H.-28.

1877. NEW ZEALAND.

SPECIAL SETTLEMENT AT JACKSON'S BAY (REPORT ON THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency. No. 1. Hon. J. A. Bonae to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — Government Buildings, Hokitika, 21st May, 1877. I have the honor to enclose herewith the Annual Iteport on the Special Settlement at Jackson's Bay, forwarded by the Resident Agent, Mr. Macfarlane, up to 31st March last. Accompanying it are several valuable returns, which, with the report, will place you in possession of full information regarding the progress made since its formation, and some very important suggestions as to its future prospects. That the settlement should have progressed so satisfactorily up to the present time, in spite of the very great difficulties consequent upon its isolated position, the natural disadvantages arising from its being unsettled bush country, and, above all, the tact that, instead of being peopled by the class of immigrants originally intended when the settlement was projected —namely, agricultural labourers from England and Ireland, and men accustomed to fishing from the north of Scotland —it has been an outlet for Germans and Poles unable to find employment in other parts of the colony, and Italians whom the Government had for months in the depot at Wellington, all of whom were unable even to speak the English language, has been to me a matter of surprise, and I am sure must be to the Government a matter of congratulation. Out of the sum of £20,000 originally set apart for the formation of this settlement, the sum of £17,532 has been expended up to the 21st May current, as follows : — £ s. d. For buildings ... ... ... ... ... 169 3 10 Freight of goods and sundries from Hokitika to settlement ... 390 5 0 Stationery, medicine chest, printing, advertising, and contingencies... 95 12 4 Cost of surveys ... ... ... ... ... 2,845 17 9 Boats, horse, &c. ... ... ... ... ... 75 13 8 Cost of management, inclusive of 29 months' salary of Eesident Agent, and all necessary tools and appurtenances for works ... 1,270 4 4 Expenditure in public works, being actual amount paid to settlers for labour done ... ... ... ... ... 10,312 15 5 15,159 12 4 Provisions ... ... ... ... ... 2,372 10 4 £17,532 2 8 The item for provisions, £2372, is represented by unsold stores in hand and the amounts owing by settlers ; the latter it is proposed by the regulations submitted for your approval to make a charge upon the land, and, until payment is made, the Crown grants to be withheld. The total net expenditure has therefore been, say, £15,160; and an examination of the results from this will not be uninteresting to those who appreciate the importance of affording an outlet for settling population in the colony, and developing the undoubted resources of this large and comparatively unexplored portion of it. Firstly, we have the fact of having settled a population of 367 people at six different points within twenty miles —the length of the settlement block—who have erected houses for themselves, have taken up 4,724 acres of land, which they are clearing and improving, and for which they are paying the Government by yearly instalments of 3s. per acre extending over seven years, when they are entitled to Crown grants ; and who are already possessed of eighty-three head of cattle, ten horses, and fifty-six pigs and goats, besides their crops, estimated to be worth £2,000. Secondly, we have established a centre 150 miles south of Hokitika, which will enable miners and others to prospect, without the risk of starvation or drowning, to which they were formerly exposed, the known auriferous district lying between Jackson's Bay and the settled portion of the country to I—II. 28.