G.—No. 40a,

6

CLAIM OF WELLINGTON AGAINST THE COLONY.

I have therefore to request your Honor to be good enough to inform me, at your early convenience, whether you will allow the Scandinavians shortly expected to arrive to locate themselves on land at Palmerston on the terms of deferred payment authorized by " The Wellington Special Settlements Act, 1871." I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. W. Gisborne.

No. 13. The Hon. W. Gisborne to His Honor W. Fitzherbert. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 25th May, 1872. Tour Honor is aware that a small party of Scandinavians have lately been forwarded to the Wairarapa, with a view to their being located on the block of land beyond the Opaki, and that it is intended that other parties should follow as circumstances permit. As the terms on which the land is to be obtained from the Provincial Government for the settlement of these immigrants have only been verbally arranged, I have the honor to state that the Government is prepared to purchase from the Provincial Government the block of 4,000 acres (more or less,) shown in the accompanying tracing, at the price of 15s. per acre, subject to the following conditions: — 1. That the Provincial Government survey the block into 40-acre allotments, first laying off all necessary roads in conformity with the features of the country, accommodating the sections to the roads, so that easy access can be obtained to all parts of the block. 2. That the Provincial Government undertake to expend a sum equal to half the purchase money in making a road to connect the block with the main road or railroad through the Seventy-Mile Bush; and also to make cross roads giving an access to the back allotments, and to employ the immigrants located on the block on such works. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. W. Gisborne.

No. 14. The Hon. W. Gisborne to His Honor W. Fitzherbert. Sir,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 25th May, 1872. Referring to the recent interview between the Provincial Secretary and the Minister for Public Works, relative to the mode of dealing with the two blocks of land at Palmerston occupied by the Scandinavian immigrants who arrived last year, at which it was proposed by the Provincial Secretary that the Government should purchase the land, say about 3,600 acres, at the upset cash price of £1 per acre, I have the honor to inform you of the decision at which the Government have arrived. It is found on inquiry that the immigrants were located at Palmerston under the sanction of, but without any definite arrangements having been made with, your Honor's predecessor, and that on calling your attention to the necessity for having reserves marked out and regulations framed, you stated in reply that the immigrants were " located on land reserved for their use, in sections varying from 40 to 20 acres, and it is the intention of my Executive to bring these under ' The Land on Deferred Payments Act, 1871,' so soon as that measure shall have received the sanction of the General Assembly." Acting on this assurance, the immigrants were informed last February that on the first day of June next they would be called upon to pay the first instalment 'of the purchase money, and that thereafter they would have to conform to regulations made under " The Wellington Special Settlements Act, 1871." Since your Honor has asked, through the Provincial Secretary, that the blocks should not be occupied under " The Wellington Special Settlements Act, 1871," but under purchase at the upset price of £1 per acre, cash, the whole question has received careful consideration, and it has been concluded that the most desirable mode of occupation would be under the Deferred Payments Act, as originally proposed by your Honor, — i.e., under " The Wellington Special Settlements Act, 1871," of the General Assembly. But if your Honor should entertain a decided objection to this course, the Government—while unable to agree to purchase the blocks, as suggested, for a cash payment —will be willing to take the land at the upset price of £1 per acre, under the conditions set forth in sections 61 and 63 of "The Immigration and Public Works Act, 1871." I have, &c., His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. W. Gisborne.