THE IMMIGRANTS BY THE WENNINGTON AND LA HOGUE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4118, 1 June 1874, Page 3

THE IMMIGRANTS BY THE WENNINGTON AND LA HOGUE.

The last of the immigrants by the Wennington and La Hogue -were taken from the latter ship on Saturday by Messrs Turnbull and Co.’s steamer Napier, which left the wharf early in the morning. The Immigration officers and the officers and doctor of the ship had made every preparation, and the immigrants with their luggage were all safely disembarked before noon, aboutl'so all told being on board the steamer as she left the ship’s aide. Two invalids, suffering from acute rheumatism—a man and a woman—were among the number, and these were considerately removed in cabs to the Barracks, Dr. Bussell seeing them safely earned from the steamer. By one o’clocic the majority were at or on their way to the Barracks. A visit to Mount Cool: in the afternoon was full of interest. The immigrants, all well satisfied with their treatment and prospects, were congregated in knots in the courtyard, those who had boon on shove a day or two being surrounded by the now arrivals and besieged with all kinds of questions as to the work to bo got, and the wages and price of provisions. In the office, several of the residents in Wellington were busy selecting and engaging domestics and servants, while the single women who had already found employment were gathering their traps together, preparing to enter on their first experiences of service in a new country. Talcing the tour of the courtyard, tho visitor cannot fail to ‘be struck with the immense superiority of tho Wenuington’s and La Hogue’s shipments over those which had recently arrived. All were sober and industrious, and the single men a fine-looking body of settlers, a thousand of whom could and will find ready employment. As for the single women, they were, of course, the first to ho taken, as they had been tbo first to arrive. Taken all in all, they are an excellent set, and the very kind of people who have been so greatly in request lately ; and it was evident they met with the approval of servantseekers, from tho fact that without exception all found remunerative engagements, people being only too glad to take such handy-looking girls. Walking about amongst them, hardly a murmur of dissatisfaction could bo heard, and all seemed pleased at the forethought which had been taken to make them as comfortable as the moans at tho disposal of the immigration authorities would permit, and at their release from the confinement and close atmosphere of tho ship to the bracing air on the hills. It is most gratifying to hear tho very high terms iu which the captains and doctors of both ships are spoken of, and tho satisfaction 0,11 express at tho unvaryingly careful attention paid to them throughout tho voyages. The married couples with children are not as readily engaged as the single men and women, who have only to sock work to obtain it in abundance. Still ail are sanguine of success, and none of them seem to regret having left Lngland for New Zealand. A detachment will leave for Wanganui on Tuesday, and tiie barracks will then lie comparatively unencumbered. The accommodation at Mount Cook is not of the. largest, and it has,, taxed the Ingenuity of Mr lilliot to the utmost to get all the people in his charge under shelter ; hut by close packing, room h::s been made fora!!. The circumstances attending the almost simultaneous arrival of tho La Hogue and Wonnington, with their large numbers of passengers, should commend to the consideration of the authorities the need of increased accommodation at tho barracks. As they are, they will not comfortably accommodate .more than 300, and a single ship frequently brings out nearly twice that number. To fill up the gaps in tho quadrangle with building ; of tho barrack kind, would cost very little, and is a work really needed, as skips are arriving in rapid succession. Tho want of more room has been very severely felt on the present occasion, and has placed an unfair strain on tho Immigration Department to get all under shelter.

The wage; ruling are 10s to 12s per week, with board, for housemaids and general servants, and from £GO to £7O a year, with board, for married couples as farm servants. Single men, who are tradesmen, receive the current wages from employers, and ordinary laborers the daily wage of the railway workmen.