MEMORANDUM.

Press, Volume III, Issue 283, 26 September 1863, Page 2

MEMORANDUM.

I observe in the Press of May 7 and 11, and the L'jttellon Times of May 9, a discussion on the appropriation of the £10,000 voted by the Provincial Council of Canterbury for free emigration from Lancashire. The Press asserts that instructions were sent to H.M. Emigration Commissioners in London that the whole of the £10,000 was to be expended in sending out farm laborers and domestic servants. The Lyltelton Times, May 9, not only contradicts this,* but goes on to state distinctly that the Emigration Commissioners were left ■perfectly unfettered in their choice by any instructions ; " that nothing was ecer Mated at which could interfere with their free action," and that Mr. Walcot intended devoting a portion of the funds towards defraying the preliminary expenses of intending emigrants.

The original statement in the Press may have been somewhat too broad and unqualified, but the Ljtlellon Times is still more in error in venturing on such a specific denial in reply.

If it be worth ■while reverting to the matter, the facts are these. The Provincial Secretary, Mr. Maude, forwarded mc a copy of hia letter to Mr. Walcot respecting the first remittance of £5,000. In that letter (November 14, 1862) he expresses himself as follows: —" Single women of good character are most wanted as domestic servants. . As to the class of men required, the majority must be those who have been used to hard labor, and could, upon arrival here, turn their hands to any kind of hard labor oat of doors. Good spadesmen will always gain high wages, and are much wanted. The chief employment for population here is upon public works, such as road-making and arterial drainage. There is room for a few in the trade of tailoring, as well as similar , or men acquainted with the trade generally. Another mum meane of employing labor is in farming, and men who understand general farm work in all its branches will readily J&fc taken up."

After reading this letter, I read also what -was reported to have been said in the Provincial Council when the vote of £10,000 passed in November List, Mr. S. Bealey said hi substance that he knew that Lancashire cotton spinners were not the best class of emigrants, but that there were many out of door laborers in Lancashire, with whom the cotton spinners out of work would come into competition, and that the vote might be available for the benefit of the former. I remarked in writing to the Superintendent (Jan. 21) " I fear neither domestic servants nor fittld laborers have become more plentiful in Lancashire in consequence of tho closing of the cotton mills." The Ltfttelton Tiniea, therefore, was not properly informed when it denied so absolutely tha} H.M. Commissioners " were left perfectly unfottered" " nothing was hinted at," &c, when Mr. Maude distinctly told Mr. Walcot "the majority of the men must be," &c.

I know that Mr. Walcot, like any ofßcial asked to discharge a duty for the first time for a nevr client, held himself strictly bound by his instructions, for -when I suggested to him that in ca§e he should not find suitable emigrants in Lancashire he miiiht do so among the distressed operatives of Carlisle and North Warwickshire, he wrote to mc that he should not feel at liberty to do so.

As to Mr. Waieot's iiitendiug to devote a portion of the sum remitted to him in pajraent of preliminary expenses, I hear of this for the first time on reading the assertion in the fytteltqr. Times, and until confirmed I doubt the aeeiusacy of the statement* and for this reason. Mr. Walcot on seeing the correspondence between the Mansion House Committee and myself, wrote to ask

mc to let him have some of the £500 " at my disposal towards the outfit and inland transit of the candidates he might select for Tree passages to Canterbury," and it was in answer to this appeal, and a good deal in consequence of mv feeling that unless I did this the iutentions of the people of Canterbury to help tho intending Lancashire emigrants * might bo defeated, that I sent Mr. Walcot the whole £500. Signed. H. S. Selfe.