G.—No. 4Da.

4

CLAIMS OF PROVINCE OF WELLINGTON

No. 4. His Honor W. Fitzherbert to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, 2nd August, 1871. In reply to your letter of the 31st July, enclosing copy of a letter from the District Engineer, Manawatu, in which you express a hope that I may be able to make the necessary arrangements for certain men employed on the public works in the Palmerston district to occupy land, I beg to state that I referred your letter with enclosures to the Commissioner of Crown Lands for his report, which I have now the honor to enclose. Until a measure shall have been passed by the Assembly, which I have been requested to introduce, asking for authority to dispose of land on credit, the existing Land Regulations of the Province prohibit mo from making any absolute engagements in the direction you recommend. I am however of opinion that conditional arrangements may at once be made on the same terms as are embodied in the draft Bill of which I have the honor to enclose a copy. I shall be prepared accordingly to receive deposits, to be returned in the event of such an Act as I contemplate not receiving the sanction of the General Assembly. I have, &c, William Fitzherbert, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 5. The Hon. W. Gisborne to His Honor W. Fitzherbert. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 11th August, 1871. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's letter of the 2nd instant, in which, with reference to the proposed location of certain labourers now employed on the public works in the neighbourhood of Palmerston, you express the opinion that conditional arrangements may at at once be made on the same terms as are embodied in the draft Bill of which you enclose a copy, and state that you will be prepared accordingly to receive deposits, to be returned in the event of such an Act as you contemplate not receiving the sanction of the General Assembly. The Government agree in your Honor's suggestions, and request that you will be good enough to make such temporary arrangements as may be necessary for carrying out the objects in view. If you will acquaint me with the arrangements when completed, I will at once instruct Mr. Stewart to act upon them. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. W. Gisborne.

No. 6. His Honor W. Fitzherbert to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 21st August, 1871. In reply to your letter of the 11th instant, I have the honor to submit for your approval the following temporary arrangement, viz.: — That Mr. Stewart should act as agent for the Provincial Government pro tern. That he should cause the sections to be subdivided, and send a tracing to the Land Office for approval. That he should receive any deposits, forwarding the amounts from time to time as received to the Provincial Treasury, accompanied by a schedule of particulars. I have, &c, William Fitzherbert, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 7. Mr. Holdsworth to the Hon. W. Fitzherbert. Sir, — Crown Lands Office, Wellington, 17th August, 1871. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the Hon. the Colonial Secretary's letter of the 11th instant, addressed to your Honor, and referred to me yesterday for my report, and in reply have the honor to suggest that, in the carrying out of the proposed arrangements, Mr. Stewart should submit to this office, for approval, a tracing showing the particular sections to be dealt with, and the subdivisions to be made, and, if agreed to, should undertake the necessary surveys. Any sums of money that may be paid to Mr. Stewart or others on account of land cannot be received in this office as land revenue, there being, so far as I am aware, no legal authority for dealing with Crown lands in the manner desired. I would take this opportunity of again calling your Honor's attention to the necessity of legalizing what has already been done in the way of allowing Scandinavians and others to occupy Crown Lands in anticipation of regulations yet to be approved by the Colonial Legislature. I have, &c, J. G. Holdsworth, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington, Commissioner of Crown Lands.