9

G.—s

the Peace Act, dismissed, 1 ; Public "Works Act, convicted, 3 ; assault on police, dismissed, 1; assault on police, convicted, 1; larceny as a bailee, committed for trial, 1; cattle-stealing, dismissed, 1. There have been no serious charges against Natives during the past year. Dealings in Native Lands. In the Trust Commissioners' Court there have been eighty-eight deeds inquired into under "The Native Lands Frauds Prevention Act, 1881," and the amendment Acts, 255 Natives examined, eleven judgments of the Supreme Court inquired into under section 8 of the Act of 1881, and eleven Natives examined. The work in this Court has increased very much since "The Native Land Laws Act, 1888," came into operation. I have examined Natives at Napier, also at Hastings, Waipawa, Danevirke, and Woodville, when visiting those places on magisterial duties. . General State of the Natives. There have been very few disturbances among the Natives themselves during this year; I have had occasion to visit them for the purpose of settling disputes only on two occasions. The general state of health among the Natives has been good. The census has been taken this year, and shows an increase of 706 Natives, as against the census of 1886. This is partly to be accounted for by there being a decrease in the number of deaths among children, and partly by Natives from other places having moved here, owing to the more prosperous condition of this district. Waieoa Disteict. The Natives of this district maintain their reputation for good behaviour, there having been no quarrels among them of any importance. The Native Land Court sat in this district in January last and disposed of the rehearing of the Waihua Block. This will be a source of satisfaction to the Natives, as the rent has been paid into the hands of the Public Trustee for some years pending the determination of interests of certain hapus, who were named in the original title; but the names of the individuals belonging to those hapus have been unascertained from the time the land went through the Court in 1867 until the Court recently heard the case. The Court has now given an order on the Public Trustee to pay the rent, which will now be distributed. The number of cases heard in the Resident Magistrate's Court in which Maoris were concerned were as follows: European plaintiffs, Maori defendants, 37 ; amount sued for, £242 ss. sd. ; amount recovered, £149 3s. 7d. Maori plaintiffs, European defendants, 5; amount sued for, £89 Is. 3d. ; amount recovered, £12 Is. Between Maoris only, 17 ; amount sued for, £327 10s.; amount recovered, £2 17s. 6d. Criminal cases : Assault, convicted, 1; larceny, dismissed, 1; cattle-stealing, dismissed, 2; drunkenness, convicted, 3 ; cruelty to animals, convicted, 1; furious riding, convicted, 1; resisting police, convicted, 1; lunacy, committed, 1; Dog Registration Act, convicted, 3. The Natives have grown 5,560 bushels of wheat, 4,300 bushels of oats, 6,500 bushels of maize. At Te Mahia five whales have been captured, which have turned out ten tuns of oil. Owing to the low price of oil this industry is not followed to the extent it Was in former years. The Natives own 16,039 sheep, which have produced 225 bales of wool. In conclusion, I beg to state that, on the whole, I consider that the general state of the Natives in this district is satisfactory. They are fairly industrious, and I think that they are becoming more provident than they have been in former years. The Maoris all over the district join with Europeans in field-sports, and have properly organised football teams ; in the latter they have greatly distinguished themselves. Large numbers of elderly Natives travel to Napier and elsewhere to witness the matches. The usual good feeling exists between the races. A number of Natives have joined the local Volunteer corps, and they take great pains to make themselves efficient. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. Geoege Pbeece, E.M.

No. 7. W. Rennell, Esq., Eeserves Trustee, New Plymouth, to the Undeb-Secbetaby, Native Department. Sib,— New Plymouth, 29th May, 1891. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the Bth instant, and in reply to state that I have nothing of special interest to report as having taken place amongst the Natives of my district during the past year. They are quietly cultivating at their respective villages, which is a great improvement on their parading the district in large numbers to and from Parihaka, as they were in the habit of doing a few years ago. The census apparently reveals a decrease in their numbers since 1886, but, as at that time many Natives from other districts were visiting Te Whiti, the decrease may mean that the visitors have departed to their homes. The only way of getting information for census purposes in this district is to get it from any Native of a village who may be willing to impart his local knowledge, and, as he may, and doubtless does, omit names, the information is not very accurate, especially as there are villages where no one will give information, and the Enumerators must trust to outsiders for what he wants. 2—G. 5.