PAPERS RESPECTING THE FORMATION OF A COMPANY FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF A BLOCK OF LAND IN THE NGATIRUANUI COUNTRY.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1865 Session I, D-12

D.—No.12.

PAPERS RESPECTING THE FORMATION OF A COMPANY FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF A BLOCK OF LAND IN THE NGATIRUANUI COUNTRY.

PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BY COMMAND OF HIS EXCELLENCY. WELLINGTON: 18G5.

D.—No.12.

No. 1. MEMOEANDTJM by E. D. Boss. Memorandum of conditions under which certain Officers belonging to the Imperial Forces serving in New Zealand will undertake to form a Military Settlement in the Ngatiruanui country. 1. A block of say 60,000 acres, to be sold to a company to be formed on the principle of selfdefence, and self-support, in the Ngatiruanui country. 2. The block to have frontage to the sea coast commencing from the Cascade stream, south of Waingongoro, and extending northwards. 3. The form of the block to be roughly a parallelogram, the northern and southern boundaries to be as far as possible natural boundaries (as rivers), the frontage the sea coast; the inland boundary to be as nearly as possible a line from point to point; the mean depth of the block to be, if possible, not leas than six miles, but not more than ten per cent, of forest to be included within the lines of boundary, if this can be effected subject to the fixed condition that the sea frontage shall not exceed twenty miles, and that any Native reserves that it may be necessary for the G-overnment to make shall be excepted from the block. 4. The outer boundaries to be marked out by Government as soon as practicable, the expense being equally divided between the Government and the Company. 5. The G-overnment to reserve to itself power to take land within the district for roads, for purposes of Military Defence, for sites of public buildings, and for purposes of public utility and convenience. 6. The main line of road across the district to be decided upon by an engineer, in accordance with a plan to be approved of by the G-overnment, so as to ensure its proper connection with the main line of road in the adjoining districts. 7. The sum of two shillings and sixpence an acre shall be paid by the Company to Government in two equal instalments, —the first, upon entering into occupation of the land; the second, at the expiration of the term of five years. 8. That the Company bind itself to place upon their land within the term of six months from the issue of the license of occupation, and maintain for three years, a force of one hundred effective, armed and trained men, under competent officers approved by the Government, arms and ammunition, and uniform annually to be supplied by the Government. 9. That the Company guarantee that not less than that number of adult male settlers shall be lonafide residents upon their land at the expiration of the full term of five years. 10. That all internal surveys and necessary works, including the main line of road, bridges, block houses. &c, be made and erected by the Company without expense to the Government, so far as the Company may consider such works necessary for the defence, convenience and traffic of the district; such works to be maintained till the end of the period of five years. 11. That police escort and postal duties be performed by the military immigrants, or by the Company's servants within their boundaries. 12. That possession of the land is to be held by the Company for five years, the essential character of the whole scheme being self-defence and self-support, subject to the several militia laws of the Colony. 13. On the fulfilment of the aforesaid conditions for the full term of five years, the fee simple of the land to be handed over by the Government to the Company. E. D. Eoss. Wellington, 6th June, 1865. No. 2. The Hon. F. A. "Weld to E. D. Eoss, Esq., Wellington. Sib, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 7th June, 1865. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Memorandum on the subject of the formation of a Company for the settlement of a block of land in the Ngatiruanui country. The proposed conditions will be laid before the Assembly at its next meeting, and generally may be said to meet the approval of a majority of the Ministers, but the plan cannot be made a Ministerial question, though the necessary powers will be asked for from the Legislature. The proposal made by you to me personally, with regard to a block of land at the Opunaki, cannot be entertained, nor do I think that it would meet with the approval of the Legislature, though it is possible that a reserve may be made near that post for general purposes, for the benefit of yourselves in common with other settlers along the coast, but no undertaking to that effect can be entered into by the Government. I have, &c, E. D. Eoss, Esq., Wellington. Feed. A. Weld.

PAPERS RESPECTING THE FORMATION OF A COMPANY FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF A BLOCK OF LAND IN THE NGATIRUANUI COUNTRY.