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upon examination by the local medical practitioner, were pronounced in the one case to bo the effects of syphilis, and in the other a combination of scrofula and syphilis, not contagious or infectious. I have, etc., The* Under Secretary, Native Department, R. S. Bush, Wellington. Resident Magistrate.

No. 6. Captain Pbeeob, R.M., Napier, to the Undek-Seceetary, Native Department. Sir,— Eesident Magistrate's Office, Napier, 26th June, 1890. In accordance with the instructions contained in your Circular No. 7, of the 12th ultimo, I beg to forward the following report of the state of the Natives in the district under my charge :— Napier District. Very large quantities of grain have been grown by the Natives in the several settlements. The crops have been unusually good. I think that Native crops should be recognised in the agricultural statistics, otherwise the district does not get credit for all grain and other crops grown therein. The Natives grow by far the largest amount of wheat produced in the district, and a fair quantity of oats and potatoes. A great number of Natives have, as usual, been employed in shearing. This work attracts a number of Natives from other tribes during the season, especially the Urewera Tribe, who now visit the district every season for the purpose of getting employment. The case reported last year, in which Watara-wi was charged with shooting Turanga Karauria, was tried in the Supreme Court at Wellington, in November last, when the offender was convicted of manslaughter, and sentenced to penal servitude for ten years. The Native Land Court has been sitting almost continuously at Hastings since July last, and has adjudicated on the long-standing Omahu dispute, and has subdivided the land between the parties found to be entitled thereto. The case lasted, with short intervals, from July to February, and judgment was given by Judges O'Brien and Yon Stiirmer on. the 13th February, after a very patient and exhaustive hearing. I understand, however, that an application for a rehearing has been made. The Court has lately been sitting on the subdivision of the Mangaohane Block, and the contending parties have arrived at an amicable settlement of the case, thereby saving the Court considerable trouble, and themselves trouble and expense. The number of cases heard in the Resident Magistrate's Court at Napier, Hastings, Waipawa, Ormondville, and Woodville, in which Maoris were concerned, were as follows: Civil cases—European plaintiffs, Maori defendants, 104 ; amount sued for, £1,645 17s. Bd.; amount recovered, £1,365 Is. Bd. Maori plaintiffs, European defendants, 7 ; amount sued for, £119 os. 2d.; amount recovered, £67 18s. 6d. Maori plaintiffs, Maori defendants, 3; amount sued for, £56 ; amount recovered, £8 Bs. Criminal cases: Murder, committed for trial, 2; forcible entry, committed for trial, 2; wilful damage, dismissed, 4 ; wilful damage, convicted, 2; Police Offences Act, convicted, 3; cruelty to animals, convicted, 1 ; Public Works Act, convicted, 4 ; drunkenness, convicted, 6; drunkenness, dismissed, 3; lunacy, discharged, 1. One of the prisoners committed for murder was Makoare Wata, for the murder of Mr. Robert Gollan,.at To Mahia. He was tried in September at the Supreme Court, convicted, and sentenced to death, which sentence was carried into effect at the Napier Gaol in due course. The other case was that of Watara-wi, who was subsequently tried in Wellington, and convicted of manslaughter. I may state that, with the exception of these two cases, there have been no serious cases against Natives. The general health of the Natives has been good ; there has been no epidemic amongst them except the influenza, which is now prevalent throughout the district amongst Europeans and Natives. I regret to report the death of the chiefs Te Meihana Takihi and Paoro Torotoro. Wairoa District. The Natives in this district have been, as usual, very well behaved ; they have been employed shearing during the season, and have about the average quantity of land under cultivation, which has yielded 2,300 bushels of wheat, 4,500 bushels of maize, and 2,500 bushels of oats. There has not been much success in whaling at the Mahia, only seven whales were caught, the value of the oil being £180. . ■ . In the Resident Magistrate's Court the following cases were heard : European plamtins, Maori defendants, 35; amount sued for, £139 19s. 9d.; amount recovered, £139 4s. lOd. _ Maori plaintiffs, European defendants, 2 ; amount sued for, £59 ; amount recovered, £11 9s. Maori plaintiffs, Maori defendants, 7 ; amount sued for, £72 12s. sd. ; amount recovered, £25 Is. 4d. General Remarks. A number of cases which were heard in the Native Land Court last year still remain unsettled, as rehearings have been applied for in nearly all the cases heard. With regard to the conduct of the Natives it has been generally very good. The evidence against Makoare Wata, who was executed for the murder of Robert Gollan, was principally that of Natives, who gave every assistance to the authorities in bringing the offender to justice. I have, &c, George A. Preece, The Dnder-Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. Resident Magistrate.