D.—B.

I have to thank your Honor for the prompt and liberal spirit with which you have acceded to my proposals with regard to this matter, which is of such great importance to a large body of immigrants now seven months in the Colony without being located. I have, &c., His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. G. M. O'Eoeke.

No. 6. His Honor W. Fitzheebeet to the Hon. G. M. O'Eoeke. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 13th November, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th instant, relative to the proposed exchange of 4,000 acres at Opaki, and to express the concurrence of the Provincial Government in the terms there expressed. Upon being informed that Mr. Munro has opened a road two miles in length and half a chain wide in the direction indicated in your letter, I will immediately instruct the Chief Surveyor of the Province to'direct a survey to be made, dividing so much of the block as may have been so opened by a road into 40-acre sections so nearly in accordance with paragraph 6 of your letter as the nature of the ground will permit. Inasmuch as the sections are to front on the main road lines, which will necessarily be tortuous, it will not be practicable, whilst preserving an equal breadth of sections along the back lines—and this is very desirable, so as to give uniformity to the survey —that the sections shall be exactly 40 acres each ; they will probably vary in dimensions between 37 and 43 acres. I would take occasion to observe that, owing to the difficulty in immediately selecting suitable branch road lines to give access to lands beyond the boundaries of the block, the Chief Surveyor also recommends that the usual percentage for roads should be given to each section, and that I request your concurrence in this proposal. I have, &c, William Fitzheebebt, The Hon. G, Maurice O'Rorke, Minister for Immigration. Superintendent.

No. 7. The Hon. G. M. Wateehotise to His Honor the Supeeintendent of Wellington. Sic, — Colonial Secretary's Office, 25th November, 1872. Referring to the Scandinavian settlement near Opaki, I have the honor to inform you that a number of families of Scandinavians are expected to arrive about January next, and that it is the intention of the Government to locate in this settlement such of them as may be unable to find ready employment with private employers. I have to request that, with a view of facilitating the location, the subdivision of the block in question may be proceeded with without delay. Mr. Munro, the engineer in charge of the works in the Opaki District, has been instructed to employ a part of the immigrants in clearing half a chain wide on the first two miles of the principal road line through the settlement, which is also to be made passable by the erection of rough bridges, and making side cuttings where necessary. Under arrangements made by the General Government, certain monthly deductions have to be made from the pay of the immigrants employed on this work. It is desirable that these deductions should be continued while the immigrants may be engaged on those works which are to be paid for by the Province up to the amount of £1,500. I trust your Honor will not object to these deductions being made while Mr. Munro, to whom instructions have been sent, shall be acting as paymaster, and that any Provincial officer who may hereafter be in charge of the work may be instructed to act with the General Government in this behalf. I may mention, in anticipation of the instructions to be given relative to the survey of the block, that it is intended to make a sufficient reserve for a village at the point where the principal road of the settlement shall be intersected by the cross roads. I have, &c, G. M. Wateehotjse, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. (for the Colonial Secretary).

No. 8. His Honor W. Fitzheebeet to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet. Sic,— . Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 27th November, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th instant, informing me that it is the intention of the Government to locate a portion of the Scandinavians, expected to arrive in January next, on the block of land near Opaki, and requesting that the subdivision of the block may be proceeded with without delay. In reply, I beg to state that Mr. Carkeek has been instructed to proceed forthwith with the subdivision of the block into sections ; and in answer to the second paragraph of your letter, I write to say that I see no objection to the deductions from the pay of immigrants being continued while Mr. Munro shall bo acting as paymaster, and any Provincial officer who may hereafter be in charge of the work shall be instructed to act with the General Government on this behalf. I have, &c, William Fitzheebebt, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

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