D.—No. 2.

Under these circumstances, your Honor will, I am sure, agree with me in the propriety of this undertaking, the cost of which ultimately falls in any case on Provincial Eevenue, being administered by the Provincial Executive. The accommodation already provided by the General Government for these immigrants would, of course, be available, and the services of two or three gentlemen who have been temporarily employed by the General Government in the supervision (if, and in medical attendance on, the immigrants, would also be placed at the disposal of the Provincial Government, and such sums as may from time to time be required by your Honor for the whole undertaking. As both Colonial faith and Colonial funds are involved in this matter, the General Government would still have an overriding control, which probably in practice would never require to be exercised, and it would be necessary that your Honor should periodically (say every month) cause to be furnished detailed reports of the proceedings of the Provincial Executive, with regard to these immigrants, and of their actual condition, and of all expenditure on account of them. I would add that, in my letter of the 21st instant, it is intended to include in the location of the immigrants the administration of the necessary survey of the lots on which they are to be located, and that such administration is in like manner handed over to your Honor's Government. On learning your Honor's acquiesence in these arrangements, I will at once direct all the necessary steps to be taken for carrying them into immediate efiect. I have, &c, Henht Sewell, His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. (For the Colonial Secretary). Xo. 4. The Supebixtendext, Auckland, to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Auckland, December 28, ISG4. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 23rd instant, concerning the practical completion of (he arrangement proposed by the General Government and accepted by me for the laying out of settlements and locating imigrants now in course of arrival under inducements offered by the General Government. I beg leave to state, in general terms, that 1 am prepared to use my best endeavours to minimise the cost, and to assist the General Government in the matter ; but that I have not as yet received that complete information which would enable me to go into details or to make an absolutely practical reply. My desire of course will be to fulfil every agreement that has been made with the immigrants, but it is necessary that 1 should be informed of the nature of those agreements, in order that I may satisfy myself whether I have the means of acting up to them. I therefore suggest that I should be put in possession of copies of the records of the General Government offices bearing upon this subject; I refer more particularly to the correspondence with Messrs. J. Morrison, "W. 8. Grahame, A. Clarke, and others who have formed engagements on behalf of the Government with the immigrants. The agreements and other documents relating to the immigration from the Cape of Good Hope, which were transmitted through me, might be returned into my custody. In regard to your suggestion that some of the immigrants should be employed in public provincial works, I have to observe that I will do my best to find them in employment; but that this is a matter in which the Provincial Council have a voice as well as myself. The Council may give or refuse the means, and have moreover on more than one occasion expressed a desire that all provincial works as far as possible should be done by contract. I merely mention this to guard against undertaking as agent for the General Government more than I have the certainty of being able to perform. In regard to your proposal that I should undertake the administration of the necccssary surveys of the lots on which the immigrants are to be located, I have the honor to state that I am willing to do so, but I take occasion to observe that I am strongly of opinion that advantage should be taken of the present opportunity to initiate a proper system of geodetic surveys to embrace the whole of the confiscated territory, and which may hereafter be extended over the whole province. The necessity of the provincial surveys being conducted in a proper system of triangulation is even now occupying my attention, and the survey of the large territory now acquired affords facilities for commencing a general system so long and so greatly required. This will probably lead to some slight increase of expenditure in the organization of a proper Survey Department, but I feel strongly that this should not be allowed to interfere with a measure of such importance. In accepting your proposals, I request that it might be understood that it must remain an open, question how far sums already expended by the General Government, of which I have no account, shall be held to be for the permanent advantage of the province of Auckland, and I trust that you will inform me at the earliest possible period of the charges which in your opinion ought to be made by you against this province, in order that they may be checked while the necessary information is still obtainable. As soon as you shall have taken all the necessary steps for carrying the proposed arrangements into effect, I shall acquaint you at length with the plan on which I propose to work. It will be especially necessary, however, that I .should be informed, approximately, of the amount of the large additions to the numbers of the immigrants, which in your letter of the 21st December instant, you tell me is expected, and without which large addition in my opinion a successful realization of the scheme cannot be depended on; also, approximately of the quantity of land within the confiscated block which the Provincial Government may calculate upon having to dispose of for the purposes of this undertaking; also, which of the sections of the New Zealand Settlements Act I am to be empowered to carry out. It appears to me essential that sections 16, 17, and 18, should be included. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Auckland. Kobert Gkauam, Superintendent.

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CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO MAINTENANCE