E.—No. 4

On subsequently discussing the matter with the Assessors and Wardens of this District, I promised them I would draw a Regulation on the subject and submit the same to them; but on perusing the Native Districts Regulation Act, I find the Governor in Council has no power to enforce such a Regulation. The 8th subject for Regulations applies, it appears to me, solely to the prevention of fires, and I would therefore suggest to you that in case you intend to apply to the General Assembly for more extended powers under this Act, it would be advisable to include this subject. The abuses that have arisen by the present system in use, of collecting money for the owners of the house destroyed by fire, are very great, and I think it is only my duty to propose a remedy for the same. In accordance with this view I have prepared a Regulation, which I herewith enclose you. I shall at once forward it to the various Runangas for their adoption. The subject may appear to you as scarcely worth attention, but I would observe that Natives have no possibility of availing themselves of the benefits of Insurance to protect them from losses by fire, and that private charity is their only means of compensation. When a leading Chief is applied to for his contribution, he naturally wishes to appear excessively generous, and I have known instances where a man has given away, in consequence of this feeling, his whole stock of clothing. In one case a man near me had his house and clothes burnt of the value of about £10. He received by subscriptions, goods and money to the value of nearly £50. I am preparing a series of Regulations on other subjects, which, after submission to the various Runangas, will be duly forwarded to you for approval I have, &c, James Armitage, R.M. The Honorable the Attorney-General.

Enclosure to No. 6. PROPOSED BEGULATIONS AS TO BUILDINGS AND PBOPEBTY DESTEOTED BY FIEE. That in case any house or building shall be destroyed by fire, the Resident Magistrate or principal Assessor shall as soon as conveniently may be after due notice of such fire being given to him or them, summon a Jury in the manner prescribed by the 15th Section of the Native Circuit Courts Act, which Jury shall after being duly sworn according to the form hereinafter set forth, hear such evidence on oath, as may be submitted to them as to the cause of such fire, and shall then be required to give an unanimous verdict in respect thereof. And that such Jury shall in case such fire be proved by their verdict to have arisen from accidental circumstances, then proceed to assess and determine according to the best of their ability the value of such buildings, and of all or any other property consumed by such fire. And that no public subscription for relief of, or compensation to, the owner or owners of such building and property be made, unless by or with the consent and approbation of such Jury, and that the amount of such subscriptions to be paid to the owner or owners of such house shall not exceed the assessed value of such building and property; and the surplus of such subscriptions if any shall be returned to the subscribers pro rata.

Sessional Papers, 1862. E. No. 9, Sec. 2, No. 22.

No. 7. RESIDENT MAGISTRATE, LOWER WAIKATO, TO THE HONORABLE THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL. Resident Magistrate's Office, Lower Waikato, 16th June, 1862. Sir,— I have the honor to inform you that agreeably to the appointment mentioned to you in my letter of the 5th instant, I proceeded to Kahumataku on the 12th instant. That on the 13th instant I held a Runanga there, which, in consequence of the absence of the great majority of the tribe at Kawhia, was very thinly attended. I have the honor to enclose you herewith a Report of the only Speeches made on the occasion, ■which I think worth notice. An application, as you will see, was made to me to appoint a Warden, but as the proposed party was absent, I deferred the matter until his return, and until I had the opportunity of communicating with you thereon. A further application was also made for more policemen, but for the reason stated in my letter to you of the 5th instant, I limited the number at present to two only ; should you be of opinion that a third should be appointed, I have to request that you would favour me with instructions as to same. I have also the honor to inform you that for the reasons stated in the letter of the 5th instant, I appointed Hona Te Kotuku as first Assessor, and Winitana Nga Pu as second Assessor, and

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