EMIGRATION FROM SCOTLAND TO OTAGO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3252, 9 July 1872, Page 2

EMIGRATION FROM SCOTLAND TO OTAGO.

The following letter on this subject, from His Honour the Superintendent to Mr Auld, the Homo Agent for the Province, has been handed to us for publication :—

Superintendent's Office, Dunedin, June <r >, 1872.

Sin—T have deferred replying to yourletters relative to the future posttsou of thct agency until it should bo seen what might be the practical result upon the Otago Agency of the mission to Britain of tho Agent(ioncral of the Colony.

As you arc aware, I did not anticipate that the miasiou of the AgentrCuncral wouki involve any interference with your operations—other than might hcsicccseary to provent the two agencies from clashing or competing with each other. I looked upon it that the Otago Agency, which, under your direction, has done such good service durinfj the past 20 years, would have been permitted to retain its individuality, auu to carry on ita functions in every respect as formerly, although nominally transferred to the Colony ; that, in fact, the Colony would have employed the existing Provincial organisations in carrying out its immigration functions—in as far aa Otago was concerned.

In this anticipation, however, I regret to find that I appear to have been mistaken, and that the first fruit of the change has been to extinguish this Province a» a special field for emigration, an well as to abandon the splendid lino between the Clyde and thi» port—than which there are no liner Bhip« afloat.

Under these circumstances, I have to request that you jvili be good enough to place yourself in comuiunication with the AgcafcGeneral, with a view to the agency resuming ita functions in respect of chartering ahtps direct for this port, and of influencing: the same class of emigrants to this Province as heretofore — that is to say, not only labourers, but small fanners and capitalists, resuming those functions under the general control of the Colonial agent, provided the operations of the agency are defrayed out of the Immigration Loan. In the event of the Agent-General declining to agree to this proposal, you are hereby empowered to resume the aUUu* qua ante, aud to make the necessary arrangements for despatching say one ship a month with assisted emigrauta, provided the total amount does not exceed twelve thousand pounds for the twelve months, commencing^ with the first ship ; this is the sum voted by the Provincial Council irrespective of the expense of the agency. If it can possibly be arranged, I should like that at least tw» ships in the year should land their passengers at Bluff Harbour. As to the proportion of passage money (if any) payable by the emigrants, you will have to be guided to some extent by the Colonial regulations. At the same tune the Provincial Government, having every confidence ia. your wisdom, will lcive this matter very much to your discretion. As a rule, probably five pounds pnr statute adult would be a sufficient allowance, the emigrant giving promissory notes for the difference. You will observe that I have no desire— but the contrary—to adopt any action whicin. might tend to cripple the efforts of the Colonial Government in ifca immigration, polky. At the same time it is so manifestly important that the future character and extent of emigration to Otago should not be contingent upon any change in the practical administration of the agency at home, that in the interests of the Province the Provincial. Legislature has, I am glad to say, unanimously decided upon maintaining the Home Agency upon its former footing. In conclusion, I have only to express an earnest hope that you will be able to arrange matters with the Agent-General so that the agency may be carried on and perform the same functions as heretofore under the Colonial scheme. I can see no practical difficulty in the way of this. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient,. , J. Macandukw, Superintendent of otag9_