CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO PROPOSED IMMIGRATION INTO THIS COLONY FROM CANADA AND NOVA SCOTIA.

Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives, 1856 Session I

1 8 5 6.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES;

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO PROPOSED IMMIGRATION INTO THIS COLONY FROM CANADA AND NOVA SCOTIA.

Laid on the table of the House 25th June, 1856, and ordered to be Printed.

IMMIGRANTS FROM CANADA. To His Excellency Colonel Wynyard, C.8., fyc., fyc., administering the Government of the Colony of New Zealand; The humble petition of Samuel John Stratford, respectfully sheweth— That on the departure of your petitioner from the City of Toronto, in September 1854 numerous individuals, at present residing in Canada West, required that your petitioner should make all the necessary inquiry for them, as to the possibility of their obtaining land in NewZealand ; that, if the land was to be obtained on reasonable terms, and a good report of the country could be sent to them by your petitioner, they would be induced to dispose of their property and emigrate to New Zealand. That in accordance with these directions, your petitioner has memorialized the Land Board of the Province of Auckland, and suggested to them that the parties beforementioned would like to reside in the same neighbourhood, so that they could assist one another ; and it is the opinion of your petitioner that, after full inquiry since his arrival in Auckland, these individuals would like to obtain a location near to Mongonui or Wangaroa. That the Land Board of the Province of Auckland have fully considered the subject of the memorial, and declare that they have not at their disposal any land either at Mongonui or Wangaroa, but, if they had, they would not hesitate to comply wi'.h the desire of your petitioner ; at the same time, they beg to refer your petitioner to the General Government, who might possibly put them in a condition to make the necessary arrangements in the matter. That your petitioner has been credibly informed that there is abundance of good land in the possession of the Natives in those districts, which they would be ready to sell to the General Government: yonr petitioner, therefore, respectfully solicits that your land agent in that part of the country, be empowered to select some land applicable for the purposes beforementioned, and endeavour to purchase the same, with the intention of forming a Canadian Settlement. That your petitioner has also been told, that a certain amount of good land, has already been purchased in the neighbourhood of Mongonui for the General Government, but that the boundaries have not yet been surveyed ; if such is the case, and the land be fit for settlement, would the General Government be pleased to order the same to be surveyed ; proper plans, and a full description, etc , of the land to be sent to the authorised agent in the City of Toronto, so as to assure the individuals that no mistake or disappointment could accrue to them, should they dispose of their lands in Canada and undertake the journey to New Zealand.

C.-No. 8.

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Trusting that your Excellency will be pleased to give the petition an early consideration, your petitioner will ever pray, etc. (Signed) Samuel John Stratford-High-street, Auckland, 20th April, 1855. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 22nd May, 1855. g IK with reference to your letter of the 20th ultimo, on the subject of the purchase of Native lands at Mongonui and Wangaroa, I am directed by his Excellency the Officer Administering the Government to inform you that your communication has been submitted to Mr. Commissioner M'Lean, and that that officer reports that he shall visit the Bay of Islands as soon as possible, and make arrangements for carrying on the purchases in that part of the Island with as little delay as possible. J I have, &c., (Signed) Andrew Sinclair, Colonial Secretary. S. J. Stratford, Esq. High-street, Auckland. &c., &c., &c. To His Excellency Colonel Thomas Gore Browne, C.8., Governor of the Colony of New Zealand, See., fyc., 6fc. The humble petition of Samuel John Stratford, respectfully sheweth— That prior to the departure of the said Samuel John Stratford fiom Canada, in the month of September 1854, many persons now residing in that Colony, desired your petitioner to enquire of the Government of New Zealand upon what terms they could purchase land; they had heard that encouragement was to be given to emigrants ; they authorised your petitioner to say that if they could obtain land in a good location and on reasonable terms, that they would like to form a Settlement in this country. Upon the arrival of your petitioner in Auckland in January last, he waited upon his Excellency administering the Government, and made the declaration known to him ; he highly approved of the intention and promised all the aid in his power, he desired him to wait until the Superintendent had appointed the Land Eoard of the Province of Auckland, and then to lay the case before the Board. As some delay necessarily occurred, your petitioner made enquiry as to the locality most eligible in which to form such a settlement, and was Convinced that the neighbourhood of Mongonui in the North is the best position ; possessed of a good harbour, abounding in excellent land, having a workable coal seam, and without doubt the calling place of the Panama steamers (as soon as the line should be established), Mongonui is destined speedily to become a place of importance, although at the present moment but few settlers reside in the neighbourhood. As soon as the Auckland Land Board was established, your petitioner laid a memorial before them ; they appeared most heartily to encourage the proposed emigration, but they regretted thaj the General Government had not placed any land in the neighbourhood of Mongonui at their disposal, but declared that if your petitioner could prevail upon the proper authorities to purchase the land from the Natives, that the prayer of the petition should be granted. Your petitioner immediately communicated this circumstance to the Colonial Secretary in writing, and in a short time received an answer stating that the Acting Governor, in Council, had direct d Mr. M'Lean to make the necessary land purchases from the Natives. It so happened that the Natives who own the land at Mongonui came down to Auckland at this time, and offered to sell the valley of Victoria to the Government upon very moderate terms. The purchase was not made, and your petitioner was given to understand that Mr. M'Lean did not think it advisable to buy the land in Auckland ; the Natives were sent home, Mr. M'Lean declaring that he would order Mr. Kemp to go to Mongonui, and endeavour to buy the land. Your petitioner made frequent enquiries ot Mr. M'Lean how the matter was progressing, he constantly said that there would be some delay, but that the arrangement was quite certain. Months have passed away, and when Mr. Kemp returned from the Bay of Islands your petitioner waited upon him, he stated that he had not been to Mongonui; that, in fact, it was not the policy of the General Government to purchase lands of the Natives to any extent in the North, or to encourage its settlement. The surprise of your petitioner can be readily imagined, it certainly explains the delay that has occurred; but, it involves the necessity of your petitioner troubling your Excellency with a plain statement of the facts, and submitting the subject matter to your consideration.

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His duty to his Canadian friends, demands that he should complain, at least, of the unnecessary delay that has occurred, and has kept them in suspense. If the determination of the General Government is thus correctly expressed, it is clear that it •would be useless to expect any further movement in the matter ; your petitioner cannot, however, imagine but that some mistake has occurred, and would fain hope that further consideration would be given to this subject; your petitioner, has reason to believe, that the Natives still expect to sell the land to the Government; he has been informed, that they have recently renewed the offer to sell Victoria valley, by letter addressed to the Acting Governor; if no intention to buy exists, on the part of the Government, it would be but justice that their minds should be disabused of any expectations in the matter. As a matter of course it would not be the desire or the duty of your petitioner to question the policy of the Goveinment in refusing to buy land in the North of the Province of Auckland; but it might be permitted in him to suggest that in no part of this Colony could it be possible to form a Canadian settlement to better public advantage than at Mongonui. The practical experience gained in the backwoods of Canada would serve as an example, in many cases, to the New Zealand Colonists, and not be without a benefit in an infant settlement. Moreover, when we remember that many of the individuals who desire to come to New Zealand, are the sons of men who suffered for their loyalty and attachment to the British Crown during the American Revolution, in many instances losing houses and lands to a considerable extent by confiscation for the sake of principle ; it cannot be denied that they have demonstrated a practical loyalty that deserves well of their kindred and country. Surely, under any circumstances, it must be the greatest interest of this Colony and people to increase the amount of its population, and to facilitate the settlement of the lands. The Native population desire the introduction of Anglo-Saxon settlers among them, convinced that they will learn, by example, their habits of patient industry so necessary to the accumulation of wealth, 'which is their greatest ambition. Under any view of the case, your petitioner can readily leave the decision of this matter in the hands of your Excellency, convinced that it is impossible that you can be influenced by any sectional views or local politics, and that a chief aim of your Excellency's administration will be to encourage the industry and develope the resources ot the country. Should it be the pleasure of your Excellency still further to entertain the consideration of this subject, to prevent the possibility of any further delay, will you permit your petitioner to declare, that any reasonable sum of money required by the Natives will be readily advanced to the Land Department if such is required ; that the land will be surveyed according to the directions of the Surveyor-General by a Government Surveyor; proper plans and specifications furnished to the department; that the lands shall be sold for 10s. per acre ; that the Government, at the end of six years, shall be at liberty to claim all lands then vacant, except a settler can be found located upon the block for every 200 acres; that the proceeds of the land sales, after paying the original outlay to the Natives, the expense of survey, and the legal interest of 10 per cent shall be paid over to the •Government, the party binding themselves to fulfil the contract now offered to the Government. It is also suggested that no legal difficulty can be offered to the setting aside this block by the Land Board, as special occupation land, if so required, provided a contract to purchase a large tract of land be entered into with the Natives. It is,very evident that if this settlement succeeds, more land will be speedily required in the neighbourhood, consequently it would be good policy to make a considerable contract with the Natives, payable upon certain conditions When the land is set apart as special occupation land, the Land Board can appoint an agent in Toronto to dispose of the land ; the agent would receive but a trifle for his trouble, and the remainder of the money could he paid after the arrival of the emigrants in this country. Should it be the pleasure of your Excellency to approve of the plan herein proposed, youi petitioner will, as in duty bound to" his Canadian friends, proceed to Mongonui and report upon the eligibility of the locality for the formation of a settlement; will also prepare an account of the climate and of the nature of the country, for publication in the Canadian periodicals,—a circumstance that will be the means of calling attention to the Colony of New Zealand, and without doubt be the inducement for many persons in that country to try their fortunes in this part of the world. Trusting that your Excellency will condescend to give as early attention to the subject as convenience will permit, your petitioner will, as in duty bound, ever pray, &c„ &c. (Signed) Samuel John Stratford. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, Bth October, 1855. Sir, —In reply to your memorial to the Governor on the subject of the purchase of some Native land at Mongonui for a proposed settlement of Canadians, I am directed to inform you that

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it is his Excellency's wish to forward your views as far as lies in his power, and that the attention of Mr. Commissioner M 'Lean will be again drawn to this subject. I have, &c., (Signed) Andrew Sinclair, Colonial Secretary.. Dr. S. J. Stratford, High-street, Auckland. To His Excellency Colonel Thomas Gore Browne,C.B., Governor of New Zealand, §c., fyc., fyc. The humble petition of Samuel John Stratford respectfully sheweth,— That having every reason to believe that Mr. Cameron, of Wall-street, New York, has succeeded in obtaining the contract from the British Government for the conveyance of the mails to Australia by the Panama route, as his agent in New Zealand, I respectfully solicit that a proper location be granted to the Company for wharfs, docks, and warehouses in the Harbour of Mongonui in trie North. Your petitionei would recommend that the said allotments be made of ample size ; and that sufficient inducements be offered to the Company to encourage them to make the Port of Mongonui the Western terminus of the line. Experience has fully shown that, should the Company attempt to make their depots either in Sydney or Melbourne, the enormous expenses in those places will eat up all their profits. This fact is clearly illustrated by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Company proposing to renew their contracts with Government, provided that St. George's Sound, on the West Coast of Australia, be made their depot. With the same spirit, and under the same necessities, I have recommended Mr. Cameron to make the Port of Mongonui the stopping place of his line. The central position of Mongonui with regard to all the Australian Colonies, points it out as the spot to which each of the Colonies can most readily send their local steamers to receive their passengers and mails. Mongonui is the nearest practicable Port to North Cape, New Zealand; is an excellent harbour ; is possessed of plenty of coal; has abundance of good land in its neighbourhood ; and if the Company can obtain land from the Government in a proper location, and upon reasonable terms, would evidently be the point at which they could concentrate their energies with comparatively little expense, so as to make the permanent success of the line more certain. Besides which, it would effectually obviate that Colonial jealousy which is so evidently marked in these matters between [Sydney and Melbourne. Under these circumstances your petitioner would respectfully represent the enormous advantages which the arrangement he has pointed out would have for New Zealand generally ; it would not only place her foremost in the route to Europe, but make Mongonui the centre of that commerce which, as a matter of progress and necessity, must spring up between the Australian Colonies and the rest of the world, so much so, that it clearly demands the most liberal encouragement from your Excellency and the Provincial Government, and your petitioner prays that the honorable position which is here shadowed forth, may not be marred by that spirit of intestinal jealousy which it is evident reigns in the General Assembly between the North and South of New Zealand. Trusting that this petition may receive an early and satisfactory answer, your petitioner, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c., &c., &c. (Signed) S. J. Stratford. Auckland, Bth October, 1855. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 17th October, 1855. Sir, —With reference to your petition relative to land at Monganui, for a Steam Company, I am directed by his Excellency the Governor to inform you, that when it has been ascertained that effective measures have been taken to establish Steam Communication between England and the Australian Colonies via Panama, your representations will receive due attention. I have, &c., (Signed) Andrew Sinclair, Colonial Secretary. Samuel John Stratford, Esq., M.R.C.S.L. &c., &c., &c.

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June 13 th, 1856. Sir,—On my departure from Canada in 1854,1 was deputed by a number of Canadian Colonists to go to New Zealand or to South Australia, and to enquire if they could purchase land from the Government, so that they could form a settlement on which they could reside in contiguity, and be able to assist each other in the several duties of life, as is their custom in Canada. The liberal offer of the New Zealand Land Regulations, as proposed by Mr. Whitaker, and the kind way the Nova Scotian Colonists had been treated by Governor Grey, tempted me to come to Auckland in preference to going to South Australia. Since my arrival I have not ceased to urge the matter upon the authorities in every possible way; have always received kind promises for the future, but have not yet learned the resolutions Of the Government. The parties in Canada are becoming anxious to learn the result of my labours, so that I should be thankful if you will condescend to see me at your earliest convenience, and render me what information you are able, as to the intentions of the Government in the matter. I have, &c.; (Signed) S. J. Stratford. To the Honorable the Colonial Secretary. &c., &c., &c. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 18th June, 1856. Sir, —In reply to your letter of the 15th instant, requesting that I would see you at an early day, on the subject of granting land to Canadian immigrants to New Zealand, I beg to name Saturday the 21st instant, at 11 o'clock. I have, however, to remark, the General Government can hold out small hopes of assistance in your objects, as the administration of the Waste Lands is already effectively vested in the Provincial Government. (Signed) C. W. Richmond, Colonial Secretary. Dr. S. J. Stratford. &c., &c., &c.

IMMIGRANTS FROM NOVA SCOTIA. Auckland, December 15, 1853. Sir, —Your Excellency is already aware, from correspondence with the Rev. Mr. Norman McLeod, of Melbourne, Pastor of a community of Highland families now in that Colony, that it is anxiously desired by them to emigrate to New Zealand, where they expect to find a country suited to their wants, and they are now ready and most anxious to come here, provided a suitable locality can be obtained for a settlement. I may mention that there is a party of about 250 in Melbourne, natives of the Highlands ot Scotland, and who went there about two years ago from Nova Scotia. Another party of them (ot whom I was one,) went to Adelaide, and after remaining there about twelve months, that Colony was found unsuitable, on which account we left it, and came here, a short time back, in the schooner " Gazelle," amounting in number to about one hundred souls. Since our arrival we have been making every enquiry and effort to discover a suitable locality for fixing a settlement. Besides the numbers already alluded to, I have advices that other three or four vessels are preparing to start from Nova Scotia to bring many more families on receiving the first encouraging intelligence from their friends who have preceded them hither to prepare a settlement for them. I, in conjunction with the other leading men amongst the small body now here, have fully made up our minds to settle at Wangarei, provided your Excellency can assist us in obtaining sufficient blocks of land to enable us to form a settlement not only for ourselves, but also for those to follow us, so that we may form a community, and be as near to each other as practicable. The difficulty of our obtaining this desirable object is the cause of mj now addressing your Excellency, in the hope of your being able to assist us to carry it into effect.

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I need not point out to your Excellency the reasons which have operated upon myself and others in selecting- the locality referred to, as your Excellency will at once recognise its capabilities for carrying on fishing, ship-building, agriculture, and other purposes required for such a community ; but what I would desire to point out to your Excellency is the fact, that we speak the Gaelic language, and there are many of our old people, so that it becomes a matter of the greatest importance that our people who speak that language only, should, as far as possible, be located in the same place; and more especially we unite with our Pastor, Mr. McLeod, in desiring that this should be so, on account of devotional purposes. Without entering minutely into the reasons which weigh with us in trying to obtain a settlement in one place as nearly as circumstances will permit, I have to assure your Excellency that such an object is of great moment to us. and if such a prospect can be held out by your Excellency, I may state that I have only to make it known to the rest of our people in Melbourne and Nova Scotia, and they will lose no time in coming here to effect a settlement. Without assistance from your Excellency, I see no hope of this being accomplished, as those who are here at present have not the means of paying for so large a block of land as would be required, and unless your Excellency should feel inclined to make a special case for the sake of the community, on whose behalf I now write, by setting aside a sufficient block of land for them, I despair of being able to carry out the object. I would therefore respectfully request that your Excellency will take the matter into your consideration, and set aside, if you approve of our design, such parts of the block of land now about to be purchased, in the vicinity of Wangarei, extending from the Arai to the Harbour of Wangarei, say to the extent of from 30,000 to 50,000 acres, in such places as may be determined so soon as practicable after the purchase, say for the space of two or three years, to enable me to correspond with the rest of our people in Nova Scotia, and to remain open for selection by them for that period at the present upset price of 10s. per acre. I may state that if such an arrangement can be acceeded to by your Excellency, the party now here, are prepared at once to locate themselves upon the ground, and to take up and pav for several thousand acres. I have, &c., (Signed) Duncan McKenzie. To His Excellencv the Governor, &c., &c„ &c. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 24th January, 1854. Sin, —I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15th ultimo, stating that several Highland families, now residing at Melbourne, and who lately emigrated from Nova Scotia, are anxious to locate in New Zealand, and requesting that a block of from thirty to fifty thousand acres, in the vicinity of Wangarei, may be set apart, and remain open for selection by these Highland emigrants for some time, at the present upset price of ten shillings per acre; and, in reply, I am directed by his Excellency the Officer administering the Government, to inform you that it is impossible for the Government, under the present Land Regulations, to enter into an arrangement of the kind referred to ; but, that if these emigrants are prepared at once to select and flay for a reasonable quantity of land from any specified block, such portions only of the remaining land as are immediately required should be offered for sale. I have, &c., (Signed) Andrew Sinclair, Colonial Secretary. Duncan McKenzie, Esq., care of Messrs. Brown and Campbell. &c., &c., &c. Auckland, 25th January, 1854. Sir, —With reference to your letter of the 24th instant, I beg to reply that I do not pereeive thereby how the land in question is to be reserved to us by the tenor of your communication, as simultaneous applications by others than our people, might be made for what you term " such portions of the remaining land as are immediately required such a privilege so far from being a special case, or benefit, is the undoubted right of every applicant for land, and hence 1 presume t* at the intention of the Government is hardly expressed explicitly in the communication referred i'O. Ur Ter these circumstances, I beg to trouble you again to state in explicit terms the amount of reserv which I understand the Government are inclined to give, in proportion to the land

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immediately or shortly purchased, and the period of time such reserve should be secured to us. I have, &c., The Honorable (Sig " ed) D> McKenziethe Colonial Secretary. &c., &c., &c. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 3rd February, 1854. ® IR » —I' 1 reply to your letter of the 25th ultimo, respecting the purchase of land by you and others on whose behalf you have made application to the Government, I have the honor to state, by direction of his Excellency the Officer administering the Government, that his Excellency has no power to extend the terms of the offer made to you in my letter of the 24th ultimo, terms which are considered to present two advantages, namely, the offering for sale a small block of the extent you may wish for your immediate accommodation; and, next, the reserving from sale the contiguous land to a reasonable extent and for a reasonable term, until the party whom you represent may be prepared to purchase the same. I have, &c., (Signed) Andrew Sinclair, . Colonial Secretary. D. McKenzie, Esq., &c, &c., &c. Auckland, 4th February, 1854. PfR, —I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your answer, of yesterday's date, to my letter of the 25th ultimo, respecting the locating of the Highland emigrants now here, and those about to follow. 1. I gather from your letter that the Government are prepared to give us possession of such block of the land at Mongawhai applied for, as the party now here are ready to take up under the present regulations at ten shillings per acre. 2. That the Government are prepared to reserve from sale the contiguous land to a reasonable extent, for a reasonable time, and purchaseable by our party during the said time, upon the present terms of ten shillings per acre. 1 have the honor to ask, 1. Whether I am correct or not in thus interpreting your letter ? 2 To request that you will specify what extent of reserve the Government are prepared to make, for the party of emigrants about to arrive ? 3. What length of time will such reserve be kept open for selection, on the present terms of ten shillings per acre ? You will at once perceive, that without this information the whole arrangements which I am now endeavouring to make, might fail, and be rendered nugatory ; and I feel it the more necessary to make this further enquiry, from the remark introduced in your letter of the 24th January, (omitted in your last letter of the 3rd instant), namely, that " such portions only of the remaining land as are immediately required shall be offered for sale." May I enquire, respectfully, if this last condition has now been waived; because, if it has not, it would seem to neutralise the supposed advantages which the Government purpose offering to us by making the reserve in question. May I respectfully request, in conclusion, that you will favour me with an answer to this letter at your earliest convenience, as you are well aware that the season is almost gone for locating ourselves upon the land, although the negotiations for our settlement have now been carried on with Government during the last five or six months. I have, &e., (Signed) Duncan McKenzie. The Honorable the Colonial Secretary. &c., &c., &c.

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Auckland, 7th Februaty, 1854. Sir,—ln reference to the communications, verbal and written, which, for some months back, have been carried on with the Government, in the name of Mr. Duncan McKenzie, respecting the locating of the Highland emigrants now here, and those to follow, I (being one of the party referred to, and acting for the others), have the honor respectfully to request that you will recognise my present address to your Excellency as a continuation of the correspondence which Mr. McKenzie had originated, but who is now at a distance in the country, on an exploring expedition connected with the subject of the present letter. And I would further respectfully request a reference to the correspondence on the subject which has already taken place, and more particularly to the Colonial Secretary's letter of the 3rd instant, in which your Excellency states that the terms already offered us present the following advantages, viz. :—offering us " for sale a small block of the extent we may wish for our immediate accommodation, and next, the reserving from sale the contiguous land to a reasonable extent and for a reasonable time, until the party whom I represent may be prepared to purchase the same." I have already, in the name of Mr. McKenzie, addressed the Goveirnment (4th instant), on the terms of this letter, and would have waited a written reply; but the urgency of the circumstances of our case having exhausted my patience, I took the liberty of calling to-day at the Colonial Secretary's, in the hope of finding a reply waiting me, after which I had the honor of a personal interview with your Excellency, and then learned, to my great surprise and disappointment, that your Excellency did not see how the reserve of land in question could be made to the party whom I represent, in accordance with the present Land Regulations. I am surprised at this statement, inasmuch as the letter from which I have just quoted the above remarks, states, in what may be considered explicit terms, that the Government will make a reserve to " a reasonable extent and for a reasonable time," and I naturally concluded that I had only to request that the Government would specify clearly the extent and the time, and so close the whole negotiation which has been carried on with the Government for so many months, during which, our people, instead of locating themselves as they might have done, though perhaps less advantageously, on the lands of private parties, were buoyed up by hopes held out by the Government of a location being obtained on the most favourable terms. Had not this been the case, we should have effected a settlement long ago ; and, therefore it is, that I feel extremely disappointed —I may say fairly taken aback—with the expression of doubt (for the first time used to day) by your Excellency, as to your ability to grant our request under the present Regulations. It was never supposed by us that your Excellency could do so under the present Regulations if they had been officially promulgated. Our first application showed that we considered ours a special case, and we gave, in our first written correspondence (15th December last), sundry reasons upon which we rested our claims to such special consideratioh. Up to that period, from our personal communications with the Government, we had been led to believe that the Government had no difficulty on the point, and therefore it was that our letter of the 15th December contained so few reasons for considering ours a special case. Since that letter both Mr. McKenzie and myself have had interviews with Governor Grey, who spoke most warmly ot his interest in our views and success, and even assured us that our application would be favourably entertained, and that a formal communication to that effect would be made to us, and which we expected to receive, at the very furthest, before the end of the first week of January last. Since jour Excellency, however, has thrown out doubts as to your ability toinakeoursa special case ; but having at the same time expressed your willingness to do so, if in your power, I am now induced to draw your attention to the following observations which appear to me to present full and sufficient warrant for your Excellency's acceding to our request of our case being made a special one. Craving reference to the letter of 15th December referred to, I would only further observe that the Land Regulations requiring a month's notice of lands open for sale, before being appropriated under the new system, though promulgated in the Southern Provinces, have not yet, I believe, been proclaimed here, nor have they yet been acted upon ; so that no obstacles from this cause would seem to prevent your Excellency's acceding to our request, as the Regulations become thus reduced to a mere Government message, or notice to the Purveyor General, which the Governor can at any subsequent moment alter or wholly set aside. liut, were the Land Regulations in full force, even then I cannot see how your Excellency (holding in your own hand the entire disposal of the land and the making of such regulations therein, as from time to time you may deem best for the general benefit) should not fairly and reasonably make special exceptions therefrom, in cases like the present, whenever they might arise.

Again, in asking the Government to make the reserve applied for, it is only carrying out a principle already introduced in the Southern Provinces. I refer to the Block of land reserved by

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the Government in the Province of Wellington, for trying the effect of the Small Farm System sought to be established there; and if the Government so far made a special exception in that instance, merely for the illustration of a theoretical plan of Colonization, I cannot but think, that under the circumstances of our case, we have a far stronger claim upon the favorable consideration of the Government, inasmuch as it would not only be carrying into practice the Small Farm System, but also be planting a new Settlement, which must draw a considerable number of our people to this Country, if we can hold out the favorable inducement which we are asking from the Government. In our case there exists the further strong claim of our being a Galic community, requiring to be located near each other, if this can possibly be accomplished, seeking thus to be under the ministry of a Gaelic clergyman who has accompanied us, especially as some of our aged people can understand no other language but the Gaelic. We are ready at once to settle upon and use the land, whereas under the Small Farm Reserve at Wellington, it remains to be seen whether the land will be taken up or not, in other words whether such a reserve were really wanted or not, by any considerable number of the community. In conclusion, I think I may very fairly say that the great benefit which we, as a community, would confer on this or any other Province, in which we may settle, affords a strong claim upon such Province for the most favorable terms that can be offered, and we have, in the first instance, come to this Province, although his Excellency Sir George Grey recommended to us the Ahuriri District, where he assured us of every possible facility for settling by special reserve and otherwise, which reserve is indispensable to our carrying out the principal objects of our emigration. Soliciting: Your Excellency's early and fovourable consideration of the matter, I have &c., (Signed) D. McLeod. To the Honorable the Colonial Secretary, &c., &c., &c., Colonial Secretary's Office Auckland, 10th February, 1854. Sir, —In reply to your letter of the 7th inst., relating to the location of the party of Highlanders which you represent, I have the honor to state, by direction of the Officer administering the Government, that, under the peculiar circumstances of the case, his Excellency will consider the party as the first applicants under the old Land Regulations ; provided the application for the first block is made at once, specifying the extent required ; but, with regard to the further requirements of the party for land, the Government can do no more than abstain from surveying or offering to public competition the land contiguous to the Block first selected. I am also directed to state that the Government is not prepared to make any alteration in the Land Regulations, seeing that the General Assembly, under whose control the Crown Lands will be, is to meet in a short time. I am further instructed to inform you thf.t the land at Mangawhai, referred to by Mr. McKenzie in his letter of the 4th inst., as desirable for your party, is not yet the property of the Crown, but that every effort is being made to purchase it from the Natives. I have &c., (Signed) Andrew Sinclair. Colonial Secretary. D. McLeod Esquire, &c., &c., &c., Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 13th February, 1854. Sir, lam directed by his Excellency the Officer administering the Government to apprise you of the following arrangements regarding the proposed location of certain Highlanders at Mangawhai. His Excellency has been pleased, under the circumstances of the case, to direct that the Representatives of this body (Messrs, Duncan McKenzie and D. McLeod) on their forthwith discribing the Land claimed, be considered under the Land Regulations of March last, the first applicants tor the purchase of such land. The Land also contiguous to such block is not for the present to be surveyed or offered to public competition.

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Mr. McLeod has informed the Government that he has made arrangements for proceeding to Mangawhai and obtaining the necessary information for describing the land required. You are requested to be good enough, directly that the laisd in question has been obtained from the Natives, to communicate the same to me for the information of the Government. I have, &c., (Signed) Andrew Sinclair. Colonial Secretary. The Surveyor General, &c., &C.j &c. Auckland, 11th February, 1854. Sir, I have the honor of acknowledging the receipt of your communication, of yesterday's date, relative to the location of the party of Highlanders, whom I represent, informing me that his Excellency the Officer administering the Government has agreed to consider the party here as the first applicants under the Old Regulations (of 4th March last I presume) but with regard to further requirements his Excellency can do more than abstain for the present from surveying or offering to public competition the land contiguous to that first selected. As the Government are thus unable to do more, I shall not lose additional time by attempting any further representations on the subject, but shall at once make arrangements, as required, for proceeding to Mangawhai, in order to obtain the necessary information for describing the land which we desire to purchase. From the terms of your letter, I am further encouraged to hope that his Excellency will not be unwilling to forward our views with the General Assembly in procuring the privilege of the reserve which his Excellency has felt himself unable to grant. I have, &c. (Signed) D. McLeod. The Honorable the Colonial Secretary. &c., &c., &c. <