from the minute details given in the Returns that
the Natives within the district of Otaki and Rangitikei, are peacefully disposed, and actually employed
at all the villages in collecting and preparing flax
for the English market. The mode of dressing it is
very simple, and the quantity they are now supplying induces the hope that it will soon become a
valuable article of export from this part of the country. Great care is now being taken by the Natives
to mark out and reserve the flax grounds belonging to
them in right of their families, and I know in one
of these cases where the Natives of a village are
paying the proprietor so much per head (cash)
to be allowed to cut from a particular reserve, which
they do most cheerfully. Another young chief proposes to establish a rope-walk, and is saving up
money for the purpose of buying the necessary machinery. Several have stock, such as cattle, horses,
and some few sheep, all evidence of the progress
they are making, and of a desire on their part to
settle down in peace and quietness with each other
and with the settlers.

Having completed this part of the service, I shall
lose no time in crossing the "Tararua" range into
the valley of the Wairarapa, when I will further
report for His Excellency's information.

I have the honor to be, Sir,

Your obedient humble servant,

H. TACY KEMP,

Native Secretary.

The Honorable,

The Colonial Secretary,

New Munster.

[For further particulars in reference to the foregoing
Report, vide Table No. 3, annexed.]

REPORT No. 4.

WAIARAPA DISTRICT.

Wairarapa, April 15th, 1850.

Sir,—In my Report No. 3, dated the 10th March
1850, I stated that I should lose no time in travelling, through the Manawatu Pass into the valley of
the Wairarapa; I have now the honor to report for
His Excellency’s information, that I accomplished
the journey over the "Kaihinu" mountain on the
Tararua and Ruahine ranges in three days from the
head of the Tokomaru stream. From the top of
the Kaihinu mountain, a fine view of the country
lying between Otaki and Rangitikei is to be obtained,
but more particularly the district of the Manawatu.
From thence the course of the river is easily discernible by the narrow belt of timber which skirts it.
Two or three swamps were also pointed out to me
of many hundred acres in extent, running nearly
parallel with the river. There are also several
large lagoons abounding in eels and wild duck.
Shortly after reaching the summit of the Kaihinu
mountain, the weather became thick and foggy, the
wind S. East with rain, and exceedingly cold. I
was led to expect this from the account given
by the three Natives who accompanied me, and the
rapidity with which they moved on, over a scarcely
perceptible track, convinced me that they were
anxious to get out of the forest and cross the rivers
before they overflowed. On the 2nd night we halted
at a small village called "Te Hawera" at the extreme head of the Wairarapa, and about half a day’s
journey from the source of the Manawatu, or starting point from thence, into the Heretaunga or
Hawke’s Bay country. This being the first Maori
village after crossing the range, I beg to commence
the usual short outline of the state of the Native
Settlements within the valley of the Wairarapa, to
accompany the other Returns.

29th Settlement.—"Te HAWERA."

Is situated at the extreme head of the valley of
the Wairarapa, having been occupied only about
5 or 6 years. It is surrounded by dense bush on all
sides of many miles in extent, and appears to be
nothing more than what is commonly known as a
Maori clearing or garden. Its inhabitants are a
remnant of the old Rangitanes and number in all
29 souls. They cultivate nothing but the potato,
and live in two or three rude unfinished huts. The
contrast between these people and those of the
coast is very striking, the former resembling more
of the Maori in his primitive state than any I have
seen in the neighbourhood of Port Nicholson. The
account of their first coming there is very interesting. After the country had been nearly depopulated
by the Ngatiraukawa and Ngatiawa, the few survivors of the original occupants were obliged to
seek refuge in the mountains, where many remained
and obtained but a precarious subsistence. The
Rangitanes were of the number, but when through
the introduction of Christianity and civilization
their enemies had ceased to scour the country in the
hope of exterminating or making them slaves,
they ventured to establish themselves in this remote
part of the country. Their principal man recently
died. His successor, aware of the inconvenience
of living in this isolated spot, proposes, with the
concurrence of the Manawatu chiefs, to abandon
it, and engage in the flax trade, which is now feared
to be so profitable on that river. The bush on all
sides of this little settlement is very dense, but level,
and the Natives explained that a track might with
little trouble be opened to enable a horse to travel
by this route into the Hawke’s Bay country. I also
gathered such further information from the Natives
as would lead to the belief that a communication
might be opened between the Wairarapa, Manawatu,
and Rangitikei country, and from the general lay
of the country as observed from the summit of the
Kaihinu, there is good reason for believing their
statements to be correct, and if so, will be the means
of incorporating three of the largest and most important districts adjacent to the Town of Wellington. The route they pointed out offers no greater
impediment than that of clearing the bush. The
only difficult ascent is the "Kotukutuku" hill,
which terminates what may be properly called the
Wairarapa plains; from thence to the Hawera, the
bush is nearly level for 30 miles which I travelled,
and beyond that as far as the navigable part of the
Manawatu (for small canoes,) the bush is described by the Natives as being equally level. The
length of bush which divides the two districts cannot, I think, be less than 40 miles, that is, from the
Kotukutuku to the outlet on the Manawatu, at a
point called Ngawapurua or Puehutai. From either
of these points a road might be opened to the Rangitikei and Manawatu—to the former by the Oroua
valley, which is nearly level, and to the latter by
keeping the bank of the main river as far down as
Montoa or Te Rewa Rewa, one of its principal stations. I think there is no doubt that the most
convenient and less expensive outlet for wool and
other produce of the Rangitikei, will be through the
valley of the Oroua, which is about 6 miles across,
and nearly level, into the Manawatu, which port
vessels are in the habit of frequenting, and often
proceed up the river many miles. The approach to
the Rangitikei from the sea is dangerous, and the
river very shallow. (From Ngawapurua the road
diverges in the direction of Hawke’s Bay over a
level open plain.) A bridle path I think might without much difficulty be opened between each of these
important districts so as to make the journey between
the two extreme points in less than two days. Although the forest is dense, the timber is not of a