E—No. 9 Sec. IV.

other Chiefs present the views of the Government, and pointed out that by accepting the offer to pssist them in establishing law and order among themselves they would be the parties benefited, and that their failing to appreciate the gift did not lessen its value. I suggested that as the oiher tribes had consented that a Runanga should be constituted to frame laws for the whole district, it was desirable that every tribe should be represented in that Runanga; and thnt my object in visiting them was to invite them to nominate some of their intelligent men as members. The Runanga would ceitainly be formed, and they had only to consider whether they would have a voice in it or not. If they hesitated to join us now, the door would still remain open for them to do so at a future time after further consideration. Heremaia listened attentively to all I said, and in reply assured me that the matter would not be allowed to drop, and that he had little doubt that the tribe would come into the new system after a time. I was much struck with the signs of industry and good management which distinguish this tribe, the Ngaitonu. An air of neatness and order pervaded their settlement, strongly contrasting i with the appearance of most Native pas. Numerous stacks of wheat carefully fenced from cattle, with long rows of neatly constructed store-houses filled with kumera and potatoes, seemed to indicate both the industry and prosperity of the community. The Chiefs whom I met were fine handsome men. Altogether I was impressed with a very favourable opinion of this tribe. Having completed a circuit of this portion of my district, and communicated with all the tribes, I r turned to Maketu on the 23rd instant. The result of my visit to the Ngatiawa tribes has more than equalled my expectation. The principal Chiefs, with a large majority of the people, are pledged to the adoption of the new system; and although there is less profession of loyalty or attachment to the Government than among the Arawa people, yet it did not appear to me that the Waikato King movement had obtained any important footing among these tribes. I learnt that an attempt had been made to hoist the Waikato flag at one of the settlements on the Rangitaika, but that it had been immediately put down. Indeed some of the Chiefs taunted their brother Chiefs of the Arawa who accompanied me, with the fact that the King's flag had been hoisted at Rotorua, and that it had been suffered to remain ; the reply to which was that the Governor had desired the matter to be left to him, which had been done, otherwise it would not have been tolerated. I have the honor to enclose herewith a Schedule showing the names of the persons nominated as members of Runanga, Assessors, Wardens aud Kareres respectively, and beg to recommend that the appointments be made in accordance therewith. Two more Assessors will be required for the Ngatiawa, one at Whakatane and one for the Ngaitonu settlements, also a Warden and three or four Kareres; but these appointments must be postponed until the people at those places are prepared to select men to fill them. In the case of Whakatane, there will, I believe, be but little delay. The Runanga is also incomplete, but it has been decided that the members already nominated shall meet at an early date to make the necessary preliminary arrangements for commencing business. I have much pleasure in here acknowledging the valuable assistance rendered me during my late visit by the Native Assessors Winiala and Rota Rangihoro, who accompanied me from this place, and exerted themselves with much ability and earnestness in meeting the arguments of objectors and explaining the working of the new system. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Native Affairs, Thomas H. Smith, Auckland. Civil Commissioner.

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REPORTS OF OFFICERS:

List of Native Officers nominated by the Ngatiawa Tribes as members of the local Runanga, Assessors, Wardens and Kareres. Members of Runanga. Tribe. Hunia Tunu of Te Umuhika 1 Paora Patu " V Te Tawera. Te Watene Te Apakura " ) Petera Rangitakina of Te Awa-o-te-Atua ) HoanfTohora °UngaraDgl ,< > Ngatirangihouhiri and Ngatihikakino. Kaperiere Rangitakina " j Tiopira Hukiki of Rangitaiki ] Te Taneti Te Hinurewa " > Te Pahipoto and Patutatahi. Hohepa Te Manaha " ) Hoani Poururu of Whakatane 1 Wepiha Apanui " > Ngatiawa. Pauro Heipoti " J > Pupuaruhe, &c. Ngaitonu.