IMMIGRATION.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 15, 15 October 1874, Page 4

IMMIGRATION.

(From the 'Otago Baity Timea.!)

/ MRS HOWABD IKT l>Kpjßl*rcß.

Mrs C. C. Howard has sent us forpublication the followibß letter, dated London July 27th, iß74:— '.'.-* I rely on your sense of justice to give insertion to ( a few lines from me in selfdefence. I find from various panels which have reached me from New Zealand, tbat my conduct as an Emigration Agent has been made the subject of a consideraole amount of adverse comment on account of the shipment of some people from the Cork Union by me. . ','' I will, with your kind oertni^ibn, relate the circumstances which led to my sending them. I do, not know if Dr. Ftatherstba has offered, any explanation of the matter • if not, io justice to me he should have done ' 80, •.'-,...;. ..,.- A list of tbe names and capabilities of a number of the inmates of the [Cork Union, was sent to Dr. ' Feafb'erston by a Mr Acheson, wbo had been acting »s an Agent for New Zealand Emigration in Ireland before I left Otago.; .-. After I bad been eotne time in Limerick—Where I succeeded in getting a number of first-class emigrant* whom I forwarded to, your.^ Colony by various ahips—r suggested to the AgentGeneral that Queenstown ! being the prin - cipal port tot the South of Irtlarid, I should make thafc toy head quarters: He theu told me he had received the above- named list, and said he should hke me to inspect these people in the Workhouse, pad if I foui-d any deserving people among them, able to work,, he saw no reason. Why they should not get free passages. Upon thi» instruction I, upon my return to Ireland visited the Cork Union, and there selected a number 'of inmate.*, who, upon inquiry, I found to bear good character*^ It will thua be seen that in selecting these people I waa merely acting upon Dr Featherston'a instructions; and that I have been made the scapegoat in a matter, the responsibility for which does ndt fairly lie upon me. I may remark I was greatly surprised to. find that some people in Otago have made the stupid (or malicious) assertion that these people were sent from, a reformatory, which is. a gross falsehood. In conclusion, I may remark that whileit is possible that, despite the care exercised by me ia selecting oyer lOdo efc-i---grants lor your shores, some few undesir--able ones Hiay have passed through my hands and deceived my . utmost vigilance,; yet I caa safely assert that the great balk of the number will prove useful aaie&dii*. able colonists.