3

D.—s

In the event of your approving this proposal, I will be glad to indicate the block of land that can be most easily made available, and would under your sanction get the surveys of sections proceeded with as early as possible for the reception of a shipment of people, which should arrive not later than December. In addition to the settlement of such a shipment, there are at the present time a considerable number of Scandinavians and others in this province who are anxious to occupy land in the Seventy-Mile Bush, and who could partly pay for the land, but are not in a position to purchase from the Provincial Government under the Land Regulations in force. Also the Land Regulations oblige three months' notice that the land is to be opened for sale, and this alone is a bar to the settlement of these people with success during the present summer. I should like, therefore, to be informed whether the General Government would take, under the Public Works and Immigration Act, sufficient land in the SeventyMile Bush to meet the actual wants for settlement as they now exist, allowing the parties taking up land to select on payment of a part in cash, the remainder of the cost of the land to be spread over a term of years. I feel satisfied some useful settlements may be promoted in the manner I have indicated, and shall be obliged if you will inform me, as early as possible, whether you can see your way to take the action I propose. The expenses connected with such settlements will be the cost of survey, and opening up the land by roads, which could be recouped out of the proceeds of the land. I shall be glad to do all I can to give effect to such a mode of settlement, and see no way of giving effect to it, except by the land being taken under the Public Works and Immigration Act. I have, &c, J. D. Oemond, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 6. The Hon. the Ministeb for Immigbation to His Honor the Supeeintendent, Hawke's Bay. Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 21st September, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th instant, relative to the despatch of emigrants for your province, and to inform you that, in accordance with your Honor's wishes, the Agent-General has been instructed by telegraph to despatch a ship in October to supply the deficiency in August, and also to arrange for a shipment of Scandinavians, to arrive if possible in December. With regard to your proposal that the Government should take land under the Immigration and Public Works Act, upon which to locate the Scandinavians ordered, as well as to afford general facilities for settlement, the Government are willing to accede to this, and will be glad to avail themselves of your offer to indicate the block of land that can be most easily made available. I may inform you that regulations to meet the case' of the various settlements in the Seventy-Mile Bush are now in course of preparation by the Law Officers of the Crown. I have, &c, Edwaed Riciiaedson, His Honor the Superintendent, Napier. (in the absence of the Minister for Immigration).

No. 7. His Honor the Supeeintendent, Hawke's Bay, to the Hon. the Ministeb for Immigbation. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Napier, 2nd October, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge and thank you for your letter of the 21st ultimo, informing me of the instructions sent to the Agent-General in respect to the despatch of emigrants to this province. With regard to the land to be taken in the Seventy-Mile Bush, under the Immigration and Public Works Act, upon which to locate the Scandinavians ordered, as well as to afford general facilities for settlement, I now enclose a tracing of the block I propose should be taken, together with a description of the same for gazetting. The block comprises about 7,650 acres, and includes a few unallotted sections in the Norsewood Settlement as surveyed, together with all the land between the Norsewood Settlement and the tramway. A part of this land has been surveyed into sections for sale by the Provincial Government, and I propose, as soon as the block is gazetted, to get the remainder of it laid off in sections as soon as possible, so that no delay may take place .in effecting settlement upon it. The regulations for occupation will, I conclude, be similar to those you inform me are now in course of preparation by the Law Officers of the Crown for the existing settlements in the bush. I should add that a road is now being opened by the Provincial Government from the main road through the Norsewood Settlement to the tramway (shown on tracing); and as this will run through and open the block I propose should be taken, I think the cost should be borne by the General Government out of funds at disposal for location of immigrants. I have, &c, J. D. Oemond, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 8. The Hon. the Ministeb for Immigbation to His Honor the Supeeintendent, Hawke's Bay. Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 7th October, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd instant, in which, you