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1888. NEW ZEALAND.

PENSIONER SETTLEMENTS (PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF).

Return to an Order of the House of Representatives (No. 54 of 1888), dated 30th May, ISBB. Ordered, " That there be laid upon the table correspondence between Lord Sandhurst and such other gentlemen as have been interesting themselves in the establishing of pensioner settlements in New Zealand." —(Mr. PEACOCK.)

No. 1. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister, of Lands. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., Bth July, 1887. Since Lord Sandhurst returned from the colony I have had a good deal of conversation with him respecting a proposal for forming new pensioner settlements, and he intends to bring the subject before the House of Lords at an early date. Although I gathered from his Lordship that it was probable such a project might be favourably considered by the Government, it would be very desirable for me to be instructed as to how far I am to give any encouragement to it here, and as to the conditions on which the pensioner settlements could be founded. I should therefore be glad, supposing the project to have advanced far enough, to have any information you may think right to supply to me thereon. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Lands, Wellington. P. D. Bell.

No. 2. Captain Daveney to the Chairman, Chamber of Commerce, Auckland. Sin, — Imperial Pensions Office, Auckland, 26th September, 1887. As the action taken by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce relative to the introduction of Imperial pensioners into this colony has been highly approved by several of the leading statesmen in England who take interest in colonial affairs, I deem it but a matter of courtesy on my part to forward you copies of a letter that I have received from Sir E. Walter, X.C.8., the head of the Corps of Commissionaires, who is about to visit Australia in regard to this matter. I also append an abstract of a letter received from Lord Wolseley, who, in answer to my communication, states : " In reply, I am to assure you that His Eoyal Highness highly appreciates the interest and trouble you have bestowed upon this matter on behalf of the old soldiers of the army; but His Eoyal Highness fears there would be many difficulties, in addition to those of finance, in carrying the scheme into effect, and His Eoyal Highness cannot help expressing some doubt as to whether the colonies generally do not in these days want a different class of labour to what they encouraged formerly; but in any case it would not be possible for the authorities in this country to take the matter seriously into consideration without some formal expression of opinion from the Government of New Zealand on the subject." Sir Walter Barttelot, the member for Sussex, informs me that he has seen the Colonial Secretary and the Secretary of State for War, who are favourable, and that I may rest assured that everything will be done that can be done to attain the object I have in view—viz., the payment of passages of wives and children of old soldiers to this colony. I do not know whether you are aware of it, but, since the late discussion in the House of Lords, a very influential deputation waited upon Mr. Secretary Stanhope with reference to these pensioners, and his reply was most satisfactory. I mention these circumstances to show you how necessary it is that some action should take place during the coming session of our Parliament, and that is that a block of land should be set aside for these pensioners, and that definite application be forwarded to the Home authorities for assistance in this matter. You will perceive, on perusal of Sir E. Walter's letter, that one thousand pensioners means sending into this province £300,000, and does not take into account the average savings of these men, which cannot be less than £25 ; consequently, at least £25,000 can be added to that amount: besides which, the Government would make about £1,000 per annum for the payment of these I—C. 8.