NEW ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

A—No. 1.

85

districts lately inaccessible to Europeans would be considered in England a proof of the restored tranquillity of the country, and would thus exercise a favourable influence in promoting emigration to New Zealand. The overland route between Wellington and Auckland is by Napier (the chief town of the Province of Hawke's Bay), and by the great inland lake of Taupo. The country between Wellington and Napier has now for several years been occupied by pastoral and agricultural settlers; and the few Maoris resident among them, belonging chiefly to the clans of the Ngatiawa and Ngatikahungunu, are well affected to the Q-overnment, and live on the most friendly terms with their white neighbours. A good carriage road has already been completed northwards from Wellington to Masterton, a distance of some seventy miles, and from Napier southwards to Porangahau, about eighty miles, and coaches carrying mails and passengers run regularly to and from those places. The gap between Masterton and Porangahau does not exceed ninety miles, and will be filled up ere long, as roads are being pushed on steadily in all the settled districts, in accordance with a well-considered plan. As the Governor had already seen much of the country between Wellington and and as there was no public object to be gained by travelling overland in this part of his journey, he proceeded by sea in the Government steamer " Luna," leaving Wellington on the 2nd April, and, after a stormy passage, reaching Napier on the evening of the 3rd. His Excellency remained here during the 4th and sth, visiting the public institutions in the town and the neighbouring Jeaingas or villages, of Pakowhai and Waiohiki. The large sums paid to the Natives as rents by the pastoral settlers (amounting lately to £26,000 a year), as well as the produce of land sales (all divided among about 200 Maori families), have enabled the Native chiefs near Napier to build good houses in the English style, and to live in English comfort. They have good carriages, horses, cattle, and well-cultivated farms. One very interesting fact is the establishment by the Natives at Pakowhai of a school, where the children are now going through all the usual course of an English education, and show remarkable proficiency. While on the subject of Native schools, it maybe observed that this branch of civilization has been warmly taken up by the Colonial Government; an annual subsidy extending over a course of years has been voted by Parliament, and devoted strictly to the object it was intended to attain ; and it is a pleasing fact that a wide-spread disposition exists among the Natives to impart to their children the benefits of education. It has been found by experience that the readiest method of instilling European habits into the Natives is by teaching them the English language, and enlarging their understandings by acquainting them with the nature and geography of other countries, in addition to the usual routine of daily school life. In many cases the result has exceeded all anticipation, the children being excessively quick at picking up the language of the pakeha, and very apt at figures and penmanship. Napier until lately was the outpost of colonization towards the interior. In 1860 a sharply contested battle was fought by the Colonial forces with the insurgents at Omaranui, eight miles from the town; and it is within only the last two years that the neighbourhood has been safe from hostile incursions. The Colonial Government are rapidly pushing on a road from Napier to Taupo, the geographical and strategical centre of the Island. This road is being made chiefly by Native labour, and is protected by five small detachments of the Colonial forces, placed in stockaded posts, connected together by the electric telegraph, at Te Haroto, Tarawera, Eunanga, Opepe, and Tapuaeharuru (at the northern end of Lake Taupo). On the 6th April the Governor left Napier for Taupo, accompanied by one A.D.C.; by Mr. Locke, the Civil Commissioner of the district; and by the Master of Blantyre, who has been for some time travelling in the Australasian Colonies. The coach road has already been finished to the Mohaka River, about thirty miles from Napier; and now that permanent tranquillity has been established, the country through which it passes will soon be occupied by settlers. The Governor and his party slept this night at the post at Te Haroto, occupied by the Colonial forces, thirty-five miles from Napier. It occupies a strong position, 2,200 feet above the sea, on a summit of a high hill commanding a magnificent view of the sea and of the coast, as well as of the wild mountains and forests of the TJrewera country to the eastward. On the 7th the Governor started on horseback at 7 a.m., and after a ride of forty-two miles reached Opepe at 7 p.m., another post of the Colonial forces, where he again slept. The party had been joined at Te Haroto by Major Scannell, commanding the district, and had stopped for breakfast and lunch respectively at the posts of Tarawera and Eunanga. The carriage road has not yet been completed throughout the distance travelled this day, but there is already a good bridle track. Much of the land is rich, and the mountain and forest scenery is very beautiful, reminding the European traveller of the Italian slopes of the Alps. Contracts for the completion of the road have been taken by the Maoris of Taupo, and it will be finished in the course of the present year, when a coach will run regularly from Napier to the lake, carrying mails and passengers to the heart of the island. A tri-weekly coach service already exists from Auckland to Cambridge, in the Waikato, a distance of about one hundred and twenty miles ; and the break between Cambridge and Taupo is only some seventy miles. Of this gap a considerable portion has already been filled up by Native labour, and the carriage road throughout will probably be completed in the course of a twelvemonth ; when coaches will be enabled to travel from Napier (and soon from Wellington also) to Auckland in about four days, stopping each night at the inns already finished, or in process of erection. A statement asserting the possibility of such a fact would have appeared incredible three years ago, when the Natives of the central districts were for the most part in active or sullen hostility. On the Bth the Governor left Opepe, at a distance from which of some ten miles, an hour's ride along a good road, lies the great lake of Taupo, 1,250 feet above the sea, and resembling in its extent (about two hundred square miles of water), and in scenery, the Lake of Geneva. On his arrival at Tapuaeharuru, the native settlement at the north end of the Lake, and near the point where the River Waikato issues from it, the Governor was enthusiastically received by the well-known chief Poihipi Tukairangi, one of the signers of the Treaty of Waitangi, and by his people, with whom was held a korero, or conference. The following is a brief summary of the speeches delivered:— 22