D.— Vo. 3.

the public works, the means of subsistence and are enabled to devote the remainder of their time to bringing their farms under cultivation. The first difficulties of settlement are thus in a great measure obviated, and the temporary labourer by the acquisition of a freehold is ultimately converted into a permament settler. Reserves of the kind just mentioned might at once be laid oft' in the Waitotara Block and on that portion of the Forty Mile Bush over which the native title has already been extinguished; and in contiguity to the North Eastern trunk line, and long before the North Western and North Eastern lines were completed, there is every reason to believe that the Provincial Government would be in a position to lay off similar reserves within the Manawatu Block on each side of the Mauawatu River. In reference to the style and number of immigrants to be introduced for location at these special points of settlement, and for strengthening the other existing inland Townships in the Province, the aim should be to introduce young married couples with not more than one or two children. And it is submitted that the selection of these should be entirely confided to the Provincial Government, whose duty it would be to appint some duly qualified person or persons well acquainted with the Province, its advantages and drawbacks, and of a character such as would be a guarantee that those highly colored pictures which mere Immigration Agents have too frequently circulated through the Mother Country would not be resorted to. With regard to terms, the Provincial Government have reason to believe that a sufficient number of the class of immigrants required might be obtained by the Government paying one half of the passage money, the immigrants themselves paying the other moiety before embarkation and the Government guaranteeing that the passage per adult should not exceed £14. Under these terms the £45,000 appropriated to the introduction of settlers into such part of this province as lies south of Wanganui would suffice for an immigration equal to 6000 adults. But as at this distance from the Mother Country and in the face of the large immigration going on to America and the increased comfort of the labouring class at home, it is impossible positively to assert that these terms would be fouud sufficiently liberal to secure the required number of immigrants. The Provincial Government would in the event of their not proving sufficient for the object in view recommend that the Government, paying absolutely one half, should advance whatever portion of the second moiety of the passage might in each case be necessary, taking a promissory note, payable within a reasonable time, for the amount so advanced. I. E. Featherston, Superintendent. Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 27th Febuary, 1864.

No. 3. THE COLONIAL SECRETARY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT WELLINGTON. Colonial Secretary's Office, Sir, — Auckland, 6th April, 1864. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's letter, No. 81, of the 27th February last, transmitting a Memorandum from yourself on the subject of the proposed introduction, under the " Loan Appropriation Act, 1863," of settlers into the Province of Wellington, and of the construction of public works within the same. In reply, I have to inform your Honor that the Government concurs generally in your views, as expressed in that Memorandum, but with reference to the second paragraph of the third proposal, in which you ask for the Provincial Government the right to execute on their own responsibility, after receiving the antecedent approval of the General Government, the contemplated works, the Ministers cannot altogether concur. The General Assembly will, no doubt, regard the Ministry as responsible for the actual expenditure of the Loan of £3,000,000, in accordance with the plans proposed last session, and the General Government can hardly relieve itself from such responsibility by handing over the expenditure of a portion of the Loan to a Provincial Government. It seems necestary that in doing so, the General Government should not only approve antecedently of the plan on which the Provincial Government propose to proceed, but should also retain in its own hands a certain amount of control, so that if the Provincial Government should fail in the execution of the plan the General Government might interfere so as to prevent a departure from, or, what is more probable, an imperfect execution of the sanctioned plan. The General Government does not, in this ease, contemplate any such result, but is bound in prin ciple to assert its position. The amount or description of the control which it might be necessary to retain may be considered hereafter. I have, Ac, His Honor the Superintendent, William Fox. Wellington

No. 4. THE COLON TAL SECRETARY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT WELLINGTON. Colonial Secretary's Office, Sir,— Auckland, 7th May, 1864. lam sorry to learn from a private note that my official reply to your Honor's letter of the number and date quoted in the margin did not sufficiently convey to you the intention of Government. On referring to your Honor's letter I beg to make the following further statement wheh I hope will enable you to take action in the matter.

„ g , '

jj 0 lO y ' 81-64. T^TVvrT^7 — (til x'cu.j Aoti4.

29

TO IMMIGRATION.