D.—6

5

I do not ask for Te Aroha Block of 63,000 acres, from which Mr. Broomhall was lately relieved, and which will far more than satisfy all the local demand for land for many years to come, but am willing to plant the settlement upon any fair average land that the Government may desire, commencing with Te Puke in this neighbourhood. I trust you will kindly excuse me for thus troubling you, but as I believe the members of the present Government are anxious to see the country settled, and the North Island covered with smiling farms and homesteads, I have been consequently urged to press my proposals upon your notice and kind consideration. I have, &c., The Hon. the Minister of Lands, Wellington. Geo. Vesey Stewart.

No. 14 The Under-Secretary for Crown Lands to Mr George Vesey Stewart. Sir, — General Crown Lands Office, Wellington, 27th February, 1879. I have the honor, by direction of the Hon. the Minister of Lands, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th instant, requesting that the Government would enter into a provisional agreement with you for a further extension of the special settlement at Katikati, subject to the sanction of the General Assembly, and, in reply, to inform you that the Government cannot accede to your proposal. I am to suggest, however, that you should petition Parliament with a view to obtaining the necessary legislative authority for an extension of the settlement. I have, &c., G V Stewart, Esq., Katikati, Tauranga, Auckland. H. J H. Eliott.

No. 15. Mr. George Vesey Stewart to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. Sir,— Katikati, 10th March, 1879. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 20th and 27th ultimo, and regret that you are unable to accede to my proposal, as much valuable time and desirable immigrants will be lost by the delay that must thereby ensue. I have to thank you for your suggestion to petition Parliament with a view to obtaining the necessary legislative authority for an extension of the settlement on Te Puke Block in this ' (Tauranga) district, and would feel much obliged to you if you would kindly retain jurisdiction and management of these lands in the General Crown Lands Office, Wellington, till the result of the proposed petition has been concluded, and to inform me whether you would be so good as to present the petition to the House, and give it your support and that of your colleagues. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Lands, Wellington. George Vesey Stewart.

No. 16. The Under-Secretary for Immigration to Mr. George Vesey Stewart. Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 7th April, 1879. 1 have the honor, by direction of the Hon. Mr. Stout, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th ultimo, and in reply to inform you that he will give the subject of the extension of the Katikati Settlement his consideration. I have, &c., G. V Stewart, Esq., Tauranga. H. J H. Eliott.

No. 17 Mr. Richard Blake to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. Sir,— Tauranga, 22nd February, 1879. At a Committee-meeting of the Tauranga Working-men's Land Association, a resolution was passed that a letter be sent to your Honor reminding you of a petition forwarded 27th November, signed by eighty of its members (heads of families), for a portion of the Te Puke Block. Trusting that your Honor will favourably consider our petition, as your petitioners, with others who have joined since, are anxiously awaiting a reply to their request, I have, &c., Richard Blake, The Hon. the Minister of Lands, Wellington. Chairman.