G.—l.

12

The Natives, and more especially the Tuhourangi, ought to be very thankful for the liberal assistance given them by those persons who so handsomely subscribed towards the Eotorua Belief Fund at the time of the Tarawera eruption. I have, &c, B. S. Bush, The Under-Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. Besident Magistrate.

No. 8. Mr. H. D. Johnson, Government Agent, Eotorua, to the Undee-Seceetaey, Native Department. Sir,— Eotorua, 20th June, 1887. In compliance with your request, I have the honour to forward the following report upon the state of the Natives in the Eotorua District during the past year: — The Tarawera eruption, which took place on the morning of the 10th June, 1886, directly or indirectly affected the whole of the Natives in this district. The Tuhourangi were the principal sufferers, 104 of their number having been killed, and the survivors having been left homeless, besides losing all their cultivations, food supplies, and agricultural implements, and many of their horses and other live-stock. The Natives who lived or had their cultivations at Tikitapu were in an almost equally bad fix, and a number of those living on the eastern side of Eotorua and the southern side of Botoiti had to abandon their homes owing to the deposit of mud ejected from Tarawera and Botomahana. Most of the refugees congregated at Ohinemutu, and the Natives of that settlement and others living on the western side of Eotorua made them large presents of food out of their somewhat scanty supplies. I mentioned in my last annual report that, owing to the drought, there had been a partial failure of the crops in this district, and that the Natives would require assistance in some form to enable them to tide over the winter; so that it will be seen that they were not in a position to stand the strain of supplying food to meet the emergency, and that it was necessary that the Government should step in to relieve them. I was anxious that railwayand road-works should be put in hand at once, in order that the Natives might be made selfsupporting to a considerable extent, until the seasons came round for planting and harvesting new crops; but, owing to the non-completion of surveys and other causes, nothing was done in that way for about three months. During that time relief was administered at Government expense, and, although the total cost was somewhat heavy, it was doled out as economically as possible. A portion of the Tarawera relief fund was also distributed in this district. Since that time a good deal of road-making has been done by the Natives, principally to the southward of Eotorua. On the 24th February last the turning of the first sod of the railway to connect this place with Oxford, and so place us in touch with the civilised world, was celebrated by a grand turn-out of European and Ni'tive residents, and the first barrow-load was filled conjointly by Paora te Amohau, Petra te Pttkuatua, Perenka Ngahuruhuru, Eruera te Uremutu, Mr. James Stewart, C.E., and myself. A very large number of Natives have since found employment in the formation of the line by contract. Tney have proved themselves both willing and capable, and have given great satisfaction to the Government engineers. I sincerely hope that funds will allow of the work being continued, at least until the Natives can get through the winter and spring, as last season's crops were again a failure, ow 'ng to the exceptionally-inclement spring following the eruption, and the subsequent prolonged drought. I may mention that the Tuhourangi have now established themselves at Ngapuna, on the eastern boundary of the Eotorua Township ; and the other sections of Natives have located themselves at various places, principally on the western and northern sides of the lake. There has not been more than the ordinary amount of sickness amongst the Natives of this district during the past year, and nothing of an epidemic character. Excepting the deaths caused by the eruption, and a few which took place subsequently, but which were undoubtedly caused by the nervous shock and exposure experienced on that fatal morning, I think the death-rate has been below the average. One unfortunate Native woman whose brain was affected by the eruption is still a harmless lunatic. The temperance crusader, Mr. Matthew Burnett, visited this district in October last, and succeeded in securing a large number of Native pledges. Although some individuals (both European and Native) have since "backslided," and have dropped the " bit o' blue," the majority have, I believe, remained faithful. There has been a very light criminal record against the Natives permanently resident in this district during the past year. Some recent arrivals, however, have been guilty of obtaining money under false pretences by personating certain owners of land under purchase by me on Government account. The chief conspirator is also strongly suspected of incendiarism, my office having been burnt down, undoubtedly with the intention of destroying all proofs of the frauds which had been committed. All the Natives concerned —three men and one woman —have been arrested, and will be dealt with according to law. I have, &c, H. Dunbar Johnson, The Under-Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. Government Agent.

No. 9. Major Scannell, 8.M., Taupo, to the Undee-Seceetary, Native Department. Sir-- Eesident Magistrate's Office, Taupo, 3rd May, 1887. I have the honour, in compliance with instructions contained in your Circular No. 1, of the 18th April last, to furnish, for the information of the Hon. the Native Minister, the following report on the Natives in this district: —■