7

D.—3

No. 21. The Chief Surveyor, Auckland, to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. (Telegram.) Auckland, 3rd November, 1880. Re Te Aroha, Hesketh has had to wire to Russell in London ; hence delay. Hope to report fully in two or three days. There is a question as to amount of Russell's claim, which delays matters. The Hon. the Minister of Lands, Wellington. Percy Smith.

No. 22. Messrs. Grant and Foster to the Hon. the Premier. London, 2nd November, 1880. Cannot undertake colonize Aroha with Eussell's claim unsettled. If claim arranged, will place his Thames land our hands to colonize. Strongly urge settlement. Send copy this Steele. The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. Grant and Foster.

No. 23. The Hon. the Premier to Messrs. Grant and Poster. (Telegram.) Wellington, sth November, 1880. Eeceived your telegram, and sent to Steele. Agreement concluded with him. Settlement of Eussell's claim devolves on Government, which guarantees your possession of the land. Messrs. Grant and Poster, London. Hall.

No. 24. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. Sir, — Crown Lands Office, Auckland, 17th November, 1880. I have the honor to forward for your consideration the accompanying application from Captain Steele, on behalf of Messrs. Grant and Foster, and to inform you that, at a meeting held on the 11th instant, the Land Board passed the following resolution in reference thereto: — " That, subject to the reservation of 100 acres for township and other public purposes, the Board beg to recommend that the block of land at Te Aroha, known as the Manawaru Eeserve, be sold, for the purposes of their special settlement, to Messrs. Grant and Poster, at a price to be fixed by competent valuation." I may. state that the Land Board, in arriving at the above decision, which will be observed to be at variance with its former resolution as affecting the disposition of this land, has been induced to do so from a strong conviction resulting from a further consideration of the circumstances of the case—that the retention of this reserve in its entirety, as originally intended, would be likely to prove detrimental to the success of the settlement. I have, &c, D. A. Tole, The Hon. the Minister of Lands, Wellington. Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Enclosure in No. 24. Captain Steele to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland. Sir,— Hamilton, 9th November, 1880. I have the honor to apply, on behalf of Messrs. Grant and Poster, for the reserve of 616 acres on the west side of the river, within the block already applied for. I have special instructions from my principals to urge this point, for the following reasons: That it is the only timber available for either firewood or fencing on the west side of the block. That one of the first works contemplated is the building a bridge over the river to connect the property. As the reserve is the most suitable place, they would, in the event of expending a large sum on a work of such public utility, desire to have the control of the land in the immediate locality. This reserve disarranges their plans, and will be detrimental to the whole settlement. Should your Board favourably consider this application, I shall be satisfied to leave the valuation to Mr. Percy Smith, Chief Surveyor, and will abide by his decision. I have, &c, W. Steele, D. A. Tole, Esq., Waste Lands Commissioner. Agent for Messrs. Grant and Poster.

No. 25. The Under-Secretary for Crown Lands to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, 2nd December, 1880. In area of 17,600 acres, Grant and Foster special settlement, are following reserves included ? E.E. Section 2, Block VII.; two adjoining sections on bank of river, marked E.E.; and education reserves, south-east corner of Section 5, Block VI.; also area marked " Eeserve "on Sections 9, 12, and 13, Block 11. See lithograph map Te Aroha Block, index to survey district and blocks. Eeply at once please. H. J. H. Eliott.