D.—No. 3

No. 4. Hia Honor T. B. Gillies, to the Hon. W. Gisboexe. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Auckland, 21st November, 1870. I have the honor to enclose copy of resolutions passed by the Provincial Council of Auckland in reference to the carrying into effect the Government policy of immigration and public works and purchase of Native lands in this Province. In doing so I may express my cordial concurrence with these resolutions and my desire to give effect to them in a liberal spirit, and generally to assure the Government of my desire to cordially co-operate with them in carrying into effect their policy. I have, &c, T. B. Gillies, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

Enclosure in No. 4. Addeess No. 29.—Session XXVI., IS7O. (Extract from the Journals of the Auckland Provincial Council, Wednesday, 16th November, 1870.) Resolved, That this Council is of opinion that advantage should be taken, at the earliest possible period and to the fullest extent, of the Acts passed by the General Assembly, during its last Session, for the promotion of public works and immigration. Resolved, That this Council is further of opinion that no delay should take place in carrying out so much of the policy of the General Government, embodied in the aforesaid Acts, as relates to the purchase of Native lands in the North Island; and would respectfully suggest that preference should be given, in any purchase to be made, to the extinguishment of the Native title over the gold fields, and to the acquirement of such land as may be immediately available for settlement. Resolved, That this Council, believing that the interests of the Province are identical with the interests of the Colony in the success of these colonizing schemes, is likewise of opinion that the waste lands of the Crown in the Province of Auckland, available for settlement, after satisfying holders of scrip and land orders, should be administered by the Provincial Government in such manner as to enable the Colonial Executive to give effect to their immigration scheme without delay. Resolved, That an address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to transmit a copy of the foregoing resolutions to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, and also to take such steps as may be necessary to give them effect in a liberal spirit, as far as His Honor can legally do so. G. Maubice O'Eoeke, Speaker. No. 5. The Hon. W. Gisbobne to His Honor T. B. Gillies. Sic, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 3rd December, 1870. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's letter No. GBO, of the 21st ultimo, transmitting copies of resolutions in reference to carrying into effect the policy of immigration and public works and purchase of Native lands in the Province of Auckland. I have to request your Honor to be good enough to convey to the Provincial Council the great gratification which the General Government feel at the expression of the desire of that body to aid in taking advantage of the colonizing policy adopted by the Assembly last Session. I would at the same time offer a few remarks which I think will aid in enabling practical effect being given to those resolutions. The second resolution is to the effect that there should be no delay in purchasing Native lands in the North Island, there being added the suggestion " that preference should be given, in any purchase to be made, to the extinguishment of the Native title over the gold fields, and to the acquirement of such land as may be immediately available for settlement." I have to point out to your Honor that the resolution, as it stands, would seem to indicate the desire that purchases calculated to effect, or to aid in, the extinguishment of the Native title over the gold fields, should have the preference before any other purchases whatever. lam not aware whether the Council understands that land purchased under the provisions of " The Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870," although it is to become Provincial estate, is to be made available specially for the purposes of the Act. But, in any case, I think the Council may feel assured that whilst it is desirable to extinguish the Native title over land within the gold fields, it is not necessary in doing so to give it a decided preference over the acquirement of land available for purposes of settlement. I lay some stress on this point lest it should be understood that your Honor should give special preference to purchases of land within the gold fields, and lest it may be regarded by you as a bar to your consenting to other purchases ; for your Honor is aware that the Act is so framed that no land purchases can be made under its provisions without the concurrence of the Superintendent. The Eesident Minister at Auckland has already addressed your Honor on the subject of the purchase of Native lands, and I earnestly trust that your Honor will co-operate, as suggested, with the General Government in this important matter. 2

AUCKLAND