D.—s

24

Tour letter under consideration now puts the inquiry into a specific shape. It has received the careful consideration of the Government, and I have the pleasure to inform you that the Government will support, in the Assembly, a Bill enabling your Honor to obtain by mortgage, within the Colony, the advance you ask for in your letter. The Government, however, make it a condition that you do not act in advance of such prospective power ; and as it is certain that, with the power obtained, you will be able to make the arrangement, the Government think it would be premature at present to enter into any negotiations, and would prefer you not doing so. Such negotiations might be entered into after the Bill passes, or whilst it is on its passage through the Legislature, with the clear understanding that the whole plan is dependent upon the approval of the Assembly. 5. The Government think, as the blocks are not yet settled, and they possibly might be away from the locality of the works proposed by your Honor, that at least £10,000 of the amount proposed to be raised should be dedicated to roads for the benefit of the blocks in question. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. Julius Vogel.

No. 57. His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic,— Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 27th May, 1874. Referring to your letter of the 29th ultimo, on the subject of setting apart land for settlement in this Province, I have the honor to inform you that the Provincial Government are quite prepared to agree to the terms of tho arrangement contained in the 4th paragraph of your letter, and to assure you that they will not act in advance of the prospective power proposed to be obtained from Parliament during its ensuing Session. I have, &c, William Fitzheebeet, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Superintendent.

No. 58. His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 16th February, 1874. I have the honor to call your attention to the desirability of more ships being put on to convey immigrants to Wellington. We consider that we are in a position to absorb 500 a month in this Province; and I express a hope that the Agent-General will be instructed accordingly. I have, &c, William Fitzheebeet, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 59. The Hon. W. H. Reynolds to His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington. Sic, — • Immigration Office, Wellington, 18th February, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 16th instant, in which you express an opinion that the Province of Wellington is capable of absorbing 500 immigrants a month, and request that instructions may be sent to the Agent-General accordingly. Will your Honor be good enough to inform me if you intend that these 500 immigrants should be exclusive of those nominated by their friends in the Colony. I have, &c, William H. Reynolds, (in absence of Minister for Immigration). His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington.

No. 60. His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 18th February, 1874. In reply to your letter of this date, relative to the application for instructions to be sent to the Agent-General to despatch 500 immigrants per month, in which you inquire whether this number is exclusive of nominated immigrants, I beg to say that the application was intended to be exclusive of those nominated by their friends. I have, &c, William Fitzheebeet, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 61. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington. Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 17th March, 1874. With reference to your Honor's letters of the 16th and 18th ultimo, upon the subject of qhe desirability of increased immigration to the Province, I have the honor to inform you that I have