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D.—3.

No. 4 Mr. James Poster to the Hon. the Premier. (Telegram.) London, 22nd September, 1880. Cartain Steele authorized act for us Aroha. Eequest favour prompt settlement. The Premier, Wellington. James Poster.

NO. 5. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland. (Telegram.) Wellington, 22nd September, 1880. I hate received the following telegram from Messrs. Grant and Poster : " Captain Steele authorized act for us Aroha. Eequest favour prompt settlement." Please inform Captain Steele that you will receive any proposals from him and submit them to the Board, whose opinion I shall be glad to get. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland. W. Eolleston.

No. 6. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. (Telegram.) Auckland, 23rd September, 1880. Re Messrs. Grant and Poster, immediate action will be taken by me as directed in your telegram of yesterday's date. D. A. Tole, The Hon. the Minister of Lands, Wellington. Commissioner of Crown Lands.

No. 7. The Under-Secretary for Immigration to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland. (Telegram.) Wellington, 9th October, 1880. Mr. Eolleston wishes you to be reminded that, in respect of any engagements for the Aroha Block, no stipulation can be made as to rebate for immigrants' passages, the House having expressly barred this. Depots may be used, but the agreement must be entirely clear of any such engagements. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland. H. J. H. Eliott.

No. 8. The Commissioner of Crown Lands. Auckland, to the Hon. the Attorney-General. Sir,— Auckland, Ist October, 1880. I have the honor, in compliance with your request, to forward for your information the accompanying copy of a letter from Captain Steele, in which, as agent for Messrs. Grant and Poster, he submits on their behalf an offer to purchase 17,000 acres of land in Te Aroha Block, Thames District, and also to submit for your consideration the enclosed copy of the terms and conditions upon which, in the opinion of the Land Board, the block applied for should be disposed of to the gentlemen in question. I have, &c, D. A. Tole, The Hon. the Attorney-General, Auckland. Crown Lands Commissioner.

Enclosure in No. 8. Captain W. Steele to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland. Sir,— Auckland Club, 29th September, 1880. I have the honor, as agent for Messrs. Grant and Poster, delegates of certain Lincolnshire farmers, to offer and agree to purchase from the Government of the Colony of New Zealand 17,000 acres of land called Te Aroha, and described in that part of the attached plan tinted pink, as also two Native reserves shown on same plan, upon the following conditions: —■ 1. The price not to exceed £1 10s. per acre. 2. Ten per cent, of the purchase-money to be paid in London three months after the execution of a valid agreement confirming and completing the agreement. 3. The remainder of the purchase-money to be paid by five equal annual payments : the first of such payments to be made fifteen months after the execution of the said agreement, and one of such payments annually thereafter, until the balance is paid. 4. It being the intention of Messrs. Grant and Poster to introduce, for the purpose of settling the above-named lauds, none but substantial and moneyed farmers, I am prepared, as their agent, to enter into such reasonable conditions for the settling, occupation, and improving of said land as the Waste Lands Board may suggest. As the gentlemen constituting the above Board must at once appreciate the great advantage which will accrue to this province from the introducing of such valuable settlers, I venture to express the hope the conditions suggested by them will be fair and reasonable to the proposed settlers. I have, &c , D. A. Tole, Esq., Waste Lands Commissioner, Auckland. W. Steele.