EXPERIENCES WITH THE NATIVES 157 



for those places. The local plantations have had but 

 little difficulty in securing the labour they require. 

 Towards the end of the year, and with the disappear- 

 ance of the dysentery epidemic at Lakekamu, a few 

 recruits for the gold-mining industry have been 

 coming forward, but it may be safely said that it 

 will be many days before the native forgets the 

 unparalleled death-rate of the Lakekamu Gold-field 

 during the previous year. 



EAST CENTRAL DIVISION : The coastal natives, 

 especially those around Marshall Lagoon, have a 

 strong objection to work; but a good many of the 

 natives from the villages at the back of Cloudy Bay 

 may be seen working as casual labourers on several 

 plantations. These natives seem to think that, if 

 they enter into contract of service, they will be taken 

 to some far-away place, and perhaps never reach their 

 homes again. The opinion of the planters in the 

 Cloudy Bay District is that the local natives are good 

 workers, and give no trouble. The wages paid to 

 plantation labourers range from 7s. 6d. to 155. per 

 month. They are well fed, and have comfortable 

 houses on the plantations. 



CENTRAL DIVISION : Even with the increase of 

 locally recruited labour, the demand seems still to 

 be in excess of the supply, and many more labourers 

 would be gladly welcomed by the plantations. The 

 most of the recruits came from inland districts, the 

 coastal natives not being willing to engage, although 



