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others will probably do the same before they are in a position to issue land orders; and they ask that all such persons be included in the number of emigrants whom they are required to introduce into the colony. 3. They state that they were promised by Mr. Whitaker that the whole of the Native reserves included in the block should be included in the purchase at the price fixed, namely, 345. per acre; and therefore they are surprised to find that the including of these reserves is subject to a reserve of 100 acres for a Government township, and also to the price of the land being determined by valuation of the Lands Board's own valuer. 4. Referring to clause 15 of the Conditions, they consider that the exercise of the power of the Government to take not exceeding 5 per cent, of the land for roads, railways, and other public works should, in any case, be limited to say two or three years. And, again, as to the right of the Crown to gold and silver being reserved, they represent that this is an unusual condition to be attached to a Crown grant, and should not therefore be enforced. I told them that I had no power to do more than convey these representations to the Government, and that they should instruct their agent, Captain Steele, in the colony, as to them, in order that he may communicate with you with a view to a final arrangement, and this they undertook to do at the earliest opportunity. I hope a way may be found to meet these various objections, as there is little doubt Mr. Grant and Mr. Foster will introduce a valuable body of settlers to the colony. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. A gent-General.

No. 37. . The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, to the Hon. the Attorney-General. Auckland, 4th February, 1881. Sir, — Re the Grant and Foster Special Settlement at Te Aroha. I have the honor to submit, for the consideration of the Government, the following resolutions passed at yesterday's meeting of the Land Board, on the subject of certain understood final proposals contained in Captain Steele's letter of the 27th ultimo, relative to the terms and conditions affecting Grant and Foster's special settlement at Te Aroha: — 1. As to Royal Metals. —The Board recommends that the reservation embodied in the articles of agreement with regard to gold and silver be expunged. 2. As to the Inclusion of the Manawaru Reserve. —The Board has already recommended that 516 acres of this reserve be included in the Te Aroha Special Settlement, and now further recommends that the remainder of the said reserve (100 acres) be also added to the said settlement. 3. As to the Formation of Drains. —The Board refrains from making any recommendation with regard to this proposal. I may observe that, in submitting the foregoing resolutions, the Board is actuated by a desire to assist as far as possible in the removal of any obstacle which might be considered to impede the settlement of the questions involved in the points so unexpectedly raised. I have, &c, The Hon. the Attorney-General, Auckland. D. A. Tole. P.S.—I beg to return herewith Captain Steele's letter, together with the correspondence thereto attached.—D. A. T.

No. 38. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, to the Hon. the Attorney-General. Crown Lands Office, Auckland, Ist February, 1881. Agreeably to your instructions, the following interim reply has been sent to Messrs. Grant and Foster: —■ " Gentlemen, — " Crown Lands Office, Auckland, Ist February, 1881. " I have the honor, by instructions, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Ist December, 1880, addressed to the Hon. the Premier, and to inform you in reply that the subjectmatter thereof is at present under the consideration of the Minister to whom it has been referred, and that an answer in due course will be sent you by mail." I have, &c, D. A. Tole, Hon. Mr. Whitaker. Commissioner of Crown Lands.

No. 39. The Hon. the Attorney-General to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. As Messrs. Grant and Foster have thought fit to introduce my name into their letter of the Ist December, I desire to make some explanations in order to correct statements which I will not call misrepresentations, but which are, at all events, gross inaccuracies. They say, " When in New Zealand we were led to believe, through the Attorney-General, that, as "an inducement to farmers to come out and the consequent promotion of settlement, that not more " than 30s. an acre would be charged us ; that the Native reserves should be included; and that the " land would be drained and roads formed: and we are somewhat surprised that these terms have not

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