D.-8
1878. NEW ZEALAND. TE AROHA BLOCK AND MR. BROOMHALL'S PROPOSED SPECIAL SETTLEMENT. (PAPERS RELATIVE TO).
Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency. No. 1. Mr. Broomhall to the Hon. Major Atkinson. Sir, — Northern Club, Auckland, 3rd November, 1876. I take the first opportunity after my arrival in this city, on my return from the north part of this Island, to acknowledge in writing your telegram of 21th October, which found me at Herd's Point on the 26th, and to which I at once wired a reply. Previous to my interview with Sir J. Vogel, I had arranged with Mr. Header Wood to leave this city for the north in the only steamer which runs between it and the Bay of Islands. Monday, and no other day, is the day for sailing; and this I communicated to Sir Julius, engagino-, did I get a telegram from you previous to the steamer leaving, that I would cancel the arrangement with Mr. Header Wood, anil at once proceed to Wellington. I accordingly left Auckland on the 23rd October, and rode across the Island from the Bay of Islands to Waitangi, Ohaeawai, Taheke, Omapere, Manganui Bluff, Waipoua, Opunake, and Kaihu, returning via the Wairoa and Kaipara Bivers to Auckland. I found some parts as fertile as Egypt, others as sterile as the desert, others densely covered with thick forest, and but a very small part into which the plough could at once be placed. The fertile parts, I found, were still in the hands of Natives, and all excluded from my map of the district, kindly furnished to mo by Mr. Reader Wood ; and the conclusion to which I came was, that the northern part is not adapted for a colony of the size and magnitude contemplated by Mr. Eox and my friends, at least that part of the north over which I rode. I have gone over the country between the Waikato and Thames Rivers, as far south as Waipa, Hinuera, Turanga-o-Mona, Tepai oTe Eawaru, and Matamata. I have intimated to Mr. Wood my general approval of the locality, and he is now searching whether Government has land thereabouts; aud, should he find such the case, I contemplate visiting it on my way to Wellington; but Ido not feel at liberty to finally elect any spot until I have the imprimatur of Mr. Fox, who promised to meet me in Wellington about the end of November. I have, Sec, The Hon. Major Atkinson. J. Broomhall.
No. 2, The Hon. Major Atkinson to Mr. Broomhall. g IE Wellington, 25th November, 1876. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 3rd instant, and to state that the Government will be happy to confer with you, upon your arrival in Wellington, with reference to TOUT proposal for tho establishment of special settlements. 3 v I have, Sec, John Broomhall, Esq., Northern Club, Auckland. H. A. Atkinson.
No. 3. Mr. D. A. Tole to Mr. Broomhall. g IE Crown Lands Office, Auckland, 13th December, 1876. I have the honor, in reply to your letters of date 23rd November, 1876, and Ith December, 1876, on the subject of the purchase of 45,700 acres of land at Te Aroha. for the purpose of forming a special settlement, to transmit for your information the enclosed resolution arrived at by the Waste Lands Board in reference to your application. I shall be glad if you will intimate to me at your earliest convenience your acceptance or otherwise of the terms and conditions submitted. I have, Sec, John Broomhall, Esq., Bank of New Zealand, D. A. Tole, Wellington, Commissioner of Crown Lands, I—D. 8.