A.—No. 18.

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO

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Bay to carry them on, and urge that the Colonial Government should undertake the purchase which you represent as important for political reasons, and as eligible for the location thereon of Immigrants who might be sent by an English Company, under arrangements made by the Commissioners about to proceed home. You also state that a sum of about £10,000, in addition to what has already been spent by the Province of Hawke's Bay, would, in your opinion, secure the purchase. In reply, I have to state that, though the Government fully appreciates the importance of completing the purchase of this land with a view to its settlement, it has no funds at its disposal for the purchase of Native Lands. The only sum available for expenditure on account of settlement in the Northern Island is for public works, such as roads. The question of Immigration will be one of the subjects submitted to the Commissioners who go to England ; but the Government has no power to conclude any agreements involving public expenditure in respect of it without the previous sanction of the General Assembly. It is the wish of the Government to prepare and submit if possible to the Assembly at its next Session, a comprehensive plan of Immigration; but until such a scheme shall have been matured and submitted to the Legislature, and shall have received their sanction, it will not be in the power of the Commissioners to do more than to make careful inquiries in England, and submit suggestions for the guidance of the Colonial Government in preparing such plan. I have, &c, His Honor J. D. Ormond. W. Gisborne.

No. 3. His Honor J. D. Ormond to the Hon. W. Gisborne. Sir,- — Superintendent's Office, Napier, 6th October, 1869. On the 10th September last, I had the honor to address you in respect to the purchase of the block of land known as the Forty Mile Bush ; and on the 25th of the same month you replied that the Government appreciated the importance of completing the purchase, but had no funds at its disposal for the purchase. I took advantage of the recent sitting of the Provincial Council to bring the subject under notice, and I now enclose copy of a Resolution which was unanimously agreed to by that body. I shall be much obliged if you will give the subject favourable consideration, and by your informing me whether the Government will assist the Province by making the necessary advance to complete the purchase of the block. I think that perhaps a sum of £8,000 would be sufficient to secure a block of about 250,000 acres, the negotiations for which are far advanced, and the non-canwing out of which is almost a breach of faith with the Native owners. The money might be secured by being made a first charge upon the land ; and it would be my wish to carry out the proposal contained in my letter of the 10th September, and endeavour to obtain the services of the Commissioners to arrange with an English Company to take the block at cost price, on condition that it was settled and connected by roads with the settled districts in its vicinity. I trust the Government may see its way to assist the Province in the way proposed. I have, &c, J. D. Ormond, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

Enclosure in No. 3. Besolution of Hawke's Bay Brovincial Council. That this Council having considered Message No. 6, and accompanying document, from His Honor the Superintendent, on the subject of the purchase of the block of land known as the Forty Mile Bush, Resolve :— That it is highly desirable that the completion of the purchase should be effected, and the district in question settled. That the recommendation of the Superintendent that the settlement of the block might be advantageously arranged in England by the Commissioners who are about to proceed there on business for the Colony, be adopted. That the Superintendent be requested to communicate with the Commissioners, and arrange the conditions upon which the block may be handed over to an English Company for settlement, and the Province secured from pecuniary loss by the transaction. That the Superintendent be further requested to put himself in communication with the General Government, with a view to obtaining the necessary sum to complete the purchase of tho block ; the said sum to be accounted an advance, and made a first charge upon the proceeds of the sale of the land. That the Superintendent is further requested to urge upon the Government that the political importance of the settlement of this district is sufficient to justify them in making the advance in question, and to impress upon the Commissioners the service they will render to the Colony should they consent to endeavour to carry out the proposed negotiation.

No. 1. His Honor J. D. Ormond to the Hon. D. McLean. Sir,— Napier, 7th May, 1870. I have the honor to inform you that the negotiations with the Native owners of tho Forty Mile Bush have been successfully concluded by Mr. Locke, who has arranged with the Natives for the purchase of three separate blocks, which he informs me include the whole of the land situate