G.—l

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Dr. Leslie, who has for some months been in medical charge of the district, informs me that there has been a considerable amount of sickness among the Natives, he having attended several hundred cases ; and that, especially during the Land Court, .there have been an exceptional number of deaths. I have, &c, D. ScANNELL, The Undcr-Secrctary, Native Office, Wellington, Resident Magistrate.

No. 10. Captain Pbekce, R.M., Napier, to the Under-Secretary, Native Department. Sir, — Resident Magistrate's Office, Napier, 11th June, 1880. In accordance with the instructions contained in your circular of the 24th March, 1880, No. 2, I have the honour to forward the following report on the district under my charge:— Napier District. There has been very little change in the Natives in this district since my last report. The Native Land Court has been sitting almost continuously at Hastings during the past year, and the titles of several large blocks have been investigated. Industrial Pursuits. —Large quantities of wheat have been grown in this district, chiefly on the Heretaunga Flats. I estimate the yield to be 72,600 bushels. Other crops have been grown by them, but principally for their own consumption. The Natives own a large number of sheep, scattered about in small flocks, numbering in all about twenty thousand. They do not have any steady employment, but a great number of them are engaged on the runs during the shearing season. Condition of the Natives. —No epidemic lias visited the district, but a great number of children have died, and there have been several deaths amongst the adults from low fever and other causes. I regret to report the death of Morena Hawea, a very loyal chief residing at Pourcrere, who was for many years a Government pensioner on account of services rendered to the Crown in the early days of settlement in this district; also of Mauaena Tini, a chief and Native Assessor residing at Pakowhai. The number of cases heard in the Resident Magistrates' Courts at Woodville, Ormondville, Waipawa, Napier, and Hastings during the year were as follows : Criminal case, malicious injury —committed for trial, 1; dog registration—convicted, 12; Impounding Act —dismissed 1, convicted 2; drunkenness —convicted, 13; assault —dismissed, 1; sureties of the peace— dismissed, 1; cruelty to animals —convicted. 1; Public Works Act —convicted, 3; larceny— dismissed 2, convicted 1; railway by-laws —dismissed, 2 ; Land Act, obstructing survey —committed for trial, 2 ; lunacy, 2. Civil cases : Between European plaintiffs and Maori defendants —number of cases, 126; amount sued for, £1,441 3s. 6d.; recovered, £875 17s. 2d. Between Maori plaintiffs and European defendants —number of eases, 4; mount sued for, £70 13s. 9d. ; recovered, £3. The population of the Resident Magistrate's district over which these cases spread is 1,750 persons. Wairoa District. Industrial Pursuits. —The Natives in this district have planted nearly nine hundred acres of wheat, which is estimated to yield about twenty thousand bushels. They own nearly ten thousand sheep, from which they have taken 180 bales of wool. The Natives residing at Te Mahia, in the northern end of the district, have been engaged whaling during the summer and winter seasons. They have captured eighteen whales, which yielded twenty-five tuns of oil, worth about £600. A number of the Natives were employed shearing during the summer. Condition. —An epidemic of whooping-cough visited the district, which was fatal to a number of children, probably owing to the insufficient caro shown by the Maori parents during the attack of the disease. The general health of the Natives has been good. The Natives at Nuhaka and Te Mahia have been visited by several American Mormon elders, who have succeeded in making a great number of converts to their faith; in fact, nearly all the Natives of Tahaenui have given up their former creeds and joined the Mormon faith. The wife of one of the elders keeps a school at Nuhaka, which is attended by about forty Native children. The following cases in which Maoris were concerned were heard in the Resident Magistrate's Court, Wairoa: Criminal and summary cases: Larceny, dismissed, 2; drunkenness, convicted, 2; assault, dismissed, 3; Sheep Act, convicted, 3; Dog Registration Act, convicted, 1. Civil cases : Between European plaintiffs and Maori defendants—number of cases, 34 ; amount sued for, £194 125.; recovered, .£123 Bs. 3d. Between Maori plaintiffs and European defendants— nine cases; amount sued for, £112 18s.; recovered, £16 ss. Between Maoris only—five cases; amount sued for, £133; recovered, £27 15s. 2d. The population of the Resident Magistrate's district over which these cases are spread is 2,044. General Remarks. —The ex-rebel Te Kooti passed through the northern end of the Napier District in the latter end of December last. He visited the Native pa at Petane, and proceeded