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1887. NEW ZEALAND.

OPENING UP FOR SETTLEMENT AN ENDOWMENT RESERVE AT MAKIKIHI (CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO).

Return to an Order of the House of Representatives, No. 20, of 1887. Ordered, " That there be laid upon the table copies of the correspondence between the Government and the Governors of the Canterbury College with a view to the opening-up for settlement of a certain endowment reserve at Makikihi." —(Major Steward.)

No. 1. The Hon. the Ministeb of Lands to the Chaibman, Board of Governors, Canterbury College. Sib, — General Crown Lands Office, Wellington, 17th June, 1886. With a view of meeting the " unemployed " difficulty which arises from time to time in the Canterbury District, the Government is desirous of, as far as possible, effecting a permanent remedy by settling people on the land. Unfortunately there are no Crown lands suitable for settlement at present available in the neighbourhood of the chief agricultural centres. The Government is therefore anxious to arrange with the authorities administering education reserves, whenever possible, to open land for settlement in small areas on the perpetual-leasing system. As reserves cut up and leased in small areas would undoubtedly realize a larger aggregate rental than if leased for agricultural purposes in large blocks, the revenue available for the purposes for which the reserves were originally let would rather be increased than diminished. The Government accordingly hope to have the concurrence and co-operation of local bodies administering reserves in giving effect to the above suggestions. An opportunity now presents itself in the Makikihi District, by the falling-in on the 30th April next of the leases of parts of Eeserves 678 and 679, and I shall be glad to hear that the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College see their way to recommend that an Order in Council may be issued for dealing with these lands in terms of the 237 th section of " The Land Act, 1885." I have, &c, J. Ballance, The Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Canterbury Minister of Lands. College, Christchurch.

No. 2. The Eegistbab, Canterbury College, to the Hon. the Ministeb of Lands. Sib,- — Canterbury College, Christchurch, 21st June, 1886. I have the honour, by direction of the Chairman, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th June, 1886, respecting the leasing of Eeserves 678 and 679 in small sections, in accordance with clauses 237, &c, of " The Land Act, 1885," and to state that the same will be laid before the Board at the next meeting. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Lands, Wellington. F. G. Stedman, Eegistrar.

No. 3. The Begistbae, Canterbury College, to the Hon. the Ministbe of Lands. Sib, — Canterbury College, Christchurch, New Zealand, 30th June, 1886. I have the honour, by direction of the Chairman, to refer to your letter of the 17th June 1886, respecting the leasing of Eeserves 678 and 679 in small sections, in accordance with clause 237, &c, of " The Land Act, 1885," and to state that it was laid before the Board on the 28th June, and that the Estates Committee of the College were directed to consider the matter, and to report to the Board at its next meeting, on the 12th July. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Lands, "Wellington. F. G. Stedman, Eegistrar.