H.—26b

8

was bloodshed or destruction of property intended. This is surely borne out by the fact that when the raid was made on Eawene, before the troops arrived, not one shot was fired nor was one item of property taken or destroyed, although every opportunity existed for both pillage and bloodshed. The demonstration of force against the rebels and their conviction and punishment were sufficient to show all that the power of the Crown is ample to enforce the law at all times, while the remission of a portion of the sentences has, I am convinced, had a very good effect. With the exception of this Waima trouble, there has been no disturbance of any kind during the past five years, and as this disturbance was confined to a particular district, and the Natives generally are gradually becoming naturalised as Englishmen, it may confidently be asserted that no serious trouble is likely to occur again. The old Hauhaus, so troublesome in the past on account of their defiance of all laws, have become almost extinct, and, whatever those few remaining may think, they outwardly observe the law. Just as drunkenness is decreasing so is crime. The percentage of crime is lower with the Maori than with the European part of the population in the North. The criminal statistics of this district show 386 Europeans convicted of summary offences and, other crimes, as against 299 Natives, during the past five years. The present war in South Africa has been watched with great interest by the Natives in all parts, and many would readily have volunteered their services if required. The death of her late Majesty Queen Victoria has everywhere called forth expressions of sympathy and respect. In many settlements a flag-pole has been erected, and a Union Jack or New Zealand Ensign, or such other flag of any other description as could be obtained, floating at half-mast, with the regulation streamer of black above it, bore witness to the loyalty and respect of the Natives. 1 cannot conclude this report without stating that the healthier state of the Natives, both young and old, is largely due to the training and assistance of the Native teachers and the present working missionaries of all denominations, whose encouragement of cleanliness and the primary laws of health, and whose assistance with medicines and advice in many cases of sickness, are much to be commended. Generally summarising the position, I think one can safely say that the condition of the Natives in this district is better now than it ever was. The population has increased, sickness has decreased, and, although there is no individual wealth (even comparatively speaking), there is what generally exists in the absence of individual wealth —an absence of poverty. The Natives are fairly contented ; there is little crime amongst them, and less immorality ; drunkenness is certainly on the wane ; and with the opening up of all the more valuable Native lands it is to be hoped that the time is still to come when the Native, instead of becoming extinct, as is so often predicted, will have increased and have developed into the steady if somewhat indolent settler, .looking on himself no longer as a Maori, but as an Englishman, one of the units of the mighty British Empire. So far, at least, as the northern part of this colony is concerned, I am satisfied that a judicious handling of the Natives (who are apt pupils), by encouraging them in education, in thrift, in social and sanitary reform, and in the settlement on and cultivation of their lands, will accomplish this. I have noticed that the ample scope of the Maori Councils Act of last session provides for all these matters, but it is to be feared that unless the official members of these Councils are prepared to spend a very considerable amount of their time in assisting and directing the Councils, the Maori members will experience great difficulty in realising the necessities of the case, and successfully coping with them. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary, Department of Justice, E. C. Blompibld, S.M. Wellington.

2. KAIPAEA, WHANGAEEI, ETC. Sm,— Auckland, 23rd April, 1901. I have the honour to transmit herewith the summary of the result of the Native census in the counties of Hobson, Whangarei, Otamatea, Eodney, Waitemata, and the Great Barrier Island. By separate parcel the sub-enumerators' books and the working sheets of my summary are also forwarded. The sub-enumerators experienced considerable delay in obtaining their results, owing to the Native population being widely scattered, and the country being in many parts exceedingly rough. Instead, therefore, of the enumeration being accomplished within one week, as was anticipated, more than three were in some instances required for its completion. I have not had the means or opportunity of making myself personally acquainted with the condition, of the Native population. Their settlements lie remote from the routes ordinarily traversed by me. My information, therefore, is derived entirely from the report of others. In some of the counties enumerated there appears to be an increase, in others of them a decrease, in the Native population. But the increase in one does not set off the decrease in another, and upon the whole there is a positive falling-off in the numbers. Something of this result may, perhaps, have to be discounted, because many of the Natives who employ themselves in gumdigging, are of a migratory disposition, and possible omissions may have thence arisen ; but these, casual and unimportant at the most, cannot affect the conclusion that the Native population in these counties, at all events, is a diminishing, and a rapidly-diminishing, quantity. Indeed, this conclusion may be deduced from the fact, brought out by the statistics, that in all of the counties enumerated the number of persons ageing fifteen years and over are in excess—in some greatly in excess—of the number of persons under that age ; and whatever may be the reason for this declension it does not lie on the surface of things. It is not apparent in the material conditions affecting the Native. No epidemic has assailed the population, and scarcely any sporadic disease is reported. Indeed, the only noticeable instance brought to my knowledge is that of a few