9

D.—6

beyond precedent in the history of the colony, and no other special settlements have been so successful. 8. That your petitioners further believe, from the experience of the past, and in view of the great desire evinced by the agricultural farmers of the United Kingdom for emigration, which at present, it is believed, is streaming to Canada and the United States, would, if any assistance were rendered to George Vesey Stewart to enable him to carry out his scheme for further settlement or settlements similar to those already formed by him, be the means of bringing to this colony a class of settlers who would prove themselves not only a boon to the colony, but add greatly to its wealth and the development of its resources. 9. That your petitioners believe that there arc large blocks of land in the Bay of Plenty District equally as suitable for settlement as those of Katikati. Your petitioners therefore pray that your honorable House will authorize the Government to grant to George Vesey Stewart such lands for special settlement, and offer such facilities for settlement thereon, as to your honorable House may seem fit. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. G. Norris, And 85 Others.

No. 29. Report of the Waste Lands Committee on the Petition of G. Norris and Others, of Auckland. The Waste Lands Committee, to whom was referred the petition of G Norris and others, of Auckland, relative to setting apart certain lands for special settlement, has directed me to report that the Committee is of opinion that this petition be referred to the Government for their favourable consideration. Henry Bunny, Chairman.

No. 30. Petition of R. Blake and Others; presented by Mr. McDonald on the 7th November, 1879. To the Honorable House of Representatives, now in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of the members of the Tauranga Working-men's Land Association, of Tauranga, in the Colony of New Zealand, showeth, — That your petitioners are known as the Tauranga Working-men's Land Association, and number sixty-seven members, besides their wives and children; amounting in all to three hundred persons. That the Association consists of agriculturists and mechanics, and is formed for the purpose of acquiring a portion of the Te Puke Block, near Tauranga, for the purposes of a special settlement, for which application was made to the Auckland Waste Lands Board; but the conditions as to price—namely, £3 per acre —made it impossible for your petitioners to take it up. That your petitioners now ask your honorable House to set apart a sufficient area of the said block for their use under the homestead system, or such other terms as will make it possible for industrious people with limited means to become prosperous settlers. That, should your honorable House grant our petitioners the land on the terms required, they would in the course of a year have a number of their friends from the " Old Country " to settle with them, whose capital, combined with your petitioners' experience, would make the settlement an undoubted success. Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that your honorable House will take their position into favourable consideration and grant their request. And your petitioners will ever pray, &c. Richard Blake, And G6 Others.

No. 31. Report of the Waste Lands Committee on the Petition of Richard Blase and Others. The Waste Lands Committee, to whom was referred the petition of Richard Blake and others, praying that certain lands be set apart for occupation under the homestead system, has directed me to report that the Committee is of opinion that this petition be referred ito the Government for their favourable consideration. Henry Bunny, 3rd December, 1879. Chairman.

No. 32. Mr. George Vesey Stewart to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. Sir,— Wellington, 20th July, 1879. I have the honor to enclose you a requisition, signed by the leading inhabitants of Tauranga, requesting me to make arrangements with you for the settlement by bonafide settlers of further lands in that neighbourhood. 2—D. 6.