D.—s

16

should be taken in hand as soon as possible; the burning of lime, a necessary article in reclaiming lands, be worked, and if the Survey Department could give information as to existing rock lime, would be valuable. As I intend to cast my lot in with this, and the sincere interest and. zeal I feel in this project, I must plead for my shortcomings if I have been tedious and not lucid enough. A lifelong gratefulness I offer, should this meet your Honor's favourable consideration. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Westland. Julius Matthies.

No. 21. His Honor the Supeeintendent, Westland, to the Hon. the Ministeb for Immigbation. (No. 59.) Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Hokitika, 18th January, 1875. Referring to my letter of the 14th December last, I have now the honor to inform you that I have this morning despatched the first twenty settlers to Jackson's Bay settlement. These have been selected from a large number of applicants, and are all good men desirous of permanently locating themselves on the land. With them I have sent timber all ready framed, sufficient to erect at once a store and eight cottages, so that the provisions and tools which also accompanied them may be housed, and the men themselves provided with temporary accommodation in a very few days after landing. By the next trip of the steamer, in about ten days, I shall be able to send the other twelve cottages I have had framed here, and about another thirty settlers, thereby completing the first part of the scheme which related to persons resident on the Coast, and so preparing the way for the immigrants that may come from the home country. I may say that great care has been exercised in the selection of those chosen to go down, and I think that the settlement may be.said to be fairly started. I trust that instructions have been sent home by the last mail to the Agent-General to send out immigrants for the settlement, and that you will soon be able to inform me of the first shipment being on the way. As I understand that there are a number of German immigrants now on their way out, I would recommend that twenty-five or fifty families might with great advantage be sent to the settlement; they are steady and industrious, and I think would be suitable for the place. There is plenty of work to be done in connection with the commencement of the roads, and there need therefore be no difficulty in despatching them at once. I have sent you by the " Charles Edward " fifty copies of the reports on the settlement and the general conditions, and I shall be glad to send you a further supply should you desire it. I shall be glad to hear from you as soon as possible whether the action I have already taken meets with your approval. ' I have, &c, Jas. A. Bonab, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 22. His Honor the Supeeintendent, Westland, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigbation. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Hokitika, 25th January, 1875. I have the honor to enclose you herewith a report from our Chief Surveyor on the special settlements at Jackson's Bay, and a general outline of the works contemplated to be done there. As you will see from this, the principal work to be pushed ou is the construction of the road from the proposed site of the jetty to Neil's Point ; this is the only difficult part of the road we are likely to have to encounter, and every exertion will be made to push it forward. It is, however, of special importance that I should get your decision as to the construction of a tramway or light railway, along which the timber traffic can be conducted to the harbour. The importance of this I have already alluded to in my letter of the 14th December last, and I need not therefore do more than state my conviction that this will be needed soon, as in the first instance the export of sawn timber must prove one of the mainstays of the settlement. There are many persons preparing now to establish saw-mills in the locality, trusting to this tramway being constructed, and a very serious check will be given to the prevailing feeling in favour of the success of the settlement if this is not done. The construction of a jetty is also a work of considerable importance, as at present everything has to be landed in boats on a flat stony beach; and with even a moderate swell this would be a work of considerable risk, both to boats and cargo. The expense Ido not think will be very heavy, and I propose, therefore, to get plans prepared without delay. After the other twelve cottages now prepared here are sent down, I do not think it will be necessary to send more from here, as some persons are going down by the next trip of the steamer who intend starting a small saw-mill at once, and will supply us with timber at a reasonable price on the spot; and I am desirous, having of course a due regard to economy as well, that as many of the requirements of the settlement as possible should be met from its own resources. I hope also by next steamer to have some twenty or thirty more men picked out to proceed to the settlement, and from the works indicated you will see that there will be ample employment for all. It is, however, very desirable that we should get some of the newly-arrived immigrants early, so that they may share in the necessary expenditure which is going on, and so acquire means for permanently settling on their land. I have, &c., James A. Bonae, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, N.Z. Superintendent.