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PAPERS RELATING TO IMMIGRATION.
II.-INTRODUCTION OF SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRANTS.
PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BY COMMAND OF HIS EXCELLENCY.
WELLINGTON.
1871.
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SCHEDULE OF CORRESPONDENCE.
it Date From. To. Subject. Sept. 9, 1870 Jan. 24, 1871 New Zealand Commissioner! Hon. Mr. Gisborne Hon. tho Colonial Secretary Superintendents of of Otago, Canterbury, and Nelson Hon. the Colonial Secretary Hon. the Colonial Secretary Hon. the Colonial Secretary Provincial Secretary, Otago 11 <m. the Colonial Secretary Memorandum on recent visit to Norway, &c, re emigration and railways. Arrangements concluded for sending out pioneer parties of Norwegians, Swedes, and Danes. Are any of the Scandinavian immigrants expected in the " Celceno " required for Otago, &c. ? 3 4 Feb. 6, 1871 Feb. 6, 1871 Superintendent of Nelson Secretary to Superintendent of Otago Superintendent of Otago Mr. Cooper None required in Nelson. Superintendent away. Advertisement has been issued relative to " Celoono's " immigrants. All "Celoeno's " immigrants, if suitable, can be absorbed. Could they be sent to Martin's Bay ? " Cekeno's " immigrants prefer to remain in a body, and settle in Wellington. A deputation from the Opunake Flax Company have requested that some of tho expected immigrants may be located at Opunake, for reasons given in their letter enclosed. It has been considered desirable not to separate tho Scandinavians lately arrived, but Government is willing, if requested, to procure immigrants under " The Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870." Reporting departure from London of Norwegian immigrants, per ship " Celcono." List of names and other documents enclosed. Requesting them to make suggestions for locating " Celceno's " immigrants. Has seen Wellington Provincial Authorities, who are willing to makearrangemeuts for settling "Celceno's" immigrants at Manawatu. Proposing arrangements for landing and housing tho "Celoono's" immigrants at Wellington,their location near Palmerston, and their employment on publio works in that neighbourhood. Does not agree with some of the recommendations of Messrs. Pliarazyn and Halcombe, and states his views as to location and employment. Reporting arrival of ''Celceno" on 5th February, and tho steps he lias taken to convey them to and locate them near Palmerston. Instructions relative to employment of Scandinavian immigrants. Late heavy rains have flooded the land on which tho Norwegians arc located. Is desirous of removing them to a more favourable site; but, as certain questions in reference to the reservation of land have arifcn, suggests that Government should buy the land required. Forty acres having been reserved for each family for two years, 750 acres will be required. Government are not able to purchase the land as suggested, but Superintendent can make reserves in manner pointed out. Acknowledging reports, and expressing the satisfaction of the Government therewith. A statement of the indebted less of each immigrant requested to be furnished, together with the acreage of each family's loration. Came through l'almerston yesterday. Immigrants satisfactorily provided for. Detailed and final report on settlement, &c., of " Celccno's" immigrants. Statements of disbursements for and of indebtedness by immigrants enclosed. Reporting departure from London of Swedish and Danish immigrants, per ship " England," with list of names and other documents. Forwarding copy of No. 21. 5 Feb. 9, 1871 C, Feb. 10, 1871 7 Feb. 11, 1871 Superintendent of Taranaki April 14, 1871 Hon. Mr. Gisborne Superintendent of Taranaki Oct. 19, 1870 Mr. Morrison Hon. tho Colonial Secretary Oct. 15, 1870 Hon. Mr. Gisborne Messrs. Pharazyn and Ilalcombe lion, the Minister for Public Works 10 11 Dec. 21, 1870 Mr. Pliarazyn 12 Dec. 24, 1870 Messrs. Halcombe and Pharazyn Hon. the Minister for Public Works IS Feb. 10, 1871 Hon. Dr. Featherston lion, the Minister for Public Works It Feb. 10, 1871 Provincial Secretary, Wellington Hon. the Colonial Secretary 15 Feb. 13, 1871 Mr. Blackett Mr. Stewart II Mar. 17, 1871 Provincial Secretary, Wellington non. tho Colonial Secretary Mr. Knowles Provincial Secretary, Wellington 17 April 17, 1871 IS April 17,1871 Mr. Knowles Provincial Secretary, Wellington 10 April 15, 1871 Provincial Secretary, Wellington Provincial Secretary, Wellington Mr. Knowles Hon. (he Minister for Public Works 20 April 24, 1871 21 Dec. 22, 1870 Mr. Morrison Hon. the Colonial Secretary Feb. 27, 1871 Mr. Cooper Superintendent of Wellington Hon. the Minister for Public Works 22 23 July 3, 1871 Mr. Halcombo Reporting arrival and landing of the second party of Scandinavians, per " England," on 21st March. The selection of three by the Immigration Officer of Canterbury, and the settlement of nearly all the others in the neighbourhood of Palmerston on the same terms as the Norwegians, except that single men have only twenty acre* allotted to them. The welcome given them by the Maoris has had a beneficial effect. Statements of disbursements for and indebtedness by immigrants enclosed, together with plan of sections reserved.
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Schedule— continued.
■3.S Date. From. To. Subject. July 5, 1871 Mr. Halcombe Hon. the Minister for Public Works Submitting general remarks on Scandinavian immigration and settlement. Forwards written expression of the immigrants' satisfaction with the treatment they have met with. Acknowledging receipt of Reports (Nos. 23 and 24) expressing satisfaction of the Government at the energy and perseverance shown in the location of the immigrants, to which qualities the probable success of the settlement is in a great measure attributable, and stating that, for the further reasons mentioned, £100 have been directed to be placed at his disposal. July 22, 1871 Mr. Knowles Mr. Halcombe of sections reset Manawatu ... 'ed for location of Scai idinayian immigrants, \ ler " Celoeno" and " England," at Palmerston, ... page 23.
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No. 1. The Hon. the New Zealand Commissioners to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — London, 9th September, 1870. Enclosed we do ourselves the honor to forward a Memorandum on Emigration and Railways, in connection with a recent visit to Norway, Sweden, Denmark, aud North Germany. This Memorandum will acquaint you with the steps we have taken towards inducing emigration from those countries to New Zealand. We have, &c., F. D. Bell, 7 n The Hon. W. Gisborne. I. E. Featherston, j Commissioners. Enclosure in No. 1. Memorandum on Emigration. Notes of a Trip to Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and North Germany, with a view of making inquiries respecting Emigration and narrow-gauge Eailways. Emigration. In Norway, the following information was obtained in Christiania, the capital of the country:— Tho average number of emigrants from Norway (the chief ports of embarkation being Christiania and Bergen) is about 12,000 souls a year. Last year it amounted to 15,000; but emigration has, during the present year, very materially slackened, owing to the reports from their friends in America being less favourable than formerly. Both Norwegians and Swedes emigrate almost exclusively to Chicago, and the neighbouring States of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois, where there are large settlements of their countrymen, who have apparently done well, for they remit annually considerable sums to enable their relatives and friends to join them. They move in large bodies, or rather in whole communities, or as one party expressed it, "in whole church-congregations," —old and young, single and married, able-bodied and the most infirm. Very few go from the towns. They are chiefly agricultural labourers or small farmers. They are first-rate axemen and sawyers, and understand the lumber trade thoroughly; exjiert boat and ship builders and fishermen; first-rate sailors (the Norwegian mercantile navy being the third largest in Europe) ; excellent joiners and carpenters ; in short, owing to the suspension of all agricultural operations during so many months of the year, they are obliged to turn their hands to all kinds of indoor work, and to learn and follow some trade or other. They are represented as being extremely honest, frugal, and industrious, and all are more or less educated : for education is compulsory, and all are obliged to undergo an examination when they present themselves at about sixteen years of age for confirmation (a rite to which great importance is at(aehed). If they fail to pass the examination, confirmation is refused, and they are obliged to attend the schools until they have attained the required standard; aud until confirmed they cannot marry, and are subject to other disabilities. They seem to have great facility in acquiring the English language, and in habits, manners, and customs resemble very closely our own countrymen, especially the Scotch. They pay the whole cost of their passage from Norway to New York, and thence to the State to which they are destined; in fact they are not allowed to land in any port of America unless they have the means of defraying the cost of their journey inland. They nearly all (at least fourfifths) go by steamer; the cost of the passage to New York is £7, or to Chicago £10. By sailing vessels they pay rather over £3 to New York; but they find their own provisions, and have only deck accommodation —the expense of the journey inland being, as already stared, about £3. The emigration season commences in April and terminates at the end of October, most of the ports by that time being closed by the ice. In seeking to divert a portion of this stream of emigration from America to New Zealand, two difficulties presented themselves. First, the inability of the people to pay the increased cost of their passage ; and second, their unwillingness to go to a country where they have no friends, and of which they know nothing. These objections were started, not only in Norway, but also in Sweden, Denmark, and North Germany ; the second being the one on which the greatest stress was laid. To the suggestion that the first difficulty might be got over by the New Zealand Government paying the difference between the cost of the passage to America and that to New Zealand, it was replied that such an inducement would entirely fail to meet the case, inasmuch as the emigrants would still lose the assistance of their friends ; and further, that the Norwegians, as a people, are exceedingly cautious, difficult to move out of the ordinary track, and very suspicious of mere Emigration Agents and their reports. It was proposed that two or three agents should be sent out to New Zealand, at the expense of the New Zealand Government, to report upon the Colony as a field for emigration ; but it was evident that these reports (even if they were of any value) would not carry the same weight as those coming from actual settlers, and would probably not circulate very widely ; besides, a delay of at least a year 2
PAPERS RELATING TO THE INTRODUCTION OF SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRANTS.
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or eighteen months would take place, and the expense of the passage of these agents out and back would be considerable, and might prove so much money thrown away. The only feasible plan of ultimately securing a stream of emigration seemed to be to select and send out a few young married couples, the Government defraying the whole cost of their passage; these couples to be taken, not from one locality only, but from different districts, so that their reports would have an extended circulation throughout the whole country. If they proved favourable, then the inducement offered by the Government, by reducing the cost of the passage to New Zealand to the same amount as to America, would be amply sufficient, and a stream of emigration would be created which would probably require to be stemmed, rather than to be stimulated. Orders were accordingly given to Messrs. Winge and Co., a mercantile firm of the highest standing in Christiania, to send out least ten young married couples before tho present emigration season closed. In addition to the usual reasons for giving the preference to young married couples, it may be mentioned, that while poverty prevents early marriages, yet engagements are entered into at a very early age, at an age when the parties are mere boys and girls, and that these engagements are, as a general rule, most faithfully kept, and that emigration, as affording the means of enabling them to fulfil them, is eagerly seized at. The remarks above made apply with equal force to Sweden, Denmark, and the north of Germany; and a similar arrangement for the same number and class of emigrants has been made with agents in Gottenburgh and Copenhagen. The average number of emigrants from Sweden to the United States is not less than 25,000 souls a year, Gottenburgh being the chief port of embarkation. A copy of the letter addressed to Messrs. Henderson Brothers, of Gottenburgh, is annexed, which is similar in its terms to those addressed to the mercantile house at Christiania and Copenhagen. At Copenhagen, Mr. Monrad (a son of Bishop Monrad, aud who has recently returned from New Zealand.) entered very warmly into the scheme, and has kindly volunteered to select the Danish contingent. It was impossible to obtain even an approximate estimate of tho number annually emigrating from Denmark and the north of Germany, but it is very large. The emigrants embarking from Hamburgh consist, to a very large extent, of small farmers, possessing means, and all well trained, from the rural districts of Mecklenburgh, Silesia, and Saxony; but the firm through whose hands this emigration passes has promised to furnish, at an early date, a detailed report. In entering into these engagements we are aware that we have exceeded our instructions, which simply authorized us to make inquiries; but had we not done so, the journey to these countries would have been fruitless; and should it ultimately be determined to promote emigration from thence, the work would have had to be done over again under probably less favourable circumstances. Mr. Morrison, who accompanied us, will now have no difficulty in carrying out these arrangements ; and the experiment itself, for after all it is only an experiment, will not entail any serious expense, even if the whole number of emigrants authorized be sent during the present season. I. E. Featherston, for F. D. Bell. London, 9th September, 1870. I. E. Featherston.
Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure in No. 1. The Hon. Dr. Featherston to Messrs. Henderson Brothers. Sir,— Gothenburgh, 23rd August, 1870. Referring to our conversation of yesterday, I now, on behalf of the Government of New Zealand, authorize you to select and send out to New Zealand twenty adult emigrants, natives of Sweden. The emigrants, if possible, to be young married couples, with not more than two children to each couple; but in the event of your being unable to obtain ten married couples, you are at liberty to send an equivalent number of young unm.arried men and women. As the main object in sending out this lot of emigrants is that they may report to their friends in Sweden fully upon New Zealand as a field for emigration, it is desirable that they should be taken not from one locality only, but from as many different districts as possible, so that any reports they may send home may circulate widely throughout the country. These emigrants will have to be sent either to London or Glasgow, where they will embark for New Zealand ; but before sending them you will have the goodness to communicate with Mr. Morrison, the Agent of the New Zealand Government in London, who will advise you of the date of sailing of a vessel from one or other of these ports for New Zealand. Instead of waiting until the whole number has been secured, there is no objection to your sending off two or three couples at a time ; but it is important that the whole batch should be despatched before the close of the present emigration season. The New Zealand Government will defray the whole cost of their passage (including provisions) of these emigrants from Gottenburgh to London or Glasgow, and thence to New Zealand; and Mr. Morrison will be authorized to make the necessary payments. Should this experiment result in establishing a continuous stream of emigration from this country to New Zealand, the Government will inform you of the extent of assistance they will in future afford to emigrants, and will be prepared to enter into the usual agreements with your firm as their agents. I have, &c., I. E. Featherston, One of the New Zealand Commissioners, and a Member of the New Zealand Government. Messrs. Henderson, Brothers, Gottenburgh.
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No. 2. The Hon. Mr. Gisborne to His Honor the Superintendent of Otago. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 24th January, 1871. I have the honor to enclose a copy of a Memorandum from the New Zealand Commissioners, stating certain steps which they have taken for the introduction into this Colony of some Norwegian and Swedish emigrants. The " Celceno," I have since learned, left the English Channel at the commencement of November last, for Wellington, with emigrants on board, a descriptive list* of whom I enclose for your Honor's information. I shall feel obliged if you would inform me whether the Provincial Government of Otago would wish to have any of these emigrants sent to that Province; and if so, I have to request you to be good enough to specify their number and description. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent of Otago. W. Gisborne. [Letters similar to the above were sent to the Superintendents of Canterbury and Nelson.]
No. 3. His Honor the Superintendent of Nelson to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. (Telegram.) Nelson, 6th February, 1871. Nelson Government do not require any of the emigrants per " Celceno." Will reply to your letter of 24th January by next mail. Oswald Curtis, Superintendent.
No. 4. Mr. Logan, Secretary to the Superintendent of Otago, to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. (Telegram.) Dunedin, Oth February, 1871. Superintendent absent from Dunedin since 23rd January. Will be in Palmerston on the Bth, and Hampden and Oamaru on the 9th. Tho following, with your communication, was gazetted on the Ist: — " Provincial Secretary's Office, Dunedin, 31st January, 1871.—The following communication having been received from the General Government on the subject of the introduction to the Colony of some Norwegian and Swedish emigrants, is published for general information. Although the Provincial Government considers the present Provincial system of immigration to be sufficient, and the best adapted to meet the requirements of the Province, yet it will gladly forward to AVellington any applications that may be received for the said emigrants, and will give every assistance to encourage their settlement in the Colony.—John L. Gillies, pro Provincial Secretary." No applications have yet been received. Shall send your telegrams to Palmerston. John Logan, Secretary to Superintendent.
No. 5. His Honor the Superintendent, Otago, to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. (Telegram.) Oamaru, 9th February, 1871. How many and of what trades are Norwegian immigrants? If at all suitable, they can be absorbed at once in Otago. If sufficiently numerous, might they not be sent to Martin's Bay? I will be down to-morrow, and will send definite reply after receiving above particulars. J. Macandeew, Superintendent.
No. 6. Mr. Cooper to the Provincial Secretary, Dunedin. (Telegram.) Public Works Office, 10th February, 1871. The immigrants referred to in your telegram of the 6th, desire to remain in a body, and to settle in the Province of Wellington. G. S. Cooper.
No. 7. His Honor the Soperintendent, Taranaki, to the Hon. the Colonial Secretart. Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, Sir,— 11th February, 1871. I have the honor to state that, on the 7th instant, a deputation from the Cape Egmont Flax Dressing Company and the Opunake Flax Company called at my office and requested that I would write to the Government, and urge the desirableness and the importance of locating at Opunake some * Nots.—For list, see Enclosure to Mr. Morrison's letter of 19th October, 1870, No. 9.
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twenty families of the immigrants who have or are expected to arrive from Europe, as by so doing it will be a sure means of giving a constant and steady supply of labour to the flax mills, without which it is impossible to make the returns needed for the prosperity of the flax enterprise and people of Opunake. The deputation having urged upon me that which I have stated, and many other points, the inspiring of confidence, giving security to life and property, &c, I requested them to be so good as to put in writing their wishes and views, which I promised to communicate to the Government. I now therefore beg leave to submit, for the consideration of the Government, a copy of the letter I have received on the important matter in question ; and I would respectfully observe that it appears to me (if approved) the wishes of the Flax Companies herein named may be complied with under the 39th section of " The Public Works Act, 1870," —which request, so far as I am concerned, I strongly recommend. I have, &c., F. A. Carrington, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.
Enclosure in No. 7. Messrs. Hulke, King, &c, to the Superintendent. Sir,— New Plymouth, Bth February, 1871. Referring to the conversation that the deputation from the Cape Egmont and Opunake Flax Companies had with you yesterday relative to the location of immigrants at Opunake, we have now the honor to state in writing the views of the directors of the two Companies on the subject. About sixty men and boys are at present employed by the two Companies at their flax works, and an extension of the works at both mills will take place if the supply of labour can be more depended upon than is at present the case. Natives have been and are now employed in some of the mill operations, but every day's experience confirms the impression that European labour must mainly be employed to render the enterprise successful, as no dependence can be placed upon the Natives; for a feast, a tangi, or any other trifling cause, they will leave their work without any notice, and thus suspend the entire operations at the mills. Under present circumstances, the supply of European labour is very precarious and unsatisfactory, as there is no settled population in the neighbourhood, owing in a great measure to the fact that all the land, with the exception of that occcupied by the two Companies, belongs to the Government, and therefore families cannot locate themselves there. Hearing that immigrants have arrived at Wellington under the auspices of the General Government, the Flax Companies believe that some of them might be advantageously located at Opunake; and as there is some suburban land around the township, they would suggest, for the consideration of the Government, the advisability of locating, say, twenty families there, granting them five acres of land each, under certain conditions as to occupation. The two Companies would gladly avail themselves of their services, and would remark that, in the operations at the mills, employment would be found for families if they were inclined to accept it. The wages at present paid by the Companies vary from 3s. to ss. per diem according to the occupation, and this amount is often increased by overtime work. The cost of provisions is very little above the price at New Plymouth, a store being kept by one of the Companies with the object of keeping prices at a reasonable rate. It is scarcely necessary for us to point out to your Honor the great benefit that will accrue to the Province and to the Natives if the flax mills at Opunake are successful in their operations, as upon their success or failure depends in a great measure whether this industry will be fully developed, or whether it will collapse. The present Companies have laid out upwards of £8,000 upon their works; and although, owing to the many adverse circumstances attendant upon starting a new industry away from a settled population and in a Native district, the enterprise has not hitherto been successful, yet, looking to the improved state of the flax trade, the Companies now see a prospect of succeeding, if the difficulty of the supply of labour can be overcome, and some assistance is rendered in the way of facilitating the shipment of the flax. If successful, the present Companies will only be pioneers in establishing a large manufacture, as there is no doubt that the great flax district extending from Oeo to Stoney River would then be taken up, as the Natives saw the benefits arising from it, and would employ a great number of mills. Knowing that your Honor is favourably disposed to the introduction of immigrants as proposed, we have only to request that you bring the subject under the immediate notice of the General Government, and will use your influence in support of it. We have, &c, W. K. Hulke, \ Directors of the Cape Egmont Avgt. Weyergang, j Flax Dressing Company, Limited. T. King, \ Directors of the Opunake Flax William Humphries, j Company, Limited. His Honor the Superintendent, New Plymouth.
No. 8. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary to His Honor the Superintendent, Taranaki. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 14th April, 1871. I have the honor to acqnowledge the receipt of your letter, No. 9, of the 11th February last, and in reply to inform your Honor that it has been considered desirable not to separate the
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Scandinavians lately arrived ; but if your Honor and the Provincial Executive of Taranaki will make a requisition, the Government will procure you immigrants under the provisions of " The Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870." I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Taranaki. W. Gisborne.
No. 9. Mr. Morrison to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Offices of the New Zealand Government Agency, Sir, — 3, Adelaide Place, King William Street, London, 19th October, 1870. As the Honorable the Commissioners will have informed you respecting the emigration arrangements made by the Hon. Dr. Featherston, I do not refer to them, but confine myself to report to you that the Norwegian emigrants, in number equal to forty and a half adults, embark for Wellington in the ship " Celoeno" on the 10th instant. For particulars concerning the shipment, I do myself the honor to refer you to the following enclosures: —■ 1. List of the names, ages, and occupations of tho emigrants. 2. Documents signed by each emigrant agreeing to emigrate. 3. Contract with Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Co. for their passages to Wellington. 4. Certified list of the emigrants embarked. 5. Copy of the order given to Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Co. to receive second moiety of passage money. Messrs. Winge and Co., of Christiania, who regulated the selection of the people, report them to be good workmen, inured to hard labour, and thrifty; and I have no doubt that after they have had a fair start in the Colony, that the character given to them will be found to be accurately drawn. According to Dr. Featherston's instructions, the strictest precautions were adopted to provide for their protection and comfort. On the passage from Christiania they were placed under the special charge of Captain Pearson of the " North Star," whose considerate kindness the emigrants freely acknowledged. On arriving in London they were received and conveyed from the steamer to the ship " Celceno;" and to facilitate communicating their wants at any time during the voyage, I arranged with the brokers that the ship should bo provided with an interpreter, which arrangement has been adopted ; and as the man is under the direction of the medical officer, Dr. Goold, who has frequently before been in charge of foreign emigrants, I am sanguine therefore that every possible precaution has been used to give a successful issue to this experimental shipment. Her Majesty's Emigration Officers inspected the arrangements and tho accomodation provided for the emigrants when the "Celceno" was at Gravesend, and approved of the same; likewise Dr. Featherston, who was also satisfied. On the other hand, I can confidently state that the emigrants repeatedly expressed to myself their thanks for the comfortable manner in which the Government had provided for them. By the contract with Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Co., it will be observed that a moiety of the passage money is to be paid in London. To pay for that portion and other expenses in connection with the service, the Commissioners have authorized me to draw on the Colonial Treasury, and I shall do so by next mail; but for the second moiety, which is payable at AVellington, I have given Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Co. an order to receive the same, when the emigrants and their luggage are landed there, but you will be good enough to note that the second moiety is only payable on the number lauded, so that if any have died during the passage a deduction will have to be made. A similar experimental shipment from Denmark is authorized by Dr. Featherston ; also one from Sweden. Arrangements are being made to receive and forward them in the succeeding ship to the " Celoeno," the "England," which is to sail for AVellington about the 25th proximo, and I beg to assure you that every care shall be taken to carry out implicitly Dr. Featherston's instructions in regard to them, as I believe I have done in the case of those from Norway. I have, _c., The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. John Morrison. Note. —The enclosures numbered 2, 3, 4, and 5, being merely formal documents, are not published.
Enclosure in No. 9. List of the Names, Ages, and Occupations of the Emigrants. From Norway. Andreason, Johann, (male) aged 27, carpenter. Pedersen Bernt, infant. „ Helene, (female) aged 30, wife. Bergersen, Carl, (male) aged 25, carpenter. „ Johanne, (female) aged 2\. „ Karen M., (female) aged 25, wife. ~ Josephine, infant. „ Oscar 8., (male) aged 2. Reinersten, Peter H., (male) aged 26, common Christiansen, V. C, (male) aged 31, carpenter, workman. „ Maria N, (female) aged 27, wife. ~ Marie H., (female) aged 32, wife. „ Christian A., infant. Olsen, Edward, (male) aged 26, common workman. Bosen, Martin, (male) aged 20, machinist. ~ Berthea J., (female) aged 28, wife. „ Martha A., (female) aged 20, wife. „ Carl 8., infant. Arnesen, Arne, (male) aged 29, cattle driver and Pedersen, Jorgen, (male) aged 28, workman. tender. „ Anne A., (female) aged 33, wife. ' „ Karen, (female) aged 28, wife. „ Albertha, (female) aged 5. „ Kaja G., (female) aged 8. 3
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List of the Names, Ages, and Occupations of the Emigrants— continued. From Norway —continued. Arnesen, Anna 0., (female) aged 5. Christensen Maria V., (female) aged 30, wife. Johannesen, 8., (male) aged 27, workman. „ Mathea, (female) aged 2. „ Elisabeth 8., (female) aged 27, wife. Jule, Anders H, (male) aged 32, carpenter. ~ Johan 8., infant. „ Martha M., (female) aged 22, wife, Hansen, G., (male) aged 22, workman. „ Hans, (female) aged 4f. „ Thore H, (female) aged 21, wife. „ Diora G., infant. Gundersen, Torkil, (male) aged 33, tailor. Sorensen, 8., (male) aged 26, workman. „ Kari 0., (female) aged 28, wife. „ Karen, (female) aged 24, wife. Andersen, Carl, (male) aged 22, blacksmith. „ Ole S., (male) aged I\. ~ Anne 0., (female) aged 22, wife. Gulbrandsen, L., (male) aged 29, workman. Pedersen, Nils, (male) aged 20, workman. „ Elen, (female) aged 28, wife. „ Berth 0., (female) aged 21, wife. „ Ole G., infant. Christensen, G, (male) aged 30, baker and miller. From Sweden. Berggoist, V. J., (male) aged 35, workman. Berggoist, Emma, (female) aged 4. „ Johanna, (female) aged 24rjf, wife. ~ Carl J., infant. Total—Equal to 40_- statute adults.
No. 10. Memorandum for Messrs. Halcombe and Pharazyn. Tou have learned the views of the Government on the subject of the Scandinavian immigrants, and I presume you will, as you kindly consented to do, make suggestions to carry them into effect. 15th December, 1870. AY. Gisborne.
No. 11. Mr. Pharazyn to the Hon. the Minister for Public AVorks. Sir, — Confiscated Lands Office, AVellington, 21st December, IS7O. I have the honor to inform you that, in accordance with your instructions, I had an interview with the Deputy Superintendent and the other Members of the Provincial Government of Wellington relative to the settlement of the Norwegian immigrants expected to arrive by the " Celceno," about the middle of January next. The Provincial Government agree to reserve from sale a block of land in the neighbourhood of Palmerston, in the Manawatu district, most of which has already been surveyed into sections, varying in size from forty to two hundred acres each, for the purpose of enabling the General Government to locate at least sixty families, of which number eighteen will arrive by the " Celceno." Three or four thousand acres, according to the convenience of survey and natural boundaries, to be placed at the disposal of the General Government, in blocks of fifty acres each, alternating with blocks of the same size to be retained by the Province, the total area thus set aside amounting to from six to eight thousand acres. The General Government to execute any additional or subdivisional surveys required. The General Government to credit the Province with the sum of £1 per acre, at the expiration of five years from the date of the arrival of the first immigrants, unless the land is sold before that time, when the Province is to be credited at the time payment is made. Mr. Halcombe and myself propose to submit to the Government a joint report, which will embody all the information we have been able to obtain with regard to the land above referred to, together with practical suggestions for dealing with the immigrants from the time of their arrival to the period at which they may be expected to do without Government assistance. I have, &c, Robert Pharazyn, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Commissioner of Confiscated Lands.
No. 12. Messrs. Halcombe and Pharazyn to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Sir,— AVellington, 24th December, 1870. In compliance with the wishes of the Government expressed in a Memorandum dated the 15th instant, we have the honor to make the following suggestions relative to the settlement of the pioneer emigrants from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, and for their location in the Manawatu District in this Province. We gather from the Despatches from the Hon. Dr. Featherston to the Government, that these emigrants will number some sixty families, say about two hundred souls; that the heads of families will be all young, active men, steady, industrious, and accustomed to hard work ; and we also take it for granted that they will be in possession of little or no private means. AYe find from Mr Morrison's letters received by the last mail from England, that the first instalment of these emigrants, numbering eighteen families, have sailed from England in the " Celceno," and may be expected here in January next; and that the remainder may be expected, probably in two consecutive drafts, at intervals of about one month after the arrival of the " Celceno."
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From particulars furnished by Mr. Morrison, we learn that the first draft is composed of eighteen men, of ages varying from twenty to thirty-five years, with their eighteen wives, and seventeen very young children, making a total of fifty-three souls. The heads of families are described as being of the following occupations : —Workmen, 9 ; carpenters, 4; machinist, 1; blacksmith, 1; cattle driver and tender, 1 ; baker and miller, 1; tailor, 1; total, 18. As we may reasonably suppose that a somewhat similar selection will be made, both as to ages, sexes, and occupations in the case of other drafts of the emigrants, we may be understood to speak generally of the whole number expected, when making suggestions and recommendations relative to the reception and settlement of the first detachment. We find that tho barracks at Te Aro, at present unoccupied, are in sufficiently good order for the reception of a small body of emigrants, and with a small expenditure could be made available for the whole number expected. The rooms are large and airy, and the accommodation afforded for cooking and washing is extremely good ; the only difficulty which suggested itself in the way of housing a number of families is the want of partitions in the rooms, but this is a difficulty which, in our opinion, the emigrants themselves can easily overcome, by partitioning off their several sleeping-places with blankets, &c, &c. The emigrants can be easily supplied here with rations, fuel, &c, at rates extremely low, the Government contractors being willing to supply them on the same terms as they are supplying other Government Departments. It will, of course, be advisable that the stay of the emigrants in AVellington should be as short as possible; and understanding from Ministers that they are willing to employ these emigrants on public works, such as forming a tramway to the nearest navigable part of the Manawatu River from Palmerston, and in preparing railway sleepers and telegraph posts for exportation to other parts of the Colony, we have conferred with the Provincial Executive with a view to their immediate removal to that district, and their location on land which they shall be allowed permanently to occupy. AYe find that the immediate neighbourhood of the town of Palmerston presents all the desiderata for the successful location of such a body of settlers as are being introduced. The site of the town itself is an open dry clearing of a few hundred acres, entirely surrounded by bush land of the richest description. Through this open flat the main trunk line of communication between AVanganui and the AVairarapa will eventually be carried, and three important roads converge at that spot—viz., from AVanganui through the heart of the Rangitikei and Upper Manawatu districts, from Napier and tho AVairarapa, and from Foxton and the AVest Coast settlements. From Palmerston to the navigable head of the Manawatu River, a place called Ngawhakarau, is a distance of nine miles, along which an extremely good road, almost a dead level, has been formed.; and if a tramway should be laid along this, Palmerston will present very great facilities for exportation and importation of any produce whatever. Another work is, however, essential to the progress of that neighbourhood, equally with that cf a tramway to the port—viz., a road or tramway through the eight miles of bush which separate Palmerston from the open country of the Rangitikei-Manawatu Block. Having in view the immediate occupation of that block of agricultural country, and the demand for totara limber for building purposes which will consequently arise, there is no doubt that a considerable timber trade would spring up in Palmerston as soon as a means for its conveyance should have been provided. Nor is this all; for if an available road or tramway were made within the next year or eighteen months through from Ngawhakarau to the open country of the Rangitikei-Manawatu Block, the incoming stream of immigration will be drawn through Palmerston, as will also much of the traffic outwards, which, for want of a nearer port, is now forced to AVanganui. AYe venture to make these remarks to show the Government that in locating the emigrants in Palmerston, their work under the Government direction will probably be the means of bringing to their doors ample remunerative labour when Government aid shall be withdrawn. The terms on which the Provincial Government are prepared at once to put the General Government in possession of the land required, have already been stated in Mr. Pharazyn's letter to the Minister for Public AVorks, who had requested him to confer with tho Provincial Executive on the subject. Those which we suggest might be offered to the immigrants are as follows : — Employment of men, for twelve months certain, on Government works, by way of contract, or at a rate of wages to be fixed by the Government, not exceeding that prevailing in the district, and not necessarily exceeding four days per week for each man. A list of men so employed to be kept by the officer in charge of immigrants. Every head of a family, or single man whose age is twenty-one years, to be allowed to select a block of fifty acres, out of such of the alternate sections belonging to the Government as they may decide to allocate to each particular shipment of immigrants. Selection to be made after ballot for right of choice. Immigrants selecting the section to have the right to occupy and improve it, by cutting timber, fencing, or otherwise, rent free, for two years, but to have no title to the laud except upon payment of the purchase money, at the rate of thirty shillings per acre, either in one sum, in which case discount shall be allowed, or by equal consecutive annual payments of ten shillings per acre, commencing at the end of the third year and continued till the sum of thirty shillings has been paid to the Government, when a Crown Grant shall issue, but not before, occupant having no right to any compensation whatever for his improvements, in the event of his abandoning his section or failing to pay his rent and purchase money during any one year. Immigrants to be supplied with rations and tools at fixed rates during the first year, those taking credit paying 25 per cent more than the cash price for the same. Accounts to be settled monthly. Immigrants to be allowed to take their names off the Government list, but in'that case to forego any right to purchase rations, &c, at the Government Store, but contracts as to land to remain as before. Mr. Stewart having an intimate knowledge of this district, of its inhabitants, and of the survey of
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the block, we referred to him to recommend the particular blocks to be reserved for these immigrants, it being understood that the existence of some totara bush on the sections is an essential requisite, so that immigrants may, while executing Government contracts for sleepers, &c, be at the same time clearing their own land. It will, in our opinion, be necessary for the Government to make advances to these new immigrants for the first two or three months after they are placed upon their future homesteads, such advances to be made in the shape of rations and such building materials and working tools as are essential to their houses and to the performance of the work in which they are to be engaged ; these advances to be repaid to the Government by weekly deductions from their future earnings. We think it probable that Mr. Stewart could point out among the Danish residents in the neighbourhood of Palmerston, of whom there are several, one who would act as the medium of communication between these pioneer immigrants and the Government, and who would also direct them in their dealings with the outside world (a matter of some little difficulty at first, as apparently none of the new comers could speak the English language when shipped on the " Celoeno "), and we should recommend the employment of such a person for, say, six months,at a reasonable rate of remuneration. Mr. Stewart should, however, in our opinion, be made the sole arbiter of the rate of wages or the price of contracts to be offered to these men, such wages and contract prices to be the ordinary rates which obtain in the country, and of which Mr. Stewart's long experience in public works should make him a good judge. As at the time of the arrival of the " Celceno " the musquito season will be at its height, and as the majority of the wives of the immigrants are young women with very young children, many of them infants in arms, we think it would be well to offer to the men the choice of going forward to the Man.iwatu by themselves for a few weeks, in order to build their " whares" and make other necessary preparations for the reception of their wives and children, in which case the wives and children could occupy the barracks and continue to receive rations from the Government, and their husbands would probably be ready to receive them by the time of the arrival of the next batch of immigrants, when they could be sent up by the steamer which would convey the men of the second party to their destination. We presume that the steamer " Luna " would be available to convey the immigrants shortly after their arrival. Tho " Luna " could, wo believe, be taken with ease and safety up to Ngawhakarau, where the immigrants would be landed within nine miles of their destination, and with a good level dray road the whole way to their future homes. If the "Luna" is not available, the services of some other small steamer should be engaged. Mr. Halcombe will undertake to provide for the reception of the immigrants in AVellington, and the due care of the immigrants while quartered there ; and if, as we would advise, Mr. Stewart be instructed to make provision for their reception at Manawatu, to determine the works on which they are to be employed, and to furnish the Government with a list of articles of food, tools, Ac., which it would be advisable to send with them from Wellington, the Government would, in our opinion, have made every reasonable provision for the present comfort and future success of this important experiment, the expense of which, with the exception of the cost of the passage from England, the use of the p.s. "Luna," and the temporary employment of an interpreter and book-keeper at Manawatu, should be entirely recouped by the immigrants themselves. AYe have not thought it worth while to suggest what course should be adopted in the case of immigrants such as the baker, the machinist, and the tailor, whose previous avocations may have unfitted them for the rougher work of bush clearing and splitting. The inducements held out of two [query one] years' guaranteed work and an immediate location on the future freehold will probably determine those who are physically able to encounter the hardships of bush life to accept the terms offered, and to wait the sufficient increase of population, which will enable them to follow with profit the trade to which they have been brought up. The alternative will be for the Government to find employment for such men in their particular trades, which will probably not be a difficult matter. We beg to enclose a map of the Manawatu District, which will more clearly explain the position of the district into which it is proposed to place these immigrants. We have, &c, Robert Pharazyn. The Hon. the Minister for Public AVorks. A. Follett Halcombe.
No. 13. Memorandum by the Hon. Dr. Featherston. With reference to the suggestions made by Messrs Pharazyn and Halcombe for the location of the Norwegians at Palmerston, Manawatu, I have to make the following remarks: — 1. In regard to their proposal that each family should be allowed to select fifty acres, and should commence to pay for the land at the end of the third year, I think that this would be establishing a very mischievous and dangerous precedent. Terms granted to the Norwegians could scarcely be refused to all future immigrants. All the Provincial Government is prepared to do is to allow each family to squat on a piece of land of from five to ten acres, which has already been put up to auction, upon the understanding—lst, That they can at any time purchase it at the upset price (but not by instalments) of £1 an acre; and, 2ndly, That if their allotments should bo applied for and purchased by any other party, the full value of any improvements they may have made shall be recouped to them. There would under this system be no selling of lands on deferred payments, and you get rid of the objection to Government becoming creditors of such a class. I have no doubt the whole of these Norwegians will buy their allotments within a few months. 2. Ido not think the Government should guarantee employment for any specified time. Every possible __.t_uce_nent should be held out to them to accept private engagements, or to work on their
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own account. This can be done by the Government giving lower pay than settlers usually give. They ought also to be encouraged to take Government work by contract. 3. I entirely concur with Mr. Halcombe's proposals about supplying them with rations, tools, &c. 10th February, 1871. I. E. Featheeston.
No. 14. The Provincial Secretary, AVellington, to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — Provincial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 10th February, 1871. I ti.Tve the honor to inform you that the ship " Celceno" arrived in harbour on Sunday last, the sth instant, having on board the Norwegian detachment of the Scandinavian immigrants, embarked by order of the New Zealand Commissioners. The whole of the party appear to be in perfect health, and express themselves .as being well satisfied with their treatment on the outward voyage. These immigrants were landed the day before yesterday, and immediately took up their quarters at the Mount Cook Barracks, where there is ample accommodation for at least twice their number. They number in all fifty-one souls, viz., eighteen married couples aud fifteen very young children. By an arrangement with Mr. R. M. Cleland, contractor, of Te Aro, I am enabled to get them supplied with liberal daily rations at the rate of 7^d. for each adult. The cost of these daily rations, a cord of firewood, a small load of straw to fill their mattresses, and a few shillings for washing materials, is the only expenditure I find it necessary to make on their behalf during their stay in AVellington. Tou will be pleased to learn that these immigrants appear to possess more than ordinary qualifications to insure their success as settlers in New Zealand; and judging from such opportunities as have been afforded me of ascertaining their character, I am of opinion that they will prove to bo as valuable a body of men as has ever been introduced into the Colony. Tho men and women are all young, being of ages varying from twenty-one to thirty-six, apparently of robust constitution, used to hard work and still harder fare, sober and industrious, of cheerful disposition and easily contented, and cautious of incurring liabilities beyond their means. They have very lit!le knowledge of tho English language, but they are intelligent and seem well educated. They are Lutherans by profession, and are careful and regular in their religious observances. Their routine of life in their own country appears to have been as follows:—Six months of the year they have been engaged exclusively in agricultural operations. Then at the commencement of the Norwegian winter, which extends over the other six months, they have migrated to the woods, and been employed in the lumber trade, or in rough carpentering or blacksmith's work. During the long winter months, the women employed themselves in spinning and weaving; and I was assured by them with no little pride, that every article of clothing worn by the men, from the knitted woollen shirt to the warm blue frieze coats, was entirely of home manufacture. Such a previous experience, it will readily be seen, fits these people especially for the work which is before them in a district like the Manawatu, where an acquaintance with the use of the axe and adze is an essential to success, and where bush work is a necesssiry preliminary to agricultural operations. The men, moreover, have some general acquaintance with railway work, most of them having been engaged in Norway in cutting sleepers and laying a railway; they are also used to handle a pit-saw. Coming from a climate so severe as that of Norway, they express unbounded delight on learning that the summer clothing of their own country is sufficiently warm for the New Zealand winter; and that all stock, instead of requiring to be housed and hand-fed for six months in the year, are able in this country to find sufficient grass in the winter, and need no more shelter than the open pastures generally afford. Acting generally upon the plan proposed in the report by Mr. E. Pharazyn and myself of the 24th December, 1870, with the modifications suggested by memorandum of His Honor Dr. Featherston, which, as I understand, have been approved of by the Government, I have proposed, subject to your approval, the following plan for the location of these people, viz.: —■ 1. That they may be moved in a body at once to the township of P<ilmerston, where the Government will employ them on public works for at least twelve months, at day or contract work. 2. That on their arrival at Palmerston each family shall be allowed to squat upon a block of ten acres of ground, whereon they can immediately build their houses ; such land to be reserved from sale for say two years, at any time during which period the occupier of each section shall have the right to purchase it at the price of £1 an acre. 3. That they shall be held liable to the Government for the sum of £7 for each adult, on account of their passage money,;—for the cost of their maintenance while in depot, —and for a sum not exceeding £1 for their removal to Manawatu ; these amounts being deducted from the pay from time to time due to them by the Government. I have also ventured to propose to them that each man should make out a list of articles of food, &c, such as flour, tea, sugar, soap, candles, calico, nails, tools, cooking and washing utensils, absolutely necessary for the supply of his family for the first four or five months, which could be procured here at a very cheap rate, and could be carried without extra cost in the same steamer as conveys these people to their destination. The advantages of this latter proposal, as compared with any system of Government storekeeping, will, I think, be at once apparent. Not only will the Government be saved a troublesome and expensive duty, aud the immigrants be supplied at the cheapest possible rate, but the accounts between them and the Government will be made exceedingly simple, and may be entirely closed before their departure from the depot, and a memorandum of each man's indebtedness be forwfirded to the Paymaster of Public AVorks in the district where they will be employed, who can deduct the amount by such instalments as may be agreed upon. To the immigrants, also, it will be an incalculable advantage that they should be set down on the scene of their labours with a sufficient supply to last them through the greater part of the winter, when locomotion is difficult, and that they Bhould be thus 4
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enabled to devote themselves uninterruptedly, first to the work of housing themselves, and then to the routine of their daily labour. It will be observed that, in making these proposals, which are evidently acceptable to the immigrants themselves, I have kept the following principles steadily in view:— First, That immigration should be as far as possible self-supporting; and, Secondly, That the object of the Government in introducing these immigrants is not merely to find labourers for their public works, but by means of the public works to place a self-supporting population upon the land which those works render accessible and reproductive to the agriculturist and others. I apprehend not the slightest difficulty in carrying out these suggestions. My local knowledge of the Manawatu and long experience of country life have enabled me to put fairly before these people the circumstances by which they will find themselves surrounded at Palmerston, and they have decided to take their wives and families with them at once, and in doing so I think they have acted wisely. AVith the exception of two of the women who are too near their confinement to bear removal, and a third who will remain behind to attend on them, and for whom I have been able to make cheap and satisfactory arrangements, I can have the whole party ready to embark in the " Luna," or any other steamer, on Tuesday next, or even on Monday afternoon, and they can be landed at Ngawhakarau, within ten miles of their destination. There I can arrange for the hire of two or three drays for their immediate transport, with all their impedimenta, to Palmerston, where they can squat on an open dry flat, within a stone's throw of their permanent locations, until they can distribute themselves each to their own homes. Mr. Stewart will then take them in hand, and find work for them as soon as they are ready to begin. I have arranged with their present interpreter, a single man named Andersen, who will go as one of them, to act as the medium of communication between them and the Government, for an extra payment of, say 10s. a week for the first three months, and ss. a week for the next three months, at the end of which time some other arrangement may be made if it is still found necessary to employ an interpreter, which I think it will not be. I estimate that the total indebtedness of each immigrant couple to the Government, when landed at Manawatu with four months' supplies, will be about £28, made up as follows : — Contribution to passage money ... ... ... ... ... £14 Expenses in depot and transport to Manawatu ... ... ... ... 4 Stores, Ac. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 10 £28 The immigrants are most anxious to reach their destination and be earning money as soon as possible, and I should recommend that for the first two months they should have the full benefit of their earnings, in order to find them money for the purchase of meat and of such other necessary articles as they will probably find they have omitted to procure ; after which time either a fixed amount of, say £2 per month, or one-fifth of the gross earnings of each man if employed at contract work, should be deducted by the Paymaster, until the whole amount shall have been liquidated. The cost of the introduction and location of these immigrants will thus be reduced to a minimum. It will in fact be no more than that of assisted immigrants from England, plus the small cost of transit from Norway to England. As I have told these immigrants, if they are handy workmen, industrious, economical, and sober, the result of their first year's work should be to clear them of debt to the Government, and to place them in possession of a ten-acre freehold, with a sufficiency of wheat and potatoes grown on their own land to supply them for the following twelve months. Should they be in anything like constant employment, they can earn with five days' work 255. a week, or £65 a year ;by contract work, in long hours, they could do much more. Deducting £28 for the liquidation of the Government debt, and estimating their expenditure for food and clothing at £25 more, there would be a balance of £12 for tho purchase of their ten-acre lot, which, with its improvements, should be worth £20 at least; a result which I gather from their remarks is beyond their most sanguine expectations. I must apologize for the length of my remarks ; but in the interest of this Province, and looking to the Immigration scheme as a whole, I am most anxious that tho settlement of these families should be a success, and am also desirous to show exactly the process by which that success has been or may be attained. Believing as I do that the roads as they are opened through the new districts of this Province will, as the result of their formation, especially in a valuable timber country like the Manawatu, afford ample employment for capital and a large labouring population, I am of opinion that if the cost of the introduction of a good class of immigrant labourers can be kept down to the sum I have just now stated, the Government will be able to settle on the land a working settler and his family for every £100 they have to spend in labour on their public works, in all localities where the land is good and in the hands of the Crown. And if, as the result of a systematized immigration in connection with public works, but ten such immigrant families to every mile of raihvay could be placed in a position to support themselves, such a system could not but bo considered a remarkable success. I have, &c, A. Foli.ett Halcombe, The Hon the Colonial Secretary, AVellington. Provincial Secretary. P.S. —Since writing the above memoranda, I learn from Dr. Featherston that a promise was made to these pioneer emigrants to land them in AVellington free of expense ; the proposal, therefore, to charge them with the cost of their passage cannot be made to apply to these men, although they evidently do not object to the charge, and admit the justice of making the incoming settler recoup to the Colony a part of the expense incurred in his removal.
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No. 15. Mr. Blackett to Mr. Stewart. Sir,— Public Works Office, Wellington, 13th February, 1871. I am directed to inform you that a number of Scandinavian immigrants have arrived iv AVellington, and that the Provincial Government propose to locate a portion of them (nineteen) in the Upper Manawatu district; also, that it is the intention of the General Government to employ them in preparing materials for and constructing a portion of the tramway from Palmerston to Ngawhakarau. You will receive this through Mr. A. F. Halcombe, who accompanies the immigrants, and who will confer with you as to the exact locality in which to place them ; each to have ten acres at first (with the addition of ten more hereafter). During the first week or two, they will be employed in housing themselves, and after that it is proposed that they should be employed in preparing materials for the tramway, say sleepers and rails, keys, &c. ; and when a stock of these is ready, some of them might be employed in preparing the formation of the tramroads, and laying sleepers and rails, ballasting, &c. I believe it is intended to pay them so much per week, say twenty-five shillings ; but I think it will be desirable as soon as possible to put them on contract work, whenever practicable. Mr. Halcombe suggests that after they are housed, their first work should be to lay down a length, say half a mile to one mile, of tramway into the bush where the timber is to be procured, for the purpose of facilitating the carriage of the material out of the bush ; this will be a good test of their ability, and this tramway might be laid down as a model of what will be required on the road (3 feet 6 inches) gauge. They are reported as able axemen, and as being used to this kind of work. All this work will be under your direction and control, and will be carried out as proposed during my visit to that district with you. ######### I have, &c, John Blackett, J. T. Stewart, Esq., District Engineer, Manawatu. Acting Engineer-in-Chief. No. 16. The Provincial Secretary, Wellington, to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — Provincial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 17th March, 1871. I have the honor to address you on the subject of the location of the Scandinavian immigrants on the Provincial lands in the Manawatu Block. It appears from letters received from them, and from gentlemen resident within the district on whose information I can thoroughly rely, that the late heavy rains flooded the land on which the Norwegian settlers are now located. They are greatly disheartened in consequence ; and I deem it essential to the final success of the scheme that they should be immediately moved to a more favourable site, and be thereby convinced that the Government is desirous of assisting them, or others of their countrymen who follow them, to the utmost of their power. I find, however, this difficulty: A cry h<is already been raised that the Government, by reserving land for these men, is stepping outside the limits of the Land Regulations, and giving undue advantages to these new comers over old residents in the Colony who would gladly avail themselves of similar arrangements. I also understand that applicants for land question and threaten to dispute the Commissioner's power to make the reserves. In order to remedy this difficulty,—for there is no doubt that the reservation by the Commissioner of this land from purchase is of questionable legality, —I have the honor to suggest that the General Government should either now arrange to purchase from the Province a block sufficient to locate these eighteen families, and also such other of the incoming immigrants as it may be decided shall be placed in the Manawatu district, or that they shall promise to do so if the Council do not agree to carry out on behalf of the Province the arrangement which has been made with these new settlers. The Crown Lands Commissioner would then have a substantial ground to justify a somewhat extreme use of the powers conferred on him by the Land Regulations. According to the arrangement I have made with the immigrants now at Manawatu, a reserve of forty acres is made for every family for two years, the condition of the reserve being that if the occupant of the section purchase the first twenty acres within the first year of his tenancy, the second twenty acres shall be reserved for him for another two years; but if he do not purchase the first twenty acres within the first twelve months, the second twenty will be thrown open for sale. It will thus be apparent that for the eighteen families and the interpreter a reserve of seven hundred and sixty acres will be required. I have, &c. The Colonial Secretary, AVellington. A. Follett Halcombe.
No. 17. Mr. Knowles to the Provincial Secretary, AVellington. Sir,— Public Works Office, AVellington, 17th April, 1871. I do myself the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th March, in which you deem it essential to the final success of the scheme for settling the Norwegian immigrants that tho General Government should purchase from the Province a block of land sufficient to locate them, and such others as it may be decided shall be placed in the Manawatu district. In reply, I am directed by Mr. Gisborne to state that the Government are not able to purchase
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the land as suggested, but that it appears the Superintendent or Deputy Superintendent has power to reserve land for public objects under the Regulations of 1855, say, for the purpose of locating immigrants under the provisions of " The Wellington AVaste Lands Act, 1870." I have, Ac, John Knowles, A. F. Halcombe, Esq., Provincial Secretary, AVellington. Under Secretary.
No. 18. Mr. Knowles to the Provincial Secretary, Wellington. Sir,— . Public Works Office, Wellington, 17th April, 1871. I am instructed by Mr. Gisborne to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of tho 10th February and 17th March, and to thank you for the arrangements which you have devised and carried out in connection with the location of the Norwegian immigrants by the " Celceno." The location of these foreigners being entirely exceptional, the arrangements seem to have been adapted to the exigencies of the case, and judiciously carried into execution. I am, however, to point out, that as the immigrants were promised by the Home Commissioners a free passage to New Zealand because of their being pioneers, your originally proposed charge for passage money cannot be made, and Mr. Stewart will bo instructed to deduct from their wages only such amount of indebtedness as may have been incurred since their arrival in Wellington. I shall be obliged by your informing me at as early a date as practicable the amount of indebtedness of each immigrant, so that instructions may be issued to Mr. Stewart to make the deduction in the manner proposed. I have, Ac, John Knowles, The Provincial Secretary, AVellington. Under Secretary. P.S.—I note that in your letter of the 17th March the location for these immigrants is stated at twenty acres, while in your letter of the 10th February it is stated at only ten acres. AVhichever ono of these arrangements has been made, it had better not now be disturbed; but it will bo necessary that in the instructions proposed to be sent to Mr. Stewart from this office no uncertainty should exist.
No. 19. The Provincial Secretary, Wellington, to Mr. Knowles. (Telegram.) Marton, 15th April, 1871. Came through bush from Palmerston yesterday. Immigrant- satisfactorily provided for, but the weather has been dreadful, and the roads almost impassable. I return to Wellington by Thursday's coach. Halcombe, Provincial Secretary.
No. 20. Mr. Halcombe to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Sir,— Wellington, 24th April, 1871. Referring to my former letter on the subject of the location of tho Norwegian immigrants per " Celceno," at Manawatu, I have the honor to inform you that on the 13th February I left Wellington with the whole party per steam ship " Luna," taking with them the supplies obtained by means of the advances authorized by the Government. Wo arrived at Foxton on the following day, and on the 15th of the same month I moved the party with little difficulty to their destination at Palmerston, where I placed them on the land which it had been decided they should occupy, and which is on the line of tramway in the formation of which they are to bo immediately employed. The accounts of my expenditure in connection with these immigrants have been sent in. The whole expense incurred amounts to the sum of £289 10s. 4d., of which £264 4s. lOd. should be refunded by the immigrants, leaving a balance of £25 ss. 6d. as the total cost to the Government on their account since their arrival in AVellington. This balance, I may explain, is made up of the following sums, viz., £5 honorarium to the interpreter, £10 my personal expenses, and £10 6s. which, from want of being able to ascertain exactly the expenses of carting, Ac, incurred in their behalf, I had under estimated in making up their accounts. I trust the Government will not now require this amount to be charged to them, as, having to the best of my ability made them understand, and they having agreed to, my statement of their indebtedness, I think it would be unadvisable to disturb that settlement. I cannot but think the result thus shown of the cost of the location of these people in a part of the Province hitherto considered as most inaccessible, to be highly satisfactory. The average indebtedness of each immigrant family is under £14; and of this amount, £2 per family is charged for their passage per "Luna;" £2 represents their maintenance in AVellington and their transit with their goods and supplies from Foxton to Palmerston ; and they have in their possession provisions for some months and a supply of tools, which represent the remaining £10. Thus the uncovered cost to the Government for these immigrants, who number fifty-four souls, will be about 14s. 6d. for each adult since their arrival in the Colony ; and but for my error in making up their accounts, to which I have referred, it would have been a fraction over 9s.
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The charges made against them have been acknowledged by the interpreter; and as they will be employed on public works, and I have furnished Mr. Stewart at Manawatu with a copy of the authenticated account, there will be no difficulty in obtaining a refund of the advance. The mode of repayment I have agreed upon is by deduction of £2 per month, from the Ist May next, until the whole amount shall have been refunded. Each immigrant family is located on forty acres of land, which they are to hold on the following terms : —Twenty acres is reserved for two years certain, and they have a right to purchase it at any time within that period ; but if they purchase within twelve months, the other twenty acres is reserved for two years longer, in order to give them the opportunity of acquiring it at the upset price of £1 per acre. Thus, within three years, they may become freeholders of forty acres of land, no very difficult matter for a thrifty family with regular Government work to begin with, and with the opportunity of obtaining the highest prices for any produce they may grow as population increases in their neighbourhood. The block on which they are located is the finest possible description of bush land, not very heavily timbered, and each family has a frontage of ten chains on the main road line to Foxton. They appear to be perfectly satisfied with their prospects, and I have every faith in their success. The interpreter, Andersen, who received a free passage per " Celceno," I found willing to avail himself of the same opportunity of settlement offered to his countrymen who emigrated at the Government expense. 1 found him most useful in making my arrangements for the supply and removal of the party, and I took the responsibility of giving him £5 as a remuneration for his services. I have also engaged him to act as a medium of communication between the immigrants and the Government for the sum of 10s. per week for the first three months from the Ist March, and ss. per week for the next three months ; after which time I do not think that there will be any necessity for such an appointment. 1 have just returned from a second visit to the settlement; and although the weather has been most unfavourable for any outdoor work, the Norwegians had made good progress, most of them having built substantial little houses, and some of them having felled from one to two acres of bush, besides working as regularly as the state of the weather would allow on Government contracts. Some little dissatisfaction, indeed, did exist in the case of four of them whose land lay rather low, and was inundated by an intersecting creek during the very heavy rains which occurred in the month of March. I have however removed these families to a more favourable spot, and they are cheerfully settling down to work. I found, also, some doubts existing as to the motives of the Government in placing them on that country, some loafing fellows about the place having been busy in the attempt to persuade them that the rate of wages, Ac, proposed to them was below the average, and that they were brought there solely for the purpose of reducing the price of labour. Half an hour's conversation, however, removed all traces of dissatisfaction or suspicion, and the}' acknowledge with gratitude the favourable circumstances under which they are enabled to begin life in a foreign country. I wish to direct the attention of the Government to the extra charge of £11 9s. incurred on account of two of the immigrants, and which might be considered chargeable against them. This arises from the fact that their wives were so near their confinement that it was not considered advisable to take them with the main body to Palmerston from Foxton, and 1 had to make tho best arrangements I could with a countryman of theirs, a Mr. Jonson, at Foxton, to board the two women and an attendant at 10s. per week each, and with Mr. Batten Smith, to secure his medical attendance at Foxton. The charges in both cases I consider most reasonable, but still they are a heavy additional burthen to the two immigrants at the outset of their career; and although I have told them that they will have to pay the amount, and given them no hope of its being cancelled, yet I would respectfully urge that the Government would relieve them of the charge. I propose immediately to send in a further report relative to the arrival and location of the Swedish and Danish immigrants, when I shall venture to make a few remarks as to the effect of the introduction of these immigrants, and the advantages which present themselves to the Colony from the establishment of a steady continuous stream of immigration from the Scandinavian Provinces. The enclosed accounts will, I think, place the whole matter clearly before the Government. I have sent a copy of Account No. 2 to Mr. Stewart, the Paymaster at Palmerston, in order that there may be no mistake as to the mode aud time of the repayment of the advances made. I would request that Mr. Stewart be instructed to make the promised payments to the interpreter, Frederick Andersen. I have, Ac, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, A. Follett Halcombe. Wellington.
Enclosure 1 in No. 20. Account No. 1. Memorandum of Disbursements for Norwegian Immigrants, as sent in to the Paymaster-General. £ s. d. £ s. d. R. M. Cleland, stores ... ... ... ... ... ... 128 12 2 James Smith, drapery ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 9 3£ E. AY. Mills, ironmongery ... ... ... ... ... 65 13 11 J. Symonds, firewood <at Barracks ... ... ... ... 1 10 0 Dockry, cartage ... ... ... ... ... ... 0 15 0 Stewart, cartage ... ... ... ... ... ... 15 0 P.S. " Luna," passages to Manawatu ... ... ... ... 36 0 0 Carried forward ... ... ... ... ... £236 5 4_r 5
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£ 8. d. Brought forward ... ... ... ... ... 236 5 4£ Jeffery, straw for bedding ... ... ... ... ... 1 10 0 John Morgan, house hire, Foxton ... ... ... ... 100 Cartage and wharfage, Manawatu ... ... ... ... 22 12 6 Sundries, A.F.H., bread, 13s. 6d.; house hire and tea, Palmerston, £1 1 13 6 263 1 4| Batten Smith, medical attendance on two women in their confinement 4 4 0 Andrew Jonson, board of two women and attendant ... ... 7 5 0 . 11 9 0 A. F. Halcombe, personal expenses ... ... ... ... ... 10 0 0 Bonus to Interpreter ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 500 Total disbursements on behalf of immigrants ... ... ... £289 10 4j Error by under-estimate ... ... ... ... ... 10 6 0 Expenses of A. F. Halcombe and Interpreter ... ... ... 15 0 0 Charges against Government ... ... ... ... ... 25 6 0 Charges against immigrants, as per Paymaster-General's account ... 264 4 4£ Medical attendance, &c, excused by Government ... ... ... 11 9 0 11 9 0 Total expenses to Government of locating immigrants ... £36 15 0 Total charge to bo repaid by immigrants, as per Account No. 2 ... £252 15 4-j Enclosure 2 in No. 20. Account No. 2. The following sums are due from the under-mentioned Norwegian immigrants settled at Manawatu, and are to be deducted from sums due to them from time to time by the Public Works Department, in not less than six monthly instalments : — £ s. d. £ s. d. Frederick Andersen (interpreter) ... 7 2 3 V. C. Christiansen ... ... 13 14 5£ Arne Arnesen ... ... ... 13 12 5\ Johann Andreasen ... ... 13 13 5J Jorgen Pedersen... ... ... 13 12 1 Christian Christiansen ... ... 13 16 5£ Edward Olsen ... ... ... 13 12 5i Martin Bosen ... ... ... 13 9 5^ Berent Johannsen ... ... 13 13 5£- Hagisbert Reinersten ... ... 13 12 2\ Bergen Sorenson ... ... 13 17 0| Nils Berggoist ... ... ... 13 19 101 Gulben Hansen ... ... ... 13 14 111 Lanriss Gulbrandsen ... ... 13 8 8£ Torkil Gundersen ... ... 13 9 11£ August Bergersen ... ... 13 15 8-\ Anne Andersen ... ... ... 12 17 8i Carl Andersen ... ... ... 18 IS 6) £252 15 11| Nils Pedersen ... ... ... 13 14 8£ Acknowledged as correct on behalf of the above-mentioned immigrants. F. Andeeseit, 17th February, 1871. Interpreter.
No. 21. Mr. Morrison to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Office of the New Zealand Government Agency, Sir, — 3, Adelaide Place, King William Street, London, 22nd December, 1870. I have the honor to state that the emigrants from Denmark and Sweden, selected by order of the Hon. Dr. Featherston, have embarked in the ship " England," which sailed for Wellington on the 2st instant, and to transmit to you the enclosed papers having reference to them, viz.:— 1. Agreement for passages to AVellington. 2. List of names, ages, and occupations of emigrants from Denmark. 3. List of names, ages, and occupations of emigrants from Sweden. 4. Certificate of embarkation. 5. Copy of order for payment of balance of the passage money. 6. Statement of the expenditure in connection with the shipments per " Celoeno " and " England." The Government will have been informed that at Copenhagen Mr. Wilken Horneman, upon the recommendation of Bishop Monrad, was intrusted with the selection of the emigrants ; whilst at Gothenburg it was confided to Mr. John Millar. The number from Denmark is equal to forty-six and a half adults, and from Sweden nineteen adults, making in all sixty-five and a half adults to whom passages have been grantee". So far as the physical appearance of the emigrants is concerned, in both instances the selection seems to have been made with care ; but, contrary to express instructions, a number of single men have been sent by Mr. Horneman. Having expressed my disapproval, I deemed it inexpedient to do more than, upon paying his account, to protest against the manner in which he had disregarded his instructions, and to inform him that it remained with the Government to deal with the matter should they see fit. The shipping facilities at Copenhagen and Gothenburg at this period of the season being so
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uncertain, it was impracticable to arrange for the immigrants from both places arriving in London on the same day, or on that fixed for their embarkation for New Zealand. The withdrawal of the direct steamer from Copenhagen, after their passages had been taken, necessitated the people proceeding overland to Hamburg, and on arriving there to take the first steamer. By this route they arrived in London some three days before the appointed time, but it was unavoidable. Those from Gothenburg arrived two days previous to the embarkation. In both cases it was obligatory to provide them with board and lodging. Having found in the case of the emigrants from Norway that many withdrew after accepting passages, for the reason that they paid nothing and had therefore nothing to lose, Mr. Horneman was instructed to require each approved emigrant to pay 225., and to explain that it would be forfeited should the individual fail to embark, but that, in return for it, each person would receive in London new bedding and the mess utensils required for the voyage. These instructions were adopted ; but finding that Mr. Millar had arranged with the Swedish people before receiving my letter requesting him to follow the same course, I did not in their case require it to be carried out. Under the arrangement in question, the sum of £51 3s. has been received from the Danish emigrants, and bedding, Ac. (as per account), has been supplied at a cost of £30 ISs. Id. The regulation fully accomplished the object for which it was originated, inasmuch as from Copenhagen there was no short shipment ; while from Gothenburg one man who accepted a passage, and for whom accommodation was provided, failed to embark. Moreover, it resulted in leaving a surplus of £20 4s. lid. The expenditure incident to the emigrants by the ships "Celceno" and "England" is given in statement No. 6, herewith enclosed. The £1,000 I received, it will be observed, is insufficient. For the balance of the pass.age money payable in AVellington upon the handing of the emigrants, I have given Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Co. an order as per enclosed copy (No. 5). The Government will doubtless observe that I have not charged any remuneration for conducting this emigration service, but it will, I hope, recognize my claim to do so, in consideration of the great personal labour and trouble it entailed, and of the duty being exceptional. I should therefore be glad to receive your authority to charge the usual remuneration which the Wellington and other Governments allow for the performance of similar duties. I have, Ac, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. John Morrison. Note. —The enclosures numbered 1, 4, and 5, being merely formal documents, arc not published.
Enclosure 2 in No. 21. List of Emigrants from Denmark per " England " for AVellington. Occupation—All Farmers and Maid Servants. Gronwald, Hermann, (male) aged 27. Ericksen, Johann P., (male) aged 27. Hansen, Niels C, (male) aged 19. Appeltorff, Carl, (male,) aged 27. Rambosc, Christian, (male) aged 21. Thomsen, Hans C, (male) aged 33. Larsen, J. Ch, (male) aged 34. „ Else, (female) aged 26, wife. „ Ann M., (female) aged 34. ~ Marie, (female) aged 3. Berthclls, Hans C, (male) aged 17. Berg, Carl AY., (male) aged 35. Bonde, Christian, (male) aged 18. „ Maren, (female) aged 28, wife. Larsen, Lars, (male) aged 17. „ Infant, (female) aged £. Christiansen, Christian, (male) aged 18. Mariber, Carl, (male) aged 22. Jensen, Jens, (male) aged 21. Lisner, Johan, (male) aged 18. Zefyresen, Magnus, (male) aged 38. Poulsen, Jens G., (male) aged 23. Clcmencen, Caroline, (female) aged 22, Andersen, Lars, (male) aged 19. Schaumann, Christian, (male) aged 25. Jensen, Nills, (male) aged 28. Jorgcnsen, Carl, (male) aged 34. Olsen, Jens, (male) aged 25. Jorgensen, Frine Ida, (female) aged 28, wife. ~ Caroline, (female) aged 34, wife. Olsen, Hans, (male) aged 30. Bockwitchz, Robert, (male) aged 35. Nilsson, Nils, (male) aged 24. „ Christine, (female) aged 28, wife. Larsen, H. Peter, (male) aged 28. Olsson, Olecf, (male) aged 21. Pehrson, Pehrs, (male) aged 32. Larsen, Nills, (male) aged 21. Wahlsbroem, Carl, (male) aged 27. Moller, Peter, (male) aged 30. Olsen, Niels, (male) aged 24. „ Henrictte, (female) aged 26, wife. Jorgensen, Hans, (male) aged 25. „ Karen (female) aged 7. Nielsen, Jens, (male) aged 27. „ Caroline, (female) aged 5. Ericksen, Peter A., (male) aged 30. „ Infant, (female) aged £. Kindberg, Gustaf, (male) aged 24. Christensen, Hans, (male) aged 20. Total —Equal to 46| statute adults. Recapitulation.—Four married couples without children; one ditto with one child and one infant; one ditto with two children and one infant; thirty-one single men ; two single women.
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Enclosure 3 in No. 21. List of Emigrants from Sweden per " England " for Wellington. Occupation—Farm Labourers. Stelin, J. F., (male) aged 25. Ernstrom, Wm., (male) aged 26. „ Maria, (female) aged 25, wife. ~ Christina, (female) aged 30, wife. „ Margareta (female) infant. „ Carl, (male) infant. Andersen, J. D., (male) aged 20. Andersen, P. J., (male) aged 31. „ Johanna, (female) aged 23, wife. „ Maria, (female) aged 28, wife. Aselind, A. T., (male) aged 31. „ Johann, (male) aged 3. „ Charlotte, (female) aged 21, wife. „ Gustaf, (male) infant. Lindgen C, (male) aged 36. Andersen, Peter, (male) aged 25. Blixt, L. P., (male) aged 40. Hansen, J. E., (male) aged 22. „ Severina, (female) aged 30, wife. Jacobson, J. A., (male) aged 21. „ Gunda, (female) aged 8. „ Carolina, (female) aged 20, wife. „ Elm, (female) aged 3. Total—Equal to 19 statute adults. Recapitulation.—Three married couples without children; two ditto with one infant; two ditto with two children ; three single men.
Enclosure 6 in No. 21. Statement of Expenditure in connection with the Shipments of the Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish Emigrants to Wellington by the Ships " Celoeno " and " England." £ b. d. To Breslauer and Co., for passage from Christiania to London ... ... ... 46 11 6 To Winge and Co., for selection of emigrants ... ... ... ... ... G6 15 10 To telegrams to Norway ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 176 To Shaw, Savill, and Co., for moiety of passage money per " Celoeno," and expenses of transhipment in London ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 287 11 0 To W. Horneman, for selection and passage money of emigrants from Copenhagen to London ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 142 10 0 To J. Millar, for selection and passage money of emigrants from Gothenburg to London ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 45 5 0 To telegrams to Copenhagen and Gothenburg ... ... ... ... ... 2 10 2 To Shaw, Savill, and Co., for moiety of passage money per " England" ... ... 458 10 0 To Shaw, Savill, and Co., for maintenance of emigrants, and transhipment expenses in London ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 24 11 1 To Bates Bros., for bedding, &c... ... ... ... ... ... ... 30 18 1 To petty expenses at Gravesend on two occasions and minor disbursements for emigrants ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 12 1 £1,108 2 3 By the Bank of New Zealand draft on Colonial Treasurer ... ...£,1000 0 0 By deposits from Danish emigrants ... ... ... ... 51 3 0 1,051 3 0 £50 19 3
No. 22. Mr. Cooper to His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. Sib, — Colonial Secretary's Office, AVellington, 27th February, 1871. I transmit herewith, for your Honor's information, the accompanying copy of a letter, dated the 22nd December last, from Mr. John Morrison, the New Zealand Government Agent in London, with enclosures, relating to certain emigrants from Denmark and Sweden, who have been embarked on board the " England," which sailed for AVellington on the Ist December last. I have, Ac, G. S. Cooper (in the absence of Mr. Gisborne). His Honor the Superintendent, AVellington.
No. 23. Mr. Halcombe to the Hon. the Minister for Public AVorks. Sir,— AVellington, 3rd July, 1871. The second party of Scandinavian immigrants arrived per ship " England," and landed on the 21st March last. They consisted of Swedes and Danes, and numbered sixty-five and a half statute adults, classified as follows, viz.: —Twelve married couples, thirty-five single men, three single women, and eleven children.
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It will be seen by this classification, and the great preponderance of single men, several of whom are very young, that this batch of immigrants has not been as carefully selected as were those from Norway. Immediately after the arrival of the " England," Mr. March, the Immigration Officer, from Canterbury, visited the ship for the purpose of selecting from the immigrants a certain number for removal to tho Province of Canterbury. Of those so selected, only three were willing to leave the rest of their countrymen. Among those who left for Canterbury was, unfortunately, the interpreter, whom I was most unwilling to lose, as his absence necessarily entailed considerable inconvenience and has occasioned some extra expense to the Government. The remainder of the immigrants were at once removed to the Barracks at Te Aro, with the expectation that the " Luna" would be shortly available for their conveyance to Manawatu. AVhile at the Barracks two of the unmarried women found places as domestic servants. The third had engaged herself during the voyage to a Norwegian sailor, who worked his passage out in the " England." As he bore a good character, was a sawyer by trade, aud the relatives of the young woman agreed to the match, the couple were married at my house by the Rev. Mr. Paterson, and, for purpose of settlement at Manawatu, I treated them on the same footing as the other immigrant couples. Two married couples and two singlo men, whose previous avocations unfitted them for bush life, found employment in Wellington. The negotiations connected with these arrangements, the necessity of frequent communication with the whole party, and the loss of the original interpreter, obliged me to eng.age the services of Mr. Toxward of this city, whom I found most useful in communicating with the immigrants and aiding me in their removal and location. After a dehay of three weeks, the "Luna" not being avaihable, the steamer " Go-ahead" was chartered by the Government at the cost of £120 (reduced to £104 Bs. by a payment for private freight) to convey the party to Foxton, Manawatu. They arrived there safely on the Bth of April last, and on the Monday following I proceeded with them en route for Palmerston. Since my previous visit with the Norwegian party, the difficulty of transport was increased tenfold. The ten miles of road from Ngawhakarau to Palmerston had been rendered so bad by tho unusually early rains, that three good horses required a long day to struggle through with a very lightly loaded dray. The cost of carriage had risen in consequence from £2 to £7 per ton, and it was sufficiently evident that all traffic would shortly be impossible. AYe camped for the night at the Oroua Bridge, close to a Maori pa, and on moving next morning the following interesting incident occurred : —The Maoris at Ngawhakarau having learned that a second party of white strangers were on their way to take up their abode at Palmerston, brought out in the early morning a number of kits of potatoes, and a great quantity of pumpkins, amounting to several tons, and piled them on tho roadside. When the party came up, the chief of the pa addressed them with words of welcome; said the Maoris were glad they had come to make roads and live in tho country, and as he learned they had no potatoes, asked them to accept this present of food and seed, saying, at the same time, that at some future day some poor Maori might have need of a similar gift at their hands. After a suitable reply from a gentleman who happened to be present, the Scandinavians proceeded, their fears of their future neighbours being much lessened by this little event. Tho whole day was occupied in getting through the ten miles to Palmerston, where they took up their quarters for the night. Next day they moved on to the land which had been selected for their occupation, and on which they are located on the same terms as the Norwegian immigrants —-with this exception, that twenty acres only have been allotted to each single man. Owing to the delay in AVellington, the heavy rate at which the "Go-ahead" was chartered, the necessary employment of a professional man as interpreter, and the greater cost, difficulty, and risk of carriage, the locating of these immigrants upon their land has been attended with greater proportional expense, both to themselves and the Government, than was incurred in the case of the Norwegians. This will be seen by a reference to Enclosure 1, which shows an expenditure of £418 2s. for advances in rations, and for tools and cost of conveyance charged to emigrants, and of £111 4s. 3d., or £1 13s. lOfd. per head, as expenses charged to Government. Notwithstanding this, however, I trust the Government will not consider the result shown as otherwise than satisfactory. I have, Ac, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works. A. Follett Halcombe.
Enclosure 1 in No. 23. Memoeakdum of Disbursements for Scandinavian Immigrants (No. 2). £ s. d. £ s. d. E. W. Mills, goods ... ... ... ... ... ... 177 13 8 E. M. Cleland, stores ... ... ... ... ... ... 118 4 9 W. Eeeve, carting ... ... ... ... ... ... 7 19 0 J. Sanders, carting ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 10 0 J. Symonds, firewood ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 11 6 C. Cole ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 3 7 J. Morgan, house hire, &c, at Foxton ... ... ... ... 0 15 0 A. Grey ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 18 0 3 Cash for potatoes 10s., leather £10, marriage license £3 2s. ... ... 13 12 0 Cartage (still due, July 2, 1871) ... ... ... ... ... 30 0 0 Steamer "Go-ahead," £120—less £15 12s. ... ... ... ... 104 8 0 Carried forward ... ... ... ... ... £476 17 9 6
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3J ». u. d& a. u. Brought forward ... ... ... ... ... 476 17 9 C. J. Toxward, services, &c. ... ... ... ... ... 32 8 6 A. F. Halcombe, expenses ... ... ... ... ... 20 0 0 Total disbursements on behalf of immigrants ... ... ■ 529 6 3 Expenses of A. F. Halcombe and C. J. Toxward ... ... ... 52 8 6 Proportion of charter of " Go-ahead" and of expenses in barracks charged to Government ... ... ... ... ... 58 15 9 Total charges against Government for locating immigrants ... 111 4 3 Total charges against immigrants, to be repaid by them, as per account ... £418 2 0
Jinclosure V li i JNo. 23. of Immigrants from Sweden and landed 21s' Den , Mai nark per " England," ii •ch, 1871. "Wellingti m Harbour, Name of Immigrant. Sex. Age. Emigrated from Distribution. Occupation. Value received in Provisions, Tools, &c. r orgensen, Carl „ Frine Ida, wife 51ixt, Lars Peter „ Severina, wife „ Gunda, child „ Elin, child Srnstroin „ Christiria, wife „ Carl, child ... Indersen, Peter Johan „ Maria, wife ... „ Johanna, child acobson, John Alfred ... „ Carolina, wife Lselind, Johan Axel „ Charlotte, wife Lndersen, Martin „ Johanna, wife Jerg, Carl „ Maren, wife „ infant Hans Christian „ Else, wife „ Maria, child ... „ Orlantha, infant Jockwitchz, ltobert „ Christine, wife itelin, Johan „ Maria, wife, „ Margaretta, child Roller, Peter „ Henrietta, wife „ Karen, child „ Caroline, child ... „ infant )lsen, Ferdinand „ Caroline iValstrom, Carl, )lsen, Neils Jens ■STielson, Neils 'efyresen, Magnus orgensen, Hans iindberg, Gustaf jarsen, Hans Peter jarsen, Jorgen Chris. ... iansen, Niels Christian Jrannsted, Jorgen Fritz ?oulsen, Jens Guttsen ... ilariber, Carl lndersen, Lars Lisner, Johan M. F. M. F. F. F. M. F. M. M. F. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. F. M. F. F. P. M. F. M. F. F. M. F. F. F. F. M. F. M. M. M. M. M. M. M. M. M. M. M. M. M. J£ M. 84 2S 40 80 8 3 26 80 * 8] 2 s 3 22 2L 81 21 SO 28 85 28 * 83 26 3 Denmark Manawatu Shepherd £ s. 12 0 d. 0 n Sweden )> derk 12 0 0 )> >> >> 12 0 0 jj j) Parmer H JJ JJ Farmer 12 0 0 JJ J) Farmer 12 0 0 JJ JJ 12 0 0 H Farmer Norway Sweden Denmark JJ 15 2 0 JJ Sawyer JJ 12 0 0 JJ Cooper j» ») H II )j Blacksmith 12 0 0 jj JJ Jj JJ 22 0 0 35 28 2.'. 25 i 80 26 7 5 * 84 27 21 27 24 38 25 2L 28 84 L9 26 2:! 2:! 20 18 JJ jj JJ Sweden ;j Denmark JJ J) )j Wellington ») Hutt 33 j) ;> Wellington Manawatu Shoemaker Farmer Gardener Farmer 9 10 9 10 9 10 9 10 9 10 9 10 9 10 9 10 9 10 0 10 9 10 9 10 9 10 9 10 9 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 n jj )j jj j> j» 3) )> 33 >: || >> )) )j 3) M )J ») J3 )> 33 JJ 33 JJ 3> JJ >3 JJ
D.— No. 3.
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Enclosure 3 in No. 23. Commissioner of Crown Lands to Mr. HjVlcombe. Sib, — Crown Lands Office, Wellington, 6th July, 1871. I have the honor to enclose tracings showing the portion of the various sections of land at Palmerston, reserved for immigration purposes. The sections numbered and tinted are those referred to, and contain 3,523 acres 1 rood 4 perches, as originally laid off, but the additional roads and subdivisions will reduce this acreage, say by 23 acres or thereabouts. I have, Ac, JOS. G. HOLDSWORTH, A. F. Halcombe, Esq., Provincial Treasurer. Commissioner of Crown Lands.
No. 24. Mr. Halcombe to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Sir,— AVellington, sth July, 1871. In previous letters I have put the Government in possession of the details connected with the location of the Scandinavian immigrants at Palmerston, Manawatu. I now venture to submit the following general remarks, as the result of my observation and experience in this experimental immigration. I do so with the greater condfience, because, since the placing of the last batch of these immigrants, I have twice visited their settlements, and had ample opportunities of watching and judging of their capabilities and progress. It would perhaps be hardly fair, judging from these two shipments alone, to pronounce decidedly as to the respective merits of the three Scandinavian nationalities, and the peculiar qualifications of each for settlement in this country, because, as I have in a former letter remarked, greater care and judgment was exercised in the selection of the Norwegian party than was shown in the case of the others. In forming my opinion, therefore, I have had regard, not so much to the particular individuals with whom I have had to deal, as to the general habits and characteristics of each division, as gathered from conversation with the late comers, and from experience of a former but smaller Danish immigration to Manawatu under the auspices of Bishop Monrad. I think the experiment as a whole may fairly be considered a great success. But I have no hesitation in classing the Norwegians in the first rank as likely to be useful and successful settlers in a country where bush prevails, or indeed in any other, since their experience in their own country has been that of diligent farming on the open during summer, the roughest of bush work in the short winter days, and the pursuit of domestic industries and trades during the long winter evenings. Accustomed hitherto to hard work, hard fare, and severe climate, they look upon New Zealand, with its absence of winter, its high wages, fertile lands, and good food, as a perfect paradise by contrast with their native land. The Norwegians would in fact compare favourably with Canadians, and will, I think, prove most valuable
Memoranctum of Immigrants — continued. Name of Immigrant. Age. Sex. Emigrated from Distribution. Occupation. Value received in Provisions, Tools, &c. Appeltorff, Carl, Jensen, Neils Schaumann, Christian ... Berthells, Hans Bondc, Christian Larsen, Lars Grustaf'son, August Olsen, Hans Hansen, John Olsen, Olcef Lindgreen, Christian ... Andersen, Pehr Andersen, Johan David Pehrsson, Pehr Jensen, Jens Grronwald, Herman Christensen, C. Jessetn... Christensen, Johan Peter Rambose, Christian Erickson, Peter A. M. M. M. M. M. M. M. M. M. M. M. M. M. M. M. M. M M. M. M. 28 29 2G 17 19 17 21 81 28 22 84 25 IS 33 21 27 18 30 21 30 Denmark j) jj j> jj ?> jj Manawatu »> jj jj >j jj jj Farmer £ s. 9 10 9 10 9 10 9 10 9 10 9 10 9 10 9 10 9 10 9 10 9 10 9 10 9 10 9 10 9 10 d. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 jj jj u ?j jj j> jj j» jj 5> ]) SJ jj 1J jj JJ Canterbury; jj )j jj jj j) Wellington jj j) " Coachbuilder Servant Larson, Ane Margrite ... Clemcnsen, Caroline Erickson, Johan F. P. M. 34 22 27 jj Hutt jj jj I
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as pioneers; while their habits of thrift and of domestic manufactures add largely to their selfreliance, and supply in part a deficiency which is recognized as existing in the majority of immigrants from Great Britain. In the next rank to the Norwegians I would place the Swedes, as sharing largely in their peculiar characteristics ; while the Danes do not appear to me to possess any special qualifications or aptitude for a Colonial life. Notwithstanding the unfavourable season, the Scandinavian immigrants generally have already made great progress, not only as far as their own work is concerned, but also in the estimation of those with whom they have been brought in contact. On their first arrival there was a great popular prejudice, almost amounting to indignation, against them ; but this feeling has been changed, by the example of their steady persevering industry, into one of entire approbation of their introduction into the country ; and I believe that the importation of a few hundred more into the same neighbourhood would be viewed with entire satisfaction. They have already commenced to clear their lands, and have built themselves neat and comfortable wooden houses. They have besides been almost constantly employed on Government work when the weather permitted, that work being chiefly the splitting and squaring of sleepers for tramways. Several have also been employed by private persons at various times, and all have given satisfaction to their several employers ; while the Norwegians especially have been found able to compete successfully with older settlers in the use of axe and saw. Much has been said about the special discomforts which these people have had to undergo ; but these complaints are evidently made by persons who have little real acquaintance with the ordinary and inevitable difficulties attendant on the first settlement of a new country. That the immigrants themselves do not consider that any of their necessary requirements have been neglected, but that, so far as the means available and the inclemency of the weather would allow, they have been fairly anticipated by the Government, the subjoined testimonial to myself, as representative of the Government, which is signed by all the Scandinavian immigrants, will, 1 think, sufficiently show. With regard to the season of immigration, I may observe, as the result of my experience, not only with these people but also during fifteen years of up-country life in this Province, that although the best season for placing new comers on unsettled land is between tho months of October and March, yet I should have no hesitation in moving parties of immigrants into the most remote portions of this Province at any time during the winter, confident that in ordinary seasons it could be done with but little extra expense, and no great additional inconvenience or discomfort to the people themselves. The difficulties of locomotion are decreasing daily as the main line of road through the Province progresses ; while the distance from the seaboard to any point of the interior is so short that in no case can it represent more than a few days' journey. In conclusion, I desire to direct the attention of the Government to the necessity that exists of making a small advance of stores and tools, as I have been allowed to do in the case of these Scandinavians, wherever immigrants are placed in newly opened or entirely unsettled districts. AVhen new comers, with little or no means, are placed on land and employed at Government work beyond the reach of stores, their powers of usefulness, both to themselves and to the Government, would be materially lessened if they had frequently to seek for supplies at a distance, and at such advanced rates as would certainly be imposed upon strangers seeking credit from a storekeeper. In making a small advance to obviate this hindrance, aud to enable the new settler to keep steadily to work, the Government runs but little risk, as the settler depends on it for employment, and it has therefore the power of repaying itself at its will. It m.ay be laid down also as a general rule, that any extra cost in the labourer's supplies means extra wages for the work he performs ; and although at first the workman would have perhaps far to seek for his supplies, yet, when settled for a few months, supplies will follow him iv the usual operations of trade, and Government assistance in this respect no longer be required. I have, Ac, The Hon. the Minister for Public AVorks. A. Follett Halcombe.
Enclosure in No. 24. Testimonial from Scandinavian Immigrants. (Translation.) Palmerston, 14th April, 1871. We the undersigned Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian immigrants beg to render you our most sincere thanks for the kind reception and attention shown towards us on our arrival, during our stay in Wellington, and on our journey to Palmerston. We beg to assure you of our sense of the difficulties under which you have laboured, and of your willingness to assist us in all reasonable requests. We shall always bear in kind remembrance the gentlemanly conduct which you on all occasions have shown us. We have, Ac, A. F. Halcombe, Esq. __^^_^^_____^__^^^ Oleep Olson, and 54 others.
No. 25. Mr. Knowles to Mr. Halcombe. Sib,— Public Works Office, Wellington, 22nd July, 1871. I do myself the honor, by direction of Mr. Gisborne, to acknowledge the receipt of your two letters of the 3rd and sth instant respectively, in the former of which you report the steps taken to locate the Scandinavian immigrants by the ship " England," and in the latter submit some general remarks as the result of your observation and experience in this experimental immigration.
OF SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRANTS.
25
D.—No. 3.
In so doing I am to express the satisfaction of the Government at the energy and perseverance you have shown in the location of these immigrants under unfavourable circumstances, to which qualities they think the present probable success of the settlement is in a great measure attributable. Taking into consideration the trouble and inconvenience which you have incurred in this matter, the amount of expense to which you have been put other than the small sum charged by you, and the loss which you sustained by the wreck of the boat in the Manawatu River while you were engaged in this service, the Government have directed the sum of £100 to be placed at your disposal. I have, &c, John Kkowles, A. F. Halcombe, Esq., Wellington. Under Secretary.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/AJHR1871-I.2.1.5.9
Bibliographic details
PAPERS RELATING TO IMMIGRATION., Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1871 Session I, D-03a
Word Count
18,056PAPERS RELATING TO IMMIGRATION. Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1871 Session I, D-03a
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