IMMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND. (CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO THE INTRODUCTION OF IMMIGRANTS UNDER THE CONTRACT WITH THE EMIGRANT AND COLONIST'S AID CORPORATION.) (In continuation of Papers presented 9th October, 1872.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1873 Session I, D-07

D.—7

1873. NEW ZEALAND.

IMMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND.

(CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO THE INTRODUCTION OF IMMIGRANTS UNDER THE CONTRACT WITH THE EMIGRANT AND COLONISTS AID CORPORATION.) (In continuation of Papers presented 9th October, 1872.) Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by command of His Excellency. No. 1. Mr. A. F. Halcombe to the Hon. the Minister for Public AVorks. Sir,— Wellington, Bth July, 1872. Eeferring to clause 6 of tho agreement between the Colonial Government and the Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation, by which it is provided that the former party shall have the right to select and reserve 1,000 acres of totara bush land within the boundaries of the block purchased by the Corporation, I have the honor to request that such selection may be made without delay, or its whereabouts determined, and notice thereof forwarded to myself, as the operations of the Corporation must necessarily be delayed until such selection shall have been made. The Provincial Government have promised to complete the outer boundaries of the block, and give possession by the end of the month, when I shall be prepared immediately to commence colonizing operations on behalf of the Corporation. As the first steps will be to arrange for the erection of saw-mills for tho supply of the Bangitikei district, and as offers have already been made to do so on terms advantageous to the Corporation, it will be evident that a delay on the part of the Government to exercise their right of selection will involve considerable loss to the Corporation, or possible conflict with the Government. I have, &c, A. E. Halcombe, Colonial Director, Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation. The Hon. the Minister for Public AVorks, Wellington.

No. 2. Mr. J. Knowles to Mr. J. T. Stewart. Sir,— Public Works Office, Wellington, 10th July, 1872. You will see by clause 6 of the enclosed agreement with the Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation, that the Government have the right to select 1,000 acres of totara bush land within tho boundaries of the block purchased by that Corporation. The importance to the Government of having a reserve of totara in the Manawatu is one which your long oversight of the works in that district must have fully impressed you with, and 1 am directed by Mr. Ormond to request that you will carefully select and lay down on the plan the 1,000 acres alluded to. As the Corporation are anxious to grant timber licenses at once, aud cannot do so until the Government reserves are defined, you will be good enough to select, mark off, and report with the least possible delay. I have, &c., John Knowles, J. T. Stewart, Esq., District Engineer, Manawatu. Under Secretary.

No. 3. i Mr. J. T. Stewart to Mr. J. Knowles. Sir,— Public AVorks Office, Foxton, Manawatn, 19th July, 1872. In reply to your letter of the 10th July, No. 531, desiring me to mark off totara reserves to extent of 1 000 acres in the block of the Emigrants and Colonist's Aid Corporation, Manawatu, I have to inform you that I at once gave instructions to the assistant-surveyors here under me to proceed to I—D. 7.

D.—7

2

locality indicated to them by me, and mark out such quantity of totara bush as could be found there. As in such a large extent of unexplored bush in which the totara occurs in detached places only, it will be a matter of considerable difficulty to decide on the best reserves, I am compelled, by the urgency required, to do so to the best of my knowledge, and will lose no time in doing so. I have, &c, John T. Stewart, J. Knowles, Esq., Under Secretary, District Engineer. Public Works Department.

No. 4. His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington, to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 26th August, 1872. I have the honor to forward herewith tracings of Colonel Feilding's selection in the Manawatu District, embracing the 10,000 acres and the 10 acres of town land at Palmerston. I may state that within the boundary lines shown on the tracing are included— 100,000 acres as purchased by the Hon. Colonel Feilding. 5,000 acres road reserve. 1,000 acres to be selected by the General Government, and paid for to the Provincial Government. I have, &c, William Fitzherbert, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 5. Mr. A. F. Halcombe to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Sir,— Wellington, 16th July, 1872. I am advised by the last mail that a rumour had reached the Board of Directors of the Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation of the intention of the Government to alter the position of the railway line through tho Manchester Block. As considerable sales of land are being effected by the Corporation, and as not only those sales but the whole plan of the Company's operations have been determined by the position of the railway line, as laid down in the charts furnished to Colonel Feilding, it is obvious that any alteration would be a serious disaster to the Corporation, and the mere rumour of a change would probably give rise to difficulty and delay in the operations of the Directory. As the rumour is not without foundation, from the fact that a petition to alter the line was forwarded to the Government, that it was strongly supported by the Hon. the Premier, and that the survey of an alternative line was thereupon ordered, I have the honor to request that I may be enabled to give an authoritative assurance to the Board of Directors in England that no such change is in contemplation. I have, &c, A. F. Halcombe, Director, Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation. The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Wellington.

No. 6. Mr. J. Knowles to Mr. A. F. Halcombe. Sir,— Public Works Office, Wellington, 20th July, 1872. In reply to your letter of the 16th instant, in which you state that a rumour had reached the London Board of Directors of the Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation of the intention of the Government to alter the position of the railway line through the Manchester Block, and request that you may be enabled to give an authoritative assurance to the Board that no such change is in contemplation, I am instructed by Mr. Ormond to assure you that the line of railway originally laid out through the Manchester Block is the one which it is intended to adopt. I have, &c, John Knowles, A. F. Halcombe, Esq. Under Secretary.

No. 7. His Honor the Superintendent of Wellington to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir,— Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 30th October, 1872. Beferring to my interview this morning with the Hon. Mr. AVaterhouse respecting Colonel Feilding's contract, I shall be obliged if you will send me copies of all the correspondence relating to the matter, also copy of Colonel Feilding's power of attorney, and a copy of one of the bills signed by him.

3

D.—7

I wish for these documents in order that the same may be laid before my Executive for their consideration. I have, Ac, William Fitzherbert, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Superintendent.

No. 8. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary to His Honor the Superintendent of Wellington. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, sth November, 1872. I have the honor to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a letter* from the Hon. Colonel Feilding to His Excellency the Governor, asking for certain modifications in the terms of the contract entered into by him on behalf of the Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation. As by section 7 of " The AVellington Debts Amendment Act, 1872," no modification of this contract can be made without the concurrence of your Honor, I shall feel obliged if you will inform me whether you are prepared to assent to any of the proposals of Colonel Feilding,"and, if so, to what extent. If your Honor desires to confer with the Government on the subject, they will be happy to meet you for the purpose. As it is very desirable that an answer should be sent to Colonel Feilding by the out-going mail, I trust your Honor will favour me with a reply at as early a date as a full consideration of this important subject will allow. I have, &c., His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. JonN Hall.

No. 9. His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington, to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 6th November, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the sth instant, enclosing copy of a letter from the Hon. Colonel Feilding to His Excellency the Governor. I beg to refer you to my letter of the 30th ultimo, in which I request to be furnished with a copy of Colonel Feilding's power of attorney, and a copy of one of the bills signed by him, and have to request that I may be furnished with copies of those documents, in order that I may lay them before my Executive. I have, &c, William Fitzherbert, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 10. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary to His Honor the Superintendent of Wellington. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, Bth November, 1872. In compliance with the request contained in your Honor's letter of the 6th instant, I have the honor to transmit, for your information, the accompanying copies of Colonel Feilding's power of attorney and of one of the bills signed by that gentleman. As in your letter of the 30th ultimo, you ask for copies of all the correspondence relating to Colonel Feilding's matter, I should feel obliged if your Honor would inform me whether there are any documents of which you would like to have copies other than those now supplied. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, AVellington. John Hall.

No. 11. His Honor the Superintendent of Wellington to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir,— Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 12th November, 1872. I have the honor to reply to your letter of the sth instant, in which you state " I shall feel obliged if you will inform me whether you are prepared to assent to any of the proposals of Colonel Feilding, and, if so, to what extent." The question whether there is any power without the sanction of the General Assembly to alter the terms of the Colonel Feilding contract is one as to which I am advised there is great doubt. This point will require careful consideration before any agreement for an alteration is finally come to. Apart from this question, I think it right, before expressing my own views as to Colonel Feilding's proposal, that I should be informed as to tho views taken by the General Government as to such proposal, and in what particulars, if at all, the General Government is prepared to modify the contract. I have, &c., William Fitzherbert, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent. * Printed in D. 11a, 1872.

D.—7

4

No. 12. The Hon. the Colonial Secretarf: to His Honor the Superintendent of AVellington. Sib, — Colonial Secretary's Office, AVellington, 16th November, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th instant, requesting to be informed what are the views of the General Government with respect to the application of Colonel Feilding for a modification of the contract entered into between the Government and the Emigrant aud Colonist's Aid Corporation, Limited. Since the date of your letter, the Hon. Mr. Vogel has, at the request of the Colonial Government, been in communication with your Honor with a view of arriving at some decision which would be satisfactory to your Honor as well as to the Government. It will not therefore be necessary that I should further reply to the letter above mentioned at the present time. I am, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, AVellington. John Hall.

No. 13. His Honor the Superintendent of Wellington to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 21st November, 1872. As the result of various interviews with the Hon. Mr. Vogel on the subject of the application on behalf of tho Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation for certain concessions, and in reply to your official communication on the subject, I have now to submit to you the following proposals: — 1. That the time for the introduction of immigrants be extended from April to December. 2. That the rate of interest be reduced to 5 per cent. 3. That the Superintendent will be prepared to recommend to the Provincial Council of AVellington to expend any amount not exceeding £2,000 sterling per annum during five years, to be reckoned from the Ist January, 1874, as a grant in aid to the extent of one-half of the cost of any district roads within the block which may be constructed by the immigrants of the Society during such period, the expenditure to be certified to as reasonable by the Provincial Engineer. In proposing these concessions, the Provincial Government is of opinion that it should be made a tins qua non that the sum of £5,000 should be remitted on or before the first day of February, 1873, to the Colonial Treasurer. That land shall only be Crown granted to the extent of the value of one-half this amount. That the same provision and limitation of making Crown grants should also be made with regard to the next amounts paid off the first instalment to the extent of £10,000, in addition to the £5,000 payable on Ist February, 1873. In suggesting these proposals, I desire to express, on the part of tho Provincial Government, that it does not in any way desire to commit the Colony, and that the Provincial Government assume the liability. I am, &c, William Fitzherbert, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, AVellington. Superintendent.

No. 14. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary to the Hon. Colonel Feilding. Sir,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 23rd November, 1872. I am directed by His Excellency Sir G. F. Bowen to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 9th August last,* in which, on behalf of the Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation, you propose certain modifications of the terms of the contract entered into between that Corporation and the Government of New Zealand, for the purpose of the settlement of the Manawatu Block, in tho Province of AVellington. I have now the honor to inform you that your proposals have received the careful consideration of the Government of New Zealand, as well as of the Provincial Government of the Province of AVellington, both of which bodies are anxious to make to the Corporation such concessions as will enable it to carry to a successful issue the important enterprise undertaken by it, and as may at the same time not be inconsistent with the interests and fair claims of the Colony and Province. As the result of this consideration, I have the honor to forward to you copy of a letter from His Honor the Superintendent of AVellington, stating the modifications in the terms of the contract, which in his opinion should be agreed to by this Government, and to state that the Government of New Zealand is prepared to assent to the proposals of His Honor, without prejudice, however, to any of its rights in the event of those proposals not being accepted by your Company. The Government would not be able to make further concessions than those named. I trust you will recognize in the proposals now conveyed to you evidence of a desire on the part of this Government to afford every possible encouragement to the Corporation, and that this communication may enable it to proceed without delay with its colonizing operations. I shall feel obliged if you will favour me with the reply of your Company at your earliest convenience, and also if you will be good enough to address any further communication on the subject to the Colonial Secretary. ———— ——- . a _____ . « Printed in D. 11a, 1872.

5

D.—7

As I understand from Mr. Halcombe, your Agent in AVellington, that he is prepared to transmit to you by cable the substance of the reply, of tho Government to your application, I have forwarded to him a copy of this letter. I have, &c, The Hon. Colonel Feilding, , John Hall. Agent for Emigrant and Colonists' Aid Corporation, London.

No. 15. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary to Mr. A. F. Halcombe. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 23rd November, 1872. As I understand you are prepared to communicate by cable to the Directors of the Emigrant aud Colonist's Aid Corporation the substance of the decision of this Government on the application of the Company for a modification of the terms of their contract, I have the honor to forward herewith copy of a letter I have this day addressed to Colonel Feilding conveying that decision. I beg to suggest that Colonel Fielding be requested to intimate the reply of the Company as early as possible by cable. I have, &c, A. F. Halcombe, Esq., John Hall. Agent for the Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation.

No. 16. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary to His Honor the Superintendent of Wellington. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 23rd November, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 21st instant stating in reply to my letter of the sth instant, and as the result of various interviews with the Hon. Mr. Vogel, the modifications in the terms of the contract with Colonel Feilding which you think should be conceded. In reply, I beg to inform your Honor that your proposals are considered by the Government to be fair and reasonable, and that they havo been forwarded to Colonel Feilding in a letter, of which a copy is enclosed.* I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. John Hall.

No. 17. His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington, to the Hon. tho Colonial Secretary. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 21st November, 1872. *'""'"!, Beferring to section 6 ot the deed entered into with the Hon. Colonel Feilding, I beg to submit that the General Government should now pay fifteen shillings per acre for the one thousand acres of totara timber there referred to, with the right to recover the amount from the Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Society for the land after the Government shall have taken what timber it may require therefrom. I have, &c, William Fitzherbert, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 18. The Hon. G. M. Waterhouse to His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. Sir,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 27th November, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 21st inst., in which, with reference to section 6 of the deed entered into between the Government and the Hon. Colonel Feilding on behalf of the Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation, you submit that the Government should now pay to the Province of Wellington fifteen shillings per acre for the thousand acres of totara timber hind there referred to, with the right to receive the amount from the Corporation after the Government shall have taken what timber it may require therefrom. In reply, I have to inform your Honor that the District Engineer has been applied to for the particulars of the selection of the land; and as soon as these are received, and the selection made by the Government assented to, a prompt settlement shall be made of the liability connected therewith. I have, &c, G. M. AVATERnOUSE, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. (for the Colonial Secretary). * See No. 14.

D—7

6

No. 19. His Honor the Superintendent of Wellington to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 14th December, 1872. In reference to your letter of the 27th inst., acceding to a request made by me in a letter of the 21st ult., I have on further consideration thought it would be more desirable not to press for payment of the thousand acres therein referred to. I find that the want of totara is likely to be an impediment to the progress of certain public works which the Provincial Government are about to contract for; and I therefore propose that the reserves of totara should be made, and the Colonial Government and the Provincial Government should both have a right to cut the timber for employment on public works. The Provincial Government ask no payment for the benefit on the part of the Colonial Government, and will only ask for payment for the land after the timber shall have been used, from any purchaser or purchasers to whom it may ultimately be sold. I have, &c, AVilliam Fitzherbert, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, AVellington. . Superintendent.

No. 20. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary to His Honor the Superintendent of Wellington. Sir,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 12th December, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge tho receipt of your letter of the 14th December, 1872, and in reply to inform your Honor that the Government assent with pleasure to the proposals of the Provincial Government contained therein, relative to cutting totara timber in the Manawatu District, and payment for 1,000 acres of land at 15s. per acre. I have, &c, G. M. Waterhouse, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. (for Hon. Colonial Secretary).

No. 21. Mr. A. F. Halcombe to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir,— Wellington, 21st December, 1872. I have the honor to forward, for the information of the Government, the following message received to-day, by Java Cable, from the Hon. Colonel Feilding, and dated 7th December instant, by which I am informed that the Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation accepted the conditions of the modified contract proposed in your communication of 23rd November last. I gather also from the latter part of the telegram that the Corporation will now carry on its colonizing operations with vigour, so soon as the tramway to Foxton shall have been open, until which time I may observe the successful settlement of the land of the Corporation is impossible. I have, &c, A. F. Halcombe, Agent, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation. Enclosure in No. 21. Copy of Telegram received 21st December, 1872, from tho Hon. Colonel Feilding. London, 7th December, 1872. —Corporation accepts conditions November telegram. Emigrants delayed awaiting Government announcement Foxton tramway open. —Feilding. To Halcombe, Wellington, N.Z. The "November telegram" referred to was as follows:— " Wellington, New Zealand, 23rd November, 1872.—Time first immigrants' arrival extended to December. Bate interest reduced to 5. Provincial Government undertakes to recommend to Council grant for by-roads equivalent to Corporation expenditure up to £2,000 annually for five years. Corporation required to liquidate £5,000 bonds by Ist February next. Land to be Crown granted only up to value of half first payments up to £15,000. No hope better terms. Telegraph acceptance. — Halcombe. "To Feilding, Guards' Club, Pall Mall, London."

No. 22. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary to His Honor the Superintendent of Wellington. Sir,— Colonial Secretary's Office, AVellington, 27th December, 1872. Adverting to my letter No. 362, of the 23rd November last, relative to the modifications proposed in the terms of the contract with the Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation, I have the honor to transmit for your information the accompanying copy of a letter from Mr. Halcombe, the Agent for that Corporation, enclosing the copy of a telegram received from the Hon. Colonel Feilding, stating that the Corporation accept the proposed modifications. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. John Hall.

No. 23. His Honor the Superintendent of Wellington to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 17th April, 1873. Eeferring to my letter to you of the 21st November last, on the subject of the application on behalf of the Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation for certain concessions, I beg to call your attention to the fourth paragraph, in which I state that " The Provincial Government is of opinion that it should be made a sine qua non that the sum of £5,000 should be remitted on or before the Ist of February, 1873, to the Colonial Treasurer." I shall be obliged if you will inform me if the Colonial Government have been advised of the payment of that amount. I have, &c., William Fitzherbert, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 24. Mr. G. S. Cooper to His Honor the Superintendent of Wellington. Sir,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 23rd April, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge tho receipt of your letter of the 17th instant, and in reply to inform your Honor that the Government have no advice of any payment by the Hon. Colonel Feilding on account of the Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation. I have, &c, G. S. Cooper, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. (for the Colonial Secretary.)

No. 25. The Hon. Colonel Feilding to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation (Limited), Sir,— 3, Queen Square, Westminster, S.W., 21st March, 1573. I have the honor herewith to acknowledge the receipt of your official letter No. 142, dated Wellington, 23rd November, 1872, and its enclosure, dated 21st November, 1872. With reference to the subject therein treated of, I beg to assure you, on the part of my co-directors as well as of myself, that we are very sensible to the desire exhibited by the New Zealand authorities, Provincial as well as Imperial, to meet our wishes and our requirements. I have, however, to point out that tho stipulation calling on the Corporation to pay £5,000 two months before any money was due to it, and the limitations of the Crown grants, which are to issue for half only of the amount paid off up to £15,000, has tended very much to cripple the financial arrangements of the Directors at the outset. At the desire, therefore, of my co-directors, and acting under the advice of our financial agents, I am induced to request that the payment of the £5,000 may be deferred until the Ist April. I have, &c, The Colonial Secretary, New Zealand. W. Feilding, Colonel.

No. 26. Mr. A. F. Halcombe to the Hon. J. Vogel. (Telegram.) Wellington, 3rd May, 1873. Just received following telegram from Colonel Feilding : —" London, 22nd April. Eesume operations. Corporation pays Government £15,000 through Harman's Trust and Loan Company. Instructions mailed 18th." A. F. Halcombe. Hon. J. Vogel, Auckland.

No. 27. Mr. A. F. Halcombe to the Hon. J. Vogel. (Telegram.) Marton, 10th June, 1873. Fielding telegraphs me he is anxious to send off first emigrants at once. Will you instruct AgentGeneral by telegraph to co-operate, if satisfied that money has been remitted to Government. Shall be glad of reply to-day, so as to telegraph by Suez Mail. A. Halcombe. Hon. J. Vogel, Wellington.

No. 28. The Hon. J. Vogel to Mr. A. F. Halcombe. (Telegram.) Wellington, 10th June, 1873. Propose sending following message ; will it be satisfactory ?— " Agent-General, London.—Aid Feilding send out immigrants, if you are satisfied he has remitted Government £15,000." Julius Vogel. Arthur Halcombe, Marton.

7

7

D.—7

8

No. 29. Mr. A. F. Halcombe to the Hon. J. Vogel. (Telegram.) Marton, 11th June, 1873. Proposed telegram to Agent-General satisfactory, but I think amount of remittance mentioned should be the sum Corporation is obliged to pay, viz. £5,000. Arthur Halcombe. Hon. J. Vogel, Wellington.

No. 30. The Hon. J. Vogel to Mr. A. F. Halcombe. (Telegram.) Wellington, 11th June, 1873. You must be aware that £5,000 was to be paid by February. Provincial Government, as I understand, allowed bargain to continue on representation that £15,000 would bo paid. I certainly cannot telegraph as proposed if only £5,000 to be remitted. Julius Vogel. Arthur Halcombe, Marton.

No. 31. Mr. A. F. Halcombe to the Hon. J. Vogel. (Telegram.) Marton, 11th June, 1873. Hate no objection to telegram as originally proposed, as I have no reason to doubt that the £15,000 is remitted. Arthur Halcombe. Hon. J. Vogel, Wellington.

No. 32. The Hon. J. Vogel to the Agent-General. (Telegram.) Wellington, 11th June, 1873. Aid Fielding to send out emigrants if you are satisfied he has remitted Government £15,000. Vogel. Featherston, London.

No. 33. Mr. A. F. Halcombe to the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer. Sir,— Wellington, 16th July, 1873. Eeferring to the enclosed copies of correspondence between myself, as Agent for the Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation, and His Honor tho Superintendent of AVellington, I havo tho honor to request your confirmation of the arrangement referred to therein, as to the extent and conditions of the Crown grant to be given to the Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation, upon the payment of the sum of £15,000 to the Government. I have, &c, A. F. Halcombe, Agent, The Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, Wellington. Emigrant aud Colonist's Aid Corporation.

Enclosure 1 in No. 33. Mr. A. F. Halcombe to His Honor the Superintendent of AVellington. Sir,— Wellington, 12th July, 1873. Beferring to a conversation with your Honor yesterday relative to the affairs of the Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation, I understand that on the payment to the Government of £15,000, your Honor consents to give an unconditional grant to the Corporation of 10,000 acres of the Manchester Block, as selected by me, and shown approximately in the accompanying tracing ; the grant to be submitted for His Excellency the Governor's signature so soon as the Chief Surveyor of tho Province shall be satisfied that the survey of the outer boundaries has been correctly executed. I should be much obliged would your Honor favour me with an official notification, of this arrangement, so that it may be placed upon record, and in order that it may obtain the confirmation of the General Government. I have, &c, A. Follett Halcombe, Agent, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation.

9

D.—7

Enclosure 2 in No. 33. His Honor the Superintendent to Mr. A. F. Halcombe. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 14th July, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th instant, and in reply I beg to inform you that I assent to the grant of 10,000 acres, as shown upon the accompanying tracing, on the terms mentioned in your letter. I have, &c, William Fitzherbert, A. F. Halcombe, Esq., Superintendent. Agent for the Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation, . Wellington.

No. 34. Mr. G. S. Cooper to Mr. A. F. Halcombe. Sir,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 17th July, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, in which you enclose copies of a correspondence with His Honor the Superintendent of Wellington respecting the proposal to grant 10,000 acres of land in the Manchester Block to the Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation, on the payment of the sum of £15,000 to the Government. In reply, I have the honor to inform you that the General Government confirms the assent given by His Honor the Superintendent to a grant of 10,000 acres, as shown upon the tracing furnished by you, on the terms mentioned in your letter to His Honor of the 12th instant. I have, &c, G. S. Cooper, A. F. Halcombe, Esq., Wellington. Under Secretary. By Authority: G10201: Dtdsbchy, Government Printer, Wellington—lB73. Price 9_.] 2—D. 7.