CORRESPONDENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 171, 15 April 1854, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the LyHelton Times. Christehurcb,April 4th, 1854. Sib.—The appointment of an Immigration Agent is a subject pretty freely canvassed: it is objected (ami at first sight the objection appears plausible enough), Why be at the expense of sending' an agent to England? One of the ship brokers would supply us with enough immigrants and at a more economical rate? Now I think, it is not so much a matter of pounds, shillings, and pence: we most of us have experienced the sharp practice of ship brokers, their sole care appears to be bundling the immigrants on board, clearing the ship, and pocketing the commission ; no matter what the poor creatures suffer from their want of management, their complaints never reach them, or if they do, they are ready with a query—Did you ever know any one endure a 4 months' voyage without complaining ? The best thing which could be done for the comfort of the immigrants is to send an independent person to see that they are comfortably shipped, and due preparation made for their comfort on the voyage,—to stand between them and the broker—to give them every information as to their right to provisions, space, and baggage. The appointment of a person intimately acquainted with the province, its capabilities, it? progress, its wants, and, above all, from his experience able to give advice to intending immigrants, is not to be compared with the expenditure of so small a sum comparatively with the duties required of him. It is generally '•' twaddle" when we hear of" securing the services" of such and such a person, but in the present instance I think we may indeed congratulate ourselves on the appointment: we have every guarantee for the fulfilment of the duty as far as his personal care extend, but there is a four months' voyage, when they are entirely at the mercy of others ; our agent will do well to have printed instructions, simple as they can be, to place in the hands of each adult, informing them of what is required of them, and what they are entitled to in the shape of provisions, medical attendance, medicine, &c. Nothing could have been more grossly mismanaged than the " medical comforts" on board some of the Association's ships. On some " Sago and get on deck" was the sole remedy for the steerage passengers' complaints, while wine, spirits, and advice, were lavishly adminstered to the higher class of passengers. On others, where the Doctor was not well up in his duties, the officer who delivered the stores took charge and administered them to a select few. Such abuses should be done away with, by furnishing every adult passenger with the fullest printed information, and taking care that the medical man is one of the highest character, though a greater salary" should be paid him. If we pretend to do the thing, let it be done well, (I do not advocate the reckless expenditure which attended some of the Association's ships,) let the ships be of the best description, not of the A. 1. class which would make the passage in 140 days in ordinary weather, but fast sailers, and commanded by experienced officers ; it is cheapest in the long run, for the continuation of the supply will greatly depend on the accounts which reach home : it would be better to charge each individual a little extra, and supply them with move space than is generally allowed, than to huddle them up in the smallest space allotted by law, and bring them at a lower rate. This is the commencement of a new state of things; if we wish it to continue and prosper, we must spare no reasonable expense to maintain the character of the ships despatched here, and this must depend in a grejtt measure on the zeal and energy of the agent. It is an arduous task, but one which, if accomplished successfully, deserves the highest praise. The Council are' generally lavish enough in the expenditure of their newlyacquired fortune, let them be so in this instance, (i. c. the ships and their management:) they cannot pay too much attention to the comfort of those, whose presence is so far necessary to the well-being of the Colony. I remain, Yours, &c. A Wouking Man.