G.—No. 40a

CLAIMS OF THE PROVINCE OF WELLINGTON AGAINST THE COLONY.

No. 1. Mr. Stewart to Mr. J. Knowles. Sir,— Gorge, Manawatu, 20th July, 1871. Several of the men employed on the public works in the Palmerston District have desired me to apply for them to obtain permission to occupy twenty to forty acres of bush land in the district adjoining the Scandinavian immigrants' lots, or in that neighbourhood. They have offered to deposit part-payment for the land, and wish to get it in time to fall bush for this season. Several are married men. They would form a valuable class of settlers, trained to work on the roads. I have, &c, John Knowles, Esq., Under Secretary, John T. Stewart, Public Works Department, Wellington. District Engineer. N.B. —A surveyor is at present marking out the immigrants' lots, who might without delay mark out a number for the roadmen if authorized. J. T. S.

No. 2. The Hon. W\ Gisborne to His Honor W. Fitzherbert. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 31st July, 1871. I have the honor to forward copy of a letter received from Mr. Stewart, the Resident Engineer at Manawatu, in which he states that certain of the workmen employed on the public works now in progress near Palmerston, in that district, are desirous of settling on land in the neighbourhood of the reserves made for the Scandinavian immigrants, and for which they are prepared to pay a deposit at once, and the remainder by instalments. I have telegraphed to Mr. Stewart, directing him to inform me what particular sections they are which it is desired to have reserved, but I take the opportunity meanwhile to express a strong hope that your Honor will be able to take the necessary steps to attach these workmen to the soil by the means suggested. I shall be happy to instruct Mr. Stewart to collect the deposits and instalments abovementioned, and to co-operate with your Honor in any other way that may be requisite. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. W. Gisborne.

Memo, by the Superintendent on foregoing Letter, written on back. J. G. Holdsworth, Esq., Commissioner of Crown Lands. Please report as to the practicability of acceding to the suggestions herein made. I wish (so far as the law permits) to carry out the recommendation of the Hon. Mr. Gisborne on this behalf. W. Fitzherbert, 31st July, 1871. Superintendent.

No. 3. Mr. Holdsworth to His Honor W. Fitzherbert. Sir, — Crown Lands Office, "Wellington, Ist August, 1871. Referring to your Honor's minute accompanying the Hon. the Colonial Secretary's letter, and Mr. Stewart's application for land on credit on behalf of some of the workmen employed on the public works at Manawatu, I have the honor to report that, while I have every desire to comply with the request, and so secure the settlement of industrious families in that part of the Province, the Proclamation of your Honor of the 23rd June last has closed from sale (for the present) the land applied for. If it should be found necessary, as has been suggested by the Attorney-General, to pass a short Act before the lands can be again thrown open for sale, a special clause may be introduced securing to all those who have been placed on lands with the sanction of the General Government, a title to the same under the proposed Amended Land Regulations. At the time the Scandinavians were put on the land, it was pointed out that the regulations in force did not provide for sales on credit, and it was supposed that to meet the difficulty, the General Government would purchase from the Province the 3,523 acres selected as a special settlement. At the present time, the sections as originally laid out are being subdivided into 20 and 40 acre sections, and to cut up a few more could without difficulty be undertaken. I have, &c., Jos. G. Holdsworth, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. Commissioner of Crown Lands.