PAPERS RELATING TO IMMIGRATION.

15

D.—No. 3.

two years longer, in order to giTe them the opportunity of acquiring it at the upset price of £1 per acre. " Thus within three years they may become freeholders of forty acres of land; no very difficult matter for a thrifty family, with regular Government employment to begin with, and with the opportunity of obtaining the highest prices for any produce they may grow as population increases in their neighbourhood. " The land on which they are located is the finest possible description of bush land, and not very heavily timbered. Each family has a frontage of 10 chains to the main line of road from Palmerston to Ngawhakarau. " They appear to be perfectly satisfied with their prospects, and I have every faith in their ultimate success." The Government are prepared to instruct the Agent-General to carry out your views in reference to the settlement of the blocks named, and as experience has shown that much time is required to launch and carry into execution special settlement schemes, all the correspondence and plans to date shall be forwarded by the current mail; but before the Agent-General can be instructed to take any decided steps in the matter, it will bo necessary that the conditions of settlement in all their minute details should be prepared by you for the consideration of the Government. The only suggestion which the Government feel themselves at present called on to make is, that as the colonization of these settlements is intended to be undertaken by independent bodies of persons, care should be taken to regard the promoters in a purely business light, and so avoid placing any dependence on colonization from merely benevolent views. I have, <&c. His Honor the Superintendent, Hawke's Bay. W. Gisbohxe. P.S.—As the Public Works Department has at present scarcely any drafting staff', it would facilitate communication with the Agent-General if in future you transmitted duplicates of »uch plans as it may be desirable he should be supplied with.

No. 24. His Honor J. D. Oritond to the Hon. W. Gisboene. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Napier, 27th May, 1871. I have, the honor to transmit the copy of a resolution recently passed by the Provincial Council of this Province on the subject of immigration. Under the first section of the resolution it is proposed that a number of immigrants, not exceeding five hundred, shall be brought out during the present year, and that these immigrants shall be nominated by persons resident in the Province. I shall be obliged by your informing me under what regulations this system of immigration will be sanctioned, in order that as early as possible the necessary steps may be taken by parties here desirous of bringing out their friends. The second section of the resolutions relates to female immigrants, and I shall be glad to be advised by you when arrangements can be made for sending for the first batch of immigrants of this class. I wish to arrange for bringing out twenty-five as soon as possible, and the same number every succeeding three months. 1 may mention that about thirty single women are expected at an early date, having been sent for by the Province some months ago ; and I wish, if possible, to obtain your consent to these women being included in the arrangement you may approve for the introduction of this class of immigrants; Under the third section of the resolution it is proposed to promote colonization by special settlement, and the Provincial Council is now considering a Bill for setting aside and granting, free of cost, blocks of land for settlement. The Provincial Council unanimously passed the resolution, so that this Act will certainly be agreed to, and I hope to be able to forward the same to you at an early date. Meanwhile, any information you may be able to give as to the opinion of the Government respecting this class of settlement will be much esteemed. I have, &c, J. D. Ormoxd, The Hon. W. Gisborne. Superintendent.

Enclosure in No. 24. Resolution passed by the Provincial Council of Hawke's Bay. Thursday, 11th May, 1871. Mb. Oemond, pursuant to notice, moved the following resolution : — Whereas under the thirty-ninth clause of "The Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870," the Governor is empowered to provide for the selection of, conveyance to, and settlement, in any Province of the Colony, of such classes of immigrants and such numbers as the Superintendent, acting with the advice of the Provincial Council, shall request: And also, whereas the Governor is authorized, in contracting for the introduction of such immigrants, to provide for giving them employment on public works, or for giving free or other grants of land to any such immigrants, or for compensating the person bringing out such immigrants by grants of land or money: And further, whereas the Governor may make regulations for the nomination of immigrants by persons residing in New Zealand: