13

G.—l

The Natives generally during the past twelve months have conducted themselves in a quiet and orderly manner, and only two were brought before the Besident Magistrate's Court for assault, showing a decrease from last year's report of 50 per cent. During the greater portion of the year the majority of the Natives have been attending the Native Land Court at Taupo, and consequently there has been less cultivation undertaken than is usual, but I believe enough has been done to supply their own wants. A number of small contracts on the Taupo-Wairakei Boad have been let to Maoris, who earn fair wages, and their work appears to give satisfaction to the Engineer, Mr. J. Howard Jackson. A large quantity of land has been passed through the Native Land Court, and a considerable area has been acquired by the Government Land Purchase Officer. Considerable sickness, in some cases terminating fatally, has occurred among the Natives, chiefly, in my opinion, owing to the want of medical assistance. At present no medical man resides nearer to this district than at Napier on the one side, and Ohinemutu on the other, and they would charge such large fees for attendance as to be practically prohibitive. I have, &c, D. Scannell, The Under-Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. Besident Magistrate.

No. 10. Mr. J. Booth, E.M., Gisborne, to the Undee-Seceetaey, Native Department. Sic, — Besident Magistrate's Office, Gisborne, 22nd June, 1887. I have the honour to report on the state of the Natives in my district, which I am pleased to be able to say is very satisfactory. There is now little or no drunkenness amongst them; and with the exception of the murder of the Native Nuku and his wife, for which four Natives stand committed to take their trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court, there has been very little crime. During the year six schools for the education of Native children have been opened — viz., one at Hicks Bay, one at Kawakawa, two at Waiapu (Bangitukia and Tikitiki), one at Tuparoa, and one at Tokomaru. These schools, as well as the schools at Waiomatatini and Akuaku, are all in full working order and are well attended. The Native school at Tologa Bay has been transferred to the School Board. A new school is shortly to be erected at Whareponga, and a halftime school at Waipiro, and application has been made to have a school at Whangara. Application has also been made for a school at a place called Hiruharama, nine miles inland from the coast at Waipiro, on the Government road, Gisborne to Waiapu, and the Natives are prepared to give ten or fifteen acres of land for a school site. There has been a great deal of fever of a typhoid type at all the coast settlements during the year, and many cases have proved fatal. The fever first broke out at Tokomaru, and was probably caused by some whales which were killed and towed ashore close to the settlement. The carcases became putrid after a time, and then fever broke out, which presently spread to all the settlements up and down the coast. It is now abating, and it is to be hoped that it will die out during the winter months. There is an excellent feeling between the European settlers and the Natives of the district. This feeling has been shown very prominently during the past few months on two several occasions : (1.) By a chief named Otene Pitau, who gave a feast to celebrate the opening of a church a few miles from Gisborne, to which he invited all the Europeans as well as the Natives of Cook County. A large number of Europeans availed themselves of the invitation, and were entertained most hospitably. And— (2.) The jubilee festivities were initiated in Gisborne by the giving of a jubilee Native festival which lasted three days, during the first week in April. All the Natives in the district were invited, and many hundreds attended. Several bullocks and a large number of sheep were killed, and other provisions were provided in great abundance. Sports and amusements were liberally supplied, and the guests seemed to enjoy themselves to the utmost. The camp, composed of many hundreds of Natives, together with the hundreds of European guests and visitors, was most orderly, and, although Crawford's beer was supplied gratis to those who cared for that beverage, there was not a single case of drunkenness reported at the police-station during the three days of the festival. The Ngatiporou Native Bines, under Major Bopata and Captain Tuta Nihoniho, supplied guards each day and night, and general good order and regularity prevailed. The crops during the past season have been abundant, and the Natives are now attending more to the cultivation of the soil than to the proceeds of sales and leases of land for their support. A large number of them are now beginning to turn their attention to the whale-fishing industry, and at the time of this writing extensive preparations are being made at various places on the coast for the approaching whaling season. I have, &c, J. Booth, The Under-Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. Besident Magistrate.

No. 11. Captain Peeece, E.M., Napier, to the Undee-Seceetaey, Native Department. Sir, — Besident Magistrate's Office, Napier, 6th June, 1887. In accordance with the instructions contained in your circular of the 18th April, No. 1, I have the honour to forward the report on the state of the Native district in my charge.