82

FINAL REPORT.

Native Secretary’s Office,

Wellington, 15, June, 1850.

Sir,—I have already given in four different Reports, a detailed account of the state of the Native Settlements included within the four great Districts through which I travelled, with such other information as I believed would be interesting to His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, and be useful to the Government hereafter, as forming data from which the decline or improvement of the Natives might be observed.

In transmitting the enclosed General Abstract, accompanied also by an Abstract of each Settlement consecutively taken, I think I might also make a few additional General Remarks upon one or two important points in connection with the Natives themselves, having reference also to the relation in which they stand to the Europeans, and especially bearing on the important trade which is being carried on between them.

2. First,—as to the general condition of the Natives; I think there is sufficient in the Returns to show that, in point of actual wealth, they are far better off than they were a few years ago; and we cannot look at this fact alone, without feeling much satisfaction at their having attained a position among a civilized people which comparatively few other Aboriginal Races have done, and their progress in which may be fairly looked upon as the one great bond of union, bringing with it its other attendant privileges, and, above all, the blessings of peace: the eagerness with which they desire to become possessed of useful European Property, and the value they place upon those portions of land which have been regularly reserved to them and their children under the direction of the Government, fully demonstrate the correctness of the favourable view taken by persons acquainted with these subjects, and whose long residence in the country, attaches considerable weight and value to their opinion and testimony.

3. As to the sanatory state of the Native Population, I regret to state, not only from the information of several gentlemen with whom during my Mission I had an opportunity of conversing, but also from personal observation and enquiry, that they are by no means in that healthy state which one would be led to expect when compared with the advance they have made in other respects: In the former, it would appear that they are retrograding, and this decline is especially visible in and near the European Towns, and easily attributable to causes, the prevalence of which, is more or less detrimental to any body of persons, but felt in a greater degree in a mixed community of Europeans and Natives. In illustration of this, I may mention the comparatively few births; while from the census, it will be seen that a greater equality of the sexes prevails than was generally believed to be the case throughout the entire Districts; and perhaps therefore, the most favourable conclusion to form is, that the Native Population is not increasing; or in other words, that taking the deaths and births into account it is likely to remain stationary for some time to come, unless swept off by some unusual and fatal disease.

4. In their intercourse with the Europeans, it is gratifying to find that there exists a confidence and friendly feeling between the two Races in the Province. I was not a little surprised to find that goods to the value of some hundreds of pounds are being advanced by the merchants and other small traders for Native produce, which of itself is strong evidence of the good faith that governs them in their mercantile transactions with each other; and although the summary operation of the Law is beneficially felt by both classes, yet it rarely happens that recourse to its interference is found to be necessary in cases of debt arising out of those transactions.

While upon this subject I may be permitted to suggest that the appointment of one or two Native chiefs, in Annual rotation, selected by the Tribe itself, and approved by the Government, with small fixed incomes, would materially add to the influence of the European Magistrates, and command that respect for all proceedings in a Court of Justice, which I think the present appointment of Assessors, (though exceedingly good) is not so well calculated to produce, and the number being but limited—and in the settled Districts only—their decisions, while being impartial, would carry with them a weight and importance likely to produce much good, especially among the Native Race.

5. His Excellency will not fail to mark with satisfaction the comparatively few instances in which persons of the Native Race have been convicted before English Courts of Justice, since British Law has been in force in the Colony. The security with which the settlers and their families locate themselves, with their property, among the Natives, is, I think, upon the whole, evidence sufficient of their freedom from crimes to which, as a yet uncivilized people they might naturally be considered addicted.

6. The Race of half-castes now fast springing up, will, no doubt, ere long come under the benevolent consideration of the Government, more particularly those who may not be improperly designated as Orphans. Of this class many are growing up without education, and not unlikely to become troublesome, if not dangerous members of society. Those whose parents are still living in the country express a strong desire to have their children educated and brought into a proper state of discipline; and I believe would willingly contribute a share in defraying the expenses of the same. Several of the parents of these children are likewise anxious to have the lands and property given them in right of their mothers, duly registered, and otherwise legally secured to them; and as I was requested to make the application on their behalf, this seems to be a fitting opportunity for my doing so, and would respectfully submit the case of these children for His Excellency’s consideration.

7. In reference to the education of the Natives, (I allude of course to those Districts only indicated in the Returns,) it will be seen that, under all the disadvantages of age and other previous well-grounded prejudices, without, also, a regular system of tuition, a very large proportion are familiar with the elementary branches of reading and writing in their own language. The Returns will show a total of nearly 300 daily scholars, principally between the ages of 10 and 15 years of both sexes. With the exception of the school at Otaki, which is conducted by a European schoolmaster, and which is also an industrial school, all the others are under the management of Native Teachers, who, in one or two instances, receive an annual trifling allowance, while the others give their services gratuitously. The Sunday Schools are generally very well attended by adults as well as children—the former comprise chiefly the communicants or candidates for baptism preparatory to their admission. The names of these persons are all, I believe, carefully registered by the Clergyman of the District, and is in reality the only means of access for obtaining accurate information on a subject of such paramount importance.

8. The importance of the Trade which is now being carried on between the two Races on the coast has probably not escaped His Excellency’s notice, and its extension encouraged by every means within the reach of Government. The most important item is the Flax, and the quantity that has been prepared for the European Market, within the