MALTESE IMMIGRANTS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3362, 12 January 1884, Page 2

MALTESE IMMIGRANTS.

The Maltese immigration agent,Count Strickland, who arrived by the Eotomahana, was commissioned by the Council of Malta to deal with the subsubject of immigration of Maltese to New Zealand, a subject which was introduced by M. do Cessare, who was here last year. Count Strickland is a Maltese nobleman and a large landowner there, and as he was leaving for a tour round the world, he was commissioned by the Maltese authorities to act in pressing the matter of emigration, Malta being very thickly populated. Count Strickland’s father was an Englishman, and he was mostly educated inEngland. He comes accredited by Sir F. D. Bell, and before he left London bo consulted with Sir Charles Clifford, formerly of New Zealand, and others with whom he was acquainted. It will be remembered the Hon. Mr Eolleston consented to the introduction of some 30 or 40 Maltese who were to be settled to the north of Auckland to commence the cultivation of oranges, olives, and other sub-tropical crops, which they and their fothora have been accustomed to cultivate. Count Strickland thinks the number spoken of by Mr Eolleston is far too small to do any good either to Malta or New Zealand. He proposes that either some landed proprietors should guarantee work for a certain time to Maltese with some land for themselves, or that a special settlement should be formed. Count Strickland and Mr Mitchelson are going to Weilington. The former will have an inter* view with Mr Rolleston. His desire is (hat the offer of a special settlement should be made in the first instance to the Maltese authorities, and if they dp not see their way to take it up, that it should be made to a number of gentle, men in London, some of whom are in* terested in Malta and some in New Zealand, and who would advance the funds necessary to start the scheme.