D.—6.

10

A large proportion of the lands referred to are at present in the possession of the Government, and upon the remainder the Native title can be forthwith extinguished, subject to which I am prepared to make arrangements with the Government for the purchase of the entire area as stated. I beg to refer you to the parliamentary report of the Crown Lands Ranger upon No. 1 Settlement at Katikati, and to the report on No. 2 Settlement submitted last week to the Waste Lands Board, and which has been ordered by Parliament to be laid on the table and printed. These official reports will satisfy you that the confidence placed in me by the Government of New Zealand has been fully carried out by the results. Many of the settlers whom I have already introduced desire their friends and acquaintances to be settled within their own district, and the lands for which I am now applying are the only suitable lands available, being situated about twenty miles south of Tauranga, whereby, if settled, the Township of Tauranga would be placed in the centre of the three combined settlements. I have no wish to monopolize the area applied for with immigrants; but, on the contrary, desire that colonists and colonists' sons should be located with the proposed new settlers upon such terms as you may direct. I regret to state that, in my opinion, a portion of the Auckland Waste Lands Board is opposed to progress, and, I believe, will thwart me, if possible, in my endeavour to settle this part of the country; and, as these lands have been handed over to their administration, I would respectfully ask you to recommend His Excellency to issue a notice withdrawing the lands of Te Puke from sale or lease, as provided by section 167 of "The Land Act, 1877 " This is necessary to preserve the block from being spotted, to the detriment of any settlement that may be hereafter formed. I should further add, as a reason for making this request, that, although the Te Aroha lands reserved for Mr. Broomhall have been long since handed over to this Board, as yet they have not been offered for sale; but in the case of Te Puke they have already issued advertisements for surveying and cutting up this block by tender. I might further state that the leading Press of the colony, representing various political opinions, has been unanimous in advocating the present application. The Government have already acquired, or can procure almost immediate possession of, 228,544 acres in this neighbourhood, as per schedule attached : if, therefore, you would sell to me the blocks of Te Puke, Rangiuru, Pukaingataru, Papanui, and Otawa, containing about 48,000 acres subject to a large area for Native reserves, such a settlement as I propose to form would greatly enhance the value of the adjoining Government land. Trusting that you will take this application into your favourable consideration, I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Lands, Wellington. George Vesey Stewart.

Enclosure 1 in No. 32. Schedule. Maungatapu, 400 acres ; Tapuaitu, 57 acres; Tutukeranga, 150 acres; Ngatihi, 8,173 acres; Maungatawa, 1,295 acres; Ngatihi, 1,496 acres; Ngapotiki, 11,700 acres; Waitaha, 7,000 acres; Te Puke, 25,972 acres; Rangiufu, 12,255 acres; Kaituna, 2,200 acres; Pukaingataru, 3,585 acres; Papanui, 5,843 acres; Kaikokopu, 40,284 acres; Otamarakau, 90,074 acres; Pahiko, 18,000 acres : total, 228,544 acres.

Enclosure 2 in No. 32. Alexander Tovey and Others to Mr. George Vesey Stewart. Sir,— We, the undersigned inhabitants of Tauranga and neighbourhood, having viewed the success that has attended the special settlement founded by you at Katikati, and the consequent advantages conferred thereby to this district, request you will apply to the Government for the following blocks of land—Paengaroa or Papanui, 18,600 acres or thereabouts ; Kaituna, 6,686 acres or thereabouts; To Puke, 25,972 acres or thereabouts; Matata Blocks, 19,995 acres or thereabouts—with the view of founding a third similar settlement on the south side of Taurauga, reserving therefrom for bond fide settlement such acreage as may be agreed on (under the homestead system) for the Tauranga Working-men's Land Association. We have, &c, Alexander Tovey, George Vesey Stewart, Esq., Katikati. And 30 Others.

No. 33. Mr. George Vesey Stewart to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. Sir,— Wellington, sth August, 1879. Referring to my letter of the 29th July last, applying for a further sale of land for the o rmation of a special settlement composed of colonists and immigrants with capital, I have the