D.—s

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forward tracing and description of a block of land in the Seventy-Mile Bush you wish to be taken for settlement under the Public Works and Immigration Act. "With reference to the Under Secretary's telegram of the 2nd instant, I would call your Honor's attention to the fact that none of the land occupied for settlements in the province of Hawke's Bay has as yet been gazetted under the Public Works and Immigration Act, and I have to request, therefore, that you will be good enough to furnish for this purpose descriptions of all the blocks other than that the description of which 'is now under acknowledgment, which are now in course of occupation by the immigrants. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Hawke's Bay. H. A. Atkinson.

No. 9. His Honor the Supeeintendent, Hawke's Bay, to the Hon. the Ministeb for Immigbation. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Napier, 28th October, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 243, of the 7th instant, and, as requested, now enclose description and tracings of the lands at Norsewood and Danevirk, occupied by Scandinavian settlers. Included in these blocks are some sections which are not occupied, and I would recommend that they be thrown open for selection with the block it is proposed to take for settlement between Norsewood and the tramway. With respect to the latter block, as soon as the Government has determined as to taking it for settlement under the Immigration and Public Works Act, I should like to push on the survey, so that the land may be ready for the settlers who are expected in December. I have proposed to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works, that the construction of the tramway through the block on which I propose to settle these people should be carried out, so as to afford employment for them, and so assist their settlement. If this is done I think the success of the settlement certain, as the immigrants would first have employment on the tramway, and when that is constructed would turn the timber on their sections to valuable account. I have, &c., J. D. Oemond, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 10. His Honor the Supeeintendent, Hawke's Bay, to the Hon. the Ministeb for Immigbation. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Napier, 9th March, 1875. Referring to former correspondence on the subject of the proposed location of immigrants in the Seventy-Mile Bush, I proposed and you approved the settlement of the Scandinavian immigrants expected by the " Fritz Reuter " on the block situate adjoining the Norsewood settlement taken under the Public Works Act, and gazetted on the 19th November last. It was intended to build cottages on the sections, and to employ the people on the tramway, commencing the work at a point near the proposed settlement, and working each way therefrom. Owing to unforeseen causes, the survey of the tramway has been protracted, and the line in the vicinity of the land for settlement cannot now be determined in time to locate the people on their arrival. The delay in determining the line has also prevented me from making the preparations necessary to locate the expected immigrants, as it was useless getting timber cut in a bush country unless in the immediate vicinity of where it will be required. The " Fritz Reuter" is due in about a fortnight's time ; and as the immigrants coming by her, some 500 souls, are all foreigners, and therefore difficult to place in private employment, I have taken steps to provide for their location in the best way I can devise under the circumstances. I should say that I still propose the people should be employed on the construction of the tramway, the work in connection with which will occupy and support them during the next year. The tramway line is now, I am glad to hear, determined for the first few miles, so that, by arrangement with the Hon. the Minister for Public Works, employment can be found for the people. As, however, this portion of the line is not within reach of the land on which the immigrants are to be located, it is necessary to provide some accommodation for them on their arrival; and considering that the winter season is approaching, I think it will be best to locate them on the tramway line about where it enters the bush. Supplies will bo more easily got to them there through the winter than if settled in the heart of the forest, and the men will be within reach of their work. I have therefore ordered from 40,000 to 50,000 feet of timber, suitable for building a number of lean-to shejls, sufficient to shelter the people through the winter. I propose to either supply the immigrants with the timber necessary to build a shelter for themselves, or else build it for them, charging them with the cost of labour and material, and deducting it from their earnings. This will provide for those among the immigrants who may arrive without means. Those who have means can, if they so desire it, at once be put upon land. With the object of attaching the people to the land, I think it would be desirable that forty acres should be allotted to each head of a family who desires it, on terms of deferred payment. It will probably be necessary to have regulations prepared for this, and I think it will be best to simply adopt the same regulations and terms as for the Norsewood settlement. By doing as I have above proposed, the immigrants will have shelter provided for them close to their work for the winter. They will be within reach of their land, and be able to make preparations