Excellency to contrast the contract sys-
tem with that adopted on the military
line.

With respect to how the Natives work,
I should say as well as the Europeans
who have come under my notice in this
Colony, and best where they are super-
intended with firmness, kindness, and a
cheerful countenance.

When first employed they much pre-
ferred falling and clearing timber to any
other kind of work, but now that they are
familiar with all kinds of tools; I am not
aware of their having a predilection for
any work in particular.

It would be difficult to say what tools
they take to most readily; their aptitude
is great, and a little instruction is suffi-
cient with any.

They are easily kept in subordination;
much more so than Europeans.

With respect to food of a superior
quality to that which they formerly used,
the use of flour is becoming daily more
general, and is bought freely where it can
be readily obtained, and on fair terms;
but I regret to say this is not often, for
the extortion and cupidity of many of
the Europeans who supply them is so
great, that false weight and bad articles
are too often reserved for the natives, and
have even been attempted to be imposed
upon the Military in this District.

The use of animal food is also becoming more general, but they are wonder-
fully temperate in eating as well as drinking, and work hard upon dry bread, bis-
cuit, or even potatoes. I can, however,
no longer say that not a case of intoxica-
tion has ever been observed amongst my
workmen, as more than one of Mr. Mantell’s party have lately been discharged
for getting drunk at Parramatta Point, as
I have already brought under His Excel-
lency’s notice.

As regards change in dress, it univers-
ally follows employment on the roads, so
that it is a rare thing to see a workman
without European clothing.

I have never employed European and
Native workmen together—the European
laborer is inclined to assume a superiority
over the Native, which in point of intellect,
is frequently on the other side, wherefore
I have endeavoured to place such Euro-
peans only in contact with the Natives as
were really superior to them in knowledge
(at least of the work upon which they are
employed), and those men who are called
overseers, and paid at a higher rate, are
not permitted to work more than is neces-
sary to instruct the Natives over whom
they are placed in authority.

A very kindly feeling appears generally
to exist between the Natives and their
“Corporals” (as they call them from the
first overseers having been corporals,) of
which I had lately an instance, where one
of them having so far forgotten himself, as
to strike a boy of his class, was immedi-
ately suspended by the Superintendent of
the party and reported to me, when the
chief man of the class came three miles to
request that the overseer might not be
discharged, for that the boy had really de-
served the blow which he received, and
though I acceded to the request, yet, as I
removed the overseer to another class,
from the impression that the circumstance
would weaken his authority over his own;
many of the Natives of his class left the
employment in consequence.

The desire for employment is evidently
extending, for I have at present natives
from every pah up to Manawatu, and a
hundred are now expected from Wanganui.

I have no alteration to propose in the
mode of employing them—the present
system appears to me to work well—not
a man is employed who is not under con-
stant supervision. I am well pleased with
and greatly indebted to the gentlemen
who conduct the several parties, and who
speak well of their overseers and laborers,
they in their turn appear cheerful and
contented, and the amount of work done
often exceeds my expectation.

The Natives, moreover, being well ac-
quainted and apparently satisfied with the
system under which they work, I should
be unwilling to introduce any alteration
not absolutely necessary.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,
Your most obedient servant,

W. Hamilton Russell,
Captain, 58th Regt.
Superintendent of Military Roads.

The Honorable
the Colonial Secretary,
&c. &c. &c.

REPORT ON THE PROGRESS OF THE
WAIRARAPA ROAD, DURING THE
QUARTER ENDING 31st MARCH,
1848.

In the month of February, a Military
Party of 32 men, under Lieut. Gordon,
commenced at Kai Warra to remake that
part of the Road between the Town of
Wellington and the Kai Warra Stream,
the new Road being 24 feet wide. It
will have to be protected from the sea,
the greater part of the way by a dry stone
wall, the material for which is obtained
principally from the Porirua Road, near
Kai Warra, from whence it is brought an
average distance of half a mile in carts,
to the place where it is required.

A Timber Breastwork of Totara which
has been used for a short distance at the
commencement, chiefly in consequence of
the bad foundation offered for a stone wall
at this place. On the 30th March, about 150