New Plymouth, Decr. 19th, 1846. Sir, I have the honor to inform you that in compliance with instructions received from you some time since, I have obtained a Census of the European population located in this Settlement, likewise the extent of their cultivations and number of Live Stock. I have been longer in getting this information than I at first anticipated from the fact of not being able to see some of the parties at the time I called at their dwellings which rendering a second visit necessary, occasioned some additional trouble and loss of time. It gives me however much pleasure to state that in almost every instance the Settlers expressed their readiness to assist me in the object I had in view, the exceptions that came under my notice were so few that they do not deserve mentioning, and proceeded from individuals who had but little land or stock to boast of. One of the first persons whom I had occasion to call upon, was Mr. Richd. Barrett, a man who has taken a prominent part in the formation of the New Zealand Companys first Settlements; it was through his intervention with the Maories that Port Nicholson was purchased and ultimately became the principal Seat of the Company's operations, subsequently his influence with Col. Wakefield caused his recommendation to be attended to respecting the site of New Plymouth; Taranaki from obvious motives, was described by Mr. Barrett as the Ne plus ultra of Agricultural Districts