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Enclosure in No. 5. Resolutions agreed to at a Meeting of Otago Representatives held at Watson's Hotel, 20th December, 1881; Vincent Pyke, M.H.R., in the Chair. 1. That, having regard to the magnitude of the interest involved, it is, in the opinion of this meeting, highly desirable that all action in relation to the dealing with the pastoral leases which expire in March, 1883, should be suspended until the newly-elected Parliament has had an opportunity of considering the best mode of disposing of the lands affected. (Carried unanimously.) 2. That, to prevent any injury accruing to the present lessees by reason of such suspension, they should be offered a renewal of their leases for a further period of one year, subject to the condition that any land required for sale or settlement —as deferred-payment, agricultural-lease blocks, agricultural blocks, deferred-payment pastoral blocks, or for hundreds or otherwise —may be taken for such purposes after March, 1883, without compensation, (Carried unanimously.) 3. That the foregoing resolutions be transmitted to the Hon. the Minister of Crown Lands, with a request that effect may be given thereto. (Carried unanimously.) We, the undersigned members of the Parliament of New Zealand, hereby signify our assent to the foregoing resolutions. J. C. Brown, Tuapeka. Thos. Duncan, Waitaki. J. Seaton, Peninsula. H. Driver, Hokonui. S. E. Shrimski, Oamaru. Vincent Pyke, Dunstan. M. W. Green, Dunedin City East. James P. Joyce, Awarua. John Bathgate, Roslyn. Henry Feldwick, Invercargill. W. Barron, Caversham. C. A. De Lautour, Mount Ida (per V.P.). Thos. Bracken, Dunedin City Central. Jas. Macandrew, Port Chalmers (per V.P.). Theophilus Daniels, Wallace. James W. Thompson, Clutha (per V.P.). John McKenzie, Moeraki.

• ■ No. 6. The Hon. Mr. Dick to Mr. Vincent Ptke, M.H.R. Sir, — General Crown Lands Office, "Wellington, 29th December, 1881. I have the honor, in the absence of Mr. Rolleston, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd instant, forwarding resolutions passed at a meeting of members of the House of Eepresentatives for districts in the Otago Provincial District, in which the Government is requested to postpone all action in relation to dealing with the pastoral leases which terminate in March, 1883, until the newly-elected Parliament has had an opportunity of considering the best mode of disposing of the land affected. The Government is also requested to arrange with the present lessees for the extension of their leases for a further period of one year, subject to certain conditions. In reply I have to express my regret that the proposals of the Government in detail should not have been ready at an earlier date, so that the members present should have had full information before them. These proposals have now been forwarded to the Land Board, whose functions in respect of these runs are clearly denned in "The Land Act, 1877," aud 1 have full confidence that, when they are considered, they will remove much of the misconception which, partly from the impossibility of giving fuller details in an advertisement, has arisen upon the subject. The Government, prior to Mr. Rolleston's departure for Nelson and West Coast, gave the request contained in the resolutions forwarded by you very careful consideration, with every desire to afford the fullest opportunity for the discussion of this important question. But as it is at present advised, it does not appear to be competent to it to take a course which would set aside the existing law, and, involve arrangements with the pastoral lessees for which there would be no legal authority. I have, &c, Thomas Dick, Vincent Pyke, Esq., M.H.R., Dunedin. (For the Minister of Lands.)

No. 7. Mr. W. D. Stewabt to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. Sib, — Otago, New Zealand, Dunedin, 28th December, 1881. I have the honor to forward copy of resolutions adopted at a public meeting at which I presided, held in the Princess Theatre here, on Friday evening, the 23rd instant. As the questions involved in the resolution are of considerable public importance, and have attracted great attention here, I shall be obliged by an early and favourable reply. I have, &c., W. D. Stewart, The Hon. the Minister of Lands, Wellington. Chairman.

Enclosure in No. 7. Resolutions. 1. Mr. Stout moved, Mr. Cairns seconded, and it was carried unanimously : " That in the opinion of this meeting it is necessary, before the runs should be re-leased, alterations should be made in the Land Act, and this meeting respectfully urges the Government to postpone the re-leasing of runs that may now be re-leased, until the whole question of dealing with the pastoral lands of Otago can be further considered."