WHEREAS the persons named in the Schedule hereto were assisted immigrants, whose passages from England were advanced in part by the Provincial Government of Auckland, and have occupied for upwards of twenty years the lands mentioned in the Schedule, and set opposite their respective names, under permission of the then Superintendent of the former Province of Auckland, pending the issue of special regulations of occupation on the basis of the system known as the homestead system, which could not at such time be applied to the said lands: And whereas at or about the time of the abolition of provinces the said settlers had effected improvements of a permanent character on the lands in their occupation, amounting in value to more than sufficient to have entitled them to a grant of such land, had they been located thereon, under the homestead system, and have remained in occupation of the same lands since that time, and have for the most part repaid the advances of passage money made as aforesaid: And whereas no special regulations of occupation as aforesaid were ever made whereunder the said settlers could claim a grant for their land; and it is just that the said lands should be granted to them: