IMMIGRATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 14416, 5 July 1907, Page 2

IMMIGRATION.

REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT. [Fbom Otto. Corbespohbent.] WELLINGTON, July 4. , " A steady, though, moderate, stream of immigratioii lias continued to our shores," runs the annual report of thr Immigratioii Department presented to the House- yesterday afternoon, " and the year dosed with, the gain of 1243 souls over that given in last year's report. Owing to the limited area ol Crown lands which New Zealand ha« to offer to its immigrants, it is useless to attempt to compete with eucl a, country as Canada, with its vae< areas of fertile lands and ite compare tire proximity to the United Kingdom but what New Zealand can, and does offer is an equable climate and lif< generally under the most agreeable an< favourable conditions." Last, yoar, th< report goes on to say, forty steamer; fanded in the colony 3712 souls, equa to 3141* statute adults. They pos sessed amongst them a total capital o £114,689 and an annual income o £I9BB. The amount of passage mone; contributed by New Zealand throng! the High Commissioner was JbliyOM, In the early portion of last year : number of railway workers under th heading of " navvies" arrived for wori on the North Island Main Trunk, th total being 279, who with their famihe numbered 507 eouls, but representa tions having been sent to the Hig Commissioner that no further suppl was needed, he has discontinued grant ine anv further passages to this cla* of settler. A total of 204 domestic were also granted 'listed passages relatives to the number of 383 i statitt adults hare also been nominated i New Zealand, and passage money 1 the amount of £3782 has bee paid for that purpose. . .1 .a convinced," adds the Under-becretai (Mr W. C. Kensington), "that th concession has been of great benefit ! reuniting separated families. As - the general character of tlio imp: grants, the officers report that tn« have been of a very superior class, ar the Under-Secretary affirms that tl Hi<di Commissioner has exercised very wise discretion in selecting the and has added a line and sturdy cla of settlers, both men and women, the population of the colony, lhe pc sons who have been approved lor pa sages at reduced rates tor the year a summarised as follow*:—Farmers 46 navvies 279, domestics 254, artisans .ai miscellaneous 841. - ~>*''