E—No. 9 Sec. II.

Ngatitipa tribe, who was living in adultery with a Native at the Kohekohe. The tribe at the latter place refused to deliver her up, whereupon To Wheoro directed his policemen to assist those of Taupari iu restoring her to her husband. All opposition then ceased, and the woman was quietly taken away by the Taupari police, and restored to her husband and his friends. This case affords a very favourable proof of the relinquishment of Native customs, and the substitution of law and order in their stead. According to the Tikanga Maori, one from each party would have seized hold of a hand of the unfortunate woman, their respective adherents holding on to each other, and pulling with all their strength, until one party had possession of the woman, or, as not unfrequently happened, until she died from exhaustion. It is the more gratifying, from the fact of the proceedings being conducted by themselves without my assistance. All the officers were present at a Court I held here, on the 22nd instant, except one of the Wardens; and I consequently refused to pay his salary until informed of the cause of his absence. Nothing has been done as to the other Warden, Tipene, whose temporary suspension I have advised you of. My Reports of each respective Hundred in my District are so full as not to require me to give you any general summary thereof. In confirmation of the above remarks as to the respect shown to law and order, I would instance a ease at Whaingaroa, in which I granted a summons against a Native for larceny. He had absconded, and taken refuge amongst the King's party, at Pirougia, about twenty-five miles distant. The police followed him, apprehended him, and brought him back to Whaingaroa for trial. In reference to the Paetai people, I have the honor to inform you that they do not evince any disposition whatever, at present, to accept the new institutions. Reihana, who is the leading spirit of the tribes there, has been to see me, and stated that ho was himself desirous to have the lawsintroduced, hut wished to have the consent of the King party thereto, and wanted my advice as to how he should act. I declined giving him any advice, and informed him that it was of very little consequeuco whether they joined us or not; that the institutions were a great boon to them, and must be sought by them before granted, &c, &c. I have, &c, The Honorable James Armitage. The Attorney-General, Auckland.

No. 16. INSTRUCTIONS TO J. ARMITAGE, ESQ., AS CIVIL COMMISSIONER. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 5th May, 1862. Sir,— I. I have the honor to acknowledge the second report of the proceedings during your late Circuit in Lower Waikato, Whaingaroa, Aotea, and Raglan. The Government is very much gratified with the success which appears to have attended your operations, and I have much pleasure in expressing the sense which it entertains of the zeal, ability, and discretion with which you have so far performed the duties of your office. II. Your district being now organized, and in working order, you will receive the appointment of Commissioner, to date from the 1st May, 1862; the salary to be £500 a-year, and £50 for forage and travelling expenses. III. The various points arising upon your late reports which require action on the part of the Government will be immediately attended to. On some of these you will want to be informed of the decision of the Government. 1. The Aotea sub-distrijt will be considered as complete, ami the nominations recommended by you will be immediately gazetted, and warrants forwarded to you as early as possible. 2. A notice will be immediately issued that the Harbour of Kawhia is open to all vessels to come and go. 3. One-half of the cost of food at the Road Runanga at Whaingaroa will be allowed, £18 4s. Od. This will be paid through you: and you will be so good as to obtain a proper voucher from the Natives who may be entitled to receive it. 4. Arrangements will be made as speedily as possible for the appointment of a Hundred Officer at Whaingaroa, and he will be required to reside in the township. 5. The Government approves of your suggestion that lands held under Crown grant within the limits of a Native district should be included in its jurisdiction. But it will be necessary for the purpose that the Native Districts Act should be amended—which will be proposed to the Assembly in the coming Session. 6. Copies of the Acts and Ordinances shall be immediately provided. 7. The Policemen's clothes are already in possession of Hetaraka, who will return to Raglan in a day or two. The badges will be immediately provided. 8. The proposal of some of the Natives that the village Runangas should be paid cannot be entertained for a moment. The Government has not at its disposal funds sufficient for such a purpose. It should be explained to the Natives that Europeans do not receive pay for sitting in their Runangas, either General, Provincial, or Municipal, whether iu the Colony or at home—although such as come

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REPORTS OF OFFICERS: