H.—2

Sess. 11.—1879. NEW ZEALAND.

NO. 2 KATIKATI SPECIAL SETTLEMENT. (REPORT AND RETURN SHOWING THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF THE IMPROVEMENTS EFFECTED TO THE END OF JUNE 1870.)

Presented to loth Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency. No. 1. The Commissionee of Chown Lands, Auckland, to the Undeb Secbetabt of Cbown Lands. Sic, — Crown Lands Office, Auckland, sth August, 1879. I have the honor to forward, for the information of the Hon. the Minister of Lands, the enclosed copy of the Crown Lauds Eanger's first annual report (with descriptive schedules) on the nature and extent of the improvements effected by Mr. G. V. Stewart's second party of special settlers at Katikati. I have, &c, D. A. Tole, The Under Secretary, Crown Lands, Wellington. Commissioner of Crown Lands. Enclosure in No. 1. Mr. C. H. Hill, Crown Lands Banger, to the Commissioner of Ceown Lands. Sic,— Auckland, 14th July, 1879. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 829, of the 14th ultimo, requesting that I would proceed to Katikati and inspect and report on the improvements effected by the No. 2 party of Katikati settlers ; that I would ascertain what number of dwellinghouses have been erected on the 10,000 acres of land purchased by Mr. Stewart from the Government; that 1 would obtain from Mr. Stewart certificates as to persons who had paid him in full for their selections; and that I would ascertain the names in full of all persons forming the No. 2 party. In reply, I have to report that I proceeded to Katikati and inspected the improvements, and now forward thirty-seven schedules showing the nature and extent of the improvements effected. With respect to the certificates required from Mr. Stewart, I applied to that gentleman for them, but was unable at the time of my visit to obtain them. He, however, informed me that in some cases he had received payment in full for the land, and that certificates would in due course be shortly furnished to those purchasers. The settlers, for the time they have been located, have brought into cultivation —as will be seen on reference to the schedules —a large extent of land, and erected large and costly houses. In several instances I observed that the grass-seed brought from England by the settlers has partly failed; only a small proportion of it has come over the ground. The clover is growing pretty well. luuuls are being formed in some parts of the district. So far as I could observe the settlers appeared to be contented. I may state that I consider the labours of the settlers would have shown to more advantage had my visit of inspection been deferred until a later period of the year. The middle of the winter is a time the efforts of a farmer, particularly in a new district, do not show so well as in spring or in summer. I have, &c, C. H. Hill, The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland. Crown Lands Banger,