C—3.

1884. NEW ZEALAND.

DISPOSAL OF EDUCATION RESERVES AT WAIKAIA (CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE).

Laid on the Table by the Hon. Mr. Bolleston, with leave of the House.

No. 1. The Hon. the Ministeb of Lands to the School Commissioners, Dunedin. Gentlemen, — General Crown Lands Office, Wellington, 3rd September, 1882. Bearing in mind the fact that, at the recent sale of the fine runs in the Waikaia District, an area of 51,000 acres was withheld from pastoral lease, and that that area will come into possession of the School Commissioners on the Ist of March next, it will be necessary, if the land is to be then made available for settlement, that the survey be immediately proceeded with under the direction of the Survey Department. Twenty thousand acres have already been surveyed, leaving 31,000 acres to be surveyed. The Government suggest that this country should be divided into sections varying in size according to the nature of the country, with a view to its being offered partly for absolute sale and partly under the leasing system of "The Land Act 1877 Amendment Act, 1882," on a scheme to be approved of by the Commissioners and the Government. With regard to Runs 326 and 327 in the same district, the leases of which expire in March, 1884, the Government suggest to the Commissioners that it would be advantageous to the trust to offer them for re-lease in February next, that being the time when the Government will also offer large areas of pastoral country. In offering these runs it may be found possible to withhold the areas in the valley for settlement without injuring the working of the back country. Should the Commissioners agree to the above proposals, it will be well to have a preliminary advertisement at once prepared, and maps published as soon as they can be got ready. I have, &c, W. Rolleston, The School Commissioners, Dunedin. ■ Minister of Lands.

No." 2. The School Commissioners, Dunedin, to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. Sic, — Dunedin, 21st November, 1882. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 3rd ultimo (sic) with reference to the education reserves in the Waikaia District. The matter has been very carefully considered by the Commissioners, after having had the benefit of a special inspection of the laud by one of their number (Mr. W. H. Pearson, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Invercargill), who went systematically over it and inquired into the views and requirements of the residents in the neighbourhood ; and the following course of action has been decided on : (1.) About 21,000 acres reserved from the runs which were leased in August last, and marked in light sienna on accompanying plan, to be surveyed into sections of from 200 to 320 acres each, according to the quality of the land, with a view of it being sold partly on deferred payment and partly for cash, under the provisions of "The Land Act, 1877." (2.) The surveyed blocks, viz., Block X., Waikaia (with the exception of Sections 3, 7, and 13, already leased), Block IX., Waikaia, Block 1., Wendonside, Block VII., Wendon, and parts of Blocks VIII. and IX., Wendon, to be offered for sale, partly on deferred payment and partly for cash, under the provisions of " The Land Act, 1877." (3.) Runs 326 and 327 to be divided into three runs, the boundaries of which are marked red in the accompanying plan, and numbered as follows : No. 326 to contain 25,290 acres, No. 327 to contain 18,370 acres, and No. 327 a, 17,700 acres; No. 326 to be leased for ten years, and Nos. 327 and 327 a to be leased for fourteen years, at same time as Crown runs—about February next. In addition to Block X. and Section 5, Block VII., Waikaia, the Commissioners have withdrawn, for settlement, from Runs 326 and 327, about 12,000 acres of land, marked yellow on the map, and which will be opened up for agricultural settlement on the expiry of the present run lease in 1884» On the recommendation of Mr. Pearson, who reported that it was quite unsuitable for agricultural purposes, a block of about 10,500 acres, marked purple in the plan, has been withdrawn from the land which the Commissioners reserved from Run 193, for agricultural purposes, and they propose to lease it, as Run 193 a, for a term of ten years. I—C. 3.