The reports forwarded to tho Native Minister from various parts of the country by officers of his department convey a most satisfactory impression of Native affairs, both as regards the relations between the two races, and the progress of the Maories in civiliza tion. One fact alone is sufficient to give an idea of the gratifying change that has taken place in the policy of the King'ites with regard to intercourse with the Patcehas. A European store keeper has settled at Matakotako, in the King country, and Tawhiao him self has visited this man to assure him of his protection, and to tell him to dis regard the objections which had been made by some of the chiefs to his re maining in the district. All the public speeches of the King are said to breathe a spirit of peace and friendli ness towards the Europeans, nor doas he stand alone in this respect, for the 1 leading chiefs of his party are raid to be of tho same mind. It is a new thing to hoar of Kingites and B7au Haus 1 leasing their land to Europeans, and of Pakehas going fearlessly into the heart of the King country in search of run aways, as Mr Bush, the Maori inter preter at Raglan, is said to have done on a lato occasion. It seems that a half-caate girl had eloped from Waipa with her Maori cousin, and Mr Bush followed her and domanded that she should be restored and brought before the Resident Magistrate at Raglan. In complying with this demand tho lead ing chief at Matakawhai, the settlement where the runaways were found, re marked that they (the chiefs) did not in tend to let any one bring even a stolen needle or a shirt-button into their ter ritory without ordering it to be re turned. The surrender of Himiona by the natives at Opotiki is an instance of a similar kind. This Himiona, it will be remembered, had accused one Tuki no of killing some of his (Himiona's) friends by witchcraft, and bad shot him in revenge for the supposed injury. At the request of the Native Minister, however, the murderer was surren dered to the European authorities Equally gratifying are the reports of the anxiety of the natives for the intro duction of European civilization among them. 