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Government in all which you may do in the exercise of a souud judgment and reasonable discretion. It will be the object of Government to obtain from the General Assembly such enlarged powers as may seem adapted to the special requirements of the present habits and social condition of the Natives. In the discharge of your Magisterial duties you will bear in mind that tlie Government are anxious not merely to establish amongst the Natives a system of law and settled institutions, but also to teach and habituate the Natives themselves to take part in the work of their own Government. You will, therefore, as far as possible, get them to act with you as Assessors and Jurymen. You will, in fact, consider yourself not only as an administrator, but as a teacher of the law. As a Civil Commissioner, it will be your special duty to ascertain the assent of the Natives in their Runangas to the Regulations to be introduced under the Native District Regulation Act. In bringing this Act into operation, the Government looks to the machinery of the Runanga as a primary Institution for accustoming the Natives to the work of self-government. I direct your attention to the Order in Council of the 7th day of March, 1862, relating to the constitution of the Runanga. His Excellency will be obliged by your furnishing him, at the earliest opportunity, with your views as to the formation of Runangas in your District, the mode in which they should be constituted, and other particulars relating to them which may be useful for His Excellency's guidance. In accordance with your suggestions, His Excellency will be prepared to appoint, on your recommendation, three Natives as Assessors, and four Natives as Kareres. The salaries of these Officers will be as follows:—Assessors £30 each, Kareres £10 each, with one suit of clothing. Their pay will commence from such period as you may recommend. A Court-house or Court-houses will be required for your District. As regards these the Natives must be taught to understand that in. offering them Institutions of Government it is not intended to buy their allegiance, or to encourage them in neglect of their own duties. If there be truth in the desire expressed by them for law and order, they will recognize their liability to contribute themselves towards the introduction of these Institutions. In no way could they moro readily do this than by building, or assisting in the building, of Court-houses, Prisons, Schools, and other buildings required for their common purposes. In every case in which under your direction they will come forward to do or assist in works of this kind, the Government will supply plain doors and windows, ironmongery, and any carpentering work which you may judge necessary. His Excellency is anxious that immediate steps be taken for the establishment of a primary School. You are authorized to expend a sum not exceeding £150 on building, books, furniture, &c, for this purpose; and to engage (on the part of His Excellency) to provide a competent Schoolmaster for one year at least. But the Natives must be made to understand that in establishing Schools, and like Institutions, the Government is not prepared to do more than commence the work. It must be maintained and carried on mainly through their active co-operation, and (as their improving circumstances may supply means) at their own cost. They must at once contribute labor to the erection of buildings, and supplies of food for the support of the Master and Scholars. It will be, also, desirable to impress on them the duty of setting apart land for the endowment of these Institutions. I need scarcely impress on you the importance of conciliating, as far as possible, the leading Chiefs, and, to unite them with you on all matters affecting the interests of their people, inviting their confidence, and assuring them of the anxious desire felt by the Government to promote the welfare of the Native people, and their advancement in civilization ; so that, by degrees, to bring within their reach the same social advantages that are enjoyed by their Pakeha fellow-subjects. You will especially take every opportunity of imparting to the Native Assessors instruction in the duties of their office, and directing them in the proper discharge of the same. I am further to request that you will furnish from time to time for the information of His Excellency the Governor, detailed reports of your proceedings, transmitting the same through the Attorney-General's Office. I have, &c, George Law, Esq., R.M., Henry Hai.SE, Taupo. Acting Native Secretary.

No. 3. RETORT FROM GEOBGE LAW, ESQ., CIVIL COMMISSIONER. Oruanui, April 25th, 18G2. Sik, — I have the honor to report, for the information of Mis Excellency's Government, that I arrived here after a tedinug and protracted passage of three weeks to the lUatuta, haying been driven back twice to Tauianga, from whence I proceeded overland to Matata, and found the vessel a total wreck. I fortunately lost nothing, and coming on, arrived here last night. I received a very cordial reception from my Natives, and found my house iu a very forward state; however, it will not be finished within a month, the material having to be carried a considerable distance.

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