THE AGENT-GENERAL’S DISPATCH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5588, 22 January 1879, Page 6

THE AGENT-GENERAL’S DISPATCH.

[By Telegraph.] [TIDES' SPECIAL WIRE.] WELLINGTON, Jan. 21. The Agent-General advises the Government that immediately on learning of the Piako’s disaster at Pernambuco he placed himself in communication with the Foreign office, and was permitted to communicate with the British Consul, who received instructions to do all he asked. Being informed that the ship would take a month to repair, and that the immigrants feared an outbreak of smallpox or yellow fever, he instructed the Consul to make arrangements for their return by steamer to England. T.vo companies made offers, and he approved of that ot the Royal Mail Company for £1750 for the lot. The N.Z.S. Co. protested that the ship was practically uninjured, that they had chartered the ’ Alice to go out with provisions, clothes, &c., for the immigrants, that they were all living in a roomy building on the island in the harbour, where separation and discipline were as well maintained as on board ship; that no interference should take place unless disease actually appeared, and that taking the passengers back to England would seriously prejudice the claims of the Company against underwriters. To this Sir Julius Yogel replied that he did not think it necessary to wait till disease actually broke out. There the correspondence ceases. The R.M. steamer was to leave Pernambuco on the day after the mail left Home, and those of the Piako passengers who wished had the option of returning to England. Sir Julius Yogel was taking advantage of the strike amongst agricultural labourers in Sussex and Kent to get a sufficient quantity of suitable immigrants for the steamer to leave this month. He advises the departure of the following immigrant vessels during November :—Waikato, for Timaru and Lyttelton, on Nov. 1 (arrived) ; Taranaki on Nor. 7, from the Clvde, for Port Chalmers, with 293 souls, equal’to 257 adults, including 59 single women; Boyne, on Nor. 18, from Plymouth, for Lj ttelton, v> ith 401 souls, equal to 350 i adults, including 93 single women ; Hudson, on Nor. 21, from Plymouth, for Wellington, with 43 souls, equal to 39 adults, for Hawke’s Bay, and 207 souls, equal to 190 adults, for Wellington, including in a 1155 single women; the Wellington, on Nor. 29, from the Clyde, for Port Chalmers, with 332 souls, equal to 293 J adults, including 72 single women; and Warwick as already advised. In Nov., 1775 souls in all embarked,’equal to 1562 i adults, including 367 single women ; making a total for the season of 7822 souls, equal to 6960 J adults, including 1975 single women. The Arethusa sailed from Cardiff for Lyttelton on Nov. 17, with 1600 tons of rails and fastenings. The Albatross was loading at Cardiff with rails for the Bluff, and the Gloria was loading at Middlesborough with rails for Wellington. Shipments of railway material were also being arranged from the Clyde and London for Otago, Wellington, and Napier. Two Fairlie engmgs and a quantity of other material, and some cases of natural history specimens for ihe Otago Museum, were shipped in Nov.