9

assembly in the ensuing Session, and in the
chances, duration, and extent of the war.
The loss of property has already been
very considerable. The houses at the two
extremities of the settlement have been
sacked and maltreated, and in one district
four homesteads have been destroyed by
fire. The gardens and fields have been
almost converted into a common by the
destruction of fences, and are being over-
grown with Scotch Thistle and other nox-
ious weeds. Cultivation has almost ceased,
—flocks and herds are being sold for the
butcher, and in a few months nothing may
be left outside the lines save the untilled
lands.

The position of the settlers at the close
of the war must in any event be one of
great difficulty; and years must pass away
before the country can assume the aspect
of smiling plenty which once characterised
it.

(Signed)
G. CUTFIELD,
Superintendent.

C. R. Blakiston,
Provincial Secretary,
Christchurch.

B. N. Jones in aid of the “Taranaki Re-
lief Fund.”

In reply I have to request that you will
convey my best thanks to Mr and Mrs B.
N. Jones for the assistance they have so
kindly given to the colonists of Taranaki.
With respect to the application of funds
placed in my hands for the relief of this
community, I beg to refer you to my letter
to your Provincial Secretary of the 15th
instant.

I have, &c.,
(Signed)
G. CUTFIELD,
Superintendent.

John Marshman, Esq.,
Provincial Secretary,
Christchurch.

Superintendent’s Office,
New Plymouth, 7th July, 1860.

Sir,—His Excellency the Governor has
requested the Officer Commanding the
Forces to release from Militia duty any
person residing here whose age exceeds 50
years or whose family numbers six persons
or more in all, providing such persons shall
quit the settlement with his family. In
order to give practical effect to that per-
mission it is necessary that free passages
should be granted to these persons to other
parts of the Colony.

I have the honor to request that you
will inform me whether any of the existing
arrangements for immigration to Canter-
bury will meet such cases, or whether it is
in the power of the Provincial Government
to make any special provision for giving
free or assisted passages to such of our
people as may be inclined to settle in your
Province. Hoping an early answer,

I have, &c.,
(Signed)
G. CUTFIELD,
Superintendent.

Provincial Treasury,
Christchurch, 1st June, 1860.

Sir,—I am instructed to transmit to
your Honor Twelve Pounds sixteen shil-
ings and three pence, proceeds of an enter-
tainment given at the Town Hall, Christ-
church, by Mr and Mrs B. N. Jones, in
aid of the “Taranaki Relief Fund.”

It is not known here who are the Trus-
tees or Managers of that Fund, or even
that such a Fund exists, and it is transmit-
tted to your Honor as the best means of
securing its appropriation to the purposes
which the donors intends.

I am advised by the Union Bank that
the most convenient mode of transmission
is through their Auckland Branch, and I
therefore enclose their draft on that estab-
lishment for the amount.

I have, &c.,
(Signed)
JOHN MARSHMAN,
Provincial Treasurer.

His Honor
the Superintendent,
Taranaki.

Superintendent’s Office,
New Plymouth, 29th June, 1860.

Sir,—I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of the 1st instant
covering a draft on the Union Bank of
Australia, Auckland, for £12 10s. 3d.,
proceeds of an entertainment given at the
Town Hall, Christchurch, by Mr and Mrs
B. N. Jones in aid of the Taranaki Relief
Fund.

Superintendent’s Office,
Christchurch, July 26, 1860.

Sir,—In reply to your communication
of the 14th instant, respecting the order
which has issued from his Excellency the
Governor making it permissive to persons
coming under certain conditions to quit the
settlement of Taranaki, and enquiries as to
whether the Immigration Regulations in
force here admit of their receiving free or
assisted passages to Canterbury, I beg to
inform you that our Immigration Regula-
tions do not provide for the cases you con-
template.

I must also inform you that the condi-
tion of the Public Exchequer does not at