Enclosure in No. 18.

To His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.B., Governor and Commander-in-Chief of New Zealand, the Petition of the undersigned Merchants and others, of Dunedin, in the Province of Otago showeth:

That the gold discoveries have caused a large influx of population to the Province. That the space in Dunedin available for business purposes has thereby become limited, and is not commensurate with the necessities of trade and the wants of the inhabitants.

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That to supply in some measure those wants, petitioners pray that your Excellency may cause the Government Reserve skirting the harbour, and lying between the Emigrants' Barracks and the new line of road to be made in continuation of Princes Street, to be let on lease (until required by the Government) from year to year, or on such other terms as the Provincial Government may deem advisable, for the purpose of storing timber, coals, and other things of a like nature. That whilst commerce would thus be facilitated, the revenue would be benefited.

That it is the practice of the Victorian Government to lease the reserves in Melbourne adjoining the river, where vessels discharge, for purposes similar to those before mentioned.

Your petitioners therefore respectfully solicit that your Excellency may be pleased to grant them similar advantages, and they will ever pray, &c.