A—No. 8a

THE IMMIGRANTS. We want 20,000 men for settlement, and we want 1,000 miles of road made. The men would be employed upon the roads, say for nine months of working days after arrival. The work then to be done would be one mile of road in nine mouths by twenty men, giving little more than one foot a day for each man. This would leave ample margin for deep cuttings, embankments, ditches, bush-felling, &c. Probably they could do much more in the time; if so, as there are plenty more roads to make, it would be so much clear gain to the Colony. About 2,000 men have already been introduced from Australia and Otago. They are to serve as Militia while required, and to receive fifty acres of land and rations for one year after they are placed upon the land. These men could be employed at road making like the rest, if they preferred it, for nine months, as they probably would. It is proposed now to make up the 20,000 men by introducing 18,000 from England and elsewhere. We want them fit for road-work and the use of arms. Ordinary field labourers, of good character, and a good proportion of 'navvies' would do. Arms and accoutrements would be provided for them on board ship, and a drill-sergeant for each shipload, who would drill and train them by turns to the use of the rifle during the voyage. A large proportion of these immigrants, say at least four-fifths, should be young married men. They should be all so, but possibly the circumstances of the country, while att-active to single men, might make it more difficult to procure married ones. If possible, the number of children should not average more than one to each couple. Their wives and children would be brought out with them, and should remain in the nearest town to the part of the roads their husbands were working upon. A special condition should be made that a certain portion of the weekly or monthly pay to be received by the men should be paid direct to their wives in the towns. They would thus be in the position of ordinary road-parties throughout the Colony, expept that Government would have a guarantee that their families would not become a burden to the public. The nine months of working days the men would have employment guaranteed them would not be necessarily consecutive, but would be extended over a year or eighteen months if they pleased, allowing for intervals of work upon their own lands where they could go upon them at once, at the proper periods for clearing, getting in crops, &c. The above arrangements are based on the supposition that peace may have been established when the immigrants arrive, or at least that the localities wherein it is proposed to place them shall be so far in our possession that they can proceed with road-making operations without danger of very frequent interruptions from the enemy. Should the war, however, unhappily continue, then the men introduced would have to be paid and treated altogether as the Militia Volunteers already introduced, that is, they would receive pay and allowances (of clothing, rations, <fcc.) as the latter do, and be stationed temporarily wherever they might be most required to hold Military posts in connection with the movements of the regular troops, occupying from time to time the positions in the rear of the latter which might be found necessary to enable the former to advance or more effectually carry out their offensive operations against the Natives. Some of these positions might be permanently maintained, and the land laid out for settlement around them, not so much interfering with, as assisting in the execution of the plan proposed, of constituting these settlements in the main a defence along the frontiers. Of course, if the immigrants have to be employed in this manner (really as regular troops in garrisons), it would be necessary to keep them in pay for a longer period, and entail a much greater expenditure. Consequently the number to be introduced would have to be proportionably reduced. In all cases, the men for their pay would be required, whenever practicable, to work upon any roads nearest to their stations which Government might direct to be made. And whether stationed in the settlements ultimately and permanently to be occupied or not, they would be during the whole time, until they received their grants of land, in the legal position of Militiamen called out for active service. As passages from England would be given to these men and no repayment required, as well as grants of land and wages guaranteed for the time just stated, it would be sufficient to grant forty acres of land to each. The other terms would be similar to those on which the Australian settlers are engaged; and if paid wages as labourers, Government should supply rations when necessary, deducting the cost from the wages. COST OP THE SCHEME. The next thing is the cost of the scheme. 1. Introduction of Immigrants.—The usual cost of steerage passage from England is under £15, two children under twelve years counted as one adult, under twelve months no charge. There are firms at this moment in Auckland who will undertake to collect and bring out emigrants, subject to approval, at the rate of £6, and even £5 per head, getting from the emigrants themselves the balance of the passage money. Probably we might calculate with much security on getting them at £10 per head ; but it is preferable, in an estimate, to take the price it is certain they could be

MILITARY SETTLEMENTS.