E—No. 9 Sec. VII.

No. 1. REPORT FROM GEOJKJE CLARKE, ESQ., CIVIL COMMISSIONER. Mongonui, December 14th, 1861. Sir, — I embrace every opportunity of keeping you informed of my proceedings while passing through my district; and I hope I may be excused if somewhat informal iu my communications. I am now in the vicinity of Mongonui and Kaitaia, and with Mr. White, the Magistrate of the district, have fully communicated on all subjects connected with the Native policy about being introduced into this district. Fully concurring as that gentleman does with the whole scheme, and cordially approving as he dees of the efforts about being made for the good of the Natives, it cannot be concealed that he is regretting the apparent want of courtesy in not making him at an earlier period acquainted with the changes proposed to be introduced into this district, and affording him an opportunity of placing before the Government the altered position, and its inconveniences in relation to himself. I hope it may not be considered that I am out of place in stating that it is due to Mr. White to say that he is not only an old well tried energetic servant of the Government, but has the full confidence and esteem of the Natives in his district; and their general orderly and respectful conduct has called forth my unqualified approbation. It cannot, therefore, be a matter of surprise that the changes which place him in a subordinate situation in the district which owes so much to his unwearied exertions, should be felt as a degradation, and appear to him as unjust and neglectful. Conscious that the Government could have no such intentions, but on the contrary highly appreciated the services of that officer, I told him that I was prepared to submit to the Government in order to remove such a feeliisg, that one of two ways should be adopted to relieve him from his embarrassment, and secure his invaluable services to the Government and to the European and Native population of the district. n The first plan which occurred to me was, that Mr. White should be promoted by appointing him Civil Corr.missicnir to one of the districts about beii.g formed, which he is in every respect well qualified to support and conduct. Should this be found inconvenient or opposed to the arrangements of the Government, then I would submit that the Karawa tribe, who are more isolated than the other tribes in the Hundreds of Hokianga and Waimate, should be formed into a small district, in which Mr. White should be promoted to the office of Civil Commissioner ; the district extending from the north head of Wargarca to the North Cape,frcm thence by the Western Coast to the Heads of Hokianga, from thence to Waihou or Motu-karaka, frcm thence to Mangataniwu, from thence to the Heads of Wangaroa. This would make a compact though small district, would need no further assistance than of one Magistrate, which is even now necessary from the increasing European population, remove every difficulty, and secure the services of Mr. White in a district he has reduced to order, and in. which he has necessarily incurred heavy expenses in forming his homestead. Should the Government be pleased to accede to this proposal, I would submit that the Bay of Islands district should extend as far south as Wangarei, the full extent of Ngapuhi territory south. Should Mr. White be removed to another district, it would be the labour of years to gain for another officer the position he holds in the confidence and esteem of the Natives of this place; but if promoted as above proposed, there would be a cordial co-operation, aud arrangements might be made with Mr. White for training young men for the future work in Native service. These proposals have made no alteration in my plans in the complete organization of thia district, which plans I hope to have complete to be laid before the Government by the end of the year. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister, George Clarke, Auckland. Civil Commissioner.

SECTION VII. MONGO N U I,