3

D.—6

help and protection in the formation of a special settlement. The Association numbers upwards of eighty heads of families, representing more than two hundred and fifty persons. I have, &c, Richard Blake, The Hon. the Minister of Lands, Wellington. Chairman.

Enclosure in No. 6. Mr. T Allely and 74. Others to the Hou. the Minister of Lands. Tauranga, 16th November, 1878. The petition of the undermentioned members of the Tauranga Working-men's Land Association humbly showeth that, as the Te Puke Block is now in the hands of the Government and the Native title extinguished, your petitioners would beg to remind your Honor of our former application (answer received 27th September, 1878, No. 2,585), for a portion of the said block to be set aside for a special settlement under the deferred-payment system. 2. That your petitioners are anxiously awaiting the final issue of their application in order to go at once and occupy the land. 3. That your petitioners now number upwards of eighty members, and are fully competent to fulfil all requirements of the Act, although not capable of purchasing land at public auction. And your petitioners will ever pray, &c. kThomas Allely, And 74 Others,

No. 7. Mr. George Vesey Stewart to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. Sir, — Katikati, December, 1878. As Chairman of the Tauranga County Council, I have been requested to submit to your consideration copy of the resolution passed unanimously at the meeting the Council held this day I need not point out to you the necessity that exists that this block of land should be thrown open to bond fide settlers for occupation and cultivation. Trusting that this resolution will meet with your favourable consideration, I have, &c., Geo. Vesey Stewart, The Hon. the Minister of Lands, Wellington. Chairman.

Resolved, That the Chairman communicate with the Government re the Te Puke Block, requesting them to place it in the hands of the Waste Lauds Board as soon as possible. John H. McCaw, Clerk.

No. 8. The Under-Secretary for Crown Lands to the Chairman of the Tauranga County Council. Sir,— Wellington, 25th February, 1879. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of December last, transmitting copy of a resolution of the Tauranga County Council, requesting that the Te Puke Block may bo placed in the hands of the Auckland Land Board for sale. In reply, I have to inform you that the reserves to be made out of the block for the Natives are now being surveyed, and, so far as can be ascertained at present, the block will probably be in a position to be dealt with by the Board by April next. I have, &c., The Chairman, Tauranga County Council, Tauranga. H. J. H. Eliott.

No. 9. Mr. George Vesey Stewart to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. Sir, — Mount Stewart, Katikati, 20th December, 1878. I have the honor to forward you by this post a copy of the Bay of Plenty Times of the 19th instant, giving a verbatim copy of the Waste Lands Board's Ranger's official report of his visit of inspection to the Katikati settlers, which I am sure you will consider satisfactory Referring to your letter dated 23rd September last, I would respectfully remind you that the Te Puke Block has since been fully acquired by the Government; and 1 could induce a large number of most eligible and respectable immigrants (persons possessed of capital and position) to settle in a body upon these lauds if you would kindly make arrangements with me for that purpose ; and I would therefore ask you to be so good as to instruct me to proceed to Wellington as soon after Christmas as would suit your own convenience, for the purpose of making the arrangements promised in your letter to which I have referred.