21

H. -26a

Taking all the counties together, there appears to be an increase of twenty-two Maoris and eight half-castes since the last census was taken. Of these, twenty-six are males under the age of fifteen. There are 743 more acres of potatoes this year than in 1901, acres of maize, 10j acres of other crops, and 4,314 acres in grass. There is a decrease of 156 acres in wheat. In sheep there is a decrease of 327, pigs 78; but an increase of 550 head of cattle. Under Common cultivation there is a decrease of 58 acres of potatoes. Wheat is acre more, and other crops have an increase of 87 acres. The reports of the sub-enumerators fully explain the state of the potato-crops, and of health, and improvements made in the habits and dwellings of the Maoris in the various counties. I would like to oall special attention to the suggestion of Mr. Hutton, that some of the Maori girls should be trained as nurses. It seems to me an admirable one, and was suggested in my last report; it might, if adopted, be the means of saving many lives by instructing the young mothers how to look after their offspring. I have, <fee, Wμ. P. Jambs, Enumerator. The Under-Secretary, Justice Department, Wellington.

Extracts from Reports of Sub-Enumerators. Featherston and Wairarapa South. As I have no record of the last census I cannot speak with certainty, but apparently, judging by the number of children I saw on my rounds, there is a slight increase in the Maori population. 1 attribute the increase of the children to two facts—firstly, the Maoris, being permanently at peace, there is not nearly the same amount of tribal intermarriage as formerly; secondly, as soon as the children are old enough they attend school, and thus have a healthier occupation and more wholesome food. The death-rate is far greater among children under two years old than among older children, and if only six Maori girls from the Wairarapa could be trained as nurses they would be instrumental in saving the lives of many. Because, even if they married, they could still instruct the mothers (who are often very young themselves) how to treat their babies. The Natives have almost entirely given up the old Maori whare, and have built themselves houses of wood after the European style. No epidemic has visited them, nor did I see any disease among them; but one woman was ill when I visited her place and died before I completed my rounds. The Rougokako Council advised striking out her name, which I have done. At Moiki and Kahukuraawhitia the late potato-crop was not affected by the Irish potatoblight, but at Papawai, Hurunuiorangi, Kaingatahi, Kohunui, Turanganui, and Ranana nearly the whole crop was blighted, and the early crops at the last-named places were drowned, so to speak, by the heavy spring rains, and did not grow. At only one place did I have any difficulty in collecting the information required. A Maori tohunga was there, and he refused to give me his name, stating that as he was a tohunga it would be wrong for him to allow his name to be written in the census-book-—in fact, infra dig. His followers, however, after a little trouble, gave me all the information required. In conclusion, I am strongly of opinion that what is wanted is technical schools for the Maori children, so that they may learn to be of rise in other ways than those which are now open to them. This would be the surest way of breaking up their old communal habits, failing which the Maoris can never prosper, nor can they materially help their pakeha brother to advance New Zealand. Akitio and Castlepoint. The number of the Natives in both the Akitio and Castlepoint Counties is certainly on the decrease, although no epidemic has visited their settlements, except influenza. The number of children is very few compared with the married couples; their general health is good, and their condition generally has improved very much during the last few years, they having in most cases abandoned the old toetoe whares for more comfortable and healthy weatherboard cottages. The half-caste population seems to be in a more healthy condition, and their children seem to be bright and cheerful; a school at Aohanga is very much needed. The blight has made sad ravages in the potato-crops, especially amongst the late ones, and the Natives will feel the loss severely before the next crop comes in. Seed-potatoes will also be scarce and costly for the next crop. Pahiatua. The general health of the Natives has been very good, owing, no doubt, to the different families living in well-built houses, and each house in every case being well detached, and so far the Natives have not been troubled with any disease or epidemic. Since the last census was taken there lias been an increase of seventeen at Mangatainoka, due to the fact that a man named Aporo Hare and his family have removed from Greytown and permanently settled at the former place; but at Ngapaurua, situated about six miles from Pahiatua, there is a decrease of four; but at Tutaekara, six miles south of Pahiatua, there has been an increase of seven. I may sj;ate that in every instance upon my visits to the different pas I learnt that the boys and girls were attending school regularly.