D.—3

1878. NEW ZEALAND. THE KATIKATI SPECIAL SETTLEMENT (CORRESPONDENCE IN THE MATTER OF ITS FURTHER EXTENSION.)

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. Mr. G. V. Stewart to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — Mount Stewart, Katikati, Auckland, 27th January, 1877. I am at present making arrangements with the Waste Lands Board in Auckland to extend this settlement by 10,000 acres, in accordance with a promise made by the Hon. the Minister for Immigration in 1873, and also by the Agent-General for New Zealand, under date 10th July, 1873. The Hon. Dr. Pollen, on his recent visit to the Katikati Block, in reply to an earnest and unanimous request by the settlers, assured them that the Government would do all in their power to assist the extension of the settlement, and informed me that there would be no difficulty in obtaining from the Government a ship direct from Belfast upon the same terms of assisted passages as those granted to the immigrants per "Carisbrooke Castle," in June, 1875. In consequence of Dr. Pollen's kind assurance on behalf of the Government, I submitted a fresh proposal, dated 22nd instant, to the Waste Lands Board, which I have every reason to believe will be accepted. As these matters belong to your department, I should feel much obliged to you to send me a letter to the A gent-General, instructing him to give us a ship upon the terms promised, and remainder of which ship can be filled up by single females, which is the only class of immigrants (except small capitalists) now required in this province. The ship can be chartered in Liverpool or Glasgow, and take in her cargo at either of those ports, and which will not entail any additional expense upon the Government or the charter-party. As you might wish to communicate with the Hon. Dr. Pollen, I have requested Mr. H. W. Farnall to call upon you on this matter, as he is familiar with the history of this settlement, and, being on the spot, will afford you any information you may require, which will save time and correspondence. I have, &c., The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Geo. Veset Stewart. Wellington. P.S.—I should state that my offer to the Waste Lands Board was based upon the Hon. Dr. Pollen's promise of assisted passages.

No. 2. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to Mr. G. V. Stewart. Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 19th February, 1877. I have the honor, by direction of Mr. Reid, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th ultimo, stating that you are negotiating with the "Waste Lands Board for an extension of the Katikati Block, and requesting that the Agent-General may be instructed to lay on a ship from Belfast, to carry emigrants for the settlement, upon same terms of assisted passages as were granted to the original party by the " Carisbrooke Castle." In reply, I am directed to inform you that the Government will be prepared to render any assistance it can towards forwarding the settlement, but as the request you make appears to be contingent upon your negotiations with the "Waste Lands Board being satisfactorily arranged, Mr Reid will give you a definite reply upon learning from you that these negotiations have been completed. I have, &c, J. Giles, G-. V. Stewart, Esq., Katikati, Tauranga. Under Secretary. I—D. 3.