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E.—la.

Intending settlers should be asked to show that they were possessed of some means, and to produce some form of guarantee as to the amount of capital owned by them, and possibly the course pursued by your predecessor under the same circumstances would equally meet the present case. In addition, there should be procured satisfactory evidence as to the character and general suitableness of the people for colonists. Then, the Government think the shipping companies would come to some arrangement with you, whereby the passage-money could be reduced, as it would be impossible for the colony at present to provide money for such a purpose. It does not appear necessary to confine the time during which passages may be given in this manner to the ten months that the shipping companies offer facilities to emigrants, so long as the companies are satisfied with the arrangements entered into. You could, no doubt, enter into specific arrangements with the shipping companies trading to this colony, and insure that a proper dietary scale, medical attendance, &c, are established, in which you will find assistance from the arrangement made by your predecessor under somewhat similar circumstances. The mode of payment for the passages would be subject to the same arrangements as formerly, without any assistance from the colony. In communications with intending settlers it will be necessary to insist upon the fact that those who desire to settle on Crown lands should be informed that they will be practically confined in their choice to forest lands, which have to be cleared and sown with grass before any return can be expected, and, moreover, that the lands that the Crown has to offer are, with few exceptions, confined to those suitable for pastoral purposes, but which may, nevertheless, be held in areas varying from 200 to 2,000 acres. You will see from this that farmers who have had some experience in pastoral pursuits are the most suitable class so far as settlement on Crown lands is concerned, even on the Crown lands clear of forest in the South Island, and that, therefore, special attention should be given to advertising in those parts of the United Kingdom where pastoral pursuits prevail. The course of action, therefore, the Government think it most advisable you should pursue is to advertise extensively throughout the United Kingdom (the cost of which will be defrayed by the Government); giving all the information available concerning the colony ; then, when suitable settlers come forward expressing their willingness to go to the colony, and show to your satisfaction that they are possessed of a certain amount of means, it will be for you, having previously arranged with the shipping companies, to see that they are provided with tickets for their passages at reduced rates. In entering into negotiations with the shipping companies, it is suggested that you should fully place before them the advantages which will accrue to themselves by offering inducements to a most desirable class of people to emigrate and settle in the colony, a class of people who will almost immediately become producers in the colony, and naturally help to swell the business of the shipping firms trading to New Zealand. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. J. Ballance.

No. 2. Sir, — 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., 14th August, 1892. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt, by the San Francisco mail which was delivered here on the 21st ultimo, of letter (not dated) from the Minister of Lands, communicating to me the views of the Government with reference to the proposals I submitted for consideration in the third paragraph in my letter No. 336, of the 18th March last, and, in reference thereto, to state that I have placed myself in communication with the shipping companies for the purpose of endeavouring to make arrangements with them for a reduction in the amount of passage-money as regards persons who may be recommended to them by me as eligible for such assistance, it being understood that the Government, on their part, will advertise extensively throughout the United. Kingdom, for the purpose of inducing suitable persons to proceed to the colony by the companies' direct steamers. ■ Owing to the absence from London of many persons who have to be consulted in this matter, I have not yet been able to come to any definite arrangement, but I trust will be able to do so shortly. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier. • W. B. Peeceval.

No. 3. Sir,— 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., 14th September, 1892. Adverting to my letter of the 14th ultimo, in which I had informed you that I had placed myself in communication with the shipping companies for the purpose of endeavouring to make arrangements with them for a reduction of the amount of passage-money for persons with capital going out to the colony, as instructed in your letter delivered here on the 21st July, and also informed you that, owing to the absence from London of many persons who had to be consulted, I was unable to make any definite arrangement: I beg to state that the matter is still in abeyance, for the reason given above, but I hope to be able to resume my negotiations in a few days. I had such difficulty in inducing the shipping companies to agree to reduce their fares on the scale sketched in my letter of the 18th March last that I fear that, now that your Government decline to make any money-contribution towards passage-money, I shall have still greater difficulty. I shall, of course, make strong point of the authority you have given me to advertise extensively, and of the increase of business which it is hoped will accrue to the shipping companies. With regard to the advertising, I have not thought it expedient to take any steps in this direction until I have concluded some arrangement with the shipping companies. I have, however, availed myself of an offer made to me by Mr. J. K. Eanderson, of Christchurch, New Zealand, who