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instructed the Komitis of kaingas in this state to set aright the wrongs existing—to destroy several old houses and to clean their wells. On my next visit I shall be able to report on the steps taken with regard to my instructions. It is my intention to visit the different kaingas during the summer months when the roads are in good order. In the winter they are almost impassable. It is at this time the people are negligent concerning the state of their maraes. The collection in aid of the proposed Nursing Home is still in progress. The sum now to hand amounts to £200, and the supporters of this object are confident of raising £350 before the Minister's arrival. They desire to have the building erected before the winter sets in, and also to have a nurse sent in the meanwhile to attend to the sick. This is all. Good health to you who are ever fighting for the health of our people, the Maori! Horomona Teo Paipa, Native Sanitary Inspector, East Coast.

REPORT OF TE RANGIHIROA, ASSISTANT NATIVE HEALTH OFFICER. Sir,— Auckland, 21st May, 1908. I have the honour to submit my report on the work done in the Auckland Native Health District since my transference from the West Coast (North Island) District in May, 1907. Population. The population of the district according to the last census report of 1906 is made up as follows :— District north of Auckland ... ... ... ... ... 10,706 The Waikato and King-country ... ... ... ... ... 5,164 Thames, Coromandel, with Piako and Ohinemuri Counties ... ... 3,043 Rotorua and Taupo districts ... ... ... ... ... 3,285 Bay of Plenty, with part of Waiapu ... ... ... ... 6,996 29,194 This comprises the greater part of the Maori population of the Dominion. It will be seen that one-third of the population of the district resides in the country north of Auckland, whilst the Bay of Plenty, including the Urewera country, has also a large population. When to these are added the Taupo and some parts of the King-country, it will be understood that much difficult travelling has to be done, making it a hard matter to work the whole district from one fixed point. By making temporary headquarters for two or three months in the various outlying districts however, one is enabled to live amongst the people, to keep in close touch with them and assist the Maori Councils, Maori Committees, and Women's Committees in their work. Vital Statistics and Registration. Owing to the position of Registrar to the various Maori Councils being purely honorary in many cases, and the mass of the people not recognising the importance of registration, much valuable data is lost. The census is given for the European counties, whilst the Native Registrars are appointed for the Maori Council districts. The boundaries do not coincide, so that when one or two Registrars do not furnish complete vital statistics, the vital statistics for the Maori population cannot be made up because they would be incorrect. If the census were taken by the Maori Councils for their own districts, not only would it be more correct, since not a single individual or small hamlet would be missed as might possibly be the case when taken by an absolute stranger to a difficult district; but, even if some of the Maori Councils fail to furnish complete statistics, the vital statistics of those which do, can be made up correctly, and birth, death, and marriage rates be supplied from year to year. But measures must be taken to make registration of births, deaths, and marriages compulsory by inflicting a fine upon those who do not comply within a certain time. As Mr. Elsdon Best remarks, these incomplete returns will be a farce until such measures are taken. I would therefore strongly urge that registration be made compulsory, and that the next census be taken through the Maori Councils in order that we may speedily get rid of our present indefinite knowledge of the increase or decrease of the Maori race. Increase or Decrease op Population. Owing to the difficulty of obtaining correct'figures, one can only generalise on the condition of the district as a whole, and for the present take one or two places that have come under immediate notice. If the present population is contrasted with that of over ten years ago, it is an undoubted fact that the population has materially decreased. There are subtribes sadly diminished