G.—4a

2

to the belief that there would not bo any serious outbreak on the West Coast, for, unless assured of aid from Waikato, it is not probable that Te Whiti and Tohu would resort to arms to oppose the force arrayed against them. Eewi has retired from the prominent position which he assumed in 1878. He is both anxious and willing to aid in bringing about a solution of the difficulty, but he admits his inability to exercise any influence independently of Tawhiao. The loyal chief Paora Tuhaere had a meeting at Orakei in March ; a full account of the proceedings was sent to your office. The attendance was small, only the local Natives, a few from the North, and two or three Kingites being present. The principal points discussed were certain acts of the Government and the Parliament, which were strongly condemned; but this cannot be regarded as an expression of opinion on the part of the northern tribes, as very few of those who took part in the meeting knew anything about the subjects upon which they deliberated. They simply wanted something to talk about, and, as the Q-overnment did not recognize the meeting—or "' Parliament," as it was called —in any way, it was a safe platform to criticise the acts of the present Administration. The Native Lands Court has been sitting at Cambridge for the last three weeks, and a large amount of business has been got through. It is satisfactory to note that influential chiefs of the King party now attend the Court, not to obstruct, but for the purpose of looking after individual interests in the various blocks. Of the loyal Natives in the district I hare nothing of much importance to record ; from year to year there is little change in their condition, excepting the gradual diminution of their numbers. They have been amply provided with schools: indeed it may be said the greatest possible facility is afforded for the education of Maori children, but in many places, when the novelty of the thing wears off, it is very difficult to keep the school together. It is a melancholy fact that, as a rule, the uneducated or primitive Maori is morally a better man than the one who has received a partial English education. In conclusion, I think that I may state with confidence that in the district under my charge Native affairs are comparatively in a satisfactory state. The large reductions made a few months since in the salaries of Native officials and pensioners produced in some instances a little soreness, and there were not wanting gratuitous advisers who fostered this feeling and made it their business to impress upon the Natives that it was the beginning of a policy of oppression under which the Maoris would gradually lose all their rights. This soreness has in a great measure passed away. It was explained to them that it was necessary for the general welfare that large reductions in the expenditure of the colony should be made, and also that European officers suft'ered as well, besides which the Natives recognized the fact that none of them ever performed any duty worth naming, and that the source which gave had a right to take away. I may state that I assumed charge of the combined districts of Auckland, Waikato, and Eaglan on the Ist of January last; that 1 am necessarily absent for considerable periods from the chief office visiting the various settlements in Waikato and Eaglan, as well as holding sittings as Resident Magistrate of the latter place, and that the work of the department would not be carried out successfully but for the valuable assistance rendered by the chief clerk, Mr. Vickers, and the interpreter and translator, Mr. Brown, both of whom, in addition to the work done in this office, devote a great amount of time and trouble to the duty of obtaining information and working in various ways for other departments of the public semee- I have, &c, W. a. Maie, Government Native Agent, Auckland and Waikato. The Under-Secretary, Native Department, Wellington..

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