93

Superintendent’s Office,
Wellington, 21st November, 1872.

Sir,—

As the result of various interviews with the Hon. Mr. Vogel on the subject of the application on behalf of Emigrant and Colonists Aid Corporation for certain concessions, and in reply to your official communication on the subject, I have now to submit to you the following proposals —

1st. That the time for the introduction of immigrants be extended from April to December.

2nd. That the rate of interest be reduced to five per cent.

3rd. That the Superintendent will be prepared to recommend to the Provincial Council of Wellington to expend, any amount not exceeding two thousand pounds sterling per annum, during five years, to be reckoned from the 1st January, 1874, as a grant-in-aid to the extent of one half the cost of any district roads within the block, which may be constructed by the immigrants of the Society during such period, the expenditure to be certified to as reasonable by the Provincial Engineer.

In proposing these concessions, the Provincial Government is of opinion that it should be made a sine qua non that the sum of five thousand pounds should be remitted on or before the first of February, 1873, to the Colonial Treasurer.

That land should only be Crown Granted to the extent of the value of one half this amount.

That the same provision and limitation of making Crown Grants should also be made with regard to the next amounts paid off the first instalment to the extent of ten thousand pounds, in addition to the five thousand pounds payable on 1st February, 1873.

In suggesting these proposals, I desire to express on the part of the Provincial Government, that it does not in any way desire to commit the Colony, and that the Provincial Government assumes the liability.

I have, &c.,

WILLIAM FITZHERBERT,
Superintendent.

The Hon the Colonial Secretary,
Wellington.

Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Wellington, 23rd November, 1872.

Sir,—

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 21st instant, stating in reply to my letter of the 5th instant, and as the result of various interviews with the Hon. Mr. Vogel, the modifications in the terms of the contract with Colonel Feilding, which you think should be conceded.

In reply, I beg to inform your Honor that your proposals are considered by the Government to be fair and reasonable, and that they have been forwarded to Colonel Feilding in a letter, of which a copy is enclosed.

I have, &c.,

JOHN HALL.

His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington.

142

Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Wellington, 23rd November, 1872.

Sir,—

I am directed by His Excellency Sir G. F. Bowen, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th of August last; in which on behalf of the Emigrants and Colonists Aid Corporation, you propose certain modifications in the terms of the contract entered into between that Corporation and the Government of New Zealand, for the purposes of the settlement of the Manawatu Block, in the Province of Wellington.

I have now the honor to inform you that your proposals have received the careful consideration of the Government of New Zealand, as well as of the Provincial Government of the Province of Wellington, both of which bodies are anxious to make to the Corporation such concessions as will enable it to carry to a successful issue, the important enterprise undertaken by it, and as may at the same time not be inconsistent with the interests and fair claims of the Colony and Province.