D.—s.

1875. NEW ZEALAND.

IMMIGRATION. (CORRESPONDENCE WITHIN THE COLONY.)

Presented to both Souses of the General Assembly by Command of Sis Excellency. TARANAKI. No. 1. His Honor the Superintendent, Taranaki, to the Hon. the Premier. Sir,— "Wellington, 5th September, 1874. Referring to previous interviews I have had with you, I have the honor to confirm the request I have made to you, that the Government, out of the vote of £20,000 appropriated by the General Assembly for works in connection with the location of settlers, &c, within the province, will make such provision that I may be enabled to clear portions of the land fronting the Mountain Road, and offer the same for sale. I propose that the Government shall make advances to me from time to time for this work, and that such work shall be performed under instructions from the Minister for Immigration, for whom I shall act as agent. I also propose, as agreed between us, that the advances shall not bear interest for five years, and after that date, if any part of such advances shall remain unpaid, that the same shall bear interest at the rate of five pounds per centum per annum; that one-half of the gross proceeds of the whole land included in the blocks operated upon shall be retained to pay such advances; and if at the end of ten years any such advances shall be unpaid, then that the whole land fund of the province shall stand charged with such advances, or so much thereof as shall then remain unpaid. It must, however, be understood that such retention of one-half of the gross proceeds before mentioned, and the charge upon the land fund, shall be subject to any appropriation of a part of such fund that may be made by virtue of " The New Plymouth Harbour Board Endowment Act, 1874." I have, &c, Feed. A. Carrington, The Hon. the Premier, &c. Superintendent of Taranaki.

No. 2. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to His Honor the Superintendent, Taranaki. Sir,— Immigration Office, Wellington, 15th October, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 5th ultimo, addressed to the Hon. the Premier, in which you request that the Government, out of the vote of £20,000 appropriated by the General Assembly last session for works in connection with the location of settlers, &c, within your province, will make such provision as will enable portions of the land fronting the Mountain Road to be cleared and offered for sale, and that the Government may make advances to you from time to time for this purpose, the work to be performed under instructions from the Minister for Immigration, for whom you express yourself prepared to act as agent; the advances not to bear interest for five years, but after that date, if any part thereof shall not have been repaid, the same to bear interest at the rate of five pounds per centum per annum ; one-half of the gross proceeds of the whole land included in the blocks operated upon to be retained in liquidation of such advances ; and if at the end of ten years any such advances shall not have been repaid, then the whole land fund of the province to stand charged with the same: provided, however, that the land revenue to be appropriated under "The New Plymouth Harbour Board Endowment Act, ]874," shall first be deducted. In reply, I beg to inform your Honor that the Government are willing to accede to your request upon the terms and conditions set forth in your letter, and I shall be glad to be informed what, works towards preparing for sale and settlement the land fronting the Mountain Road are contemplated by your Honor, and especially your intended arrangements with regard to the building cottages throughout the province for the immigrants expected to arrive. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Taranaki. H. A. Atkinson. 1—D. 5.