r>.—6

6

No. 18. The Under-Secretary for Crown Lands to Mr. Richard Blake, Chairman, Tauranga Working-men's Association. Sir,— Wellington, Bth March, 1879. I have the honor, by direction of the Hon. the Minister of Lands, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2.2nd ultimo, referring to a petition which was sent to the Government by the Tauranga Working-men's Association, praying that a portion of the Te Puke Block may be set apart for a special settlement. In reply, lam to inform you that, when the block is in a position to be dealt with, portions of it will be sold on immediate payments, and portions on deferred payments; but the Government has no power under the existing law to set apart land for special settlements. I have, &c, R. Blake, Esq., Tauranga. H. J H, Eliott.

No. 19. Mr. George Vesey Stewart to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. Sir,— Katikati, 15th April, 1879. I trust you will kindly excuse me for troubling you so much, and trespassing upon your valuable time; but, having received by recent mails from the United Kingdom so many inquiries from parties who might be induced to settle in this country, that I am unable to send them any definite reply till I hear from you in answer to my letter dated 10th March last. Will you kindly give that your favourable consideration, support, and reply ? 1 should also feel obliged for you to state whether you will be disposed to grant any assisted passages to approved nominated emigrants, so as to secure a superior class of practical colonists, and which I further have the honor to submit for your consideration. I have, &c. The Hon. the Minister of Lands, Wellington. George Vesey Stewart.

No. 20. The Under-Secretary for Immigration to Mr. George Vesey Stewart. Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, sth May, 1879. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the loth ultimo, and in reply to inform you that the same shall be submitted to the Hon. Mr. Stout on his arrival in Wellington next week. l^our letter of the 10th March last, to which you refer, has been taken to Auckland by the Hon. Mr. Sheehan, and I would suggest that you communicate with that gentleman on the subject. I have, &c., G. V Stewart, Esq., Katikati. H. J H. Eliott.

No. 21. Mr. Richard Blake, Chairman of the Tauranga Working-men's Land Association, to Mr. Allan McDonald, M.H.R. Sir,— Tauranga, 13th October, 1879. I have the honor to bring under your notice the following facts:—l have been informed that Mr. G. V Stewart and others are endeavouring to treat with the Government for Te Puke Block, which block, as you are well aware, the Working-men's Land Association have been in treaty for the last three years. Now I, as Chairman, on behalf of the Association, consider that we had a priority of claim on the said block, and therefore do not wish to come into collision with any other party treating for the same. In fact, we wish to take up the said land as a body, and act together to form a special settlement. Now, trusting to you as our representative, I feel all confidence in your watching over our interest. I may, in conclusion, state that this communication is merely to put you in possession of certain facts which wo want you to guard against, and that in all probability some member of our Association will proceed to Wellington in order to be in direct communication with you. Hoping you will do the best you can for us, I have, &c, Richard Blake, A. McDonald, Esq., M.H R. Chairman Working-men's Association.

No. 22. Mr. Fitzgibbon Louche, C.E., to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. Sir, — Castle Grace, Katikati, 28th October, 1879. I beg respectfully to apply for 25,000 acres of land of Rangiuru and Pohiko, in the Bay of Plenty District, for the purpose of establishing a special settlement.