FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE SETTLEMENT OF THE CONFISCATED LANDS.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1866 Session I, A-02a

A.—No. 2A.

PROVINCE OF TAEANAKI. No. 1. Copy of a Letter from His Honor H. It. Richmond to the Hon. J. C. Richmond. Sir,— Wellington, 25th September, 1865. With reference to the arrangements to be made between the General Government and the Provincial Government of Taranaki, as to the management and disposal of the confiscated lands in that Province, I have the honor to submit to you the following1 observations and proposals :— In the first place I readily admit it is the duty of the Colonial Government to make such use of tke oonfiscated lands as shall most effectually lighten the burdens which the war has placed upon the Colony, but, on the other hand, if it were not for actual pressure for funds to carry on the Government ( a pressure of the urgency of which the Colonial Government must, of course, be the best judge) I should confidently assert that the most real and effectual means of relieving the Colony from the burthens referred to would be to apply the whole of the fund derivable from the sale of the confiscated lands to the work of opening up the country, and stimulating its rapid occupation. However, even if this view be admitted to be theoretically the right one, it may probably, under the present circumstances of the Colony, be found impossible to induce the Legislature to act upon it, and to release the Government from pledges which have been given or implied, that the proceeds of the sales of confiscated lands should be used in direct discharge of the war debt; but at least the consideration above referred to must be so far taken into account that the tax imposed upon the land shall not be such as greatly to retard the progress of colonization. Now, if large quantities of the open and bush land in the Province of Taranaki were at the present time thrown into the market, with the understanding that the whole of the purchase money would be employed towards liquidating the war debt, and that the cost of surveying it, and of all roads and public works in it, woiild have to be borne by the purchasers, I think it would be sanguine to expect that more than a small average price would be realized for the open country, and the bush land, I feel sure, would, for the most part, be quite unsaleable on such terms. But if these lands aie sold under Regulations of the kind indicated in the enclosed Resolutions of the Provincial Council, setting apart definite proportions of the land fund for public works, immigration, £c, and if no block is offered for sale until a passable road has been made into it, I do not doubt that the proposed upset price of £2 per acre will be easily realised on open lands, and that the bush land will sj-o oft- steadily, though not very fast, at the price proposed for it, viz., £1 per acre. But this increase of value will, of course, be mainly due to the expenditure of an equal or nearly equal amount of money upon the land before selling it, and if, in taking charge of such improvements, the Provincial Government should make a profit of the transaction, if, I mean, taking the land as it lies, as raw material, it, as it were, converts it into a manufactured article, by surveying it, and opening it up with roads, and providing for its occupation; and if by these means the land is increased in value by something more than the actual expenditure upon it, the Provincial Government should, I think, be considered to be fairly entitled to such profit, as it will have all the trouble and responsibility, and as such profit by the terms of the proposed Regulations will only be applicable to the purpose of more rapidly opening up the remaining country for settlement. I therefore respectfully submit that in considering- the proportion of the proceeds of land sales which can be safely and fairly drawn directly from the land towards defraying the war debt, the Government should be guided by an estimate of the intrinsic value of the land without survey or improvements ; and if it be said that by selling it off now for what it will fetch, the money will be quickly realised, whereas under any system which provides for considerable upset prices and the execution of public works, &c, the sale will be more gradual, there is to set against this the consideration that, although the sale of the land is likely to be slower in the latter way, the settling of it is certain to be much more rapid ; and it is to this, I believe it will be readily allowed, that we should look as our surest means both of preventing wars in the future, and of lightening the burthen of the present debt. I must, of course, freely admit that any estimate of the intrinsic value of the confiscated lands ki tiieir present condition can be little better than a rough guess, varying, as it must, from the various aspects of the native question and other causes, but it does not appear to me to be a matter of great importance, even if it were possible to determine it accurately, because 1 can feel no doubt that if these lands are handed over to the Province at a very moderate estimate, but with such conditions as shall ensure the application of the land fund towards the rapid occupation of the country, the Colony will be more benefitted than by exacting from the Province an extreme price for the land. Taking all things into consideration, I should propose that the scale of upset prices recommended by the Council in the enclosed Resolutions be adopted, and that one-eighth part of the gross proceeds shall go towards the liquidation of the war debt. Supposing the various classes of land to sell at their upset prices only, this would be equivalent to paying the Colony the following scale of prices:— Town Lands .. .. .. £20 per acre Suburban .. .. .. £1 2s. 6d. per acre Rural (open) ~ .. .. ss. per acre Rural (bush) ..: .. .. 2s. 6d. per acre.

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE SETTLEMENT OF THE CONFISCATED LANDS.

A.—No. 2A.

Were it not for the convenience of calculating a uniform fractional part of the proceeds, I should have put a higher price on the open land, and somewhat less on the bush, of which probably the greater part of the land which may be handed over to the Province, after providing for the Military Settlers and the Maoris, will consist. With respect to the enclosed Resolutions of the Provincial Council of Taranaki, to which I have several times referred, I have to observe that in recommending that the confiscated lands should be sold under some such Regulations as are therein indicated, I do not wish to imply that I think the apportionment of the Land Fund there proposed should be strictly adhered to. I have the very strongest conviction that the construction of a breakwater at the Sugar Loaves is a work which X>ught to be undertaken without delay, if, after a proper survey of it, it is found that such a work can be constructed so as to answer our present purposes, at a moderate cost. I should, therefore, be quite prepared to devote a considerable portion of the Land Fund to that purpose, if agreed to by the General Government, but it appears to me premature to decide now as to what that proportion should be. Again, the amount for immigration might probably be increased with advantage, supposing the confiscated lands to continue to be held by the General Government, under the " New Zealand Settlements Act," and to be administered by the Provincial Government upon some such terms as above suggested. The Regulations as to the application of the land fund could, of course, be varied by Government as circumstances might require. I have said nothing hitherto as to the claim of the Province for the expenditure of the balance of the Land Purchase Fund, or for an equivalent quantity of land free of charge. This is a specific claim which can be easily dealt with when matters requiring more consideration have been disposed of. Before concluding this letter, I have the honor to draw your attention to the effect which the proposed financial arrangements as to an apportionment of the war debt, &c, will have upon the present revenue of the Province of Taranaki. If I understand the matter rightly, it is proposed to allow the Province 9-16th's of the gross Customs revenue. This will give as our proportion about £8,000, against which there will be charged :— £3000 Local charges, say 3700 Interest on proportion of debt. £6700 giving a balance of fourteen hundred pounds, which will just suffice to pay the interest of our Provincial debt. If, at the same time, in consequence of land being handed over to the Province, the guaranteed Land Fund should be stopped, we should be left at the present time with no funds whatever to meet the necessary expenditure of the Provincial Government, except what may be raised by local rates. With respect to such sources of revenue, I am quite willing to ask the Provincial Council to agree with me in imposing any such rates in our Province as are borne by the inhabitants of other Provinces of the North Island, but I do not think it likely that either the General Government, or the Colony at large, would wish, or think it expedient, that our small population should be ground down by an exceptionally heavy taxation, as a consequence of its special misfortunes. With these observations I must leave this matter entirely in the hands of the Government, in the confident expectation that the Province of Taranaki will continue to receive the support of the Colony, until it shall be in a position to bear whatever may be considered to be fairly its special burthens. I have, &c, 11. R. Richmond, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent. Enclosure in No. 1. Extract from minutes of council. Resolved— New Plymouth, 6th July, 1865. " 1. —That all lands shall be sold by Public Auction, at an upset price ; the sales to take place monthly. Town Lands to be sold in |-acre sections, and Eural Land in such quantities as the purchaser may name at the time of purchase." " 2. —That the upset price of Town Sections be £20 ; of Suburban Sections, £50; of Open Eural Land, £2 per acre; of Bush Land, £1 per acre. That the boundary line between the Bush and Open lands shall be decided on by the Superintendent, with the concurrence of the Provincial Council, so that, if it be thought desirable, the land within the edge of the Bush may be classed as Open Land." " 3. —That one-tenth of the purcnase-money shall be paid in cash, at the time of purchase, the remainder within one month afterwards, or the sale shall be void, and if default be made in the latter payment, the instalment of one-tenth shall be forfeited." '■ 4.—That the nett proceeds of the Land Fund be permanently appropriated, as follows :—■ Harbour Works .. . . . . .. .. .. .. 7-16. Roads, Bridges, and Other Public Works .. .. .. 7-16. Immigration .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16. Education.. .. . . .. .. . . . . ~ , . 1-16." " 5. —That out of the amount for Immigration, part shall be appropriated for remitting a portion

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FUETHEE PAPEES EELATIVE TO THE SETTLEMENT

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of the price of land purchased by Immigrants, in the proportion of £20 to each statute adult, and put for the introduction of Immigrants, selected on a plan approved of by the Superintendent and Provincial Council." "6. —That the present system of granting land to Naval and Military Settlers should cease, and that they should be treated as other Immigrants, power being reserved to the Superintendent and Provincial Council of this Province to deal specially with any cases of hardship occurring to men who have served in Taranaki, and who may have applied for their discharge before the Ist July instant, for the purpose of settling in the Province." " 7.—That the New Eegulations shall be drawn up in accordance with those at present in force, except so far as the latter may be repugnant to the foregoing resolutions." "B.—That a respectful Address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent, informing him that, in the opinion of this Council, the Land Eegulations at present in force in this Province require considerable alteration, and requesting him to take the necessary steps for the enactment of New Eegulations, in accordance with the above Eesolutions." True Extract. James B. Lawsoit, Clerk to Provincial Council. No. 2. (No. 35.) Copy of a Letter from the Hon. E. W. Stafford to His Honor H. R. Richmond. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 19th January, 1800. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's letter of the 25th September last, on the subject of the management and disposal of the confiscated lands in the Province of Taranaki, and I have to express my regret that this letter, which was addressed to the late Government, has not been replied to sooner. I have given the most careful consideration to your letter, with an earnest desire to co-operate with the Provincial authorities in giving- effect to any plan best calculated to provide successfully for the settlement of the confiscated lands, than which no subject can well be of more urgent importance to the Colony or the Province concerned. I have long entertained the belief that any plan of colonizing these lands would be more efficiently and economically executed under Provincial than under Colonial Administration, and the course taken with respect to the confiscated lands in the Province of Auckland indicates that the Colonial Legislature and two successive Governments have concurred in this belief. The scheme sketched out by your Honor would doubtless be attended with many advantages in settling a country, could such settlement be initiated without the drawback of the many liabilities and obligations which attach to the confiscated lands, but, under existing circumstances, certain obstacles present themselves to carrying that scheme into effect in the manner indicated by you. In the first place, a very large preliminary expense would be entailed, which would, as your Honor states, be, under the most favorable circumstances, little more than replaced when all the lands were ultimately disposed of. The Colony has not at present the means of making this outlay, and even if it had, it is almost certain that the Legislature would not now devote Colonial funds to that purpose, while it is not yet apparent how the Province, unassisted, could of itself find such considerable sums as the scheme would require. Again, it might be contended, on the part of the Colony, that the whole intention of taking possession of and settling the confiscated lands, was thereby to place on those lands a strong and progressive population, self-supporting, and capable of self-defence, which would be the best guarantee for the future tranquillity of the country, and would obviate the necessity of future expenditure and money sacrifice on its part, in the suppression of insurrection. It thus might fairly stipulate that these lands, after first discharging all obligations to military settlers, friendly natives, and others, should be altogether appropriated to securing and maintaining the settlements placed thereon, rather than that the proceeds should be used for other purposes, which, like the proposed Harbour Works, may be deemed to be more matters pertaining to the Province at large in ordinary times, than special objects, to attain which the Colony has spent large sums and suffered much injury. In short, the Colony might reasonably object that it never intended to spend its funds in works of that character which Provinces undertake and execute for themselves, and might fairly agree that therefore any proceeds of confiscated lands which it did not itself lake to defray the cost incurred by it in obtaining possession of those lands, should properly be expended in promoting their settlement alone, so as to ensure the Colony against further expenses on account of them. For like reasons the Legislature would probably consider that, after the very large expenditure which the Colony lias incurred, with the result that those lands are now open to colonization, it cannot be expected that if they are handed over to the Province, the "guaranteed Land Fund" should, in addition to the lands themselves, continue to be given to the Province of Taranaki. If, however, the entire cost of settling those lands, and of discharging- all the liabilities to which they are subject (except pay and rations to military settlers) were undertaken by that Province, as has been proposed with respect to the Province of Auckland, it would be reasonable that some sufficient amount should be advanced as a loan to the Province to enable it to fulfil effectually the duties which would devolve on it. I shall be glad to be able to support any plan embracing the principle to which I have referred, and I repeat my conviction that the General Government cannot perform the work of colonizing the confiscated lands in Taranaki, or in any other Province, nearly so satisfactorily or economically as it could be effected

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by the Provincial Government, or by some other competent body who might have sufficient means to undertake it. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Taranaki. E. W. Stafford. No. 3. (No. 87.) Copy of a Letter from His honor h. r. Richmond to the hon. c. w. Stafford. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, .New Plymouth, 29th January, 1866. I have the honor to acknowledge your letter of the number and date quoted in the margin, on the subject of the management and disposal of the confiscated lands in this Province. In reference to your observations as to the proposal made by me that a proportion of the proceeds of land sales should be devoted to the construction of a harbor, I wish to state that, in making that proposal, 1 was actuated by the belief, to which I still entirely hold, that nothing could so greatly tend to luise the value of the waste lands of the Province, and to promote their rapid sale and occupation, as the construction of harbor works at the Sugar Loaves. I see that it is quite natural that such an opinion should be looked upon with suspicion, as intended more foi- the benefit of the present population than for the objects I have named, but. I am confident that if the subject were fully considered by His Excellency's Government, or by a Committee of the House, it would be found that my view is correct. The work required in the first instance is not so extensive as might have been supposed. Messrs. Balfour and Doyne, as far as their present information goes, estimate that for from £120,000 to X 140,000 shelter in all weathers might be provided for the vessels frequenting the port. Leaving this point for further consideration, I would say that the Provincial Government will be very willing to take over the confiscated lands of the Province with any burthens which it may seem reasonable to believe that their possession will enable the Province to bear. In intimating that some such arrangement is open to us, you mention the liabilities to which the lands are subject, without stating what those liabilities are considered to be. I should be very glad if you would inform me more definitely as to your views on this point. The principal liability, I presume, is that of satisfying the claims of friendly natives. Would it not be desirable, as a step toward the settlement of this business, that you should request the Civil Commissioner, who appears to have been entrusted with exceedingly large powers in reference to these matters, to furnish an estimate of the quantity of land required to satisfy Native claims of all kinds 1 But, if, as is possible, Mr. Parris is not in a position to furnish any reliable estimate of this kind, I would strongly urge that the sitting of the Compensation Court in this Province should not be longer delayed. I may state that Major Atkinson, on examining into the subject of the liabilities on these lands, as far as he was in a position to do so, came to the conclusion that little or no open land would be available for sale. I am exceedingly anxious that the matter of the management of these lands should be decided on way or the other, with the least possible delay, and whenever I can obtain sufficient information as to the extent of the claims on the land to see my own way in the matter, I will, if you think it desirable, conit up to Wellington, and discuss the terms of the arrangement with you personally. My present view of the case is briefly this, that the Province ought to take over these lands, together with any liabilities which with their possession it is reasonable to hope that it will be able to meet, but that to undertake more than this would be neither wise nor right. 1 have, &c, H. R. Richmond, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent. No. 4. (No. 66.) Copy of a Letter from the hon. E. w. Stafford to his honor h. r. Richmond. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 19th February, 1866. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's letter of the 29th ult., on the subject of th* disposal of the confiscated lands in the Province of Taranaki. I have directed that an approximate estimate, as far as practicable, be prepared of all claims aftecting the confiscated lands in Taranaki, in order that it may be transmitted to your Honor; as soon as that ha» been done, I shall be glad to confer with your Honor on the subject. I have, <kc, His Honor the Superintendent, Taranaki. E. W. Stafford. No. 5. (N«. 93.) Copy of a Letter from His honor h. r. Richmond to the hon. colonel haultaik. g,R ( — Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, February Bth, 186 C. I have the honor to acknowledge your letter of the 19th ult., No. 891-1, in which you request me

35. 19th Jan., 1866.

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FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE SETTLEMENT

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to furnish an estimate of the preliminary expense necessary in order to trace the line of the South Road from Stony River to Patea, and survey the belt of land which I propose to have reserved for the purpose «>f constructing the road. As the object in making the proposed road would be not so much to open up the most direct line of communication between distant points in the Province (which must sooner or later be provided for by a road inland of Mount Egmont), but to render accessible for occupation all the available open lands in the Province, and as the nature of the country to be traversed from the Stony River to Patea is tolerably well known, and presents no serious difficulties, I think that all that is required is to fix beforehand the average distance from the coast line or the bush at which it is desirable that the road should be taken, and to lay it down provisionally on the map. The surveyors should then be instructed in commencing any surveys they may have to make between those points to lay out the road in the first instance in about the position indicated on the map, examining the country in advance to a moderate distance to see that no difficulties are likely to occur of a nature to require any great deviation. The cost of actually laying out the road in this manner would be very trifling, and could not exceed two or three hundred pounds for the whole distance. The survey would, I presume, be done at the ordinary contract rates —the cost of which per acre, from your experience of contract surveys elsewhere, you will be able to estimate far more correctly than I can. I should propose to make the survey of the road and road reserve concurrently with the surveys for Military Settlements, for the settlement of Native claims, or for the purpose of sale to general purchasers, which will have to be undertaken, and sales of portions of the belt might be made from time to time before the whole line was completed, so that I can see no reason why the outlay of funds not derived from the land should exceed the cost of the survey of from five to ten thousand acres of land. His Honor the Superintendent of Wellington, on his recent visit to this place in company with General Chute, called my attention to the extreme importance of opening a road through the bush inland of Mount Egmont, and he estimates the expenditure necessary for this purpose at about £4,000, or, roughly speaking, £100 per mile, for the road through the bush, an estimate which agrees with that which I had arrived at as to the cost of making passable cart roads through the bush. The cost of this line also might be defrayed by the sale of land, but it is not, of course, to be expected that bush land in remote districts would fetch more than a very low price. lam hardly able to say which of these two lines is of the most immediate importance. With the view of securing the permanent peace of the Province, and of establishing a rapid overland communication with Patea and Wanganui, the line behind the mountain is undoubtedly the most important, whereas the coast line is that which will connect together the Military Settlements, and make available the intercnediate districts for occupation. It is my opinion that with the view of insuring the peace of the Province, and of raising the value of the waste lands, and stimulating their occupation, both these lines should be made first charges upon the districts through which they run. I have, <fee, H. R. Richmond, The Hon. the Minister for Colonial Defence, Wellington. Superintendent. No. 6. (No. 67.) Copy of a Letter from the hon. c. w. Stafford to his honor h. r. Richmond. Sir,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, li)th February, 1866. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, No. 93, of the Bth instant, to the Hon. the Minister for Colonial Defence, on the subject of the preliminary expense which would be required to trace the line of the South Road from Stony River to Patea, and survey the belt of land proposed to be reserved for the purpose of constructing the road. I have to inform your Honor, in reply, that a sum not exceeding £250 is authorised to be expended in tracing the line of road in question by the coast route. Although it is doubtless desirable that a road should be opened through the bush inland of Mount Egmont, it is impossible at present to authorise the expense of constructing it, till it has been decided how the confiscated lands in the Province of Taranaki are finally to be dealt with, and where the funds required for their settlement can be obtained. ■ The same observations will apply with respect to the question of the survey of any land not absolutely required to fulfil engagements made with military settlers. I have, «fee, His Honor the Superintendent, Taranaki. E. W. Stafford. No. 7. (No. 94.) Copy of a Letter from His honor h. r. Richmond to the hon. colonel haultain. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, February 8, 1866. I have the honor to forward herewith a return of the expenditure necessary to complete existing contracts on the South Road ; and also a return of the further expenditure required (some part of which received your sanction when at New Plymouth) to make the road passable as far as Ahu Ahu, at which place is situated the contract most distant from the town of New Plymouth which has hitherto been let. The total expenditure on the South Road from the Bth July, 1865, the date on which it was placed under the management of Mr. O. Carrington, to this date, has been £1871. I did not feel sure, from the

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OF THE CONFISCATED LANDS.

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terms of your letter, whether you desired a return of the amount previously expended; but this, if required, can, I think, be obtained at the Colonial Secretary's Office, it having been furnished on severat occasions. From Ahu to Stony River, a distance of o\ miles, a section of the road has not yet been made, but I have asked Mr. Camngton to supply me with a rough estmate of the cost of opening a passable cart road to that point, including a bridge over a small river, which, from the nature of the banks, cannot be forded exeept-at the mouth. Mr. Carrington's estimate for this part of the road is .£3OO per mile. Beyond the Stony River, if my proposal should be carried into effect, little expenditure would be required except that derived from th# sale of land, which also might bo made to reimburse the Government for some or all of the monies already expended. I have, &c, H. R. Richmond, 'Mie Hon. the Minister for Colonial Defence, Wellington. Superintendent.

Enclosure 1 in No. 7. STATEMENT of Contracts entered into for work on the South Road.

Enclosure 2 in No. 7. STATEMENT of further expenditure required to complete the South Road from New Plymouth to Ahu Ahu.

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FURTHEE PAPEES RELATIVE TO THE SETTLEMENT

Date ©f Contract. § . o Name of Contractors ft Nature of Contract. Amount necessary to complete contract. Remarks. April 7,18G5 38 J. Antony Kingcome and Langman. 9d. la Earth cuttings and embankments £560 J. Antony gave up this contract; it was then let to Kingcome <fc Langman. This contract cannot be finished until the bridge over the Oakuru is built, the earth being required to complete the embankment on the other side. This will cost £'260, and that amount is included in this statement. May 7, 1865 40 [ Chislett and Clemenson, Lethbrige and Autridge, H. Thomson 9d. Do. 85 Let to Chislett ife Clemenson, who abandoned the work; then let to Lethbridge and Autridge, who did not completeit in proper tinw, and it was then let to H. Thomson to finish. Is. lOd. Deo.2, 1865 65 and CO Wright and Bulshaw 9d. Do. 135 The fiamed culvert at Wenuanki stream was necessary to complete this contract. The cost is included (£35.) Jan. 7, 1866 J. Baily 9fd. Completing and cutting embankments at the Tapuae bridge 300 The bridge cannot be used until the embankments and approaches are completed. The timber required for the approaches is estimated to cost £100, which amount is included hi this statement. £1080 O. Carein«ton, iurvey Office, New 1y mouth, 7th Fe' iruary, I860. Chief Surveyor.

Nature of Woek. Estimated Cost. Eemauks. h-idges at Oakura £500 To cross the valley of this river in th< winter time, by the present road, is a matter of great difficulty, and i' lias been found a serious obstrucfioi to military operations.

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No. 8. (No. 68.) Copy of a Letter from the hon. c. w. Stafford to his honor h. k. Richmond. Sir, — Colonial Seci-etary's Office, Wellington, 19th Febmary, 1866. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's letter, No. 94, of the Bth instant, to the Hon. the Colonial Defence Minister, transmitting returns of the expenditure necessary to complete existing contracts on the South Road, and of further expenditure required to make the place passable as far as Ahu Aim. A sum of £3,500 was placed by the late Government on the Estimates ot the balance of the loan for roads at Taranaki, and the sum already expended or authorised for works amounts to £3,551. The Colonial Defence Minister represents that your Honor is under a misapprehension as to his having sanc^ned the metalling of a portion of the South .Road at Omata. He states that your Honor pointed out** him the spot requiring repair, but that he never authorised the expense. Until tW Government is in possession of more information as to the funds which may be available for public works in connection with the confiscated lands in the Province of Taranaki, I regret that it will not be able to sanction a further expenditure for the purpose in question. I have, Sic, His Honor the Superintendent, Taranaki. E. W. Stafford. No. 9. (No. 92.) Copy of a Letter from his honor ii. r. Richmond to the hon. c. w. biafford. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, Bth February, 18G6. Having alluded very briefly in my letter, No. 87, of the 29th ultimo, to the desirability of at once taking measures for adjudicating the claims of the natives in this Province whose land has been confiscated, and ia part occupied by Military Settlements and the Waiters township, I have now the honor respectfully to ask the immediate attention of His Excellency's Government to this subject, which appears to me from many points of view one of great, I may say pressing importance to the interests of both races in-this Province. The present arrangement, by which, if I rightly understand it, Mr. Commissioner Parris (under instructions received from the late Government) is adjusting or endeavoring to adjust the claims referred to in such a manner that their final adjudication by the Compensation Court may be a matter of form oulv, appears to me open to very grave objections, and as far as I can discover the success of the plan, in the way of satisfying the natives that justice will be done to them, is not such as to jiistify the continuance of so irregular a manner of proceeding. I have great confidence in the integrity of Mr. Commissioner Parris, but I submit that the placing of the very large powers practically conferred on him by his instructions, in the hands of any person not subject to the control of public opinion, or bound by any rules of evidence or defined principles of procedure, is in itself exceedingly objectionable, and could only (if at all) be justified by the fact that the person on whom such powers were conferred was marked out by special qualifications as peculiarly fitted for so delicate and responsible a task. I can state unhesitatingly that in urging His Excellency's Government to make arrangements for the speedy settlement of these claims in open Court, and, with the sanction of law, I am only expressing the strong wish of all thinking persons in the settlement whom I have consulted on the subject. It appeals to me impossible to believe that anything but evil can result from further delay in this matter. As regards the settlers, the private nature of the Commissioner's negotiations, and the want of information as to the powers exercised by him, create a feeling of great uneasiness and distrust. Tins importance to the Province of an equitable settlement of these claims is very great, and it cannot be

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OP THE CONFISCATED LANDS.

To open South Bond for Cart Traffic from Contract No. 53 to Contract No. 65, 1| miles, passing through Ahu Ahu Township, five Puriri box Culverts 50 One framed Culvert at Mangapukatea 50 Earthwork, 4000 cubic yards 150 Macadamising part of South Eoad, Omata .. 380 Sanctioned by the Hon. the Defence Minister, but not let by contract. £1130 0. Carkingtox, Survey Office, New Plymouth, 7th February, 18 16. Chief Surveyor.

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denied that the private and irregular nature of the arrangements which the Civil Commissioner is authorised to make, places him in the greatest danger of unconsciously allowing his judgment to be influenced by partialities or dislikes, which, from his manifold dealings with the natives, he may have formed towards different individuals amongst them. Any fears of this kind may, of course, be quite groundless, but I think that, without very urgent necessity, it is not right that an. officer of the Government should be placed in a position so liable to a risk of this kind. The natives, on the other hand, are perplexed and exceedingly discontented with the irregular tod unsatisfactory measures hitherto taken to adjust their claims, and as a proof of the feeling entertained by them, I may state that only yesterday a party of friendly natives commenced falling timber on land which lias been selected and surveyed, declaring that the land was theirs, nothing having been given to them in return for it. The constant recurrence of disturbances of this kind, which may at any time lead to actual strife, can, I think, only be avoided by referring all their claims in an open Court and regular way to the Compensation Court, established by law, and enforcing implicit obedience to the decisions of the Court, I have only further to suggest, in reference to this matter, that if urgent business elsewhere, or the difficulty of collesting all the claims, should render it impossible to hold a sitting of the Compensation Court in this Province without some further delay, it would, I think, have some good effect if a definite notice fixing the time for the sitting of the Court, and calling in claims not yet preferred, were issued and circulated amongst the natives. Their distrust of the intentions of the Government is, however, lam informed, so profound, that I fear nothing but the actual opening of the Court will have the effect of fully restoring confidence. I have, &c, H, R. Richmond, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent, No. 10. (No. 98.) Copy of a Letter from His hosor h. c. Richmond to the hon. c. v,: Stafford. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, 17th February, 1866, In reference to the subject of my letter, No. 92, of the Bth instant, I take the first opportunity of stating that on enquiry I find I have been under a misapprehension as to the Civil Commissioner being authorised to take any steps towards the adjustment of the land claims of the natives in this Province. The simple truth is that notliing whatever is being done with reference to these claims, a^act which sufficiently accounts for the dissatisfaction and actual resistance of the natives. Mr. Parria informs me that he never actually received the instructions under which I believed him to be acting, and fully bears me out in everything I have said as to the pressing importance of the settlement of these claims in the manner appointed by the New Zealand Settlements Act. The error into which I have fallen in this matter might, no doubt, have been avoided by personal enquiry as to the nature of the Civil Commissioner's instructions, but the fact of my being under such an impression is a proof of the want of any sufficient connection between the Provincial Government and the Native Department in this Province, and from this, and the*consequent want of public information as to the powers and duties of that department, and the manner in which they are exercised, arises the very general feeling of distrust to which I referred in my former letter. I do not think that the time has yet arrived when the Native Office can be properly made a department of the Provincial Government, but when it is considered that the Provincial Executive and Legislature must constantly have to do with questions more or less affecting the interests of the natives, and that the Civil Commissioner, on the other hand, has to decide many matters in which the interests of the white population are involved, it must be evident that there ought to be at least some organised connection between the two authorities in the Province, by means of which each may have a voice in all matters affecting both races, the decision in case of difference of opinion resting with the Colonial Government. Something in this direction was attempted by the late Native, Minister in his letter, No. 438, of the Bth September, 186-5, but the arrangement, in order to be practically operative, should be made more definitely, and should give the Provincial Government a voice in and the right to acquire full information upon all important matters to be transacted by the Native Office before action is taken therein, I understand the Civil Commissioner to agree with me that something of the kind proposed would be advantageous to the public service, whilst it would relieve him of much of the responsibility of any acts of his in which the Provincial Government had concurred. Reverting to the subject of my former letter, I trust the mistaken ground upon which I insisted in pointing out the necessity of an early sitting of the Compensation Court in this Province, will not be suffered to diminish unduly your estimate of the real importance of the settlement of the land claims. It is a sufficient argument against further delay that the land of friendly natives has been occupied for so long a time without their claims having been heard, and that their discontent has led them to actual resistance. I have, ifec, H. R. Richmond, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

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No. 11. (No. 88.) Copy of a Letter from the hon. c. w. Stafford to his honor h. r. Richmond. Sir,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 6th March, 1866. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's two letters, No. 92, of the Bth February, and No. 98, of the 17th February, 1866, on the subject of the investigation of native claims to land within the confiscated block in Taranaki. Your Honor is in error in supposing that the Civil Commissioner, Mr. Parris, had not been instructed to take steps for the adjustment of these native claims. I enclose a copy of the instructions issued to him to that effect on the 30th August, 1865, by the late Government. Subsequently, with reference to these instructions, Mr. Parris was directed to take the opinion of and act in concert with yourself. The Government is most anxious that as little delay as possible should take place in the adjustment of these claims, as it fully recognises that both the peace of the country and the progress of the Province of Taranaki, are intimately involved in the settlement of the question. "With that view it desires to have the aid of your Honor's advice and co-operation, both on account of your local knowledge of the circumstances, and because the Province of Taranaki is primarily interested in a speedy and satisfactory settlement of all those outstanding difficulties which have hitherto so seriously retarded the occupation and opening out of the country. The Government concurs with you in believing that an early investigation of them by the Compensation Court in Taranaki is desirable, and the Senior Judge of that Court has been requested to take steps to bring it into action in that Province. The Government also wishes that, in order to-protect the public interests, your Honor would recommend some suitable person, who has sufficient local knowledge, to watch the claims sent in for the purpose of objecting to such as may appear unfounded or exaggerated. With respect to the last paragraph of your letter of the 17th ult., the Government believes that much of the suspicion and discontent engendered in the minds of the natives has arisen from the conduct pf persons in the Province in the public sendee. In connection with this subject it has been reported to the Government that friendly natives have been harrassed and their goods plundered by some of the Military Settlers and other armed corps, and in consequence of these reports, the Government has determined to hold a Court oi Enquiry into the circumstances, which, if correctly stated, are most discreditable to those concerned in them. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Taranaki. E. W. Stafford. No. 12. (No. 99.) Copy of a Letter from his honor h. r. Richmond to the hon. colonel haultain. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, 17th February, 1866. I have the honor to acknowledge your letter, noted in the margin, with respect to the Surveys at Patea, and shall take the first opportunity of going there, in company with Mr. Carrington, to examine - the ground, with reference to the site of the Township. We shall probably be accompanied by one or two of the Assistant Surveyors, who will go for the purpose of inspecting the country, with reference to the cost of surveying it, and of ascertaining for themselves whether the work can be proseciited without serious risk of interruption. I feel no doubt that this Survey will be undertaken by them, and that, being accustomed to work with Mr. Carrington, it will proceed more satisfactorily, and with much less risk of errors, and the expense and trouble attending them, than if others were employed. I understand, from the two letters, above quoted, that there are to be no separate Townships for each Company, but that all are to have their Town Acres, in a Township to be fixed in the most suitable spot, on the banks of the River, and on both sides of it. I should suppose that those who have their Rural Land on one side of the River will have their Town Land on the same side. I refer to this merely with the view of pointing out, if it has not already occurred to you, that some difficulty may arise in adjusting liabilities find 'claims between the Provinces of Wellington and Taranaki, if any of the Patea settlers should have their Town Allotments in one Province and their Farm Sections in the other. The Patea River is not the boundary between the Provinces in any part of its cotirse, but a line drawn from the mouth of that River to a certain point inland. Between this line and the course of the River, near its mouth, there is, I believe, a narrow strip of land, so that if many are located ou the South bank it may be necessary to give them Rural Land in the Province of Wellington. Mr. Carrington is willing to. give his services on the terms offered by you, the Province paying him at the rate of £150 per annum, whilst this arrangement continues, for his general supervision of the Survey Department. I shall do my utmost, with Mr. Carrington's assistance, to carry your wishes into effect as speedily as possible, with regard to this Survey, but, from the uncertainty of communication, and other causes, some delay will be unavoidable. I have, &c, H. R. Richmond, The Hon. the Minister for Colonial Defence, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 947. 9th Feb., 1866.

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No. 13. (No. 3.) Copy of a Letter from his honor h. c. Richmond to the hon. colonel hacltaik. Sib, — Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, February 23, 186 C. I have the honor to State that since last writing to you on the subject of the Patea. Surveys, my attention has been directed to the great pecuniary loss to the Government which would be occasioned by giving up the best lots for a Town on the Patea to the Military Settlers. This Township, if the District around it be as good as has been represented, can hardly be valued under ,£IO,OOO. It will very soon require public buildings, streets and roads, which, if it be given away, can only be provided by the immediate imposition of heavy local taxes. On the other hand, it may fairly be questioned whether, if the best site on the river be not taken for Military Settlers, it would not be preferable to adhere to the old system of villages in each block. I have only time to speak of these things in a very cursory manner, but if no positive pledges have been given, as the question is one which must considerably affect the terms upon which the Provincial Government can take over the management of the balance of the Confiscated Lands in this Province, I shall feel much obliged by your deferring any positive decision with regard to it, until I have had an opportunity personally, or otherwise, of more fully discussing it with you. I have* <fee, H. R. Richmond, The Hon. the Minister for Colonial Defence, Wellington. Superintendent. No. 14. (No. 91.) Copy of a Letter from the hon. c,. w. Stafford to his honor h. r. Richmond, Sin,— Colonial Secretary's Office, "Wellington, 9th March, 1861. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's two letters, numbered and dated respectively No. 99, 17th February, and No. 3, 23rd February, 1866, addressed to the Hon. Colonial Defence Minister, on the subject of Surveys at Patea, and to apologise for the delay which, owing to his absence, lias arisen in replying to these letters. After a careful consideration of all the circumstances, it appears to the Government desirable that the land allotted to the Military Settlers at the Patea, should be confined to the Province of Taranaki. The river Patea is not, however, the boundary between the Province of Wellington and Taranaki. The boundary there is a straight line drawn from the mouth of the Patea to the point where the Taumatamahoe path, leading from Waitara, strikes the Wanganui River. This leaves a strip of .land within the Province of Taranaki, on the left or Wellington bank of the Patea. The question where the Town Lots for the Military Settlers should be, whether in one place, or . in villages on each block, is one that can be best determined, after a personal inspection of the locality, b*y your Honor and Mr. Carrington. No pledge, of which the present Government is aware, has been made to the Military Settlers on this subject, the only instructions on record being th.ose to Mr. Carrington, in which the selection of the site, or sites, was left to him, as intimated in the letter of the Hon. the Defence Minister, of the 9th ultimo. Only two Companies of Military Settlers have been, it is believed, actually promised land at Patea, though on grounds of policy more may be located there. I would add tlrat large portions of the land near the Patea, in the Province of Wellington, are claimed (it is believed correctly) by Hori Kingi, Wi Tako, and other friendly Natives, and that the occupation of that land would for many reasons be unwise, and would entail large money payments in compensation, to meet which th«re are no funds available in the present financial position of the Colony. I have, &c., , His Honor the Superintendent, Taranaki. E. W. Stafford. No. 15. (No. 7.) Copy of a Letter from his honor h. r. rioiJmond to the. hdn. c. w. Stafford,. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, 28th March, 1866. I have the honor .to acknowledge your letter of tUe 19th ultimo, enclosing a Statement of the amount of Land required in this Province for the. location of Military Settlers, and also a list of the names of Native Clainiauts to Land in this Province. The latter document, I need hardly observe, gives me little or no assistance towards arriving at an estimate of the amount of land required to satisfy the claims of friendly Natives ; neither, probably, could any very reliable estimate be made until these claims shall have been actually investigated by the Compensation Court. The delay which must thus occur in arriving at any conclusian as to the conditions upon which the Provincial Government can take over the management of the Confiscated Districts would be a serious evil if the country South of New Plymouth were in a more settled state, so that the formation of Agricultural Settlements, at different points, could be proceeded with. But, after carefully considering the subject with those here whom I consider the best qualified to

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form an opinion as to the course which should be adopted, I have come to the conclusion that, before any settlers (whether called Military or Agricultural) are located on lands at points intermediate between Patea and Stony River, it wili' be necessary either to reduce the Natives of that District to submission and to acquiescence in the confiscation of the land, or to inflict so severe a chastisement on them that they practically abandon the contest. I feel confident that one or other of these results would be effected by a very short series of operations if conducted by Colonial Forces, aided by Friendly Natives, and carried on with the promptitude and vigor which has been displayed on the East Coast, and I believe that a small force only is requisite for the purpose ; but as none of the Natives of the District who> have latterly been in arms against us have actually submitted (however tired they may be of the conflict), and it is not even safe to travel in the open country without a large armed escort, I do not think that the time has yet arrived when the Provincial Government can properly take upon itself the management of the district. Whilst stating this, I wish it to be understood that I fully recognise it as a duty of the Provincial Government both to give at the present time every assistance in its power, in the management of these parts of the Confiscated Lands which are actually occupied by Military Settlers, and to take over, upon foir terms, the management of the whole of the Confiscated territory, when the rebellion shall have been extinguished, and the peaceable occupation of the country can be proceeded with, under the protection of a small local force. I take the liberty of enclosing a short Memorandum as to some of the various courses which might be adopted in dealing with the districts between Patea and Stony River, and the natives who are still in rebellion there, which may possibly be of some assistance in bringing tfhe questions involved into a definite shape. I have, <fee, H. R. Richmond, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Superintendent. Enclosure in No. 15. Memorandum as to Various Courses which may be adopted in reference to the Occupation of tlie Country and the Suppression of the Rebellion in the District lying between the Hungatahua and Patea Rivers:— I.—The whole of the Military Settlers to be located in the Province may be concentrated at Patea (or at Patea and the land immediately South of Stony River) and all the intermediate posts abandoned, no further movement against the Natives being undertaken at present. If this plan be followed the intermediate land will, according to the ideas of the Maories, be abandoned, we shall have acknowledged ourselves unable to hold it, and shall have to re-conquer or purchase it hereafter. 2.—A course similar to the above may be followed, with this difference, that, instead of abandoning all the intermediate stations, two or more be kept up, to be supplied from the Coast ; these posts being held as a sign that we have not abandoned the country, and as points of support for any future active operations. These positions I suppose to be held merely for Military purposes, as I believe it to -be out of the question to attempt to form settlements for agriculture, intermediate between Stony River and Patea until the Natives shall have so far submitted that the Coast may be safely travelled without armed escorts. This course, although preferable to the former, inasmuch as nominal possession of the country is retained, will (if not accompanied by active -operations) give the Natives time to recruit their strength for a forther struggle, whereas, if now closely followed up, there is good reason to think that they would •soon submit. 3.—The third course, and that which I would earnestly recommend, is to send a small force of Co*k>niajl Troops and Friendly Natives into the District, and follow*up the rebels, as has been done on the East Coast, until they give in or quit the neighborhood. At the present time, whilst a large number of Military Settlers are still on pay, this could be done at a much less extra expense than if deferred until their time has expired. I am aware that some, if not all, of the Officers commanding posts along the Coast have orders to continue harassing the Natives, but, except in the case of the Offiaers stationed at Waingongoro, I am given to understand that these orders are practically inoperative. It is unnecessary to observe that such operations cannot compare In effect with those of a moveable column having no fixed point to hold, but having all the stations to fall back upon fqr support. The Natives, having been brought to submission, the settlement of the oounjtiy might be proceeded with as most convenient ; probably it would then be found most desirable to form twA intermediate settlements between Stony River and Patea, near to the best landing places on the Co,ast. This would divide the distance of sixty miles into three intervals of twenty niUes each, and would form centres of population which might be expected to spread pretty rapidly, owing to the attractive character of Ac country. Any land which might be available for sale would probably thus fetch better prices than it otherwise would do, ai^l the proceeds could be applied to the construction of a road, the introduction of more immigrants, or otherwise promoting the permanent occupation of the country. I have, &c. H. R. Richmond, Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, 29th March, 1866. Superintendent

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No. 16. (No. 149.) Copy of a Letter from the hon. c. w. Stafford to nis honor ii. r. Richmond. Sir,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 24th April, 18C6. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's letter, No. 7, of the 28th ultimo, referring to the proposed Provincial Administration of Confiscated Lands in the Province of Taranaki, and expressing your opinion that, before any settlements, Military or Agricultural, are formed between Patea and Stony River, further active operations should be undertaken against the Natives in that district. The question raised in your Honor's letter is, in effect, that as a necessary preliminary to any further proceedings, hostilities should be recommenced in Taranaki, with a view to the conquest and permanent settlement of the country occupied by Natives, who you state would not otherwise acquiesce in the confiscation of the lands in question. This course is one which virtually can only be decided on by the Legislature, as it cannot be adopted without funds being supplied to enable it to be carried into effect, there being no funds now at the disposal of the Government for such a purpose. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Taranaki. E. W. Stafford. Ko. 17. (No. 9.) Copy of a Letter from his honor ii. c. riciimond to the hon. f. w. Stafford. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, 29th March, 1866. I have the honor to inform you that I have arranged with Mr. Percy Smith and C. W. Hursthouse (on behalf of themselves and two or three others) for the survey of Land at Patea for the Military Settlers, and that they will proceed there as- soon as ever the office work connected with the surveys already made is completed, which they have undertaken to despatch as rapidly as possible. They will be ready to go down in a fortnight from this, should an opportunity be offered at that time, The work is to be done on the terms specified by the Hon. the Defence Minister, except that I have agreed to supj>ly sawn scantling from Wanganui, for the pegs, as from scarcity of wood in the district there would otherwise be great risk of insufficient pegs being put in. Mr. Carrington assures me that the extra cost of this will be trifling, otherwise I should not have consented to it without your approval. The surveyors have not undertaken this work without some misgivings, owing to the very unsettled state of the country. The edge of the bush cannot be at all safely approached at present, neither will •it be safe for the work to be carried more than three or four miles from the posts, even in the open country. I have assured the surveyors that the Government will use all possible despatch in sending down the Military Settlers to take up a position on the edge of the bush, so as to afford them protection, and the work is undertaken on the understanding that, if they are unable to continue it on account of the Natives, they will be paid for what is done, if left in a definite block, so that no work is wasted. I feel sure that the Government would not wish these young men, who rather err on the side of over-rashness than timidity, to be pressed by circumstances into placing themselves in positions of great danger without protection, and I would suggest that, in the event of it not being found possible to send dowli the Military Settlers immediately, I should be authorised, when all the ground near Patea which can be safely traversed, under existing circumstances, has been purveyed, which will only occupy a short time, to altow the survey of the Civil Townships at the Patea to be proceeded with until the Military Settlers arrive. T have, &c, H. R. Richmond, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. ' Superintendent, No. 18. (No. 129.) Copy of a Letter from the hon. c. w. Stafford to his honor ii. r. Richmond. Sir,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 9th April, 1866. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's letter, No. 9, of the 29th nit., stating that you had arranged for surveyors to proceed to Patea for the survey of land for the Military Settlers. The Government will, as soon as possible, take steps for sending Military Settlers to Patea, and in the meantime the Hon. Defence Minister has instructed Lieutenant-Colonel Gorton at Wanganui to arrange for the transport of provisions for the surveyors to the Patea, which the Government has undertak&i to provide. I have, (fee, His Honor the Superintendent, Taranaki. E. W. Stafford.

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No 19. Copy of a Letter from nis honor h. r. Richmond to the hon. c. w. Stafford. Sir,— Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, 9th April, 1866. I have the honor to inform you that I have just received a note from Mr. Fenton, in which he states that little can be done by the Compensation Court without complete surveys. There is, I am informed, only about 7000 acres of land within the blocks which are to be adjudicated, which is not surveyed. I shall, therefore, with Mr. Parris's consent, cause this land to be surveyed forthwith, if 1 find that it can be done without interfering with the survey at Patea. With respect to the latter surveys, I hope to receive, by the mail of the 13th, some definite assurance as to the sending of Military Settlers to Patea without delay, as the repeated instances of stragglers being killed only a few miles to the north of that place, cause great anxiety to the surveyors who have undertaken to go down there, and my own word is pledged to them that, as far as my influence goes, I will endeavour to prevent any delay in their work, or any unfair exposure to danger. P.S.—I find that a good deal of the work on the 7000 acres named is already done. I have, &c, H. E. Richmond, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. . Superintendent No. 20. (No. 150.) Copy of a Letter from the hon. c. w. Stafford to His honor h. r. Richmond. Sir,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 23rd April, 1866. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's letter of the 9th inst., on the subject of the surveys still required to enable the Compensation Court to sit in Taranaki, and also for the proposed Military Settlements at Patea. With respect to the survey of the 7000 acres which are to be adjudicated on, I have to request that no expense may be incurred in the subdivision of the land, but merely that the external boundaries be surveyed. With reference to the survey at Patea, I have to express my disappointment at the delay which has occurred in this important matter. The Hon. Colonial Defence Minister informs me that your Honor was distinctly apprised by him personally when at Taranaki, and also in his letter of the 9th February last, that the Government would not guarantee to furnish covering parties, and that if the late Taranaki Survey Staff were not prepared to undertake the contract for survey on these terms, the services of surveyors from other parts of the Colony would be obtained ; and further, in your letter of the 29th ult. you stated that certain persons had arranged to survey on the terms specified by him, and that they would be ready to go to Patea for the purpose in a fortnight from that day. More than three months have elapsed since the Hon. Defence Minister represented to your Honor tke necessity of these surveys being commenced at once. Every day's delay in this work is costing the Colony the pay and rations of four hundred officers and men, being nearly at the rate of £100 a day. The surveys might have been commenced at once in the neighbourhood of the camps between Patea and Kakaramea, and there is every reason to hope that by the time they are finished, Colonial Troops from Opotiki will be in the district, and able to protect parties in the further survey, if necessary. I have to impress on your Honor that the funds appropriated for the pay of the Military Settlers are exhausted, and that as they cannot be maintained in pay, they must be located without delay on their lands. If, therefore, they cannot be located soon at Patea, the want of funds will unavoidably necessitate that lands be allotted to them elsewhere. I have, <fee, His Honor the Superintendent, Taranaki. E. W. Stafford. No. 21. (No. 26.) Copy of a Letter from his honor h. r. Richmond to the hon. c. w. Stafford. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, 28th April, 1866. I have the honor to acknowledge your letter of the 23rd instant, with respect to the Patea surveys. I much regret that I accidentally omitted to advise you of the departure of a survey party (particulars of which are given in the enclosed Memo.) by the Storm Bird on the 20th, that being the first opportunity which presented itself after the expiration of a fortnight from the date of my letter of the 29tk March to which yoxi refer. With respect to the delay which had previously occurred beyond the time originally mentioned by me, I can only say it has not been by any means so considerable as your letter implies, and that it has arisen from causes quite beyond my control. On the 29th January, I informed the Honorable the Defence Minister that Mr. O. Carrington had work for his staff for somewhat over a month, this, with the necessary arrangements for commencing surveys in an entirely new district, would fairly have brought the departure of the party into the middle of

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March. They actually left a month later, the difference being mainly due to the fact that the work here took longer than was expected to complete. I have done my utmost to j>ress this matter forward, although the inability or unwillingness of the Honorable the Defence Minister to name any definite time within which he would post military settlers at Patea, in such positions as to cover the survey parties, has rendered it impossible for me (believing, as I distinctly told Colonel Haultain, that the country was very unsafe) to urge any to go who felt doubtful about it. This has made the party smaller than I expected to send, but those who have gone will be able to do all that can be done, until posts are taken up along the edge of the bush, in a very short time, and Mr. Smith has been distinctly given to understand that he must, as soon as possible, put on more hands, and that otherwise a part of the work will be let to some one else. I have given my services in this matter voluntarily and gratuitously, hoping to be able to assist the Government in difficult times, but if, as would appear from the tone of your communication, I have failed to discharge this self-imposed duty to the satisfaction of the Government, I trust that no time will be lost in making such arrangements as may be thought more beneficial to the public service. I have the honor to enclose copies of the agreement made with Messrs. Percy S. Smith and G. W. Williams, and of a Memo, by Mr. 0. Carrington as to the Patea surveys. At an interview which I had with the Honorable the Defence Minister at Colonel Warre's house, he will remember that it was agreed that it would be desirable not to place the whole of the 400 men on one connected block of land, but to divide it into two portions, leaving a space between, which would immediately become valuable for sale, and which, being taken up by a different class of settlers, would be beneficial in other ways. If this plan is adhered to, the survey of the most northerly block will be quite separate from that on which Mr. Smith has already begun, and can be commenced at once ; if the General Government can find surveyors willing to undertake it without protection. I have, &c, H. It. Richmond, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent. Enclosure in No. 21. Memo, for Superintendent—Patea Surveys. Before I can scheme out the settlement at Patea, it is necessary to have the surveys of the coast, rivers, swamps, (fee, carefully laid down, which I hope to have ready in about a fortnight or three weeks, of as much of the district as can with safety be surveyed under existing circumstances, when I will proceed to Patea, and do all I possibly can to expedite the work. The contractors, Messrs. Smith and Williams, at present employ two assistants (four surveyors in all). With this staff it will take about ten weeks to complete from ten to twelve thousand acres. As soon as the Government find protection, Messrs. Smith and Williams are prepared to employ other surveyors ; nevertheless, if it is thought desirable to hasten the work, other surveyor.-; who may be ■willing can undertake contracts of portions of the district. The surveyors left here on the 20th instant ; they were unable to land at Patea, and obliged to go to Wanganui, where they were detained several days, no steamer plying between that place and Patea. Octa Cakbinqton, Survey Office, Taranaki, 28th April, 1866. Chief Surveyor. Enclosure in No. 21. CONTRACT SUIIVEYB AT PATEA. Survey Office, Taranaki, April 19th, 1860. Rural Allotments (any area down to five-acre allotments). For forest cutting, 2s. per chain, £8 per mile „ fern „ Is. „ M „ „ open traverse 6d. „ £2 „ Branded, chiselled, or painted pegs of hard wood (the material to be furnished and delivered at Tatoa at the Government expense) of a thickness not less than two inches, to be well driven (one foot ?t least) into the ground, and projecting six inches above, at the corners of each allotment, and at all the angles of roads at both sides ; about 12 inches from the peg a lockspit to be, dug, one spit deep and three feet long in the direction of either line. Lines to be cut and cleared, at least 5 links in width ; in the forest the trees to be marked one in about every five chains, and entered in the field book. The plan to be on mounted paper, plotted to a scale of 10 chains to the inch. Main and traverse lines to be marked red ; the page and number of the field-book shewn ; the linkages ot the boundaries of each allotment and the contents ; also the measure of the angles to be distinctly written on the plan, which is to be so completed that Crown Grants can be prepared immediately after it is received at this office. Town Allotments.—(lnclusive of lots up to five acres area). For forest cutting 2s. 6d. per chain, £10 per mile. " fern, " Is. Gd. " £6 " " open traverse Is. " £i " Allotment pegs, chiselled or branded, of hard wood (the material to be furnished and delivered at.

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FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE SETTLEMENT

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Patea at the Government expense) of a thickness of not less than two inches, to be driven at least one foot into the ground, and projecting at least six inches above. At corners of street blocks, a lockspit, three feet long and one spit deep, to be dug in the direction of either street. No street to be less than 100 links wide. Streets to run as much as possible at right angles to each other. Rough plan of township to be approved by Chief Surveyor before the blocks are cut up into allotments. Plan to be on mounted paper, plotted on a scale of 3 chains to the inch ; the page and number of the field-book shewn; linkages of the boundaries of each allotment, and the contents to be distinctly written on the plan, which is to be so completed that Crown Grants can be prepared immediately after it is handed over to this office. PAYMENTS. Fifty per cent, on total amount of work done will be advanced on approval of Chref Surveyor after examination on the ground. On completion of the survey of a block of ten thousand acres, more or less, and handing over the plans of the same, payment will be made in full. No sub-lotting of contract allowed without permission of Chief Surveyor. ■ We have read the conditions as above, and agree to them. S. Percy Smith. G. W. Williams. No. 22. (No. 205.) Copy of a letter from the hon. c. w. Stafford to His honor h. r. Richmond. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 26th May, 18G6. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's letter, No. 26, of tke 28th ultimo, on the subject of the Patea surveys. I trust that any expression in my letter of the 23rd of April of disappointment that the surveys at Patea had not been sooner commenced will not be considered as intended to impute to you any want of zeal in this matter. lam fully sensible of the assistance which your Honor has gratuitously afforded to the General Government with respect to the settlement of the confiscated lands m Taranaki, involving as that settlement does many works not ordinarily coming within the scope of the duties of that Government, and for the execution of which it has no suitable machineiy. At the same time, I have been unable to feel otherwise than disappointed at the delay which has taken place, not only in commencing the surveys at Patea, but also in completing other surveys necessary for the immediate location of the military settlers at Taranaki, and also at the very high price, amounting to upwards of three shillings per acre, which these surveys have cost. With reference to the last paragraph of your Honor's letter, the Government desires that other surveyors should be invited to commence work on the northern block. It is believed that persons can be found willing to undertake this survey on the same terms as those made with Messrs. Smith and Williams, which are, I may observe, the highest rates you were authorised to agree to, and which -exceed those paid by the Provincial Government at Auckland for the Tauranga and Opotiki surveys. Major McDonnell has recently stated that his brother and two other surveyors were on the point of leaving Auckland for Wanganui in search of employment, as surveyor's in other parts of New Zealand are known to be. It is absolutely necessary, for the reasons I have stated in previous letters, that no avoidable delay should take place in completing those surveys, and, judging from experience of the contract surveys in Waikato, it would occupy two surveyors fully twelve months to survey sufficient land for four hundred military settlers. In making arrangements for further surveys it must be stipulated that the woi'k contracted for shall be completed within a specified limited period, say three or four months. I have to request, for the sake of convenience, that all communications on the subject of surveys, and the location of military settlers, may be addressed by your Honor to the Minister for Colonial Defence. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Taranaki. E. W. Stafford. No. 23. (No. 36.) Copy of a Letter from his honor h. r. Richmond to the hon. c. w. Stafford. Sik, — . Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, Bth May, 1866. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th ult., in answer to mine of the 28th March last. I endeavoured in that letter and the enclosed Memorandum to place my own opinions in as definite a form as possible, in order to bring the consideration of the state of the country between Patea and Stony River under the immediate attention of His Excellency's Government, but was at the same time fully aware that His Excellency's Government has the power of obtaining information bearing on the subject, from many sources to which I have not access, and hoped to have been informed in reply whether the Government regarded my views as in the main well founded, and if not, what other course than that

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OF THE CONFISCATED LANDS.

A.—No. 2A.

indicated by me was thought likely to tend to the permanent settlement of the district, and to be in other ways practicable. The opinion which I gave with respect to the formation of settlements between Patea and Stony River, was, in other words, that if settlements depending for self-support upon agriculture were established in that country without further active operations, an amount of resistance from the natives would have to be encountered, which would render their maintenance by the Government more expensive than the reduction of the natives to submission by active measures. This is an opinion which I arrived at very unwillingly, and I can only say that I shall be most happy to admit that I have been in error if good reasons can be shown for an opposite view, and that in any case I shall endeavour in every way in my power to cooperate with the Colonial Government in any course in relation to thia district which may finally be decided -on. I cannot at present profess to believe, however much I may desire to do so, that the time has arrived when the Colonial Government can properly delegate to the Provincial Government the charge of the district in» question, as in doing so it appeal's necessary to assume that the country is in a state of peace, and that any resistance to the occupation of the country may be dealt with as a matter of police by the Provincial authorities. But whatever my private opinion as to the respective functions of the two Governments may be, I feel too anxious to see an end to these disturbances, to shirk any responsibility which the Colonial Legislature may think fit to place upon the Government of the Province. I have therefore respectfully to request that if it be the opinion of the Colonial Government that the district referred to is in such a state that the Province ought to take upon itself all further liability and responsibilty for its occupation and management, you will state, as definitely as may be possible, the conditions upon which the Legislature would be advised to place this district under the control of the Provincial Government. I would ask especially for information on the following points : — (1). The power (if any) which would be entrusted to the Provincial Government, of negotiating ■wgith natives still in arms, for the peaceable cession of territory, with fair reservations. (2). The power which the Provincial Government would be permitted to exercise in repressing violence—say by a local police or temporary constabulary force—or if a Colonial force should be kept in the district at the expense of the Province, to what extent the Provincial Government would be consulted as to its disposal and movements. (3). The amount of pecuniary assistance which would be allowed to the Province, as an advance on the land fund, or otherwise. (4.) The probable extent of the just claims of friendly natives, according to the best information which can be procured, and the amount of open land which should be reserved for locating returned rebels. When I am in possession of the views of the Government on these points and others bearing on the subject, which it may appear desirable to explain, I will submit the whole question to the Provincial Council, and will lose no time in communicating to you the views of the Council, together with my own, upon it. The matter will then be in a fit state for the consideration of the Colonial Legislature. I have, &c, H. R. Richmond, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, Superintendent. r No. 24. Copy of a Letter from the hon. c. w. Stafford to his honor h. c. Richmond. Sir,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 29th May, 1866. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's letter, No. 36, of the Bth instant, having reference to the position of the Confiscated Lands in the Province of Taranaki, and to the conditions on which the management of these lands might be delegated to the Provincial Government. The General Assembly is about to meet in a few weeks, when the whole question of dealing with these lands, whether by transferring their management to the Province or otherwise, will be decided by the Legislature, which will necessarily consider the conditions on which any such transfer, if determined •n, should be effected in connection with the ability of the Province of Taranaki to accept it. As the question will be fully discussed in Parliament, in all its aspects, it does not appear to me that a prolongation of the correspondence on this subject, at the present moment, would lead to any practical conclusions in anticipation of the action of the Legislature. It is desirable, with a view to the fullest information being afforded, that the views, to which you refer in the latter part of your letter, of your Honor and the Provincial Council of Taranaki on this important question should be expressed, in order that they may be, together with previous correspondence on the subject, communicated to the Legislature without unnecessary delay. I have, &c, E. W. Stafford. Mis Honor the Superintendent, Taranaki.

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FUETHEE PAPEES EELATIVE TO THE SETTLEMENT