D.—s

2

On the disagreements between Mr. Farnall and the Agent-General I presume to offer no opinion, save that they seem to be very unfortunate for the progress of a very promising scheme of immigration for this Province. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Thomas B. Gillies.

Enclosure 1 in No. 3. Mr. Stewart to Mr. Gillies. Dear Sir, — Lisbeg, Ballygawley, 13th August, 1873. Though I have not had the pleasure of hearing from you personally, yet, as Mr. Farnall has sent me copies of your letters to him, in which you have expressed yourself in such kind and favourable terms with regard to my proposed special settlement in the Province of Auckland, that I think it is only due to you that I should return you my best thanks for the warm and energetic manner in which you have taken up the matter. It is, of course, a serious responsibility to break up a long and wellestablished home in this country ; however, I have duly weighed all the circumstances, and, acting on Mr. Parnall's representations of the Colony, have made my arrangements to enable me to leave this country (D.V.) next spring. The first vessel under the special scheme will sail to Auckland in October, and I have not the slightest doubt but that the entire block of 20,000 acres will be taken up by my party. I would, therefore, ask you to be good enough to reserve for me my lot of 1,000 acres (to which the number of my family will entitle me) out of the best portion ofthe 10,000 or 20,000 acre block. The first emigrants arriving may naturally prefer to receive the best lots, but I firmly believe that it will be for the true interest of the success of the scheme if I did not go with the first party, as by following in May will enable those who are in doubt to make up their minds and follow with me, on hearing good reports from those who have preceded them in October. In conclusion, I must bear my humble testimony as to the manner in which Mr. Harry Farnall is conducting the business and representing the interests of the Auckland Government in this country. I have found him most kind and courteous, sparing himself no trouble or exertion in meeting the wishes and long letters from his numerous correspondents on this subject. It is said that " comparisons are odious;" but I can truly state that, had I received from Mr. Farnall the same kind of reply as I received from the New Zealand Goverument Office in London, on the subject of emigration, you would never have heard anything about this proposed settlement, which I know will be a great success. I have one Presbyterian clergyman, who has promised to follow me with thirty families of the upper respectable class of yeoman farmers, if I give him good encouragement on reaching the future land of my adoption. Yours most faithfully, His Honor T. B. Gillies, Auckland. Geo. Veset Stewart.

Enclosure 2 in No. 3. Mr. Stewart to Mr. Gillies. Dear Sir,— Lisbeg, Ballygawley, 3rd September, 1873. I enclose you a requisition signed by a few of the persons interested in the proposed emigration scheme to Auckland Province. My experience has been that the arrangements will never be worked out satisfactorily in London ; and further, in such matters people should not be tied down to the hard-and-fast cord of red tape. As an example, I might state that, among my farm labourers, I have four families, having eight to ten children, average age sixteen to three, and even under that age. By the present regulation, these families would be all not eligible, as they contain more than two members under twelve years of age, and consequently about forty souls will be lost to the Province. Of course, we could not expect grants of land to such class; but what is the use of taking out capital to rechaim the lands, unless you have hands to work. 1 trust you will kindly excuse me for thus trespassing upon you, and entering upon such details ; but it is evident that such arrangements as would thus tend to promote the interests of individuals must also tend to serve the Province. Ido not natter myself that these labourers will remain on for ever with me; still, they will be in the district, and, judging from their parents, are likely soon to increase the population of the neighbourhood. Tours most faithfully, His Honor T. B. Gillies, Auckland. Geo. Veset Stewart. Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure 2 in No. 3. Messrs. Stewart, Andrews, and others, to Mr. Gillies. Dear Sir, — Lisbeg, Ballygawley, Ireland, 26th August, 1873. "We, the undersigned, being the original promoters of the special emigration to Auckland, observe with much regret that Mr. H. W. Farnall, your agent in this country, so far from receiving the support and assistance he deserves from the official representatives of the New Zealand Government at home, appears to have been thwarted in every possible way; and were it not that we place implicit confidence in Mr. Parnall's representations, we should in consequence have given up all idea of further prosecuting this movement,