E.—No. a

IN NATIVEIDISTRICTS.

25

ATTENTION OB OTHERWISE TO AGRICULTURAL PURSUITS. Agriculture is very much neglected. With all the necessary appliances, and, as a rule, the best soil in the Province, the Maoris do not cultivate enough for their own support. They prefer letting their lands, though the rental they receive is but a fraction of what they might obtain by working the soil themselves, and goes but a little way towards providing the necessaries of life. Wheat and potatoes are all they attempt to grow. Kumeras, pumpkins, melons, turnips, Ac, all favorite articles of diet, they never cultivate now, assigning as a reason, that they require too much care. Their food at every meal, as a rule, consists only of bread and tea. They have plenty of horses, but few horned cattle, and no sheep. Though very fond of milk and butter, there is not one household that provides itself with these things, ereryone shirks the trouble. The neglect of agriculture is probably owing— 1. To the perpetual interruptions caused by having to attend Eunangas, called together on the most frivolous pretexts. 2. To the unsettled state of mind, to which I have already referred. 3. To the facility afforded (by the close proximity in which they live) for the idle to live on ihe industrious. SUGGESTIONS. In conclusion, I wish to offer a few suggestions— 1. Whether it might not tend to allay the present discontent, if the Maoris were encouraged to register as voters, and so made to feel that they had a voice in the Government of the country. 2. That a form of will should be provided to facilitate the devising of property held under Crown Grant. Much ill feeling and litigation amongst relations would thus be prevented. 3. Whether the time has not arrived when the Maoris should be required to register births, deaths, and marriages, the fees being merely nominal, and the Eogistrars chosen from amongst themselves. James Stack.