D.—.No 7a

18

PAPERS RELATING TO SPECIAL

value in form of marketable articles at current prices; the settlers providing for cutting lines and labour necessary, and being at any cash expenses that may be required in the performance of the work. sth.—That the Government may extend protection to me, in the event of any settlers refusing to make recompense for such surveys, according to a scale of fees which may be adopted by the Government. / I have, &c Geo. Hately, W. 11. Pearson, Esq., Authorised Surveyor. Commissioner of Crown Lands, Invercargill.

Enclosure 2 in No. 9. Mr. J. Aitken to Mr. Pearson. Invercargill, Bth Jan., 1872. Sir, — Referring to our conversation re going over to Stewart's Island and residing as a surveyor, or to survey the sections of land to be given under the " Otago Special Settlements Acts," I beg to state that I am prepared to accept from the Government as an authorised surveyor, residing on the Island, the following terms :— That I am to get a free grant on the same terms as the other settlers, under the Acts. That all the labour required for the surveying of the sections, such as boating, cutting back lines, pegs, &c, to be performed by the settlers who have the grants of land. That for my professional services I am to be paid by the settlers, at the rate fixed by the Government, in its equivalent in kind, either fish, oysters, mutton birds, &c. That I am to have the choice of surveying any land in my district or locality, sold for cash to ordinary purchasers and payable in cash, as also the surveying of any area taken up for lease under the mineral regulations. I will be happy to enter into an engagement as above indicated, upon the clear and distinct understanding that the Government undertake to acquaint the settlers, under the " Land Settlements Act," with the terms and conditions upon which their land is to be surveyed; failing which, I shall of course hold the Government (in case of any misunderstanding on that head) liable to remunerate me. Perhaps I may venture to suggest, that to provide against any probable loss to the surveyor from any kind of repudiation that may possibly be practised, it would be best that clean receipts, from the surveyor for his charges, should be produced before the fee simple of the land is conveyed. I should not have entered into details, except for the purpose of making the surveyor, whoever he may be, as secure of his payment in some shape or other as it is possible to make him, as it must be obvious to the Government that recovery of debt from unprincipled persons in such a locality, may be attended with inconvenience, expense, and probably, annoyance. I have, &c, John Aitken. W. 11. Pearson, Esq., Commissioner Crown Lands, Invercargill.

No. 10. Mr. Baker to Hon. W. Reeves. Inspector of Surveys Office, Invercargill March 4, 1872. Sir,— In compliance with your verbal request, I have the honor to submit for your information, a short report on the surveys that will have to be undertaken in Stewart's Island, to enable immigrants to locate themselves on their various sections, on the land that will be set apart for them under the " Otago Settlements Act, 1871." As you are aware, the mountainous nature of the country will probably cause the immigrants who may be located there to spread themselves over a very considerable area, each selecting their own land in some sheltered bay or valley, according to the nature of the pursuit they intend to follow; whilst the dense timber, with which the greater part of the Island is covered, and the abruptness of the intervening headlands, will render it impossible, unless at a very great cost, to make a continuous survey extending over the whole of the area, throughout which it is intended these immigrants may select their land.