D.—No. 2.

No. 5. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary to the Superintendent, Auckland. Sin,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, December 28, 1864. Referring to my letter No. 347, of the 23rd instant, respecting the supervision and Care of the immigrants who have arrived, or may soon be expected to arrive in this province, I have to transmit for your Honor's information and consideration the enclosed documents bearing on that subject. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. Feed. A. Weld. No. 6. The Superintendent, Auckland, to the Hon. the Colonial Secheiaet. Sib. — Superintendent's Office, Auckland, December 29, 1864. In further reference to your letter of the 21st instant, suggesting that the Provincial Executive should take a considerable share in the management of the immigration undertaken by the late Government in pursuance of the New Zealand Settlements Act and the Loan Appropriation Act, 1863, on the ground that the province is interested in the expenditure upon that object, and in the sale of land applicable to the reimbursement of the outlay thereon, I have the honor to offer a general outline of the measures which I propose to take. I desire to obtain permission to construct a house in each settlement, to be used at once for barrack accommodation, but in such a style of building as would afterwards enable the immigrants to use it either as a place of worship, a school, or a place of refuge in case of alarm from the natives. I propose to settle the immigrants on the best lands that can be found, leaving reserves sufficient for all public purposes, schools, hospitals, and places of worship. I propose that farms in the adjoining districts, varying from one hundred to one thousand acres in size, should be cut up and offered for sale by auction, subject to the following conditions :—Onefourth of the purchase-money to be paid on the fall of the hammer, one-fourth at the expiration of the first year, one-fourth at the expiration of the second year, and one-fourth at the expiration of the third year, when a Crown grant shall be issued upon condition of one-third of the land being substantially fenced and the whole being under crop or in grass. By these provisos mere speculation will be discouraged, and employment for immigrants will be secured. It must be clearly understood that in assuming the weighty duties entrusted to me, I cannot, under my limited powers, hold myself in any way responsible for the protection of the immigrants. But I am prepared to hold myself responsible for the complete success of the scheme (accidents of war excepted), provided that the land which I consider most suitable for the location of the immigrants and for sale be at once handed over to the Provincial Executive. I propose that the Waikato regiments (to remain still under the control of the General Government) should be settled well up in the interior for defence of the frontier line, that inside that line farms on the before-mentioned conditions of improvement should be laid out and sold. Under such conditions it may be assumed that the land would mainly be bought and occupied by active young men, the sons of industrious farmers, acquainted with the work of cultivation, with the native language, and possessed of means sufficient to improve their farms and give employment to the immigrants. These I propose to place on the most favoured situations nearer to Auckland, something in the manner of the enclosed sketch. lam aware that although a large sum (one hundred and fifty thousand pounds) has been appropriated by Act of the Assembly for the introduction of settlers into the province of Auckland, the General Government, under present circumstances, cannot conveniently make immediate disposal of the whole. Still I desire most strongly to impress upon you that the leading feature of success in the scheme must be the realisation of a good price for the land brought into the market. The price will be governed mainly by the amount of population introduced. It appears to me that in default of the full number being at once introduced by the General Government, a useful increase to the population might be made by an arrangement under which immigrants brought out by the Provincial "Government might be placed on the confiscated land. For instance, to each party of the General Government immigrants I propose to add a given proportion of persons holding land orders under the Waste Lands Act of the Assembly. Should you feel disposed to entertain the question I will endeavour to arrange details so as to meet your views. I have, &c, Eobekt Ghauam, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Auckland. Superinteudent. No. 7. The Superintendent, Auckland, to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Auckland, January 4,1865. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter K"o. 351, of date 28th December ultimo, transmitting sundry documents respecting the General Government immigrants who have .arrived, or are about to arrive in this province. I have, <fee, Eobert Graham, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Auckland. Superintendent.

Xot Printed,

3

AND LOCATION OF IMMIGRANTS