E—No. 9 Sec. V.

Finding that the Ngatiporou Runanga (headed hy Iharaira Te Koukamau, a chief of the highest rank and influence) was encamped at Orete, we landed there, and spent Sunday with the people of that place. They seemed well disposed, but were too much engaged in entertaining their visitors to pay much attention to business matters. At daylight on Monday morning we started again, in company with the Ngatiporou Runanga, who had been accommodated with boats and canoes; landed at Pakaoa, where much time was spent in speechifying and feasting, after which we proceeded as far as Te Oneroa. There we were detained two days by bad weather, a furious gale having set in which made it necessary that we should leave our boats and journey by land; my party arrived at Te Kaha an hour or two before the Runanga. We were received very coolly, and some surprise was expressed that a Magistrate should go so far to visit them. The Kaha Natives have been greviously disappointed at the non-fulfilment by the Committee of the Church Missionary Society of an oft-repeated promise that they should have a clergyman stationed there; this has made them doubt the sincerity of any professions of regard for their welfare that may be made by Europeans. I trust, however, shortly to convince them of the falsity of this opinion, and their confidence once being gained, they will doubtless soon be as willing as the rest of the people of this District to avail themselves of Government control and direction. The country is extremely beautiful, and fertile to a proverb, and the weather milder than in the vicinity of the East Cape. This has saved them from the loss which has been sustained throughout the whole of the District South of them. The Natives, however, are greatly in debt to the European traders, who have scattered trade among them in the most reckless and culpable manner, and now press the Natives for payment at a time when the price of produce is unprecedentedly low. The result of this attempt to make up for the extravagance of years of plenty at a time of scarcity and an unremunerative price, is, that a bitter feeling has arisen betweeD the traders and the Natives, such as has not hitherto manifested itself. The former complain of the dishonesty and rascality, as they term it, of the Natives, and torment the Magistrate with applications for summonses, &c, endeavouring to make British law the tool of their own folly and rashness. The Natives, on the other hand, regard the Pakeha as an usurious exactor. They have no idea, or will not entertain it, of interest on money, and content themselves with promises to pay at some future or more convenient season. It will readily be seen that this state of things must be productive of much harm, alike to the morals and temper of the Natives. In compliance with the earnest solicitation of the Ngatiporou Runanga as well as the Whanau Apanui, I had promised to accompany them to Pakoiri, it being their intention and object to attempt a mediation between the disputants at that place. Finding however, that Mr. H. Clarke, within whose bounds it is situated, would not be there, fearful of appearing to intrude upon another person's sphere of duty, and my health having suffered severely from constant travelling since my arrival at the East Cape, I returned from Te Kaha as above stated. Having thus completed the visitation of all the villages within the Districts of Waipau and Tokornaru, it is mv intention to devote myself to those matters of official correspondence and routine which have unavoidably been thrown into arrears by my absence from home. While I am not prepared to say that the state of the Districts under my charge is such as I could desire, or hope that they will attain to, it nevertheless gives me pleasure to be able to report that there is an appearance, almost amounting to a certainty, of success. The Assessors, Wardens, and Kareres are working well and harmoniously, and though far from being efficient, their docility at present is such as to afford me much encouragement in the work of fitting them for their duties. The next great step to be taken is the organization and control of the Runanga. At the present time, I am quite in the dark as to the measures which have been or may be adopted by the Government with reference to them. As at present constituted, they are, in my opinion, worse than useless; the voice of the Runanga is used to checkmate any movement that may not at first sight be popular with or suit the convenience of the rising generation, youths of from fifteen to twenty years of age, whose arrogance is a source of great annoyance to the older and more sensible portion of the community These pert young fellows plume themselves upon being the representatives of the present age, " tn young Maori of the Native race," and comport themselves accordingly. I have frequently to remind them, that the first Commandment having reference to the duty of man to man of the code which is the basis of British law, is that which enjoins obedience and respect to their parents and chiefs. I have, &c, The Hon. the Attorney General, William B. Baker. &c, &c, &c.

No. 10. REPORT OF LETTER FROM NATIVES OF TE NAWA, District of Tokomarua. Resident Magistrate's Office, Rangitukia, 29th April. 1862. Sir,— I have the honor to forward herewith an address by the Natives of the Hundred of Nawa, expressive of their loyalty, and their desire to see Sir George Grey's policy introduced among them. I have, &c, The Honorable the Attorney General. William. B. Baker, Resident Magistrate.

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EAST CAPE.