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1880. NEW ZEALAND

VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND OF MESSRS. GRANT AND FOSTER (CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE, AS DELEGATES ON BEHALF OF LINCOLNSHIRE FARMERS).

Presented to both Souses of the General Assembly by Command of Sis Excellency.

No. 1. The Agent-Genisbal to the Hon. the Minister for Immigeation. Sie, — 7, "Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 3rd October, 1879. I have the honor to inform you that T have agreed to give passages to and from New Zealand to Mr. Samuel Grant, Mr. Grant, jun., and Mr. Foster, under the following circumstances: — The Rev Mr. Berry introduced these gentlemen to me, and I had an interview with Mr. Grant, in which he reported to me that a large number of tenant-farmers in Lincolnshire desired that he should go out to report on the capabilities of New Zealand for farming. I told him, if I had evidence of the wish of a large number of farmers to that effect, that I would give him my assistance. Memorials signed by a large number —several hundreds —of Lincolnshire farmers, addressed to Messrs. Grant and Foster, requesting them to visit New Zealand,and to ascertain how far that country •is suited to the wants tuid condition of the memorialists, were submitted to me; and Mr. Samuel Grant having signified to me that he was willing to go, accompanied by his son and Mr. Foster, I agreed to give them passage to and from New Zealand. In the present state of farming in the United Kingdom there is a strong inclination on the part of a large number of farmers to leave this country for the colonies, and special exertions are being used by the Canadian and other Colonial Governments to direct the attention of such intending emigrants to their respective colonies. The Canadian Government have, I understand, offered to defray the expenses of any delegate representing not less than twenty-five persons; and Mr. Grant was specially requested to proceed to Canada instead of New Zealand. Under these circumstances I thought I was acting in the best interests of New Zealand in conceding to Messrs. Grant and Foster the privilege which they might have obtained elsewhere. It is probable that very great benefit will arise from their visit. I should observe that I had impliedly given a promise before the receipt of the instructions not to assist farmers. However, lam not clear, even if I had received those instructions, that 1 should have considered they prevented my dealing with a special case like this. Mr. Grant, his son, and Mr. Foster have taken their passages by the steamer "Norfolk," sailing this month. I shall pay the cost of their passages to New Zealand by that vessel, and have to request you to arrange for their return passages as sooii as they are prepared to leave the colony for this country I have, &c, Julius Yogel. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 2. The Hon. the Minister for Immigeation to the Aqent-Genebali. Silt, — Immigration Office, "Wellington, sth December, 1879. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of letter of 3rd October, No. 868, reporting that you had agreed to give passages to this colony to Mr. Samuel Grant, Mr. Grant, jun., and Mr. Foster, who desired to report upon the capabilities of New Zealand for farming, with object of inducing a number of tenant-farmers to come out to this colony from Lincolnshire. In reply, I have to inform you that the Government approves of your action in this matter, but it would have been more satisfactory if you had stated the total expense you had incurred in sending those gentlemen out, and I shall be glad to hear from you on this point. With a view of enabling these gentlemen to acquire information respecting the various parts of

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New Zealand, the several Commissioners of Crown Lands and Immigration Officers will be instructed to furnish them with such information as they may be able to att'ord, and to render every assistance in their power. Prce passages upon the several lines of railways will also be assigned to the persons in question, but the Government cannot undertake to pay their hotel and other expenses while in the colony I have, &c, Wm. Eollkston, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Minister for Immigration.

No. 3. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sib, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 23rd January, 1880. 1 have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 153, of sth December last, respecting the passages of Mr. Samuel Grant, Mr. Grant, jun., and Mr. Poster to New Zealand, and in reply to inform you that the only expenses incurred by me in the matter was the cost of those gentlemen's passages by the steamer " Norfolk " to Melbourne, and thence to New Zealand, the total amount being £249, vouchers for which were in due course forwarded to the colony In addition to this, as mentioned in my letter of 3rd October, I gave Messrs. Grant and Poster to understand that the Government would arrange for their return passages to England. I may add that I am pleased to hear that my action has met with approval, and that the Government are placing such facilities as you mention at the command of Messrs. Grant and Poster. t have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 4. Mr. D. A. Tole to the Hon. the Minister for Lands. Sie,— Crown Lands Office, Auckland, 20th March, 1880. F have the honor to submit for your information the accompanying copy of a letter (together with a copy of the reply thereto) addressed by the Lincolnshire delegates, Messrs. Grant and Poster, to the Auckland AVaste Lands Board, on the subject of acquiring 10,000 acres of land at the southern portion of the Te Aroha Block, Thames District. I have, &c, D. A. Tole, The Hon. the Minister of Lands, Wellington. Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Enclosure 1 in No. 4. Mr. D. A. Tole to Messrs. Grant and Foster. Gentlemen, — Crown Lands Office, Auckland, 19th March, 1880. I have the honor to inform you that, in compliance with request contained in the concluding part of yours of yesterday's date, the Waste Lands Board have agreed (subject, of course, to any decision which may in the interim be arrived at with regard to Mr. T. Russell's claim, by which, as you are aware, a part of the land is at present embarrassed) to withhold from sale, until the Ist day of November next, 10,000 acres of the southern portion of the Te Arolia Block, Thames District. The Board desire me to add that, should at the end of the above period the land be available, and you enabled to arrange with the Government for its acquisition, the price per acre will not be under £2, while the conditions as to occupation, improvements, &c, will likely be similar to those imposed in the case of Mr. Vesey Stewart's Te Puke Settlement in the Bay of Plenty District. A copy of the conditions referred to is herewith enclosed. I have, &c, Messrs. Grant and Poster, Northern Club, D. A. Tole, Auckland. Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Enclosure 2 in No. 4. Messrs. Grant and Poster to the Members of the Waste Lands Board. Gentlemen, — Auckland, 18th March, 1880. In further reference to the subject-matter of our letter to you of the ultimo (in which, on behalf of a number of Lincolnshire farmers, we expressed a wish to acquire 10,000 acres of the southern portion of the Te Aroha Block), wo have have the honor to inform you that we purpose returning to England by the outgoing mail steamer, and before our departure are anxious to learn, in the interest of those for whom we have applied, whether or not there is a probability of our application being favourably entertained. We may state that we shall be prepared to pay whatever may be considered a fair price for the land, and also to submit to such reasonable conditions as to residence and improvements as it may be thought proper to impose. We merely beg, then, to ask you at present to be good enough to add to the kindnesses you have already conferred by again consenting to withhold this part of the block from sale for a further short term, so as to afford us an opportunity, on our arrival in England, of organizing a party of settlers for the occupation of the land upon terms to be subsequently agreed upon. We have, &c, Samuel Grant. The Members of the "Waste Lands Board. Joiin J Poster.

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No. 5. Mr. D. A. Tole to the Hon. the Ministeb of Lands. Sib,— Crown Lands Office, Auckland, 12th April, 18S0. I have the honor to inform you that the Land Board have agreed, in reference to the request contained in the accompanying copy of a letter addressed by Messrs. Grant and Foster to the Hon. the Attorney-General, to withhold from sale, until the Ist day of November next, a further area of 7,000 acres in the Te Aroha Block, on the eastern bank of the Waihou Eiver. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Lands, D. A. Tole, Wellington. Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Enclosure in No. 5. Messrs. Gkant and Fosteb to the Hon. Mr. Whitaker. Slß,— Auckland, 29th March. 1880. As you are aware, we made an application to the Crown Lands Office, on the 18th instant for a portion of the Te Aroha Block, and we received a note from that office thereon on the following day. We have been carefully over the portion mentioned in that note, and find it very desirable to include in our application the land lying alongside the same, on the eastern side of the Waihou, and extending from that river to the summit of the Te Aroha range. The higher portion is broken land totally unfit for agricultural purposes, but we are anxious to have it as making the property more compiete, and forming a background for the houses we propose building on the slopes of the hill. As we are leaving the colony by to-morrow's mail, we have requested Captain Steele to act on our behalf: he thoroughly understands our views and wishes on the subject, and we shall be glad if you will communicate with him on the matter at your early convenience. ¥e are, &c, Samuel Grant. The Hon. F. Whitaker, Auckland. John J. Fosteb.

No. 6. Mr. H. J. H. Eliott to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland. Sir, — General Crown Lands Office, Wellington, 4th May, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 564, of the 12th ultimo, reporting that the Land Board have agreed to withhold 7,000 acres in the Te Aroha Block, for Messrs. Grant and Foster, until the Ist of November next. I have, &c, H. J. H. Eliott, The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland. Under-Secretary.

By Authority: George Didsbukt, Government Printer, Wellington.—1880. Price 3d.]

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