A.—No. 2A.

No. 16. (No. 149.) Copy of a Letter from the hon. c. w. Stafford to nis honor ii. r. Richmond. Sir,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 24th April, 18C6. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's letter, No. 7, of the 28th ultimo, referring to the proposed Provincial Administration of Confiscated Lands in the Province of Taranaki, and expressing your opinion that, before any settlements, Military or Agricultural, are formed between Patea and Stony River, further active operations should be undertaken against the Natives in that district. The question raised in your Honor's letter is, in effect, that as a necessary preliminary to any further proceedings, hostilities should be recommenced in Taranaki, with a view to the conquest and permanent settlement of the country occupied by Natives, who you state would not otherwise acquiesce in the confiscation of the lands in question. This course is one which virtually can only be decided on by the Legislature, as it cannot be adopted without funds being supplied to enable it to be carried into effect, there being no funds now at the disposal of the Government for such a purpose. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Taranaki. E. W. Stafford. Ko. 17. (No. 9.) Copy of a Letter from his honor ii. c. riciimond to the hon. f. w. Stafford. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, 29th March, 1866. I have the honor to inform you that I have arranged with Mr. Percy Smith and C. W. Hursthouse (on behalf of themselves and two or three others) for the survey of Land at Patea for the Military Settlers, and that they will proceed there as- soon as ever the office work connected with the surveys already made is completed, which they have undertaken to despatch as rapidly as possible. They will be ready to go down in a fortnight from this, should an opportunity be offered at that time, The work is to be done on the terms specified by the Hon. the Defence Minister, except that I have agreed to supj>ly sawn scantling from Wanganui, for the pegs, as from scarcity of wood in the district there would otherwise be great risk of insufficient pegs being put in. Mr. Carrington assures me that the extra cost of this will be trifling, otherwise I should not have consented to it without your approval. The surveyors have not undertaken this work without some misgivings, owing to the very unsettled state of the country. The edge of the bush cannot be at all safely approached at present, neither will •it be safe for the work to be carried more than three or four miles from the posts, even in the open country. I have assured the surveyors that the Government will use all possible despatch in sending down the Military Settlers to take up a position on the edge of the bush, so as to afford them protection, and the work is undertaken on the understanding that, if they are unable to continue it on account of the Natives, they will be paid for what is done, if left in a definite block, so that no work is wasted. I feel sure that the Government would not wish these young men, who rather err on the side of over-rashness than timidity, to be pressed by circumstances into placing themselves in positions of great danger without protection, and I would suggest that, in the event of it not being found possible to send dowli the Military Settlers immediately, I should be authorised, when all the ground near Patea which can be safely traversed, under existing circumstances, has been purveyed, which will only occupy a short time, to altow the survey of the Civil Townships at the Patea to be proceeded with until the Military Settlers arrive. T have, &c, H. R. Richmond, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. ' Superintendent, No. 18. (No. 129.) Copy of a Letter from the hon. c. w. Stafford to his honor ii. r. Richmond. Sir,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 9th April, 1866. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's letter, No. 9, of the 29th nit., stating that you had arranged for surveyors to proceed to Patea for the survey of land for the Military Settlers. The Government will, as soon as possible, take steps for sending Military Settlers to Patea, and in the meantime the Hon. Defence Minister has instructed Lieutenant-Colonel Gorton at Wanganui to arrange for the transport of provisions for the surveyors to the Patea, which the Government has undertak&i to provide. I have, (fee, His Honor the Superintendent, Taranaki. E. W. Stafford.

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FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE SETTLEMENT