7

1.—13.

27/2/75. — V. Whitaker. Memoranda of arrangements. Schedule. 27/2/75. —Dr. Pollen. Memoranda of arrangements. Schedule. 27/2/75. —A. Sinclair to Inspector of Surveys. Mr. Whitaker has accepted thirteen allotments. 17/8/75. —J. Maekay. Lines of road suggested. 16/8/75. —Major Green. Forwarding copies of records re swamp negotiations. 17/3/77. —Native Minister to Dr. Pollen. Asking for information as to value of land, &o. 22/3/73. —Dr. Pollen to Native Minister. Impossible to make estimate at present. 28/3173.— Dr. Pollen to Colonial Secretary. General opinion re swamp, &c. 18/5/76. —H. T. Clarke to Native Minister. Kecommending that land as shown in tracing be given to company. 18/5/76. —Native Minister. Minute concurring. 2/6/76. —T. Heale to Native Minister. The road was the great object in making sale of swamp to company. 13/6/76.—Dr. Pollen to Major Green (telegram). Authority to receive £13,132 3s. 9d. for 83,325 a. 2r.20 p. 14/6/76. —E. L. Green to Dr. Pollen (telegram). Money received this day. 23/6/76. —T. Heale to Native Minister. Forwarding plan of north boundary of Piako Swamp Block, as admitted by Natives. Area reduced by 823 acres. 11/7/76. —C. E. Haughton to Commissioner, Confiscated Lands (telegram). Asking for Piako grant to be sent for execution. 12/7/76. —A. Sinclair to C. E. Haughton (telegram). Piako grant will be sent. Area now 86,502 acres. 13/7/76. —A. Sinclair to C. E. Haughton (telegram). Further as to area of grant. 13/7/76. —D. A. Tole to Secretary, Crown Lands. Forwarding draft of Crown grant for Governor's signature. No date. —Memo, by Major Atkinson to Solicitor-General. Asking if Governor has power to grant a less area than set forth in Order in Council. 18/7/76. —Solicitor-General to Secretary, Crown Lands. —Opinion that purchaser must take less area at price named in Order in Council for the larger area. 19/7/76. —Mr. F. Whitaker. Memo, agreeing thereto. 19/7/76. —C. E. Haughton to Solicitor-General. Asking if Gazette notice is necessary, the area of block appearing in Gazette as 83,000 instead of 87,000. 19/7/76. —Solicitor-General to Secretary, Crown Lands. Is of opinion that Order in Council is not invalid. 20/7/76. —Mr. G. Fannin to Mr. Haughton. Asking if Order in Council should be re-issued, owing to area being less by 823 acres than original grant. 10/3/77. —Dr. Giles to Secretary, Public Works. As to balance due to company on account of road-making in Piako.

Mr. T. Russell to the Hon. Dr. Pollen. Deae Pollen,— 28th February, 1873. I send, you my letter to McLean re the great swamp undertaking. Will you bring it before him in such a form as will lead to action for or against the undertaking at once ? I have, &c, The Hon. Dr. Pollen. T. Russell.

Mr. T. Russell to the Hon. D. McLean. (Enclosure.) Sib,— Auckland, 28th February, 1873. During the conversation I had with you a few days ago in reference to making a road across the great swamp, from the neighbourhood of Hamilton, on the Waikato, to the head of the navigation, on the Piako Eiver, you suggested to me to put my statement in writing for your consideration, and I now have the honor, on behalf of a number of capitalists, to make the following proposals:— 1. That a road between the points mentioned, sufficient for use as a common road, as also for a railway or tramroad, shall be made by the undertakers at their own risk and costs, according to a plan and at a cost to be approved of by the Government. 2. That it shall be commenced as soon as the necessary surveys are made, and carried on with all reasonable expedition until completed. 3. That the cost of making the road shall be paid by the Government to the undertakers in land, to be selected from the swamp at a fixed rate per acre. 4. And that the undertakers shall have the right to take the whole or any portion of the remainder of the swamp at a fixed rate per acre, to be paid in cash. I submit to you that this proposed undertaking is one of great public utility, and deserves the sanction and support of the Government. It is obvious that this great swamp is now worthless, and can only be made available by a very large expenditure of money. It would be useless to attempt to drain it piecemeal, as it can only be drained to advantage, if at all, by one large and comprehensive scheme. All the land on its borders at all available for cultivation has been parted with, and that only which is quite valueless in its present state left in the hands of the Government. Indeed a good deal of land on the borders of the swamp, which would be useful, if it is not even necessary, in order to be able to carry out an advantageous system of drainage, has been alienated. It is important, at all events, that no more should be parted with in lots, even if purchasers could be found, as the result would be that the bulk of the swamp would be left in the hands of the Government, without the necessary outlets for drainage, except by paying compensation to the border owners. It is hardly necessary for me to point out to you, who are so well acquainted with the locality, the great advantages to the public which would result from the successful completion of the proposed undertaking. Upwards of 120,000 acres of available land would probably be added to the Waikato District, and a short and convenient line of communication opened between the Upper Waikato and Thames Gold Fields, to the great advantage of both districts ; and this not only without cost, but, in all probability, with a substantial addition to the confiscated land revenue. I have to add that, as the boundary line of the confiscated land runs in a direction that cuts off several thousand acres of the swamp, it will be necessary to purchase these from the Natives, and the undertakers rely upon the assistance of the Government, if necessary, to accomplish this object. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Native Affairs, Auckland. T. Russell.