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the Government in the Province of Wellington, for trying the effect of the Small Farm System sought to be established there; and if the Government so far made a special exception in that instance, merely for the illustration of a theoretical plan of Colonization, I cannot but think, that under the circumstances of our case, we have a far stronger claim upon the favorable consideration of the Government, inasmuch as it would not only be carrying into practice the Small Farm System, but also be planting a new Settlement, which must draw a considerable number of our people to this Country, if we can hold out the favorable inducement which we are asking from the Government. In our case there exists the further strong claim of our being a Galic community, requiring to be located near each other, if this can possibly be accomplished, seeking thus to be under the ministry of a Gaelic clergyman who has accompanied us, especially as some of our aged people can understand no other language but the Gaelic. We are ready at once to settle upon and use the land, whereas under the Small Farm Reserve at Wellington, it remains to be seen whether the land will be taken up or not, in other words whether such a reserve were really wanted or not, by any considerable number of the community. In conclusion, I think I may very fairly say that the great benefit which we, as a community, would confer on this or any other Province, in which we may settle, affords a strong claim upon such Province for the most favorable terms that can be offered, and we have, in the first instance, come to this Province, although his Excellency Sir George Grey recommended to us the Ahuriri District, where he assured us of every possible facility for settling by special reserve and otherwise, which reserve is indispensable to our carrying out the principal objects of our emigration. Soliciting: Your Excellency's early and fovourable consideration of the matter, I have &c., (Signed) D. McLeod. To the Honorable the Colonial Secretary, &c., &c., &c., Colonial Secretary's Office Auckland, 10th February, 1854. Sir, —In reply to your letter of the 7th inst., relating to the location of the party of Highlanders which you represent, I have the honor to state, by direction of the Officer administering the Government, that, under the peculiar circumstances of the case, his Excellency will consider the party as the first applicants under the old Land Regulations ; provided the application for the first block is made at once, specifying the extent required ; but, with regard to the further requirements of the party for land, the Government can do no more than abstain from surveying or offering to public competition the land contiguous to the Block first selected. I am also directed to state that the Government is not prepared to make any alteration in the Land Regulations, seeing that the General Assembly, under whose control the Crown Lands will be, is to meet in a short time. I am further instructed to inform you thf.t the land at Mangawhai, referred to by Mr. McKenzie in his letter of the 4th inst., as desirable for your party, is not yet the property of the Crown, but that every effort is being made to purchase it from the Natives. I have &c., (Signed) Andrew Sinclair. Colonial Secretary. D. McLeod Esquire, &c., &c., &c., Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 13th February, 1854. Sir, lam directed by his Excellency the Officer administering the Government to apprise you of the following arrangements regarding the proposed location of certain Highlanders at Mangawhai. His Excellency has been pleased, under the circumstances of the case, to direct that the Representatives of this body (Messrs, Duncan McKenzie and D. McLeod) on their forthwith discribing the Land claimed, be considered under the Land Regulations of March last, the first applicants tor the purchase of such land. The Land also contiguous to such block is not for the present to be surveyed or offered to public competition.