A.—No. S.

PAPERS RELATING TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE SOUTHWEST GOLD FIELDS OF THE PROVINCE OF NELSON.

No. 1. Mr. W. Pitt to the Hon. "W". Gisboene. Sic, — Eeefton, Inangahua, 25th May, 1872. I have the honor to transmit a memorial from the inhabitants of Eeefton for presentation to His Excellency the Governor of this Colony. The memorial was proposed at a meeting most numerously attended, and it was adopted without a single dissentient voice. Extremely bad weather, and the difficulty attending communication between Eeefton and the different lines of reefs, have prevented the Committee from obtaining all the names which we know have been appended to the printed copies of the memorial which have been issued. As these are received they will be forwarded. Notwithstanding the delay just indicated, the Committee, and I may venture to say the community generally, confidently hope that the expression of feeling manifested by the signatures now transmitted, will induce His Excellency and his Government to consider favourably the prayer of the memorial. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. William Pitt.

Enclosure in No. 1. To His Excellency Sir G. E. Boweit, G.C.M.G. Governor-in-Chief of the Colony of New Zealand, The humble Memorial of the undersigned Inhabitants of the Inangahua District, in the Province of Nelson, New Zealand. Showetii, —■ That the district in which your memorialists reside comprises a vast tract of good available agricultural land, and has long been known to possess in various parts a considerable extent of auriferous alluvial country, sufficient, under favourable conditions in the way of roads and tracks, to support a large population ; in addition to which during the last two years there have been discovered quartz reefs of almost unprecedented extent, and of undoubted richness. These resources have attracted to the district a population of over 3,000 souls, and have also attracted the attention of capitalists in all parts of the Colony, and even to some extent, which is fast increasing, in the neighbouring Colonies. The confidence of all these in the permanency and value of the district is evidenced by the vast amount of work done, and the very large sums expended in the purchase and fixing, in almost inaccessible country, of powerful crushing machinery; while further extensive orders for machinery have been or were about to be forwarded to Melbourne and elsewhere. Notwithstanding all these great natural advantages, and the opportunities afforded for fostering and encouraging the early development of such a valuable part of the Province, the Nelson Provincial Government has systematically, and, it would appear, has studiously ignored its responsibility towards this district. Whilst drawing monthly an almost incredibly large revenue from the miners, they have abstained from making any provision for supplying the many vitally pressing wants of the community, which wants, had it not been for the prompt and vigorous action of your Excellency's Government, might have resulted in the most deplorable consequences. Tour memorialists, in common with the whole of the Nelson Gold Fields population, have for years been conscious of the incapacity of the Nelson Provincial Executive to administer efficiently the affairs of those fields; but the experience of the last year's mal-administration has so completely demonstrated that incapacity, that the future well-being of this important district will be unnecessarily retarded, if not altogether frustrated, unless your Excellency and your Government interpose to save us from the hands of the Nelson Provincial Executive. Detailed instances might be multiplied in proof of our general statement; but we, your memorialists, will rest satisfied by placing before your Excellency a few, to justify their assertions, and they indulge in the hope that the wrongs suffered may soon be remedied. The neglect of the Nelson Government to make provision for roads of any kind, although the necessity has been repeatedly pressed upon them, both through the public press and by their own officers, strongly proves their want of sympathy with this district, and their determination to follow a do-nothing, instead of such a progressive policy, as alone is suitable to a vigorous young settlement like this. Again, the large tracts of country in this district, instead of being long since surveyed, and sold to the numberless persons who would have gladly availed themselves of the opportunity, and so have contributed to the great desideratum of the day—settlement of the country —have been allowed to lie waste, and totally unproductive. It is true, some comparatively small quantity has recently been surveyed for agricultural leases. But it is respectfully submitted that such a course is inconsistent with a sound and wise policy, and is altogether inadequate to supply what we all desire; the permanent settlement and improvement of the country. This policy the Nelson Executive seem to regard as a chimera, and hence your memorialists have no faith in them.