Auckland 2 Decr. 1863. Sir, Referring to correspondence and interviews that I and other gentlemen interested in Hawkes Bay have had the honor to have with you in the subject of the location of military settlers in that Province and to the assurances then given that the Government is prepared to locate military settlers at Hawkes Bay so soon as that Province can provide land for the purpose. I beg now to submit the following proposal to your consideration with the hope that you may be in a position to give a reply to the same on Saturday to a deputation who propose with myself to wait upon you on that day. The proposal I beg to make is to the following effect that the Government shall cause the enrolment without delay of six hundred men to be located in the Province of Hawkes Bay as military settlers. That 100 of these shall be enrolled in the neighboring colonies to ensure their early settlement in a position on the N.E. frontier of the Province. On behalf of the Province I will place at the disposal of the Government for this object any of the lands contained in the two blocks known as the Pohui and Puketitiri containing about 3000 and 24000 acres respectively and consisting of both bush and open land and described by the Com- missioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor of the Province as suitable for settlement in the manner proposed. The Provincial Govt. mould be disposed to offer to settlers who may enrol themselves for settlement in this locality the additional advantage of commonage over a block of adjacent country should the Govt. approve of that course. The presence of these men in the position I have named would be a considerable safeguard to the remainder of the Province. I have no doubt that the Government is so fully aware of the great importance of opening up the main trunk line of road between Napier and Auckland that it would cause the men so enrolled to be employed in commencing that portion of the road which is situated near the places where it is proposed to settle them. It is submitted that the other 500 men shall be enrolled in England and sent with their wives and families by vessel direct to Napier, to be there located on arrival in the best positions the Province may be able to place at the disposal of the Govt. for the purpose. I may state that I confidentially expect to be able to acquire by purchase from the Natives at an early date tracts of land conveniently suitable for the location with advantage of settlers of the labouring classes. To obviate any objection the Govt. may have on the score of expence in bringing out men without the certainty of having land in the Province in which to locate them, I will undertake on the part of the Province should such unfortunately be the case on the arrival of the men in the Colony that the Province will undertake any expence that may be incurred in moving them to such other parts of the Colony as the Govt. may direct. Should the Govt. feel itself able to delegate the duty of procuring and enrolling these settlers the Provincial authorities would gladly undertake it on receiving authority to do so. The Humble The Colonial Secretary etc. etc. etc.