the coast-line of the Bay of Plenty in a north-westerly direction to Trig." Station L at the mouth of ■Wairakei Creek, the point of commencement.