D.—6

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market before the next session of the General Assembly, the Government would be prepared to recommend the Governor to withdraw that block of laud from sale until you had an opportunity of bringing your proposals before Parliament, I have, &c., G. V. Stewart, Esq., Katikati. H. J H. Eliott.

No. 36. Mr. George Vesey Stewart to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. Sir, — Wellington, 17th December, 1879. As the Land Act Amendment Bill has now passed, I have the honor to refer you to my letters of 29th July and 6th August last, and would feel much obliged if you could kindly direct the preliminary steps to be taken to give effect to the special-settlement clauses of the said Amendment Act. I propose to form an extensive special settlement, of farmers and capitalists, subject to any guarantees and conditions you may direct, upon portions of the following lands—namely, Te Puke, Rangiuru, Pahiko, Papanui, Pukaingataru, and Kaikokopu—and which lands would be required to make up a rectangular block of, say, 50,000 acres. The Native title has been extinguished upon Tc Puke, and will be completed in a few days, and weeks upon the adjacent blocks, with regard to which latter I should feel quite satisfied with a simple agreement from the Governor, that on the alienation of the Native title such lands would be included in the proposed settlement, and which I would accept at my own risk, without any liability on behalf of the Government. I have a large number of families with considerable capital hanging on at Home, waiting for my instructions; and one shipload could be formed after my return to Great Britain, and long before they could reach the colony and be settled upon the Government lands now available for settlement the remaining blocks would be ready for further relays of settlers. The great mistake in the last settlement was the small area of land (20,000 acres), by which many wealthy capitalists were prevented from joining my party, as I had not sufficient scope, the result being that these parties emigrated to the Transvaal. I would also suggest it would not be advisable that these several shiploads should come simultaneously : there should be an interval of at least three to four months between the arrival of each ship, else exorbitant rates will be extorted for temporary accommodation, labour, and building materials ; and, further, the class of people I will introduce cannot rise up at a moment's notice to dispose of their properties, and the land could thus be taken up as it falls into the hands of the Government. I give herewith a schedule of the several blocks and their areas that the Government is now acquiring in a ring-fence, and which must be trebled in value by the iormation of an extensive settlement such as I propose. In conclusion, I beg to refer you to the petition presented to Parliament by the inhabitants of Tauranga on 4th November last, and to the two previous agreements already published, which would assist in drawing up the necessary documents between the Government and myself. I have, &c., The Hon. the Minister of Lands, Wellington. George Vesey Stewart.

Enclosure in No. 36. Schedule of lands referred to (Tauranga District) in a ring-fence: Maungatapu, 400 acres; Tapuaitu, 57 ; Tutukeranga, 150; Ngatihi, 8,173 ; Maungatawa, 1,295; Ngatihi, 1,496 j Waitaha, 7,000; Tc Puke, 25,97.2; Eangiuru, 12,255; Kaituna, 2,260; Pukaingataru, 3,585; Papanui, 5,843; Kaikokopu, 40,284; Otamarakau, 90,074; Pahiko, 18,000: total, 228,544 aci'es. I would take the liberty of making the following suggestions as mere matters of detail :■ — 1. Letter from Hon. the Minister of Lands to Agent-General, recommending matter to his favourable attention. 2. Permission to domicile my letters at No. 7, Westminster Chambers. 3. " Hinemoa " or " Stella " to be allowed to tug emigrant ships to Tauranga, if advised from the North, en passant. 4. Single girls to be allowed free passages forming this party at the usual emigration contract rates. 5. Power to G. V Stewart to nominate a stipulated number of assisted emigrants at £o per adult as labourers for the settlement, to meet a most useful class of small farmers, with large families, to settle down on small farms, and whose sons could work for contract to the more wealthy capitalists and large employers of labour. The above is the result of my practical experience in the working of the previous settlements ; and I can only add that if I am intrusted by Government to form this settlement I will pledge my honor to make it the greatest success ever yet achieved in New Zealand, and one that will redound to the credit of the Government and myself.