EMIGRATION AGENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2461, 25 December 1869, Page 3

EMIGRATION AGENT.

The following correspondence between IMr A. J. Burns and the Government has Ibeen laid before the Council. • We' print 3Hr Burna'sletters verbatim etliteratim: — Clyde street Dunedin 18 September ISG9. Wjs Honor the Superintendent - of Otago Sir—Understanding that it is the intension o£ sTour Honor and Your Honor's Government "to send an Immigration Agent to IBritain. irota this province I take the liberty offer my services. I need hardiy say that remnmrration as regards salary &c \vill 1)8 a secondary consideration with me in to the good I flatter myself I sshall be able to do to the Province and that -very much lees salary tnnn what is set down -in the imrniKration Ageut Ordinance will me for my services. Should this proposal be favorably enter--taiaecl I would be prepared to leave Otago &y the firot ship eailiag direct from Port ! Ohalmers to Britain as I happen to be free ! very binding eng»g*metit at present. I would also feel obliged by Your Honor 3aying this s proposal before Your Honor's Executive for their conaklfiration at an early <date and if pspible give me a raply not later 'than this day week.—-I have, &c. ; .-;, ■ ■---ji:. -.■:■?< ■•:. •'• '- - -A. J. Burns. -

,;:•; Dunedin2s Sept, 1869. Sis Honor the Superintendent of Ofcago Sir—l am sorry agsin to trouble Your Honor but it has just .occurred to me that I forgot to moatioh in my former letter that it tb not Labor only that we require in thia Province but capital as well and both to a 3»rge extent could be absorbed juss now and i find that Imigraticm is going oh to a large -extent from Britain just now and why should" :» portion of that stream whilst running not be sent our way, I also flatter myself that I ■could attain both of these objects as I know -20 toell what is wanted: Aiso should your Honor and your Govt deem it desirable to lave another shipment of Salmon ova I think my. experience might be valuable and should Railway Plant and Iron work for Bridges be arequired I think my services in those direc- ~%: turns would cave the Province some money ~ ' perhaps better valne for the money be got. lam the worst hand in the world to advocate my own cause but seeing that in my iornble opinion the Province and not myself would, benefit; and at a very low rate of re-

! numeration 1 venture to address you and 6hro you your Honors Government a second time. There are many other ways my services in the home country would benefit the Province and when it is considered that I work con amove as what benefits the Province also benefits myself and my children I think your Honor and your Honors Govfc might do worse than give this proposal a trial. lam quite, sure the expenditure would be returnedabuadred fold. Hoping that Your Honor and ¥our Honor's Executive will be enabled to give me an early reply—l have, &c. A. J. Bubns.

Extract from Minutes of Executive Council, . ■ . ' 21st October, 1869.

4. Considered an offer from A. j. Burns, Esq. to act as Emigration Agent for this province in Great Britain, and resolved that while the Government is not prepared to appoint any Agent in thY meantime, under the British ImmigratiocOrdinance, it is of opinion thatia the event of Mr Burns visiting Britain on his private business, he could be of great service in iafluencing suitable labor and capital to emigrate to this province— with which view the Government is willing fco give him a letter of introduction to the Home Agent, with instructions to expend a sum not exceeding LSOO towards defraying such expenses as Mr Burns may, with the sanction of the Agent, incur in the service of the Province. Resolved further, that Mr Burns be allowed a sum not exceeding LIOO towards defraying the cost of his passage.

Clyde street Dunedin 22nd October 1869,

His Honour the Superintehdeat of Ofcago. Sir- - At Your Honour's request! waited upon Mr Willis who cortepusly gave me a copy of the Executive Minute passed yesterday ahtent my offer to proceed; to Britain as immigration Agent. : In reply 1 beg to assure your Honour that lam Teryjbighly; gratified, by the terns of the Eesolut;on.come to by the Government rai)d tne manner in which"my offer has beea received by-Your Honour'and Your Honour's Executive and according to the understanding the Government seems to have come to of my intention to proceed to Britain on private business the money terms offered are very liberal.

Some misaprehension seems to have arisen on that point as it never was my intention to take such a step therefore under the circumstances I am very reluctantlyr compelled :to refuse for the present-:'the. offer now made to me and however willing lam and trust always will be to give as much of my time to the service of the Province as my means will permit me yet in the present instance I: feel I would be sacrificing too much and more than I could afford to the Public Service were I to proceed to Britain and give all my. time to the cause of Immigration on so indefinite a proposal as that now submitted to me..

However —as I know well and feel thoroughly convinced that the Province and the Colony are suffering from the want of Immigration; and as the Government seems to emertain the idea that my services would be useful to the Province in that Department I teel _ emboldened 7 "to riia&e the following prpposition for the consideration of Your Honour and Your Honour's Executive.

That I would proceed to as Agent acting in conjunction with the Home Agents under an engagement of not less than two years duration with a salary of L4OO a year my travelling expenses to be under the directions and control of the Home Agents that : I receive LIOO as passage money to Britain and a. like sum should I return to the Province to defray my passage back. As the Government may not see its way to agree to these terms at present I will be content'to await the decision of the Provincial Council'relying upon the Government bringing the matter forward to a decision during the first week of the Ses&ion and do its best endeavours to have it • passed by its unanimous support and icfluence. I beg. to.offer a word of explanation of these terms. I ask to -be- permitted to remain, too .-years (and I. have no objections to a longer period) as I fee! convinced I would not be able to do any good in a shorter period as some months will be spent in preliminaries and I would be willing that my appointment should date from the time I landed in Britain and cease from the date of the reception of a letter to that effect. I have put down as small a salary as would suffice to live quietly and I think if I perform the duties in a satisfactory manner the Province can afford to pay that sum. If the travelling expenses were limited to any given sum less good might be effected and as it might be.necessary to visit even Norway'-to find Immigrants for tKe West Coast it might not be; wise to limit the amount. My reason for requesting the Government to bring this matter before the Council so early is that I might not lose the last of the wool ships from this Port sho aid the Council be pleased to agree. with the Government and pass the resolution." '-■:■ ■";.--=•■ Hoping Your Honor will be pleased to bring this before Your Honor's Executive and that. l may have.'an erxly reply. t Ihave,"&c., . , : ..:'.^ f ... -'::.:' A. J. Btjkns.

Provincial Secretary's Office Dunedinjß Novem. 1869

Sir—Referring".tQ your letter-of the 22d ultimo, addressed to His Honor the Superintendent, I have the. honor to acquaint you that the Government have.decided/to postpone the consideration of: the appoiatment of an Immigration Agent; in Great Britain until the next session of the Provincial Council.

I have &c ; ' , '(Signed) Geo. M'Lean, Provincial Secretary & Treasurer. A J. Burps,' Esq. M,H.R. Dunedin.