E—No. 9 See. VII.

the meanwhile, the copy of a letter I have just addressed to Mr. Clarke, as Civil Commissioner for the Bay, which will generally indicate the views of His Excellency's Government on several matters which in your own district will require your immediate attention ; and I also enclose you a few copies of the Address recently issued to the Natives, and published in the " Messenger." With regard to the constitution of the Runanga for the Mongonui District, it will be necessary in the first place that you should visit the various Native settlements, and invite them to concur with you in recommending certain Chiefs to be members of it, and also in selecting those who are t) bo appointed Magistrates and Wardens. It is intended by the Governor in all cases to leave the appointment of Kareres to the Ruuanga itself when established. With regard to the appointment of Native Magistrates, the Government will wait to hear from you before taking any steps. In your letter of December 30th, calling attention to a previous letter of yours dated 21st January 1861, with a list of Assessors and their payment, you request that if the proposal then made by you is approved the sum of £145 may be sent up to you. But the proposal you made in January 1861 may not be the one which now, with the renewed responsibility thrown upon you by the separation of your district from that of the Bay of Islands, you would wish to make for the future. You are aware that the Governor intends to grant salaries of £30, £40, and even £50 to the principal Native Magistrates. In the Bay of Islands District as just reconstituted, the Governor has sanctioned the payment of salaries at those rates to ten Chiefs, but in your district a less number would no doubt be sufficient. It is not intended to interfere with the payment of the small salaries paid (up to 1860) to any Chiefs who may not now be selected for the superior position Sir George Grey wishes to confer upon the best and most reliable men only: and in this view you may not think it right still to recommend sums of £10 a year being paid to so many. The Government have had much pleasure in marking, by the steps which are now communicated to you, their appreciation of the long and valuable services which you have rendered, and their confidence in your co-operating heartily with the Governor in his desire to establish institutions for the government of the Natives. I am, &c, W. B. White, Esq., Mougonui. Henry Hasle, Acting Native Secretary.

No. 4. REPORT FROM W. B. WIIITE, ESQ., RESIDENT MAGISTRATE, Resident Magistrate's Office, Mongonui, February 20, 1862. Sik,— I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of February 4th, 186?, informing me of the reconstruction of the IWongonui District, which His Excellency has been kind enough to place in my charge. I shall lose no time in [lacing myself in communication with the Natives of the District, with a view to the inauguration of His Excellency's plan. The communications I have had with Mr. G. Clarke, the Civil Commissioner of the Bay of Islands, were principally of an oral character; I am therefore not well prepared as to the details of the system, but as soon as I return from visiting the Natives, I shall request such information iis may be needed. In the meantime I should be glad to he informed, at as early a date as possible, if Mis Excellency will sanction the appointment of seven Chiefs for the District Hunanga, and three Wardens, fourteen Kareres. The distribution of these Officers would be thus:—For the District Runanga, North Cape, 1; Ahipara, l;Kaitaia, 1; Mangatete or Parapara, 1; Waikainga, 1; Kohumaru, Waihau, and Mongonui, 1; Wangaroa, 1. Wardens—Ahipara, 1) Mongonui, 1; Wangaroa, 1. Of course these Officers would be the best men to be found. Any of the present Assessors who may not be appointed to superior positions will of course retain their present pay. Should new ones be required to administer the law, must they serve without pay? With regard to your remarks on my application for £115, I think you are labouring under a misapprehension: the sum required is for payment of salaries for the year 1861, for duties performed. I have forwardtd the copy of the list which accompanied my letter of 21st January, 18G1, by which it will be seen the salaries paid in 18G0 and proposed for 1861. The last proposal, I was informed verbally, had been approved. In my letter ot 80th December, I asked for an addition of five pounds t och to two of the Assessors' salaries for zealous conduct; and struck off two others, one dead, the other for net having performed any duty. I fesl somewhat embarrassed in meeting the Assessors without having it in my power to pay them the past year's salary; it has been well earned, and I think ought not to be made contingent upon any new arrangement. I know perfectly well that most of the Assessors are put to considerable expense, and look forward to their salary with certainty. I trust the Ciovernment will enable me to pay this sum with as little delay as possible, or I fear it will induce them to look coldly upon the new arrangements. I urge this strongly, as I consider it would be breaking faith with them not to pay them for the past year's services.* I have, &c, The Native Secretary, ■ W. B. White, Auckland. Resident Magistrate.

• Tlii* wai Ujnt,

5

MONGONUI.