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their forthcoming crops, this I think it would be good policy to acceed to, as it would give| them a tie on the Government 25.—At Rangeawhai the improvement of the natives is very surprising and I understand the crops of wheat this year may be estimated at from sixty to serenty thousand bushels ; here they have also got a new mill just completed, this improvement iu the natives mainly may be attributed to the exertions of the Rev. Mr. Morgan. The greater part of the natives of this district were absent, some at Kawhia and some at Auckland, selling their produce 26.—0n my way down the W. ipa river, I saw the influential chief and firm friend of the Government, Te Kerri of the Ngati-mahuta at Wattapaka several of the influential chiefs were also present, they testified their allegiance to the Govemmentand expressed their desire to live under one law with the Europeans. 27.—0n the Waikato was qui e a busy scene from the number of canoes returning laden with goods from Auckland, in exchange for wheat and other produce. A state of things very different from when I passed down the river nine years ago. The amount of property the natives are acquiring in mills and agriculral implements and produce will naturally unite their interest more closely to the Europeans and make them less likely to court a collision. 28• I regret to say that there are evident signs of a decrease in population, the great disproportion between the sexes, and the few children in the villages, and from careful enquiries which I have made, I am borne out in saying that the native population has been decimated by the measles last year. I have, &c., (Signed) C. L. Nugent. „ . Native Secretary. The Honorable The Colonial Secretary.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 26th March, 1855. Sir, — I beg to forward you the enclosed copy of a letter just received by the overland mail from the Native Secretary, at New Plymouth, where he was lately sent for the purpose of endavouring to put a stop to a sanguinary war that has been carried on between the native tribes for some time in that locality, and to which place also His Excellency the Officer administering the Government proceeded in H. M. 6. '• Pandoia,' on the 14th instant, for the accomplishment of the same object. I have the honour also, to inform you that having submitted this letter of the Native Secretary to the other members of the Executive Council, they h*ve concurred with me in the opinion that as there exists considerable danger to the settlement of New Plymouth, and as the settlers there, through the local authorities have urgently called upon the Government for aid to defend themselves, that you should be requested to proceed as soon as possible to New Plymouth, wiih the ship under your command, to render whatever assistance may be in your power and become necessary, and also that you should be further requested, provided your other arrangements will permit, not to leave the colony without communicating direct with the Officer Administering the Government. I have, &c., (Signed) Andrew Sinclair, . Colonial Secietarv. Captain Gennys, Her Majesty's Brig, "Fantome."