COTTAGES FOR IMMIGRANTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4134, 20 June 1874, Page 3

COTTAGES FOR IMMIGRANTS.

Notices have recently been published as to cottages for immigrants which are being erected in different Provinces, or which Provincial Governments have determined to erect. We understand that some of these cottages ax-e intended for use as up-country depots ; but that tlxo majority of them are being built, or are to bo built, under the conditions stated in the following circular letter to the Sxxporintendents :

“ Immigration Office, AVellington, 7th February, 1871. “ Six’, —It is very desirable that some of tho immigrants arriving in your Province should at once leave the town axxd its vicinity and proceed into the country districts, eitlxor to become settlers on their own account, or to accept employment from settlex-s. To enable this to be done, I shall be inclined not only to allow a moderate expenditure for the cost of transit, but also a proportion of tho expense for renting suitable buildings, if any are available, as tempoi’ary depots for the ixruxiigrants, in tlxe coxxxiti’y towxxs or villages. The scarcity of hoxxse accommodation is such in many of tlxe country districts, that immigrants, especially families, inclined to settle or seek employment in the country, may find themselves deterred from doing so on account of the want of adequate sheitex-. It has suggested itself to me that it woxdd be very desirable to erect, at different points where employment was available, serviceable bixt cheap foxxr-roomed cottages or huts, not exceeding in cost £IOO, for the purpose of letting to the immigrants. “ AVhere tlxe Provincial Government have land to spare in the vicinity of railway works, small areas of laud might be included, with the cottages, in a lease. This, however, I leave to the consideration of the Provincial axxthoritxes. “ I am willing, as a means of thus settling immigrants, to place a certain .amount of money at yoixr Honor’s disposal to build sxxch cottages or huts, on tho following coxxditions ; “ 1. That these be lot to newly-axrived immigraxits with families. “ 2. That the Provincial Government xindertakes and guarantees to return to tlxe Genex-al Government the amount expended, witix intei'est at 5 per cent., in four instalmexxts, on the Ist January, 1875, 1876, 1877, and 1878. “ I leave you to make such aiTangexnents for building the cottages, and to let them on such conditions other thaix those stipulated, as may seem to yoxx desirable. “ If you approve of this proposal, I shall be glad to x’eceive any suggestions from your Honor on the subject, as also to learn the amount of money you think you would require during tlxe current year.—l have, &c., “Julius Vogel.”