JACKSON'S BAY SPECIAL SETTLEMENT (PAPERS RELATING TO) Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1878 Session I, D-06

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1878. NEW ZEALAND. JACKSON'S BAY SPECIAL SETTLEMENT (PAPERS RELATING TO) Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. The Under. Secretary for Immigration to the Officer in Charge, Jackson's Bay Settlement. Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 17th September, 1877. I forward herewith draft of proposed conditions, prepared after consultation with the Hon. Mr. Bonar, under which the Government stores at Jackson's Bay and Okura are to be disposed of j and I shall be obliged by your communicating with Mr. Macfarlane, so that I may obtain any practical suggestions which either he or yourself may wish to offer. It will be necessary for the term of occupation and the rent to be paid to be settled if you consider it advisable to allow the successful tenderer the use of the present buildings. Please return the conditions as early as convenient, as it is desirable to close the Government stores without delay. I have, &c., E. Patten, Esq., Hokitika. J. Giles.

Enclosure in No. 1. Proposed Conditions for the Disposal of the Government Stores at Jackson's Bay. Notice. — Store at Jackson's Bay. It is intended to dispose of the stores at Jackson's Bay and Okura at present carried on by the Government for the convenience of the settlers. 2. The stores will be let by public tender for a term of three years, and the successful tenderer will be required to state the amount per annum he will give for the rental of each or either store. He will also be required to take over all articles, stock, &c, therein at cost prices paid in Hokitika for the same. 3. Debts due to the store up to the date of transfer will be collected by the Government. 4. All employment given to settlers upon Government works will be paid for by Treasury Orders or cash every month, subject only to the following deduction: — 5. Government may deduct from any payments to the settlers rental for their sections, and a rate, to be fixed by the Resident Agent, on account of their indebtedness to the Government, the maximum deduction on all accounts not to exceed £1 per month, the remaining earnings to be paid as before indicated. 6. Terms for payment of the goods in stock: One-third cash, one-third in three months, one third in six months, by approved bills. 7. The highest or any tender not necessarily accepted.

No. 2. The Officer in Charge, Jackson's Bay Settlement, to the Under Secretary for Immigration. Sir,— Hokitika, 29th October, 1877. I have the honor to forward herewith draft of the proposed conditions with reference to the disposal of the Government stores at Jackson's Bay and Okura, which have received the attention both of myself and the Resident Agent. I—D. 6.

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The terms of occupation we have fixed for three years, hut have not considered it advisable to fix the rental, on the supposition that it would be preferable to let each one offer whatever price he might think fit. I have, &c., The Under Secretary for Immigration, Edward Patten, Wellington. Officer in Charge.

No. 3. The Hon. J. A. Bonar to the Under Secretary for Immigration. (Telegram.) 10th November, 1877. Have you received Mr. Patten's letter enclosing conditions re sale of stores Jackson's Bay ? I would recommend authority being sent to give notice of sale at once, so that particulars can be sent to settlement on Monday by steamer, if Government approve. J. A. Bonar.

No. 4. The Under Secretary for Immigration to the Hon. J. A. Bonar. (Telegram.) 12th November, 1877. Minister authorizes notice of sale as requested in your telegram of Saturday, received this morning. J. Giles.

No. 5. The Officer in Charge, Jackson's Bay Settlement, to the Under Secretary for Immigration. S IX) — Hokitika, 22nd December, 1877. I have the honor to forward herewith a requisition for the sum of £1,000 sterling, as an advance for the location and maintenance of the settlers at Jackson's Bay. I also forward, for your information, as the Government stores will, in all probability, be closed on the 31st December, 1877, a statement of all amounts owing on special settlement account (so far as I can gather) up to the end of the year. I may state also that notice of the sale of the stores, and other conditions referring to the liquidation of the indebtedness of the settlers to the Government, from the Ist January, 1878, was duly given, in accordance with the instructions received in your telegram dated the 12th November last, and that they gave great satisfaction to the settlers, and were universally approved. As several accounts have been received by me from the Resident Agent for payment, I would respectfully request that the amount of imprest asked for may be telegraphed to my credit at the Bank as soon after it is approved as is convenient. I may also state that the Bank authorities are anxious that the amount overdue on the store account should be reduced as soon as possible. This I have promised to do as soon as the money is recovered from the settlers. I have, &c., The Under Secretary for Immigration, Edward Patten, ■Wellington. Officer in Charge.

Enclosure 1 in No. 5. Liabilities, Jackson's Bay Settlement. £ s. d. £ s. d. Amount due by settlers ... ... ... 4,805 18 6 Outstanding accounts for supplies to settlers 2,318 16 1 Marks's bill of sale of stores ... 11114 11 Balance ... ... ... ... 2,613 17 4 Bent of stores, Jackson's Bay and Okura ... 15 0 0 Total ... ... ... £4,932 13 5 Total ... ... ... £4,932 13 5

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Enclosure 2 in No. 5. Return of Expenditure on Jackson's Bay Settlement, from its initiation to date, 31st December, 1877.

No. 6. The Officer in Charge, Jackson's Bay Settlement, to the Under Secretary for Immigration. Sir, — Hokitika, 30th January, 1878. I have the honor to report that Mr. J. Marks, storekeeper at the Haast Eiver, took over the Government stores from the Resident Agent at the special settlement, Jackson's Bay, on the Ist January last. The value of the goods remaining in the store on that date amounted to the sum of .£335 4s. 9d., payment for which has been made by Mr. Marks as follows: Onethird cash, and the balance in bills at three and six months, in accordance with the conditions of sale. The above amount has been paid into the Bank of New Zealand to the credit of the Jackson's Bay Store Account. I have, &c., The Under Secretary for Immigration, Edward Patten, Wellington. Officer in Charge.

On what Service. Date. Hokitika. Paid out of Imprest. Wellington. Paid direct by Paymaster-Genrl. Totals. Buildings Jan. 4, 1875, to Dec. 31,1877 £ s. d. 12 15 4 £ s. d. 156 18 6 £ s. d. 169 13 10 Freight Provisions Stationery, medicine chest, &c, printing, advertising, &c. Costs of surveys Boats, horse, &c. Cost of management, inclusive of salary of Resident Agent, and necessary tools, &c. Expenditure on public works, being actual value of settlers' labour Arawata streets... )> 5» J) Jl 142 13 0 163 17 5 95 12 4 247 12 0 2,208 12 11 390 5 0 2,372 10 4 95 12 4 :? :> :> jj Nov.' 1, 1874, to Dec. 31,1877 2,749 2 1 40 18 8 975 5 0 96 15 8 33 15 0 494 19 4 2,845 17 9 74 13 8 1,470 4 4 Jan. 1, 1875, to Dec. 31,1877 13,467 13 11 13,467 0 5 136 5 0 136 5 0 Total 17,784 2 9 3,238 13 5 21,022 2 8 Enclosure 3 in No. 5. Statement of Suburban and Rural Lands held under Special Settlement Regulations by Settlers. Eeld by 129 settlers— £ s. d. £ s. d. Suburban lands, 10-acre blocks, 693 a. 3 r. 8 p., at £2 ... 1,386 12 0 Rural lands, 50-acre blocks, 4,134 a. 8 p., at £1 ... ... 4,134 1 0 5,520 13 0 Amount of rent collected— Suburban lands ... ... ... ... ... 295 19 8 Rural ... ... ... ... ... ... 199 12 9 495 12 5 Indebtedness of settlers for land on 31st Deceineher, 1877 ... ... £5,025 0 7 Total Indebtedness of Settlement on 31st December, 1877. £ s. d. Settlers owe on land ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5,025 0 7 Settlers owe on stores ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4,587 10 9 Dwed by persons in settlement other than special settlers ... ... ... 219 12 9 Total ... ... ... ... ... ... £9,832 4 1

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No. 7. The Officer in Charge, Jackson's Bay Settlement, to the Under Secretary for Immigration. Sir,— Hokitika, 4th April, 1878. I have the honor to forward herewith, for the information of the Hon. the Minister of Immigration, copy of a letter received, by me from the Resident Agent, Jackson's Bay, portion of which relates to the future payment of wages to the settlers, and also to the deductions to be made on account of their indebtedness to the Government. With reference thereto, I beg to state, as a petition on the subject is about to be presented to the Government by the settlers, that Mr. Macfarlane has simply acted according to his instructions, and also that I consider the recommendations made by him re the future adjustment of the accounts to he fair for all parties. I shall be glad, however, to be furnished with definite instructions on the matter. I have, &c., The Under Secretary for Immigration, Edward Patten, Wellington. Officer in Charge.

Enclosure in No. 7. The Resident Agent, Jackson's Bay Settlement, to the Officer in Charge of the Settlement. Sir, — Resident Agent's Office, Jackson's Bay, 18th March, 1878. I have the honor to report the arrival of the s.s. " Waipara," bringing as passengers the Hon. J. A. Bonar, Mr. Mueller, Chief Surveyor, and Captain Turnbull. After discharging cargo the steamer proceeded to Martin's Bay to tender the s.s. " Hinemoa," and returned to the Bay on Sunday, the 3rd March. On Monday Mr. Bonar, and Mr. Mueller visited Smoothwater, and on their return we went up the Arawata Road as far as Jackson's, the extreme point of settlement on the river, coming back by the river bed, so as to enable them to inspect the punt and mill-site ; thence to Okura, which we reached about 8 p.m. On Tuesday morning we visited all the settlers on the North Turnbull Road, and inspected the new wire bridge across the Turnbull (300-feet span). Time would not admit of their visiting the south side, as the steamer was to leave at 11 a.m. Both Mr. Bonar and Mr. Mueller were highly pleased with the settlement, but, as Mr. Bonar intends reporting on it when he returns, I will leave him to speak for himself. It is to be regretted that the Hon. Mr. Macandrew, the Hon. Captain Eraser, and our member, the Hon. Mr. Gisborne, were unable to visit the whole of the settlement (they only saw Smoothwater and the lower end of the Arawata), as they only saw the worst part of it; hut I could not prevail on them to go any farther ; Mr. Macandrew being ill, and the others did not feel able to make the journey overland to the Okura. I am glad to say that Mr. Macandrew approved of our jetty, and I have instructions to push it on as quickly as I can. I have, however, to submit my plans to Mr. Blackett, in Wellington, Captain Eairchild, of the " Hinemoa," having told them that the work will not stand. Mr. Macandrew is of a different opinion himself; but I have to forward the plans, with all the necessary memoranda, to enable him to get Mr. Blackett's opinion. I may say I think Captain Fairchild has taken a very unreasonable prejudice against the place, and forms his opinion on insufficient data. W Tith respect to the future of the settlement, Mr. Macandrew informed me that the balance of the £6,000 would be available for the works we had in hand, and he suggested that the jetty, and the Bay and the Arawata Road should be pushed on and completed first. £3,000 is to be given by the General Government for the Paringa and Haast Tracks, contingent on £1,500 being applied by the Counties of Westland and Vincent. This work is to be laid off by the County Engineer in small sections, the price to be fixed by him, and offered to the settlers. Should they not see fit to take the work at the price put on it, then it will be open to the public. Mr. Clarke, the County Engineer, it is expected will come to the Bay and arrange matters with me. In connection with the expenditure of this money, there is a strong feeling amongst some of the settlers that it should not be considered settlement money. The idea is being worked up by a few of those who are always finding fault, and their object is plain enough: they wish to repudiate their indebtedness to the Government, and they think, if they can get the money paid in any other way, they can defy the Government. You will see by my returns that I have collected some of the back rents; this has given great offence, and resulted in an indignation meeting, when a number of resolutions were agreed to, copies of which I will forward, if possible, for your information. At the request of some of the settlers I attended the meeting, and answered certain questions about the collection of rents, &c. In the matter of the back debts, I told them I had no option; my orders were to stop £1 per month, and with regard to the rents I was to use my own discretion—that is, if a man had a big cheque for the month, I was to deduct accordingly; and you will see that I have done so, in some cases taking £2 and in others ss. This, together with my statement that I could only give them half-time as originally agreed on, they considered very unsatisfactory, and they are accordingly petitioning the Government to allow all rents that were unpaid on the Ist January, 1878, to be considered as back debts, and that they be allowed to work two-thirds time on the settlement, and full time on the Haast and Paringa Roads. It is very easy to perceive the drift of this movement —viz., the getting all the Government money they can, and paying back as

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little as possible. The difficulty can be got over in this way: Supposing the prayer of their petition is granted, and that they get all the work they want, and that the rents to the Ist January are made back debts, in place of charging £1 per month on, say, £5, charge at the rate of 20 per cent on their gross earnings; this would amount to exactly the same thing, and moreover would be a more equitable way of doing it than charging every one alike, whether his cheque be large or small. By so doing the Government will secure payment of back debts in proportion to the money spent by the Government. With respect to the making of back rents a back debt, it may be of advantage to the Government, as until the whole of the back debts are paid no title to the land can be obtained. It will be a question for the lawyers to decide whether a man could not demand his deeds if the rents were all paid, and the other conditions coniplied with, even if he did owe the Government money for stores; but I presume if they elect to have the rents put in as indicated, then I fancy no deed could be granted until the whole of the debt was paid. I trust the Government will give me positive instructions on the whole subject. I have agreed not to collect any more rent until they heard from the Government in answer to their petition. It might be as well to forward a copy of this when you are reporting to the Government on the matter. Another matter came up during the visit of the Hon. Mr. Macandrew: Mr. John Murdoch took occasion a few hours before he left to accuse me of introducing what he called " the truck-system," and that I had given orders to the settlers compelling them to buy goods from the stores kept by Mr. Marks. Knowing the men I had to deal with, I was particularly careful in this respect, and I accordingly gave the overseer and gangers instructions to give any one who desired it a certificate of the time he worked, and they could take it to any one they chose; and to those who came to the office I was careful to avoid giving the order on any one in particular, but left the name to be filled in by the parties themselves. With Mr. Macandrew's consent, I wrote to him (Murdoch) asking him to withdraw his statements, but he replied " that, as he had stated nothing but facts, he had nothing to withdraw." Mr. Macandrew told him that if he had anything to prefer against me he should put it in writing, and the matter would be inquired into. I, therefore, must perforce wait until he does put it into such shape, so that I may he able to take action in the matter, as I am quite aware that until he commits himself in writing I shall be fighting a shadow. I may state that two weeks before the arrival of Mr. Macandrew, at a meeting of settlers held in the schoolroom, at which he was present, I suggested to the settlers then the advisability of forming a committee and drawing up a stament of their wants and grievances in writing. I left the meeting, so that they might not be deterred by my presence, but it seems they did nothing; in fact, Murdoch was the first to leave the meeting. However, lam quite prepared to meet his accusations and refute them. I have, &c., D. Macfarlane, E. Patten, Esq., Hokitika. Resident Agent.

No. 8. The Under Secretary for Immigration to the Officer in Charge, Jackson's Bay Settlement. Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 12th April, 1878. I have the honor, by direction of the Hon. the Minister for Immigration, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th instant, transmitting copy of a report from the Resident Agent at Jackson's Bay, with reference to the progress of the settlement, and, in reply, to inform you that Mr. Macfarlane's suggestion as to making the rents due up to the Ist January last back debts, and deducting at the rate of 20 per cent, from the immigrants' gross earnings on account thereof, is approved, as being the only way in which the Government is likely to recover the moneys due. The whole scheme of the supply of stores has been a very unsatisfactory one, but as the liabilities have been incurred on behalf of the Government they will have to be met; the further expenditure on account of the settlement, however, being limited to the £3,000 proposed to be expended under the control of the County Councils of W 7estland and Vincent on the Paringa and Haast Tracks, and also to the amount necessary for the completion of the wharf, provided the plans are approved by Mr. Blackett, to whom they have been submitted. Arrangements have been made with the agents of the steamer " Maori" to convey any of the settlers who may desire to leave the settlement as far as Hokitika, Greymouth, or Westport, at a nominal fare, the amount of which is to be decided by the Resident Agent, and is to bear a relative proportion to such sum as the applicant for the passage may be able to pay, the object being to enable any of the settlers who are absolutely destitute and unable to obtain work at Jackson's Bay to proceed elsewhere, should they desire to do so. Please inform the Resident Agent accordingly. I have, &c., The Officer in Charge, H. J. H. Eliott, Jackson's Bay Settlement. Under Secretary for Immigration.

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No. 9. The Officer in Charge, Jackson's Bay Settlement, to the Under Secretary for Immigration. Sir,— Hokitika, 12th April, 1878. I have the honor to forward herewith, for the information of the Hon. the Minister for Immigration, statement of the accounts of the special settlement at Jackson's Bay, from its commencement to the 31st December, 1877. With regard to the sum of £4,587 10s. 9d., comprising the indebtedness of the settlers for stores, and which appeared to the Hon. Mr. Macandrew as unusually large, I find, on investigation, that this includes a number of other items, viz.:— £ s. d. Amount of indebtedness of settlers .. .. ~ .. 3,223 14 4 Cottages built by Government for settlers .. .. .. 840 0 0 Blankets, clothes, &c., supplied Italians before arrival at settlement 28 4 0 Rent of land charged in account .. .. .. .. 495 12 5 Total .. .. .. .. .. £4,587 10 9 In looking over the store account as a whole, I find that what appeared to be a large profit made by the Government for the sale of stores arose from the working expenses fairly chargeable to that account not being included in the former statement. You will therefore observe that, by charging only the expenditure that has been incurred in connection with the stores, the accompanying account shows as a result that the loss on the sale of Government stores is £41 19s. 2d., instead of a profit, so that to the fullest extent the original agreement made in the conditions of settlement has been carried out —viz., that goods were to be supplied at cost price. With regard to the sum of £3,223 14s. 4d. due to the Government by the settlers for stores, I beg to inform you that the sum of £1 is being deducted by the Resident Agent from the earnings of each settler per month (until further instructions on the matter are received), in accordance with section 5 of the " Notice to Settlers " re the state of Government stores, and which runs as follows :— " Government may deduct from any payments to the settlers rental for their sections, and. a rate to be fixed by the Resident Agent on account of their indebtedness to the Government. The maxium deduction on all accounts not to exceed £1 per month, the remaining earnings to be paid as before indicated. The Under Secretary for Immigration, I have, &c., Wellington. Edward Patten. P.S.—lt will take about two years to recover the debts due to the Government.—E. P.

Enclosure in No. 9. Statement of Accounts, Government Stores, Jackson's Bay and Okura. Dr. •ec, 1877. £ s. d. To goods aa per stores account from January, 1875, to 31st December, 1877 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 19,297 15 7 Cr. £ s. d. £ s. d~ To Cash remitted to Provincial Treasurer, Hokitika... 10,926 12 1 Value of goods expended on Government account 1,704 5 3 Cash paid by Resident Agent for goods ... 1,337 15 6 . 13,968 12 10 Cash indebtedness of settlers for stores ... 3,223 14 4 Houses built by Government for settlers ... 840 0 0 Goods obtained by Italian settlers before arrival on settlement ... ... ... ... 28 4 0 Rent of land charged in settlers' current account with store ... ... ... ... 495 12 5 Sundry accounts ... ... ... ... 269 13 0 Contra accounts ... ... ... ... 259 18 6 Stock on hand 192 0 6 — 5,309 2 9 19,277 15 7 Balance 41 19 2 19,277 15 41 19 7 2 £19,319 14

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No. 10. The Officer in Charge, Jackson's Bay Settlement, to the Under Secretary for Immigration. Sir,— Hokitika, 29th April, 1878. I have the honor to forward herewith copy of a letter received by me from the Resident Agent, Jackson's Bay, enclosing some resolutions passed at a meeting of certain settlers (as already alluded to by him in his letter of the 18th March last), and copy of which was transmitted to you with my letter of the 4th April. With reference to these resolutions, I would beg to point out that the principal ones have already received due attention, and been decided on by the Hon. the Minister for Immigration, which decisions were forwarded to me in your Memorandum No. 67, dated 12th instant. With regard to the request that the wages of the settlers should be paid in cash, instead of by cheque, I would also beg to point out that it would not be practicable, unless a bank was opened there, as the risk in transmission and keeping large sums of cash there would be great, and that the question is met in the following manner, viz.: Mr. Marks, the storekeeper, being gold-buyer for one of the banks, has always cash on hand, and, independent of this, he has been specially provided with funds with which to cash any cheques for the settlers, so that I would submit that there is no necessity for any change in the mode of the payment of wages. The discovery of a coal seam by the Resident Agent close to the Bay should prove a most valuable one (for further particulars I would refer you to the last paragraph of his letter) ; but, until more is known- about it, it would be unwise to hazard an opinion as to its future value. The s.s. "Waipara" leaves with the saw-mill belonging to Mr. Haworth, of this place, next week. On her return I shall, in all probability, be put in possession of fuller particulars relating to the coal seam, and I will at once report on the matter. I have, &c., The Under Secretary for Immigration, Edward Patten, Wellington. Officer in Charge.

Dr. Dec. 31,1877. £ s. d. By cash received ... ... ... ... ... ... 12,284 7 7 Goods expended on Government account ... ... ... 1,704 5 3 Indebtedness of settlers for stores ... ... ... ... 3,223 14 4 Houses built by Government for Italian settlers ... ... 840 0 0 Goods obtained by same before arrival at settlement ... ... 28 4 0 Rent of land charged in settlers' account current with store ... 495 12 5 Sundry accounts ... ... ... ... ... ... 269 13 0 Contra accounts ... ... ... ... ... ... 259 18 6 Stock in hand ... ... ... ... ... ... 192 0 6 £19,297 15 7 £19,297 15 7 j . Cr. Dec. 31,1877. By goods received as per stores account ... ... 15,837 13 10 Contra ... ~ ... ... ... ... 259 18 6 Freight ... ... ... ... ... 1,164 0 0 Rent of land ... ... ... ... 495 12 5 17,757 4 9 Working expenses, — Adam Crone, storeman, Jackson's Bay ... 394 0 0 J. Collyer, storeman, Ckura ... ... ... 150 0 0 H. Turnley, clerk ... ... ... ... 203 10 0 Government Resident Agent, half salary ... 450 0 0 Discharging cargo and carrying goods to Okura... 190 0 0 Cost of stores, Jackson's Bay and Okura ... 175 0 0 1,562 10 0 £19.319 14 9 £19,319 14 9 E. & O.E. D. Macfarlane, Resident Agent. A true copy. —Edward Patten, Officer in Charge.

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Enclosure in No. 10. The Resident Agent, Jackson's Bay Settlement, to the Officer in Charge of the Settlement. Government Resident Agent's Office, Jackson's Bay, Sir,— 15th April, 1878. I have the honor to forward the enclosure, addressed to the Hon. J. Macandrew, to he forwarded through you to his address at Wellington, containing resolutions passed at a meeting of settlers referred to at length in my previous letter to you. I have nothing further to add to what I then said, hut I trust the Government, in dealing with this matter, will not lose sight oi the fact that this movement simply means repudiating the adoption of the plans proposed in my previous letter —viz., that a percentage on the money earned is the only way to meet the difficulty, and at least half the debts can be collected in that way. In reference to the wire bridge across the Turnbull, that was carried away by the last flood, I have recovered nearly the whole of the material, and with but little loss. I may require part of a coil of wire to complete the job. The bridge at the Haast is now complete, and will be a great convenience to the settlers and travellers. The jetty is out \\ chains, and the filling in with stones will be finished in about ten days. 1 will be at a standstill about this work, unless the saw-mill gets to work soon. lam getting my piles from the Okura —all silver pine. The road-work is progressing favourably, as fast as the weather will permit, on the Arawata and Bay Road. I have let other three sections—2s chains, —and lam laying off 30 more chains at the Bay, and I have men at work by the day. I have had some trouble in getting over the limestone cliff, but yesterday I finished levelling, and the road will be made on a fair gradient—viz., 6 feet to the chain. The whole of the Italians are at work on contracts, and getting on fairly. I had an application from the five who came up to the Bay to see the Royal Commission for payment of the time they lost. I did not feel justified in granting it, seeing they came up entirely to see to their own interests, and state their grievances. Some of the potatoes have suffered from the great quantity of rain that has fallen—36-76 for the month of March, enough to drown anything. Steward has been down with another lot of dairy cows, and I think he has sold them all. He reports the floods on the Haast and the Landesborough to be the highest known on the Wanaka side—they had extraordinary floods. In running some levels yesterday I was fortunate in discovering the outcrop of the coalseam I have been looking for so long. The outcrop is 2 feet, and dipping slightly to the South and East. I cannot say much about it yet, but I am hopeful of its turning out a good seam. The outcrop being in good solid country, I have great faith in it. I traced the overlying rock to a height of 150 feet above it, and it is resting on the black and blue marls that show along the Bay Road. In the course of a couple of weeks I shall know more about it. However, I have been disappointed so often I will not be too sanguine as to the discovery. I have, &c., D. Macfarlane, E, Patten, Esq., Hokitika. Government Resident Agent.

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure in No. 10. Resolutions passed at Public Meeting of Jackson's Bay Settlement. Sir, — Jackson's Bay, 4th April, 1878. I beg respectfully to lay before you the following resolutions, agreed to at a meeting of settlers held at Jackson's Bay on the sth ultimo : — "1. That the Government he respectfully requested to allow two-third time during the current year to settlers on works at Jackson's Bay. " 2. That the Government be respectfully asked to pay wages in cash instead of cheques. " 3. That should any settlers obtain work on the Paringa and Haast Track the Government be respectfully asked to not consider such employment as forming any part of time allowed to such settlers on works at Jackson's Bay. "4. That the Government be respectfully requested to consider all rents due prior to the Ist January, 1878, as back debts." I have been instructed by the meeting to transmit to you the foregoing resolutions, with the hope that the same will receive your favourable consideration. I have, &c., The Hon. J. Macandr&w, George Smith, Minister for Public Works, Wellington. Chairman of Meeting.

No. 11. The Under Secretary for Immigration to the Officer in Charge, Jackson's Bay Settlement. Sir,— Wellington, 16th May, 1878. I have the honor, by direction of the Hon. Minister for Immigration, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 29th ultimo, transmitting a copy of a letter from the Resident

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Agent, enclosing copies of resolutions passed at a meeting of certain settlers at Jackson's Bay, and, in reply, to inform you that the Minister agrees with your views as to the impracticability of making payments to the settlers in cash. I have, &c., H. J. H. Eliott, E. Patten, Esq., Hokitika. Under Secretary for Immigration.

No. 12. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to the Chairman of Meeting of Jackson's Bay Settlers. Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 16th May, 1878. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 4th April, embodying certain resolutions agreed to at a public meeting of settlers held at Jackson's Bay, on sth March last. In reply, I desire at once to disabuse the minds of the settlers as to a mistaken idea which it is to be feared is entertained by them—namely, that the Government is bound to find them employment. The Government fully recognizes the difficulties which the Jackson's Bay settlers have had to encounter, and it has expended more money to enable them to get over those difficulties and to take possession of the soil than has fallen to the lot of any other early settlers in New Zealand. What must now be strongly impressed upon the settlers is the absolute necessity of selfreliance : they have received a fair start, and it only requires stout hearts and strong arms to enable them to subsist in comfort and to flourish irrespective of any Government aid. The sooner, therefore, that Colonial Government expenditure is looked upon as a contingency which may or may not be reckoned upon the better. As it is, such expenditure must, for the present, he almost entirely curtailed, and confined chiefly to the completion of the track between Otago and Westland, which work will be carried on by the Westland County Council, the cost to be supplemented by the Government, on condition of the work being let out in small contracts to the Jackson's Bay settlers, provided the latter are prepared to tender on reasonable terms. With the exception of this road, the Colonial Government expenditure will be comparatively trifling at Jackson's Bay. As regards the mode of payment for the proposed contracts, this will be determined by the County Council. In conclusion, I would urge the extreme importance of every man in the settlement devoting all his energies to the cultivation of his own land, and of thereby obtaining the means of subsistence, without the aid of Government or anybody else. You may rely upon it that those who set themselves steadily to this, will sooner or later reap their reward, and find themselves surrounded with comfort and independence. I shall feel obliged if you will be good enough to communicate the substance of this to the parties concerned. I have, &c., Mr. George Smith, J. Macandrew. Chairman of Meeting, Jackson's Bay.

No. 13. The Officer in Charge, Jackson's Bay Settlement, to the Under Secretary for Immigration. Sir,— Hokitika, 6th May, 1878. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Memorandum No. 67, dated the 12th April, 1878, conveying instructions as to the future expenditure in connection with the special settlement, Jackson's Bay, and limiting the same to the construction of the Paringa and Haast Track, and also to the jetty, subject to the approval of the plans by Mr. Blaekctt. As I have been unable to communicate with the Resident Agent since the receipt of the above on the 23rd April, and as I was informed by him that he had received authority from the Hon. the Minister for Immigration to construct a lock-up, and also to push on the Arawata and Bay Road as quickly as he possibly could, in addition to the items attended to by you, certain expenditure will have been incurred which could not possibly have been avoided owing to the absence of communication; and as there will be no chance until the " Waipara" or " Maori" sail, which will not be yet for ten days or a fortnight, I fear that, as I have only received advices up to the end of March, the expenditure for the months of April and May will have to be provided for, the Resident Agent having gone on with the works above mentioned, in the absence of any instructions to the contrary. I beg, therefore, respectfully to request that you will be good enough to inform me whether all works, with the exception 6 of the jetty and the Paringa and Haast Track, are to be 2—l). 6.

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stopped, as the Resident Agent is under the impression that he has authority to proceed with them. I forward herewith a requisition for the sum of £1,000 sterling, and beg to inform you that I have this day posted to the Paymaster-General vouchers exhausting my former imprest advance. As I shall have the pay-sheets for the month of April to provide for on the return of the next steamer, probably towards the end of the present month, I would ask that the amount he placed to my credit by that time.j I have, &c., The Under Secretary for Immigration, Edward Patten, Wellington. Officer in Charge.

No. 14. The Under Secretary for Immigration to the Resident Agent, Jackson's Bay. (Telegram.)* 6th June, 1878. Proceed with completion of road, Jackson's Bay to Arawata. H. J. H. Eliott.

No. 15. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to the Resident Agent, Jackson's Bay. (Telegram.)* 7th June, 1878. In completing the unfinished portion of road between Jackson's Bay and Arawata, Government relies upon your taking every precaution to secure that the money is well spent and there is full value received. In expending this money, you will bear in mind that it is very much with a view to tide the settlers over the winter, after which they will have to rely upon themselves. 11. J. 11. Eliott.

No. 16. The Under Secretary for Immigration to the Officer in Charge, Jackson's Bay Settlement. Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 13th June, 1878. As you were informed in my telegram of this day, the duplicate of your letter of the 6th of May, No. 17, has been received, and an imprest advance for £1,000 passed for payment. There is no record, however, in this office of the receipt of the original letter, and I now address you with reference to the several points referred to in the letter in question. You were informed on the 20th ultimo, by telegram, that Mr. Macfarlane was authorized to proceed with the erection of the lockup, and on the 6th and 7th instant that gentleman was telegraphed to via Dunedin as follows : — " Wellington, 6th June, 1878. " Proceed with completion of roads from Jackson's Bay to Arawata." "Wellington, 7th June, 1878. "In completing the unfinished portion of road between Jackson's Bay and Arawata, Government relies upon your taking every precaution to secure that the money is well spent, and that there is full value received. In expending this money, you will bear in mind that it is very much with a view to tide the settlers over the winter, after which they will have to rely upon themselves." You were requested on the 28th of May to obtain from Mr. Macfarlane an estimate of the amount required to complete contracts existing up to that date. lam now directed to request you will supplement that estimate, and furnish a statement of the total amount required to complete all works authorized up to the present date. On the 18th of May you were informed that work in connection with the jetty was to be suspended, and the Minister desires me to impress upon you that no work is to be undertaken without his special authority being first obtained. I have, &c, H. J. H. Eliott, E. Patten, Esq., Hokitika. Under Secretary for Immigration. P.S. —Since the above was written your letters of the 6th of June, Nos. 22 and 23, have been received, and will be duly submitted to the Minister for his consideration.'—H. J. H. E. * Forwarded per steamer " Maori,'- from Dunedin.

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No. 17. The Officer in Charge, Jackson's Bay Settlement, to the Under Secretary for Immigration. Sir, — Hokitika, 6th June, 1878. In reply to your telegram of the 3rd instant, informing me that the vote for the Jackson Bay Special Settlement was exhausted, I would beg to point out that, if the cost for the conveyance and temporary houseing of immigrants were charged to the Immigration Department instead of the Special Settlement Account, as I understand was originally intended, there would still be funds available for liquidating the liabilities which have been incurred between the date the last wages were paid—viz., 31st March last and 24th May, the date on which Mr. Macfarlane received instructions to stop the public works. Those instructions which were received by me on the 25th April last, I forwarded by first opportunity on to the Resident Agent, hut, owing to the absence of communication, they did not reach him until the 24th May. By the "Waipara," I have received accounts amounting to nearly £1,000 for payment, being expenditure incurred on public works at the settlement up to the 24th May last. I beg therefore respectfully to request that the amount applied for by me, in my letter of the 6th May last—viz., £1,000 —may he advanced in order to liquidate the above accounts, as it was no fault of the Resident Agent that they were incurred, as his instructions to discontinue the works did not reach him until the 24th May, and I was under the impression that the vote was not exhausted, as no notification to that effect was sent to me when I received the last imprest on the 11th April. I have, &c., The Under Secretary for Immigration, Edward Patten, Wellington. Officer in Charge.

No. 18. The Resident Agent, Jackson's Bay Settlement, to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Resident Agent's Office, Jackson's Bay, Sir,— 11th June, 1878. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your telegrams via Dunedin and the Bluff, and will endeavour to act to the best of my ability in accordance therewith. The settlers desire to thank you for the prompt action you have taken with regard to finding them employment during the winter; and, with the exception of a few of the Italians, there is no disposition shown other than to manfully overcome the difficulties incident to all new settlements. I have, &c., The Hon. the Minister of Lands and Works, D. Macfarlane, Wellington. Resident Agent.

No. 19. The Under Secretary for Immigration to the Officer in Charge, Jackson's Bay Settlement. (Telegram.) Wellington, 10th July, 1878. Engineer and practical persons advise that wharf at Jackson's Bay, if erected to stand, would cost two thousand five hundred pounds. Under these circumstances there are no funds available, and work cannot be proceeded with. H. J. H. Eliott. By Authority: Geoege Dilsbury, Government Printer, Wellington. —1878. Price Ib.]

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