E—No. 9 Sec. II.

from a great distance, and are put to actual expense, have, in some instances, their bare expenses covered. But the principle universally adopted under the British Constitution is that the Executive officers are paid for their actual work and responsibility; mere deliberative ones are not —a principle applying to all public bodies, from the Houses of Lords and Commons to a parish vestry, from the General Assembly of the Colony to Local Boards. This matter will be put prominently forward in an early number of the " Maori Messenger," to which you can call the attention of the Natives in your district. 9. The subjects of your own place of residence, the erection of a gaol, Court-houses, Hospital, and other objects in which the whole district may have a common interest, had better be postponed till the meeting of the general District Runanga. 10. This body, it is thought desirable you should not convene till after the termination of the next Session of the Assembly, when the Government will be in a position to determine with more precision the extent to which it will be able to support your views, and to meet those of the Natives in this matter. You may let them know that it will be summoned immediately after that event. Some moderate allowance for the cost of food will be made on that occasion. At the Bay of Islands, when the gathering was very large, it amounted to about £35. 11. Your intention to hold Presiding Courts is approved. 12. The Government sees no necessity to increase the number of public houses at Whaingaroa. The power of licensing bush houses is at present vested in the Superintendent; that of issuing general licenses, at a higher rate of fee, iu the Justices in Petty Session, under the provisions of the Licensing Ordinance. 13. The Government is prepared to sanction the Ferry arrangements suggested, and, as soon as you report the acceptance by parties concerned, will gazette the same. 14. Care will be taken for the future that all correspondence relating to your district shall be forwarded through you, and public notice will be given in the Gazette or Maori Messenger to that effect. 15. For the present, you will appropriate to such local uses as you may think best any fees in vour hands; but you will obtain the sanction of the Runanga, when it meets, to that effect. 16. Arrangements have been made for commencing the road from Whaingaroa to Waipa. For this purpose, Mr. Rogan will start this week, and, if he finds no serious impediment, will at once lay off the line, and take steps for the commencement of the work at the Raglan end. You will be so good as give him any assistance in your power, either by letter or personally when you may be there. 17. The reports of the various meetings forwarded by you will be immediately put in hand for translation and publication. It wiil save time and the accumulation of work at head-quarters, if on future occasions, when you forward any documents which you think might be published with advantage in the Maori Messenger, you will accompany this work with a Maori version—which, I apprehend, your Interpreter could generally find time to do. The Commissioner of the Bay of Islands District, Mr. Clarke, did so recently; and it will enable the Government to provide him with printed reports of the proceedings of his Runanga much more speedily than could otherwise have been done. I have, &c., William Fox. J. Armitage, Esq., Civil Commissioner.

No. 17. REPORT BY J. ARMITAGE, ESQ., OF PROCEEDINGS OF MATUTAERA's RUNANGA AT KOHEKOHE. Resident Magistrate's Office, Lower W.aikato, 22nd May, 1862. Sir, — I have the honor to inform you that Matutaera's party on returning from a feast at Hauraki, held a Runanga at the Kohekohe, in reference to the proposed Court House there, which by section 3 of my instructions of the 24th February last, was sanctioned by the Government. They seriously warned Te Wheoro not to build it, and many very serious threats were made as to the course they would pursue in case he persevered. I have taken much trouble in investigating the whole matter, and have come to the determination that it would be the most advisable course to proceed with the building regardless of these threats. The owners of the land on which the building is proposed to be erected are consenting parties, and have no connection with the King movement whatever. 1 would beg to suggest, however, that the matter should receive the serious attention of my successor in office, as Te Wheoro is rather inclined to treat the subject with a high hand, and I have had considerable difficulty in inducing him to consent to moderate his zeal. This remark will also apply generally to the proceedings in his Hundred, as the King party are very jealous of the footing the new Institutions have gained there, and are anxiously watching for a pretext for a quarrel with Te Wheoro and his tribe. Great moderation and forbearance must be exercised here, both on the part of Te Wneoro and the Resident Magistrate, for the reasons before stated. I have, &c, The Honorable James Armitage. The Attorney General.

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LOWER WYIKATO.