H.—2lb

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Looking also at this arrangement in a pecuniary point of view, it is greatly to be regretted that the interest of the trust was not better considered, by taking the precaution in the first place to have provided land for the Natives elsewhere, instead of allowing them to settle on some of the richest land belonging to the estate, whereby the trust is deprived of a considerable addition to its revenue annually, as a large proportion of the land so occupied would let readily at from 20s. to £2 per acre. Or, if it had been found impossible to have removed the Natives then in occupation, to have selected an equivalent in land elsewhere, in place of the quantity appropriated to their use. The portion of the estate the Natives have been allowed to retain possession of was subdivided and apportioned by the former trustees ; but, owing to the peculiar shape of many of these blocks, it was thought advisable to resurvey the whole of the land, taking care to award the same number of acres to each family as were formerly allowed them. In some instances there were allottees who had more land than they absolutely required for cultivation, and, as they were desirous in most cases to let the surplus to the European settlers, it was thought advisable—as it had always been considered that they were entitled to receive any pecuniary benefit derivable from the land allotted to them—to allow them to do so, through the commissioners, as it enabled them to do regularly and legally that which it was found difficult to prevent them doing in an irregular and objectionable manner. One hundred and forty acres have been let in this way, from which they derive an income of £180. The population of Motueka, by a census taken during the early part of last year, numbered 96, viz., 45 adult males, 31 adult females, 11 male children, 9 female children—total, 96 of Native population. If the Natives residing along the shores of Blind Bay and Golden Bay could be induced to send their children to one central school, —say at Motueka, for instance ; although I am inclined to think that a school established at Nelson for the purpose would prove more successful, as it would do away, in a great measure, with the feelings that exist amongst the Natives in the other districts against sending their children to the school at Motueka, owing to local jealousies, the Natives there being under the impression that they alone are entitled to any benefit derivable from the school, —there are a sufficient number of children of school age to form a very good central school. The number of children of all ages residing in the aforesaid localities, including also Motueka, is 97, viz.: —Wakapuaka, 18 ; Motueka, 20 ; Motupipi, 20 ; Takaka, 9 ; Paruihakaho, 12; Takurua, 8; Collingwood, 10; —total, 97. Besides the children enumerated above, there are at the Pelorus, 11; Queen Charlotte's Sound, 44; Wairau, 11; D'Urville's Island, 18—total, 84; so :ie of whom might be induced to attend a school of the kind, although, strictly speaking, the Natives in those localities are not entitled to participate in the benefits accruing from the endowment funds; but admission might be obtained for the children on the payment of a fee by their parents, and a capitation allowance under "The Native Schools Act, 1867." The greatest obstacle to the success of Native schools, I am afraid, will be found in the apathy and indifference of parents to the importance of sending their children to school. The children may be willing enough to attend, but the parents like to have them near themselves. Unfortunately the Natives have only an animal love for their offspring, and cannot be got to see the advantage of a temporary separation, even although it might be conducive to the greater good of their children. The industrial school at Motueka was closed about the middle of March, 1864, owing to the whole of the scholars having decamped ; and as there seemed to be no inclination on the part of the children to return, or any intention on the part of the parents to compel their attendance, Bishop Hobhouse decided not to reopen the school until the Natives showed an inclination to appreciate the same. As no action was taken on either side, the school remained closed until after Bishop Suter's arrival, when Mr. Eonaldson, the present teacher, was appointed to take charge in May, 1868. The closing of the school was duly reported to the Government in November, 1864. Alexander Mackay, sth January, 1870. Native Commissioner. Mr. David Jennings, being duly sworn, states: I have lived at Motueka twenty years. The object of my letter to the Nelson Examiner was to show that the experiment of teaching Maoris alone, as had been done, had been thoroughly, ably, and honestly tried, and had wholly failed. I attribute the failure to the absence of any attempt to bring up some Maori boys in company with English boys. I am quite aware that the attempt made to educate them with any of the lower class would not succeed; but I have always thought that the education of a few Maori boys with boys of a higher class, were the temptation of a higher education offered as an inducement, must to some extent succeed. I consider the Auckland College (the Bishop's) was a failure as a self-sup-porting institution, but I was not aware that it failed educationally. My experience is that instances have crossed my path of real elevation of character having been given to Natives through the means of that institution. I think the feelings of the Natives are very favourable towards education, but I think they are incapable of appreciating its full value, or of anything advanced beyond what they see to be absolutely useful ; but I believe such power of appreciation would be the result of previous education. I never heard any complaints on their part of the manner in which the land was acquired. I consider that I am on very friendly terms with the Maoris, and have been more so with many that are now dead. I am not to give a decided opinion as to their rapid decrease. I have no doubt they are on the decrease; but I attribute their decrease to the want of better education. I remember an instance of a Maori lad, named Eobert, who had been educated at the school. He afterwards lived with Major Eichmond and other Europeans, and having apparently become highly civilized, yet ended by marrying and relapsing into the usual Maori habits. He took to drinking, got a complaint in the knee which required amputation, to which he would not consent,