FEMALE IMMIGRATION.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1740, 8 November 1862, Page 5

FEMALE IMMIGRATION.

National Female Emigration Society, No. 44, Charing Cross, London July 25th, 1862. To the Provincial Secretary of Auckland. Sut, —We are requested to forward, for the information of your Government, the enclosed Memorandum of a proposal tor establishing a Society to encourage Female Emigration to the British Colonies. London, June 20, 1862. Memocandum of a Proposal for the formation of a Society to encourage Female Emigration to the British Colony of New Zealand, or elsewhere, on a self-supporting system. The deficiency of female inhabitants in our Colonics, and the superabundance of females in Great Britain, are two facts universally admitted. To remedy the evils consequent on this disproportion, it is proposed, as soon as circumstances admit, to establish a Society, to be called, “ The National Female Emigration Society.” The eventual objects will be to secure for the Colonies a continuous supply of respectable -women adapted for domestic service, and to furnish information and provide outfits to those who wish to emigrate. As the rate of wages in most of the Colonics is much higher than in England, the emigrants will be expected to repay the expenses incurred. It is probable that the Local Governments of the different settlements will guarantee the repayment of passage-money. The Provincial Government of Nelson, New Zealand, has already undertaken that guarantee. A copy of the document annexed, authorizing Mr. Morrison, the London Agent, of Adelaide Chambers, London Bridge, to communicate with the Society.

In the instance of Nelson, it is therefore clear that the scheme, after the first outlay, cun be made selfsupporting. A Committee has been formed at Nelson to provide for the comfort and welfare of the women on arrival. A copy of the Secretary’s letter is annexed. To accomplish the proposed object, money in the form of donations or subscriptions is earnestly desired, and it is hoped that the wealthy of this country will contribute a portion of surplus income to encourage and aid the efforts of the Society. For further particulars reference may be made to the Rev. Richard Croft, Vicar of Hillingdon, Uxbridge, and Rural Dean; Llewellyn Nash, Esq., Harley House, Avenue Road, Lewisham. Among other supporters of the scheme may'be mentioned: the Lord Bishop of London; the Lord Bishop of Oxford; the Lord Bishop ot Salisbury; the Lord Rochester; the Lord Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol; the Lord Bishop of Llandaff; the Lord Bishop of Bangor; Earl Nelson; Earl Teignmouth; Sir Edward Ilulse, Bart.; Sir John D’Oyly, Bart.; Sir Walter Farquhar, Bart.; the Hon. George Denman, M.P.; J. W. Bramston, M.P.; Sutton Western, Esq., M.P.; Matthew Marsh, Esq., M.P.; T. B. Western, Esq.; I. Bruce Price, Esq.; C. H. a’Court Repington, Esq.; T. Campbell Robertson, Esq.; Charlotte, Duchess Dowager of Norfolk; the Dowager Countess Nelson; the Lady Jolm Manners; the Lady Vere Cameron; the Lady Susan Nelson ; thc-Lady Elizabeth Dawson ; Lady D’Oyly; the Dowager Lady D’Oyly; Lady Wake; the Hon. Mrs. George Denman; Mrs. Tait; Mrs. Oliphant. Immigration Office, Nelson, 11th January, 1862. A. W. Scaife, Esq., Secretary of the Nelson Committee, &C., &c., Nelson. Sir—l have the honour, by direction of the Commissioners of Immigration for this Province, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday’s date, relative to the introduction of female Immigrants from England; and in reply to inform you that the Commissioners will guarantee the repayment of the-passage-money of not exceeding sixty females, of good character, suitable for domestic servants, in shipments of twenty every three or four months, in the vessels provided for the transmission of immigrants to this province by the Commissioner’s Agent, Mr. John Morrison, of 3, Adelaide Place, King William Street, London, who wdJl be instructed to confer with Mr. Nash and the Ladies’ Society, and authorized to carry out any suggestions of the Society as to the supervision of the Females on the voyage. The Commissioners also direct me to state, that they have every confidence in Mr. Morrison’s supervision of the shipping arrangements, as he has carried out that 'duty in a very satisfactory manner, as Agent for this province, for some time past. _ Bonds must, of course, be given by the immigrants to repay their passages, by instalments, within two years after landing. " The Commissioners trust that the above _ arrangements will meet the views of the Ladies Society, and lead to the introduction of a valuable class of immigrants. I have, &c, Alfred Greenfield, Immigration Secretary. Nelson, New Zealand, 11th January, 1862. Llewellyn Nash, Esq., 29, Great St. Helen’s, London. _ Dear Sir,— l have the pleasure to inform you that a Committee of gentlemen, consisting of Rev. H.M. Turton, Dr. Monro, Dr. Scaly, Alfred Domett, Esq, (Commissioner of Crown Lands,) Charles Elliott, Esq, and myself, has been formed here for the purpose of corresponding with the Ladies’ Committee in London referred to in your communication to Dr. Scaly (dated 26th June, 1861,) as willing to select and send out female servants of good character to this province. This Committee has requested and,obtained the cooperation of a Committee of Ladies here consisting of Mrs. Hobhouse, [wife of thcßishop of Nelson] Mrs. Barnicoat, Sirs. Monro, Mrs. Blundell, and Mrs. Greenwood, who arc all well known to j ou. A Deputation from this Committee waited ou the Superintendent, and explained their views, and subsequently addressed a letter to the Immigration Commissioners, whose reply I have the pleasure to mclosc. You will please put Mr. Morrison in communication with the Ladies’ Committee in London, and address me as Honorary Secretary of the Committee here, upon any business connected with the scheme, and I remain, dear sir, Yours very truly, A. W. Scaife, Hon. Sec. This document was printed and circulated on Juno 2oth, 1862, and on 18th instant a large and influential Meeting was held at London House, St. James’ Square (the Lord Bishop of London in the chair,) at .which a series of Resolutions were proposed and carried, which will explain to you that the Society has been duly organised, subscriptions received, committees formed, and officers appointed. The Resolutions passed at this Meeting arc now communicated to you, and are as follows:The Bishop of London having opened the proceedings by calling upon the Rev. Richard Croft to give a bvief account of the objects of the Society,

It was proposed by Lord Lyttelton, seconded by Arthur Mills, Esq., M,P. • “ That it is expedient to form a Society, to be called the ‘ The National Female Emigration Society,* the objects of which shall be to diffuse information on the subject of Emigration, and to assist Females who may be anxious to emigrate to our Colonies, with advances of money for passages and outfit.” Second Resolution!— It was proposed by Matthew Marsh, Esq., M.P., seconded by Mr. Jostico Cloete (Natal); “ That none but Women of good character be allowed to participate in the advantages offered by this Society.” Third Resolution:— Moved by the Lord Bishop of Gloncester, seconded by Arthur Hodgson, Esq., late of Sydney, New South Wales: “ That the Secretary be instructed to open a correspondence with the under-mentioned Colonics, inviting them to co-operate with this Society in the same manner as Nelson, New Zealand, has consented to do, viz : by guaranteeing the repayment of money advanced for passage and outfit, and by establishing an Immigrant Reception Committee to look after the Women upon their arrival in the Colonies ; —New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, British Columbia, Canterbury, Otago, Wellington, Auckland, Nelson, Taranaki, Napier, Cape of Good Hope, Natal.” Fourth Resolution:— Proposed by the Lord Bishop of Capo Town, seconded by Leonard Harper, Esq., late of Canterbury, New Zealand: “ That should the funds permit, a Training Depot shall be opened to receive Women intending to emigrate, and to prepare them for Colonial life.” Fifth Resolution:— Proposed by the Rev. Richard Croft, seconded by Llewellyn Nash, Esq., Nelson, New Zealand: “ That a Committee be appointed, consisting of tho following Noblemen and Gentlemen: Patron: the Right Rev, the Lord Bishop of London, President: the Right Hon. Lord Lyttelton. VicePresidents ; the Right Hon. Earl of Powis; the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Gloucester; Sir Edward Hulse, Bart. Committee: Henry Barnett, Esq.; Thomas W. Bramston, Esq., M.P.; Henry F. Bushby, Esq.; Paul Butler, Esq.; Colonel Campbell; Rev. Richard Croft; Alfred Denison, Esq.; Rear-Admiral the Hon. Joseph Denman; Leonard Harper, Esq.; Arthur Hodgson, Esq.; Edward Thurston Holland, Esq.; Sir Walter Farquhar, Bart; Mathew Marsh, Esq., M.P.; Arthur Mills, Esq., M.P.; C. H. a’Court Repington, Esq.; Sydney F. A, Townsend, Esq. (With power to add to their number). “ That a Ladies’ Committee be also appointed, consisting of Lady John Manners; Lady Hulse; the Hon. Mrs, R. Liddell; Mrs. Campbell Robertson; Mrs. Fox; Mrs. H. Barnett; Miss H. Bushby; Mrs. Whittam; Mrs. Sydney F. A. Townsend. (With power to add to their number). “That Sir Walter Farquhar, Bart, be appointed Honorary Treasurer. “ That the Rev. Richard Croft, M.A., and Arthur Hodgson, Esq., bo appointed Honorary Secretaries. “ And that an Office be opened at or near to Charing Cross,”

With a view to ascertain the amount of support which this Society is likely to receive from your Colony, we shall feel obliged if you will, at your earliest convenience, answer the following questions: Whether your Colony is in want of Female immigrants, and if so, how many will you be prepared to receive annually? Whether you are willing to undertake to defray the expense incidental to the voyage, exclusive of outfit, and if so, in what manner? Whether provision will be made for the comfort and welfare of the Women on their arrival? We are requested to inform you that no Women will be sent out under 17 years and above SO years of age, that no application for passage will be entertained by the Committee, unless accompanied by the certificate of a Minister and two respectable persons to whom the Emigrant is known at the date of her application, and that a duly qualified Matron will accompany each draft of females sent out under the protection of the Society. In conclusion, we wish to add, that we are anxious to co-operate with H. M. Emigration Commissioners and the various Colonial Emigration Commissioners now resident in this country. We are, sir, Your most obedient servants, {Richard Croft, Vicar of Hillingdon, Middlesex. Arthur Hodgson.