THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out Faciam." DUNEDTN, SATURDAY, APRIL 11.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 408, 11 April 1863, Page 4

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out Faciam." DUNEDTN, SATURDAY, APRIL 11.

The recent exposures in connection with the Immigration Barracks, must have convinced every one of the absolute necessity of a building bettor adapted for the purpose than the present structure in Princes-street. The most zealous partizans of the Richardson cum Dick administration must agree with us, that the present building appropriated to the use of the immigrants is in every respect utterly inadequate and unfit for their decent accommodation. In this" respect the barracks in Duncdin do not stand alone : for we believe that in none of the ports of arrival in 23ew Zealand do there exist proper means for the temporary accommodation of Government immigrants. The building allotted to the purpose in Auckland is a good deal worse than the one in Dunedin ; whilst in Lyttelton, the only other port, we believe, where any accommodation whatever is provided for the immigrants, it is very little better. There is now a good opportunity for Otago to set an example of reformation to the other Provinces. We hope that one of the first items voted by the new Provincial Council, will be a sum of money for the erection of a suitable Immigrants' Home. By an Immigrant/ Home, we mean, not simply a building for the gratuitous temporary use of assisted /emale immigrants, but one that will include also accommodation, at a reasonable cost, for the general body of immigrants from Britain, something on the same principle as Sailors' Homes in England.

The building should be plaoed in a situation sufficiently removed from the business part of the town to prevent any molestation of the immigrants, and yet near enough for the convenience of persons requiring to engage servants from the depot. The site for the Home should be selected so as to allow of every arrangement tor the health of its inmates, and the building should be a substantial structure of brick or stone, and fitted with every necessary sanitary appliance. One wing should be set apart for the reception of female immigrants only, and not communicating with the other parts of the building. It should possess a good roomy kitchen, lavatory, laundry, and other necessary offices. On the ground floor should be the matron's apartments, and an office where applications for servants could he received. There should be a suitable diving-hall and day-room for the inmates, and the dormitories should'be roomy and well ventilated. The furniture should be of the simplest character consistent with comfort and cleanliness. It would be necessary, whilst making every reasonable provision for the comfort of the immigrants, to avoid any luxurious appliances that would tend in anj' way to induce indisposition to seek employment, or unfit the immigrants for their future life. The regulations should permit the free use of the building to the immigrants for a certain fixed period after arrival, and. allow females temporarily out of situations to reside in the Home at a moderate charge. Rules of cleanliness should be strictly enforced, on pain of dismissal from the institution ; and any infringement of the rules of propriety should be similarly punished. A reading-room should be provided for the recreation of the inmates, and the supervision of the immigrants should be placed under parsons of irreproachable character and ability.

That part of the building for the use of male immigrants and families, would have to be somewhat different in its arrangements. It should have a kitchen and the ordinary offices for General use, and a public day-room and dining-hall lor the use of individual immigrants. For families, it would be necessary to have separate living "and sleeping apartments. As in the case of the female department, the furniture should be of the simplest substantial character; and the privilege of living in the home should be limited to a certain fixed period after arrival. But in the case of general immigrants and families, a charge should be made for the use of the building, sufficient to cover the costs of management. The principle should be strictly adhered to, (hat the Home is only intended for the temporary accommodation of immigrants; and, except in special cases, the stipulated period of residence should not be allowed to be exceeded. Codes of rules should be drawn up, calculated to preserve due order and decorum, and any infringement should be visited by summary I dismissal from the institution.

There: is very, little ■doubt that an institution ot the character we have sketched, could j be made, to a certain extent, self-supporting; j and the benefits it would confer would be j incalculable. To .immigrants arriving in a place where house-rents and the cosi of living are so considerable as j in Dtmedin, it is a matter of serious moment that they should be able to economise their means, until they have bad time to form their future plans; and it is clearly the duty of the' Government to assist them in this particular, more especially ivhpn it can be dona at a very small cost to the State. The miserable inadequacy of the present arrangements is calculated to retard immigration; for it is not 'unreasonable tosuppposa that the immigrants communicate the particulars to their friends and relatives in England. If, on the other hand, it were known in England, that immigrants would be provided with accommodation at a cheap cost, unfil they had time to look about them, it would tend much to foster, immigration. Under existing circumstances, immigrant families are frequently compelled to sacrifice a great part of their small capital in the bare cost of living, before they have had time to move either, up country or to seek employment. ,Ye think the subject is one of so much importance that it sliould meet with prompt attention on the part of the new Provincial "Council. Similar institutions, in other places, have proved uniformly successful'•; and the outlay would be as nothing, compared with the benefits its judicious expenditure would confer.