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5. That larger areas of land be thrown open for selection. 6. That the houses and land left by settlers be open for selection. 7. That the payments for rural land extend over a period of ten years in place of seven years. [Here follow 21 signatures.] The Chairman and Gentlemen of the Jackson's Bay Commission.

At a public meeting of settlers residing within the Jackson's Bay Settlement, held at the Eoyal Hotel on Friday, 2Sth March, 1879, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted for the consideration of the Commissioners appointed by the Government of New Zealand to inquire into and report upon the present condition of the Jackson's Bay Settlement: —■ 1. That a wharf be immediately constructed at Jackson's Bay to facilitate the exportation of limestone, freestone, timber, cattle, &c, such wharf being absolutely necessary to further the progress of the settlement. 2. That the construction ofthe Paringa and Haast Track —-a work of the utmost importance to the settlement —be immediately proceeded with. 3. That the upset price of land situate at the "Arawata Flat" be reduced to £1 sterling per acre. 4. That a wire bridge be constructed across the Arawata Eiver at the site already surveyed for the purpose. 5. That the wharf at the Okuru Eiver be repaired and completed for use. 6. That all sections previously occupied under settlement regulations and abandoned for twelve months, be again open for selection. 7. That the debt owing to Government by the settlers for stores supplied to them during the first three years of the settlement be cancelled, the existence of such a debt being a very serious drawback to them, whilst its removal would greatly encourage them in their labours, and materially assist in the progress and prosperity of the settlement. 8. That a pack-track be constructed from Jackson's Bay to Martin's Bay. Tiie intervening country, known to be auriferous, would greatly encourage gold-mining, besides giving employment to other descriptions of labour. 9. That every encouragement bo given to sawmills and other local industries; and that a liberal subsidy be granted by Government to a steamlaunch, for the conveyance of timber to the wharf at Jackson's Bay for embarkation. 10. That it is essentially necessary that employment to the value of £50 sterling per annum be given to each present settler (about fifty) for a period of two years, to enable them to clear and finally settle upon their holdings. I have, &c, James Nightingale, The Chairman of the Jackson's Bay Commission. Chairman of Meeting.

To the Most Honorable the House of Representatives. The Petition of the Jackson's Bay Settlers showeth, — That your petitioners, having come to Jackson's Bay Special Settlement in the hope of making permanent homes for themselves and families, now hear with regret and alarm that the employment heretofore furnished by the Government is about to cease, in, at least, so far as it concerns the settlers who have been here from the first of the settlement. Your petitioners are well aware that the Government have kept faith with them in so far as having given many of them the full measure of employment promised, and have no desire to underrate the benefit received ; but your petitioners, having to encounter as pioneers more serious obstacles in the way of clearing the land and other difficulties not foreseen when the settlement was first projected, fear that without some further help they will be compelled to abandon their homes. Your petitioners also having been led to believe, when they first joined the settlement, that industries of various kinds would be established in the district, thereby furnishing employment when the Government works cease, this expectation, unfortunately, has not been realized; and as the settlement is so situated as to be practically out of reach of the older settled portions of the colony, where employment might be obtained, and as many of your petitioners have large families dependent on them, they could not well leave in order to look for the doubtful chance of obtaining employment in the neighbouring settlements. Your petitioners, therefore, having every confidence in the resources of the district and in its ultimate prosperity, and having, in the matter of making homes for themselves, expended a large amount iv labour and cash, would feel it to be a very great hardship should they be compelled to abandon them. Your petitioners therefore pray that your honorable body will see fit to accede to the prayer of this petition by voting a sum sufficient for the urgent requirements of the settlement—namely, the building a jetty at Jackson's Bay, the placing a small steamer at the disposal of the settlers for towing and other purposes, the completion of roads of communication, and the erection of saw-mills on the principal rivers, the money advanced for the mills to be paid back by a royalty of Is. per hundred feet on all timber sold. Trusting your honorable body will see fit to accede to the prayer of our petition, and your petitioners, as iv duty bound, will ever pray, &c.

Letters Sfc, upon Matters affecting the General Welfare of the Settlement. Gentlemen, — Jackson's Bay, sth February, 1879. I represent some half-dozen families besides my own, all desirous of settling in Jackson's Bay if the inducements offered are sufficient. These people are waiting for my opinion. I have been around the different river parts included in the district. lam well satisfied with the qualities of the land, especially for grazing purposes, and with the easy accessibility of most of it to the bay ; but the quantity usually given (fifty acres) is not sufficient for our purpose. In Victoria, New South Wales, &c, &c, 320 acres is allowed each family, with facilities for acquiring more, the whole of these 320---acre sections being frequently in grass, whereas here most of the land is heavily timbered. As those I represent have the means of improving what they take up, and are industrious, with considerable knowledge suitable for the bringing into use the lands of the district, I should like that from 100 to