D.—No. 2

Enclosure to No. 46. EXTRACT from the Journals of the Auckland Provincial Council, —"Wednesday, May 3rd, 1865. (1.) That this Council having had from time to time placed before them copies of the correspondence passing between the Superintendent and the General Government with reference to the settlement of immigrants on the confiscated territory in this Province, regret to find that the Colonial Secretary, in his letter of date the 10th of April instant, should have thought it fit to state that this Province " seems to consider itself totally absolved from all responsibility in regard to the employment of immigrants," &c, &c, and feel it to be their duty, as representing the several constituencies of the Province, to represent to His Excellency's Government that the Provincial Council of this Province have never been in any way consulted upon this most important matter, but that, on the contrary, upon the occasion of their being first made acquainted with the intention of the General Government to commit to the Superintendent of the Province, as agent of the General Government, the management of a portion of the scheme of colonisation initiated by the late Ministry, it was distinctly announced by the Provincial Secretary (Mr. Carleton). as may be seen by reference to his speech, published in the local papers of the 21th December ultimo, that the conduct of the business was intrusted to the Superintendent on the condition that this Council was to be excluded from any participation in the scheme. (2.) That during the continuance of the present Session it has been invariably maintained by the Provincial Executive, that this Council were in no way concerned, either in the management or the mismanagement of the scheme, as the General Government were, through their Agent, solely responsible for its success. (3.) That the Superintendent of the Province, so far from implicating the Provincial Council in the engagements he entered into with the General Government, absolutely refrained from communicating to the Council copies of the papers relating to the subject until he received the sanction of the Colonial Secretary, as will be seen by the Superintendent's letter of date 21st January ultimo. (4.) That this Council, although they perhaps ought, as a branch of the Provincial Legislature, to hesitate, on the eve of a dissolution, to undertake a share in the management of the Immigration Scheme, devolving, as it may, serious responsibility upon their successors, would have felt bound to have given their earnest consideration to the subject if they had been consulted Upon it. (5.) That this Council, on a review of the correspondence as at present before them, is of opinion that very serious detriment will accrue to the Colony of Xew Zealand, and this Province in particular, if steps be not immediately taken of restoring confidence to the immigrants already located on their land, by fully and faithfully carrying out all engagements entered into with them. But the Council cannot but regard with disfavour the arrangement whereby the Superintendent of the Province, in his capacity as agent of the General Government, may appear to involve the Province in resjjonsibility without the concurrence of the Provincial Council. (6.) That this Council, without desiring to arrogate to themselves any powers beyond those assigned to them tinder the Constitution Act, for the discharge of which they have been elected, think it right to point out to the General Government that serious inconvenience may arise from the Genera Government inducing (as appears to have occurred in the present instance) one branch of a Provincial Legislature, irrespective of the other, to undertake duties for which it has not been elected, and which it may appear to the other branch inexpedient to undertake, as involving responsibility which they were not elected to assume. (True extract.) W)(. Powditcii, Speaker. No. 47. The Hon. the Colonial Secretabt to the Speaker of the Phovincial Council, Auckland. Sib, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 15th May, 1865. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the date quoted in the margin (4th May, 1865), inclosing Eesolutions of the Provincial Council on the subject of the settlement of the General Government immigrants in the Province of Auckland. I have, &c, Henry Sewell, The Speaker of the Provincial Council, Auckland. For the Colonial Secretary. No. 48. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary to the Superintendent, Auckland. Sik,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 15th May, 1865. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the sth May, 1865, in reference to the correspondence respecting the General Government Immigration Scheme. I have, &c, Henry Sewell, His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. For the Colonial Secretary. No. 49. KEPOKT of the Chief Subyeyoj?, forwarded to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary by Dr. Knight. Sib,— Auckland, 17th April, 1865. From the tenor of letters which I have seen from Wellington, and from what I have learned from yourself, I am led to infer that Ministers think that the surveys of lands for the location of immigrants could have been made with greater expedition. I

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AND LOCATION OF IMMIGRANTS.