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I calculate there are about one hundred and fifty Natives from other parts of the North Island —principally from Waikato—-included in these returns, who are temporarily engaged in gumdigging. During the last five years there has been no great mortality amongst the Natives, and deaths have principally occurred from old age or pulmonary complaints. Only three cases of " tuwhenua" (Maori leprosy) were met with, and these appeared to be of recent origin. 1 have, &c, The Under-Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. H. W. Bishop, R.M.

No. 3 Mr. G. T. Wilkinson, Native Agent, Otorohanga, to the Undek-Seceetaby, Native Department. Native Office, Otorohanga, 2nd May, 1891. Having just completed my returns of the Maori census for the district allotted to me, I hasten to send you my enumerator's summary. I will send in my report as soon as I return from Te Aroha and Thames, to which places I am about starting. The total of persons of all ages and sexes within the Counties of Eden, Raglan, Manukau, Waikato, Coromandel, Thames, Piako, Ohinemuri, Waipa, Kawhia, and adjacent islands, with Great and Little Barrier—which was the district allotted to me—is 7,655. In addition to which, I also took a large portion of West Taupo County, and also part of Clifton County, as they were more easily worked from here than anywhere else. They show a return of 993 persons, making a grand total of 8,648. Geo. T. Wilkinson, Government Native Agent and Census Enumerator.

No. 4. Mr. G. T. Wilkinson, Native Agent, Otorohaiiga, to the Undek-Secbetaby, Native Department. Sib, — Native Office, Otorohaiiga, 16th May, 1891. Following my memorandum (W250/5) of the 2nd instant, accompanying my enumerators' summary of the Maori population within the counties and on the islands allotted to me, showing a total of 7,655 persons, added to which is a return of 993 persons living within parts of West Taupo and Clifton Counties, which I was requested by the enumerators of those counties to take because they can be better got at from here than elsewhere, I have the honour to report that the work of taking the Maori census through parts of my district has again been a difficult one, principally caused, as usual, by the King Natives or supporters of Tawhiao, wherever they were situated—with here and there an exception—refusing to give any particulars or information whatsoever to the sub-enumerators either as regards themselves, their cultivations, or their live stock. The returns so far as they are concerned have been obtained with great difficulty, and in some few cases are conjectural; but, in the case of Kingite settlements, I took the precaution to select as subenumerators either Natives, half-castes, or Europeans who were best qualified to get all the information obtainable ; I feel, therefore, that I am justified in saying that the best was done that could be done under the circumstances. I have attached hereto a comparative table showing the number of Natives living this year within each of the counties just taken by me, also the number that each of the same counties returned at last census, and the increase or decrease that has taken place within each county during the last five years. The whole shows a total decrease within the ten counties (but not including West Taupo and Clifton Counties) of 563—namely, 7,655 in 1891, as against 8,218 in 1886, equal to about 6-85 per cent. This, however, cannot be looked upon as reliable on account of the uncertainty of the returns affecting the King Natives. There are only three counties that show a decrease, whilst seven counties and Great Barrier Island show an increase. The greatest decrease is in Kawhia County—namely, 805. This is mostly accounted for by the large number of Natives who used to live with Tawhiao at Whatiwhatihoe, within Kawhia County, having removed to Pukekawa, near Mercer, within Baglan County; and some to Maungakawa, within Piako County. A large number of the Pukekawa Natives were absent gum-digging, and engaged in other pursuits, during the week in which the census was taken, which accounts for the Raglan County only showing an increase of 100. I think that the increase shown in the Raglan, Waikato, Waipa, and Piako Counties is mainly accounted for by the King Natives distributing themselves more or less throughout those counties for gum-digging and other purposes after the breaking up of the Whatiwhatihoe settlement. The increase in the last named county can also partly be accounted for by the number of Natives working for Mr. Fulton on the Rotorua Railway. The increase for Eden County would have been larger but for the instructions I received that only half-castes living as members of a Maori tribe were to be enumerated. As nearly all the halfcastes, male and female, living in Auckland and suburbs occupy wooden houses, and to all intents and purposes live like Europeans, they have not been returned by me. They number forty altogether. There are five Rarotongan Natives, two males and three females, living with Paora Tuhaere and his people at Orakei, within the Eden County, but I have not included them in my returns. I employed twenty-one sub-enumerators altogether— viz. : eight Europeans, seven half-castes, and six Maoris. The returns, however, from the Auckland Gaol, Lunatic Asylum, Hospital, and St. Stephen's School, all within the County of Eden, were kindly supplied by the respective officers in charge of those institutions.

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