D.—6

No. 17. The Officer in Charge, Jackson's Bay Settlement, to the Under Secretary for Immigration. Sir, — Hokitika, 6th June, 1878. In reply to your telegram of the 3rd instant, informing me that the vote for the Jackson Bay Special Settlement was exhausted, I would beg to point out that, if the cost for the conveyance and temporary houseing of immigrants were charged to the Immigration Department instead of the Special Settlement Account, as I understand was originally intended, there would still be funds available for liquidating the liabilities which have been incurred between the date the last wages were paid—viz., 31st March last and 24th May, the date on which Mr. Macfarlane received instructions to stop the public works. Those instructions which were received by me on the 25th April last, I forwarded by first opportunity on to the Resident Agent, hut, owing to the absence of communication, they did not reach him until the 24th May. By the "Waipara," I have received accounts amounting to nearly £1,000 for payment, being expenditure incurred on public works at the settlement up to the 24th May last. I beg therefore respectfully to request that the amount applied for by me, in my letter of the 6th May last—viz., £1,000 —may he advanced in order to liquidate the above accounts, as it was no fault of the Resident Agent that they were incurred, as his instructions to discontinue the works did not reach him until the 24th May, and I was under the impression that the vote was not exhausted, as no notification to that effect was sent to me when I received the last imprest on the 11th April. I have, &c., The Under Secretary for Immigration, Edward Patten, Wellington. Officer in Charge.

No. 18. The Resident Agent, Jackson's Bay Settlement, to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Resident Agent's Office, Jackson's Bay, Sir,— 11th June, 1878. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your telegrams via Dunedin and the Bluff, and will endeavour to act to the best of my ability in accordance therewith. The settlers desire to thank you for the prompt action you have taken with regard to finding them employment during the winter; and, with the exception of a few of the Italians, there is no disposition shown other than to manfully overcome the difficulties incident to all new settlements. I have, &c., The Hon. the Minister of Lands and Works, D. Macfarlane, Wellington. Resident Agent.

No. 19. The Under Secretary for Immigration to the Officer in Charge, Jackson's Bay Settlement. (Telegram.) Wellington, 10th July, 1878. Engineer and practical persons advise that wharf at Jackson's Bay, if erected to stand, would cost two thousand five hundred pounds. Under these circumstances there are no funds available, and work cannot be proceeded with. H. J. H. Eliott. By Authority: Geoege Dilsbury, Government Printer, Wellington. —1878. Price Ib.]

11