New Zealand Times. MONDAY, JULY 6, 1874.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4147, 6 July 1874, Page 2

New Zealand Times. MONDAY, JULY 6, 1874.

The Governmont has submitted, to Parliament an amount of correspondence relative to immigration that will prove the subject has received no ordinary amount of care and attention. No doubt it has obtained this from outside circles, and lion, members will be gratified to find that overy objection which could bo urged against the working of the department has received most careful attention, and indeed has been anticipated. Thero are many persons in the Colony interested in its welfare, and careful concerning all that bears upon this, who have looked with somo degree of alarm upon the number and quality of immigrants who have arrived ; and have had forebodings respecting those who aro now on tho waters. To them tho progress being rnado has seomed like that of a steam engine when tho valvo has been unduly weighted. They have experienced nervous fear of somo overshadowing disaster, nor have they beon without warrant for this. Tho despatches of tho Minister for Immigration tako account of the fact. On tho arrival of tho Asia at Dunedin, peremptory instructions wero telegraphed to tho Agent-General that ho must cease employing Mrs. Howard, who despatched girls out of the Cork Workhouse. Surprise was expressed that

he should have either permitted such _n thing to be done, or have been in ignorance of what, was taking place in Ireland until informed from'New Zealand. The same thing happened when the Woodlark arrived at Wellington. Dr. Featherston was informed "that the character of tho class of immigrants arriving in the Colony was a source of very great anxiety to the Government, and was creating great uneasiness throughout the Colony." His attention was directed to the ballet dancers forwarded to Auckland, the case of some "Whitechapel Boys" as they choose to call themselves, and to that of _ some females who were unmanageable in the depot after their arrival. The deaths on board the Mongol, Scimitar, and other vessels, formed themes for despatches addressed to him. He was informed of drunkenness and disobedience to orders on the part of some of the women he had sent out. There was no attempt made by the Minister for Immigration to make things pleasant to the Agent-General. Bare and literal truths were supplied to him ad libitum. Whether Dr. Featherston reads the despatches he receives does not clearly appear. The Minister complained that month after month passed and his letters remained unanswered, but the AgentGeneral continued to be a man of very few words. Whatever his action may have been—and this is the only question that can possibly be at issue—his reticence is very certain. His instructions we.'e couched in an eminently business-like tone. He was, in the first place, to bo very careful in his selection of emigrants. Whilst the Government considered that an influx of useful immigrants would be very 'desirable, on the other hand the introduction of bad ones was not only undesirable, but mischievous. And because he was enabled to offer free passages, he was to be rather more cai*eful, than less, in his choice. The Government considered that free passages should only bo granted to emigrants that were likely to prove desirable colonists. After selecting, although he was to be economical, he was not to be parsimonious. The dietary scale, it was especially urged, should be a liberal one. Special provision was to be made for children. He was advised not to study specially a low contract prico. "I prefer," said the Minister, " sanctioning any expense to risking emigrants' lives." And, '' I beg you to consider seriously the necessity that exists for investigating the character and claims of those who desire to take advantage of the liberal system which the Colony has initiated." Further, a telegram was forwarded to him that the Government positively instructed him to take steps to "ensure the selection of only persons of good character." In rospect to shipping them when selected, he was invested with full discretionary powers. He was not to send nominated persons unless he was satisfied of their, good character. He might have specially chartered ships for conveying emigrants. Afterwards he was instructed by what lines and in what proportion to send them. And ho was not to rely upon the reports of tho Crown Emigration Officers, but to institute a system of special inspection. All emigrants were to be approved either by himself or some one appointed by him. Also, if special settlements could be effected, and to this the Government attached great importance, he was to "consider whether the class of immigrants designed for them should not be sent out kt ships specially chartered for the purpose, and not in the ordinary immigrant ships." And ho was to appoint " special agents to canvas amongst small farmers in all parts of. tho United Kingdom with the view of obtaining applications in the terms of The Immigrants Land Act of 1873." Moreover, the emigrants were to be sent direct to their destination, without calling at other ports, as nearly as possible. With such instructions it seems scarcely possible that the Agent-General could go far astray, i.e. if he abided by them. Nor are we prepared to say that he did. During the year 1873 there were 15,102 immigrants landed in the Colony. In such a number it is no matter for surprise if there should have been found a few black sheep. But thoy are not to be judged too hardly from mere appearances. As the Minister explained to Dr. Featherston, immigrants landing after a long voyage, and who have not a very presentable apppearance, are liable to be misjudged by those accustomed to tho ordinarily smart appearance of peoplo in the Colony. But, as he added, he was "moved to the conviction that a sufficiently careful selection was not being made at Home. This remark applies very forcibly to some of the single women who have lately landed, and who were selected," it was presumed, "byaj pers»n acting as agent" for Dr. Featherston. The correspondence establishes, beyond dispute, that tho utmost care had been manifested by tho Government in dealing with the matter. I The Government had not lost sight of the fact that some persons had experienced apprehension that emigration to the Colony during the ensuing winter months, might possibly be overdone. About 2000 immigrants are on their way to Wellington at the present time. Past experience does not point' to the fact that the labor market is likely to be overstocked; but the Government has considered the possibility of such a contingency. The Superintendent of the Province asked as lately as Feb- j ruary, that arrangements might be entered into for the introduction of 500 immigrants per month, exclusive of any nominated by their friends. The delay caused by some ships making much longer passages than could be expected, and tho necessity that might be forced upon the Agent-General of vessels leaving port within a week or two of each other, might well account for noarly 2000 immigrants arriving at about the samo dato ; and tho Government has been in communication with the Superintendents of various Provinces how inconvenience arising from this should best be obviated. A suggestion has been thrown out that cottages and depots should be erected in various country places. And tho Minister for Immigration thought that special settlements should be made on blocks of land set apart for that purpose, sections on which should be sold on the principle of doferred payments, and the sparo time of the settlers should be omployed on public works, the Provincial Government to pay for this out of a Loan Fund —a Bill for which should be supported iu Parliament by the General Government. But on blocks proposed for special settlements care would be taken that the valuable forest timber of the North Island should not be wasted, but should be considered a means of rovenue to the Stato. With such a plan of sottlemont in prospect there is little fear of tho Province being overdone with newly arrived immigrants. There is displayed throughout tho whole of the voluminous corres2)ondenco wo havo J alluded to a thoughtfulnoss for the

future on the part of the General Government that will go far to dispel the slight and it would appear uncalled for uneasiness that there has arisen in tho mind of the public as to the large influx of population we may expect to receive at an early date. A curious anomaly in the case is that whilst from all quarters a cry has been heard respecting the scarcity of labor, any concern should be felt lest the market should be overstocked. The Government seems to have understood the former and anticipated the latter.