D.-No. 2,

No. 1. The Hon. the Colonial Secbetaey to the Superintendent, Auckland. Sic, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, December 21, 1864. I have the honor to address you in reference to the scheme of immigration into the Northern Island, undertaken by the late Government, in pursuance of the New Zealand Settlements Act, 1863, and the Loan Appropriation Act, 1863. Your Honor is aware that a number of immigrants have arrived, and are now waiting to be located on their land. A large addition to these numbers is expected. Adverting to the sth section of the Loan Appropriation Act, it will be seen thnt, if the money which may arise from the sale of land under the New Zealand Settlements Act, within the province, should be insufficient to repay the sums expended for the permanent advantage of the province, including immigration, surveys, location of settlers, &c, the deficiency will be chargeable against the revenue of the province, in such manner as shall be hereafter determined by the General Assembly. The province is therefore interested in the expenditure upon the above objects, and in the sale of land applicable to the reimbursement of the outlay thereon. Under these circumstances, it is, in the opinion of the Government, reasonable that the Provincial Executive should have a considerable share in the management of the immigration into your province, as well as in laying out settlements, and locating the immigrants. Should your Honor concur in this view, the General Government will be prepared from time to time to supply you with funds for the maintenance and location of the immigrants, according to a plan to be arranged with your Honor. They will also, from time to time, hand over to the Provincial Government suitable blocks of land for the purposes of settlement. They must reserve to themselves the right of approving of the plans of settlement, so as to ensure the fulfilment of engagements entered into on behalf of the General Government with the immigrants, and the carrying out of the objects of " The New Zealand Settlements Act." I shall be glad to receive your Honor's earlj- reply, and I have, &c, HXKBY Sf.WELL. His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. (For the Colonial Secretary). No. 2. The Supebintendent, Auckland, to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaby. Sib, — Superintendent's Office, Auckland, December 21, 1864. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of this day's date, in which you propose that the Provincial Executive should take a considerable share in the management of the immigration into this province under the scheme initiated by the late Government. I have the honor to accept the proposal, and to undertake the necessary duties, subject to the conditions expressed in your letter. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Auckland. Robert Graham, Superintendent. No. 3. The Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet to the Supebintendent, Auckland. Sib, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, December 23, 1564. Referring to the arrangement proposed in my letter of the 21st instant, and agreed to in your' Honor's letter i>f the same day, for the future location of the immigrants who have arrived, or are expected to arrive in this province, I have to propose that, with a view to the practical completion of this arrangement, the care and supervision of these immigrants on their arrival (inclusive of disembarkation, proper treatment on board, payment of passage, &c.),and until they can be located on their lands, should be under the administration of the Provincial Executive. It is clear that the cost of this maintenance can be materially diminished by a stringent supervision of the actual expenditure necessary ; a judicious employment of some of the immigrants on public provincial works ; and by facilitating, and even necessitating the private employment of others. Thus while the primary expense iy minimised, the labour will bo utilised to the utmost extent. It is equally clear that on the one hand, the Provincial Government have at their disposal the best means of effecting these desired objects, inasmuch as they have a local machinery of administration and supervision in such matters, a variety of local works on which employment can at once be given, and as immediate and personal interest in the economical and useful expenditure of available funds on thin account; and that, on the other hand, any attempt on the part of the General Government, which has not these advantages, to act in their absence, or suddenly to create them, would entail a heavy additional expenditure, and in all probability a failure of useful results. A

CORRESPONDENCE EELATIVE TO MAINTENANCE AND LOCATION OE IMMIGRANTS INTRODUCED INTO THE PROVINCE OF AUCKLAND, UNDER "THE NEW ZEALAND SETTLEMENTS ACT, 1863."