D.—No. 7 a-,

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PAPERS RELATING TO SPECIAL

No. 2. Hon. W. Reeves to His Honor the Superintendent. Office of the Resident Minister for the Middle Island, . , Dunedin, 26th January, 1872. Sir,— Referring to your Honor's memorandum of the 17th instant, on the formation of special settlements at various parts of the Southern main Lands of Otago and Stewart's Island, the receipt of which I have the honor to acknowledge, the Government, in the first place, desires to be informed whether your Honor is prepared to have the necessary surveys carried out, so that a part of such settlement may be laid out in town, suburban, and rural allotments, in accordance with the terms of "The Otago Settlements Act, 1869." Before undertaking the grave responsibility in introducing population to these settlements, the Government would be glad to be definitely informed what steps you propose to take to supply the various wants of these people, until such time as they can reasonably be expected to provide shelter for themselves, and to earn their own living. The Government thinks it right to call special attention to the fact that the people proposed to be introduced will, as a rule, be extremely poor; that in these settlements they will be out of reach of employers; there will be no public works going on, and that they will be dependent, therefore, on their own exertions. These conditions will necessitate a considerable amount of extra care and assistance, for some time after they have been located. I have, &c, W. Reeves. His Honor the Superintendent of Otago.

No. 3. His Honor the Superintendent to the Hon. W. Reeves. Superintendent's Office, Dunedin, 12th February, 1872. Sir, — With a view of losing no time in the introduction of immigrants into Stewart's Island, I have the honor to suggest that directions should-be sent home by the outgoing mail to the effect that steps may at once be taken towards obtaining a shipment direct to Port William, either from Orkney and Shetland, or the Hebrides. The emigrants should be informed, that while each family and adult male, will receive a free grant of 20 acres of land, they must look to fishing, and boat and ship-building as their main occupation. The Government will be prepared to provide a supply of tools for boat and house-building; also potatoes and grain for seed, and twelvemonths supply of oatmeal; and to allow, if necessary, one year for payment of such supplies. The emigrants should also be informed that they will be allowed to occupy their land on the principle of free selection, and priority of application, within certain limits to be devised. They themselves to defray the expense of survey by a Government surveyor, who will be located on the spot, and authorised to charge certain moderate fixed rates. Pending the arrival of the immigrants, I would suggest that the Provincial Government be empowered to erect, out of the Immigration and Public Works Loan, suitable barracks at Port William, to accommodate say one hundred families; and that one or more fishing boats be attached to the barracks for the use of the immigrants. By this means they will be enabled at once to provide for themselves until such time as they can fix upon permanent localities. I have, &c, J. Macandrew, Superintendent of Otago. Hon. W. Reeves, Dunedin.

No. 4. Hon. W. Reeves to the Agent-General, London. Resident Minister's Office for the Middle Island, New Zealand, Christchurch, 16th February, 1872. Annexed is a copy of a letter from His Honor the Superintendent of Otago, on the subject of the introduction of immigrants into Stewart's Island, requesting me to forward instructions that a shipment should be forwarded direct to Port William, either from Orkney and Shetland or the Hebrides. During the last month I have visited Stewart's Island, and though my visit was short, satisfied myself that a moderate number of immigrants, of the kind proposed by Mr. Macandrew, might be introduced with advantage, provided proper steps are taken to meet their wants on arrival, and put them in the way of earning their living.