33

D.—s

one hundred and fifty persons per month, to consist of labouring men and their families, calculated for employment upon public works and in agricultural pursuits, but including in the number a fair proportion of artisans, such as blacksmiths, carpenters, coal and iron miners. At least three-fourths of the entire number to be natives ofthe United Kingdom." Oswald Cuetis, The Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 90. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Nelson. Sib, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 9th March, 1874. Herewith I forward for your Honor's information copy of a letter* to the Agent-General, dated the 6th ultimo, instructing him to forward immigrants to the Province of Nelson. I have, &c, Julius Vogel. His Honor the Superintendent, Nelson.

No. 91. His Honor the Supebintendent, Nelson, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. (Telegram.) Nelson, 11th February, 1874. Looking forward to arrival of immigrants and necessity for locating a portion of them immediately, I am anxious to make three blocks of land set aside for special settlement available without delay, by means of continuing the existing dray road further down the Buller Valley. These blocks are situated on four tributaries of the Buller, namely, Owen, Matiri, Matakitaki, and Marina, and the road requires to be continued from the Devil's Grip to Hampden and the Marina, between which points only a pack-track exists, and immigrants with their families and goods could only be conveyed to their locations with much expense and difficulty, and to be afterwards subjected to heavy charges for carriage of supplies. The Provincial Government being without funds to construct this road, which is .absolutely necessary to the location of immigrants upon land under special settlements scheme, I trust the Goverument will assist them with an advance of £12,000 to continue road from Devil's Grip to the Owen, where the nearest block is situated (the amount to be repaid in twelve months), <and the sum of £8,000 to connect the four intended settlements, by carrying on the road from the Owen to Hampden and Marina. The latter sum I trust the Government will contribute from the funds available for immigration purposes, with the undertaking on the part of the Province to refund the money in twelve months if the special settlements should not bo formed. Oswald Cuetis, Hon. Julius Vogel, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 92. His Honor the Supebintendent, Nelson, to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Nelson, 21st February, 1574. I have the honor to request the .attention of the Government to the difficulty in which the Provincial Government will be placed in the absence of sufficient funds to carry out the scheme of special settlements, so as to make it available for the location of a portion ofthe immigrants who may be expected to arrive within a few months from this date. I trust, therefore, for the assistance of the General Government to enable me to make the four blocks of land which have been set aside for special settlements, available without delay for the purposes of settlement, by means of continuing the existing dray road further down the Buller Valley. These blocks are situated on four tributaries of the Buller, namely, the Owen, the Matiri, the Matakitaki, and the Marina, and the road requires to be continued from the Devil's Grip to Hampden and the Marina, between which points only a pack-track exists ; and immigrants with their families .and goods could only be conveyed to their locations with much expense and difficult}', while they would afterwards be subjected to* heavy charges for carriage of supplies. The Provincial Government is without funds to construct this road, which is absolutely necessary to the location of immigrants upon land under tho special settlements scheme. Under these circumstances, I hope the General Government will see their way to assist the Province by an advance of the sum of £12,000 to continue the dray road from its present termination near the Devil's Grip to the Owen, where the nearest block is situated; and also the further sum of £8,000 to connect the four intended settlements, by carrying on the road from the Owen to Hampden and Marina. I propose that the £12,000 should be repaid by the Province at the expiration of twelve months from the date of adv.ance. With respect to the £S.OOO, I hope the Government will consent to contribute that sum from the funds available for immigration purposes, on receiving an undertaking from the Province to refund the money in twelve months in case the special settlements should not be formed. I have, &c, Oswald Cuetis, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent. * Vide D. 1, p. 19. 5— D. 5.