D.—s.
1871. NEW ZEALAND.
IMMIGRATION. (CORRESPONDENCE WITHIN THE COLONY.)
Presented to loth Souses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.
SCHEDULE OF COEEESPONDENCE. AUCKLAND. p age Free Immigration Regulations of 15th October, 1873. Correspondence as to publication and circulation ... ... 1 Mr. Farnall and Mr. G. V. Stewart. Letters received by Superintendent of Auckland Erection of dep6ts and cottages for immigrants. Moveable cottages ... ... 4 Deformed immigrants. Correspondence upon resolution of Harbour Board ... ... ... 5 Correspondence respecting complaint that immigrants for Auckland per " Mongol" remained in Otago, where vessel first touched. Desirability of direct shipments ... ... ... ... g Respecting certain French immigrants, reported to be ballet-dancers. (Vide D. 1, p. 27.) ... 7 Medical and hospital expenses of sick immigrants ... ... ... ... ... 7 Respecting employment of immigrants who may arrive during winter ... ... ~, g TARANAKI. Free Immigration Regulations of 25th October, 1873. Correspondence as to publication and circulation ... ... 8 Repairs to Marsland Hill Immigration Depot ... ... ... ... ... ... 9 Immigration to Taranaki, and construction of a harbour at New Plymouth ... ... ... ... 9 HAWKE'S BAY. Free Immigration Regulations of 15th October, 1873. Correspondence as to publication and circulation. Also as to advisability of allowing nominations by calling ... ... ... ... ... U Correspondence re erection of quarantine buildings ... ... ... ... ... 12 Respecting German and Scandinavian immigration ... ... ... ... ... 13 Respecting erection of depots and cottages for immigrants. Waipawa Depot ... ... 14, Insufficiency of immigration to Hawke's Bay ... ... ... ... ... 15 Respecting Mr. Dolbell obtaining emigrants fromjChannel Islands ... ... ... 15 Medical and hospital expenses of sick immigrants ... ... ... ... ... jg WELLINGTON. Free Immigration Regulations of 15th October, 1873. Correspondence as to publication and circulation ... ... 17 Special forest settlements ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... jy Erection of dep6ts and cottages for immigrants in country places ... ... ... ... jg Erection of two cottages at Featherston, for immigrants ... ... ... ... ... 19 Correspondence respecting employment of expected immigrants during winter months; formation of special settlements between Masterton and the Manawatu Gorge, and at Paraekaretu; completion of roads • and Provincial loan of £66,000 for carrying out these works ... ... ... ... 19 Immigration to Wellington of 500 souls per month ... ... ... ... ... 24 Medical and hospital expenses of sick immigrants ... ... ... ... ... 25 Depot at Greytown, and appointment of Sub-Immigration Officer ... ... ... ... 25 MARLBOROUGH. Erection of immigration dep&t at Blenheim ... ... ... ... ... ... 28 Erection of depots and cottages for immigrants in country places ... ... ... ... ... 29 Immigration to Marlborough ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 29 Respecting instruction to Agent-General to send vessel to Nelson with half complement of immigrants for Marlborough. Direct shipments ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 31 Medical and hospital expenses of sick immigrants ... ... ... ... ... ! 32 NELSON. Erection of depots and cottages for immigrants in'country places ... ... ... ... ,32 Immigration to Nelson ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 32 Advance to Nelson of £20,000 for roads to open up land for special settlements. Mr. Calcutt's report on the land 33 Medical and hospital expenses of sick immigrants ... ... ... ... ... § 35
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SCHEDULE OF COEEESPONDENCE— continued. WESTLAND. Page Correspondence respecting demand for female immigrants ... ... ... ... ... ... 35 Medical and hospital expenses of sick immigrants ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 36 CANTERBURY. Ashburton Depot ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 37 Free Immigration Regulations of 15th October, 1873. Correspondence as to publication and circulation ... 37 Waimate Dep&t ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 38 Erection of dep6ts and cottages for immigrants in country places ... ... ... ... ... ... 39 Chairman of Board of Works should look after immigrants at Timaru ... ... ... ... ... 39 Akaroa Depot ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 40 Additions to Addington Immigration Depot ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 40 Additions to Quarantine Dep6t ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 40 Correspondence with New Zealand Shipping Company, respecting their combination with other shipping firms to raise rates of passage ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 40 Erection of depot at Rangiora... ... ... ... ... ... ... . ... ... ... 41 Erection of small portable cottages. Employment of immigrants who arrive during winter ... ... ... 42 Purchase of house at Oxford for depot ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 42 Extra accommodation at Addington Immigration Depflt ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 43 Conveyance of sites of depots to Crown. Proposal that General Government lease buildings, and Provinces pay for any additions ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 43 Medical and hospital expenses of sick immigrants ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 44 Repairs to Timaru Dep&t ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 44 Depots for immigrants at Geraldine and Temuka... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 45 OTAGO. Immigration to Invercargill ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 45 Respecting Mr. J. Seaton's claim on Government ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 46 Respecting Mr. T. Birch's claim on Government ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 48 Erection of depots and cottages for immigrants in country places. £10,000 to be advanced ... ... ... 49 Oamaru Dep&t ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 49 Correspondence respecting Otago emigration being given to Messrs. Cargill and Co. ... ... ... ... 50 Riverton Depot ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 50 Dep&ts at Tokomairiro and Queenstown ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 51 Medical and hospital expenses of sick immigrants ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 51 Conveyance of sites of depots to Crown ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 51 Erection of quarantine buildings at Bluff ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 52 Respecting employment being found for immigrants to arrive during winter. Erection of portable cottages, and taking land or immigrants under Immigration and Public Works Act ... ... ... ... ... 52 Improvements to Invercargill Depot ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 53 Additions to Immigration Dep&t ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 53
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1874.
NEW ZEALAND.
IMMIGRATION, (CORRESSPONDENCE WITHIN THE COLONY).
Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.
AUCKLAND. No. 1. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. (Circular.) Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 16th October, 1873. I have the honor to forward herewith copy of an Order in Council, dated tho 15th instant, establishing a system of free nominated emigration to the Colony, trusting to your cordial co-opera-tion with the General Government in their endeavours to bring population to the country. I also enclose copies of forms intended to be used by persons nominating their friends, which I shall be obliged if you will circulate through the medium of Provincial officers and schoolmasters. These application forms, you will observe, are returnable to the Immigration Officers. If you agree to the propositi I have made you by printed letter dated 14th instant, to take charge of the immigrants on arrival, I shall be glad if you will assist and direct the Immigration Officer in your Province in respect to his treatment of these applications. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. Julius Vogel.
No. 2. His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland, to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Auckhmd, 21th October, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your circular dated the 16th instant, and to inform you that I will gladly co-operate, and circulate the new regulations for free nominated immigration when received. As you are aware, I have declined to embarrass my successor by coming to any determination at present on the proposal contained in your circular of the 14th instant; but I shall at all times be glad to assist and direct the Immigration Officer in regard to his treatment of the applications for passages. I have, &c, Tiiomas B. Gillies, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Superintendent.
No. 3. His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland, to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sic, — Auckland, 15th November, 1873. Beferring to certain correspondence (semi-official) which I had the honor to submit to you, during the late Session of Assembly, from Mr. H. W. Farnall, relative to special immigration from the North of Ireland, I have now the honor to annex copies of letters received by me, per last English mail, from G. V. Stewart, Esq., of Ballygawlcy, and also from Mr. Farnall. From the former you will see that the first instalment of Mr. Stewart's party would probably leave last month, and that they expect the block of 20,000 acres in which they are to settle to be set apart for them prior to arrival. This should, therefore, be done without delay. Though in a few days I shall cease to be Superiutendent of the Province, my services will be gratuitously at the disposal of your Government for the purpose of making the required selection, on being informed of the lands at the disposal of the Government. I would suggest the Taurauga district. I—D. 5.
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On the disagreements between Mr. Farnall and the Agent-General I presume to offer no opinion, save that they seem to be very unfortunate for the progress of a very promising scheme of immigration for this Province. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Thomas B. Gillies.
Enclosure 1 in No. 3. Mr. Stewart to Mr. Gillies. Dear Sir, — Lisbeg, Ballygawley, 13th August, 1873. Though I have not had the pleasure of hearing from you personally, yet, as Mr. Farnall has sent me copies of your letters to him, in which you have expressed yourself in such kind and favourable terms with regard to my proposed special settlement in the Province of Auckland, that I think it is only due to you that I should return you my best thanks for the warm and energetic manner in which you have taken up the matter. It is, of course, a serious responsibility to break up a long and wellestablished home in this country ; however, I have duly weighed all the circumstances, and, acting on Mr. Parnall's representations of the Colony, have made my arrangements to enable me to leave this country (D.V.) next spring. The first vessel under the special scheme will sail to Auckland in October, and I have not the slightest doubt but that the entire block of 20,000 acres will be taken up by my party. I would, therefore, ask you to be good enough to reserve for me my lot of 1,000 acres (to which the number of my family will entitle me) out of the best portion ofthe 10,000 or 20,000 acre block. The first emigrants arriving may naturally prefer to receive the best lots, but I firmly believe that it will be for the true interest of the success of the scheme if I did not go with the first party, as by following in May will enable those who are in doubt to make up their minds and follow with me, on hearing good reports from those who have preceded them in October. In conclusion, I must bear my humble testimony as to the manner in which Mr. Harry Farnall is conducting the business and representing the interests of the Auckland Government in this country. I have found him most kind and courteous, sparing himself no trouble or exertion in meeting the wishes and long letters from his numerous correspondents on this subject. It is said that " comparisons are odious;" but I can truly state that, had I received from Mr. Farnall the same kind of reply as I received from the New Zealand Goverument Office in London, on the subject of emigration, you would never have heard anything about this proposed settlement, which I know will be a great success. I have one Presbyterian clergyman, who has promised to follow me with thirty families of the upper respectable class of yeoman farmers, if I give him good encouragement on reaching the future land of my adoption. Yours most faithfully, His Honor T. B. Gillies, Auckland. Geo. Veset Stewart.
Enclosure 2 in No. 3. Mr. Stewart to Mr. Gillies. Dear Sir,— Lisbeg, Ballygawley, 3rd September, 1873. I enclose you a requisition signed by a few of the persons interested in the proposed emigration scheme to Auckland Province. My experience has been that the arrangements will never be worked out satisfactorily in London ; and further, in such matters people should not be tied down to the hard-and-fast cord of red tape. As an example, I might state that, among my farm labourers, I have four families, having eight to ten children, average age sixteen to three, and even under that age. By the present regulation, these families would be all not eligible, as they contain more than two members under twelve years of age, and consequently about forty souls will be lost to the Province. Of course, we could not expect grants of land to such class; but what is the use of taking out capital to rechaim the lands, unless you have hands to work. 1 trust you will kindly excuse me for thus trespassing upon you, and entering upon such details ; but it is evident that such arrangements as would thus tend to promote the interests of individuals must also tend to serve the Province. Ido not natter myself that these labourers will remain on for ever with me; still, they will be in the district, and, judging from their parents, are likely soon to increase the population of the neighbourhood. Tours most faithfully, His Honor T. B. Gillies, Auckland. Geo. Veset Stewart. Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure 2 in No. 3. Messrs. Stewart, Andrews, and others, to Mr. Gillies. Dear Sir, — Lisbeg, Ballygawley, Ireland, 26th August, 1873. "We, the undersigned, being the original promoters of the special emigration to Auckland, observe with much regret that Mr. H. W. Farnall, your agent in this country, so far from receiving the support and assistance he deserves from the official representatives of the New Zealand Government at home, appears to have been thwarted in every possible way; and were it not that we place implicit confidence in Mr. Parnall's representations, we should in consequence have given up all idea of further prosecuting this movement,
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We have therefore to request that you will be good enough to give, as far as possible, full authority to Mr. Farnall to make such arrangements as he may consider advisable to the success of the enterprise and consequent interest of the Colony. We make this request solely on our own responsibility, and without any previous communication with Mr. Farnall on the subject. Waiting your reply, We remain faithfully yours, George Veset Stewart, J.P., County Tyrone. For self and several emigrants' families of the farmer class. Michl. John Andrews. Thomas Addehlet, Clerk, Incumbent, Ballygawlley. James M. Cleane. Andrew McMaster, Surgeon, Carrickune Dispensary, County Tyrone.
Enclosure' 3 in No. 3. Mr. Farnall to Mr. Gillies. Mt dear Sir, — 2, Devonshire Buildings, Bath, 7th August, 1873. You will I daresay bo expecting to hear from me in continuation of my letter to you by the last mail, and as I understand it is Dr. Featherston's intention to plsice my conduct in anything but a favourable light before the New Zealand Government, I shall take this opportunity of explaining one or two circumstances connected with my agency, which, if left unexplained, might appear unsatisfactory. I believe his chief charge against me is, my having allowed the clerk in my office to charge commission on all emigrants obtained through my office. The way of it was this : I opened an office in Belfast (against Dr. Featherston's wishes, as it appears), and on finding that it was quite impossible for me to attend to the whole duties of the office, and carry on my emigration work as I wished, I wrote to Dr. Featherston, asking him to allow me a clerk. This he refused. However, in a conversation I had with him some time after, he agreed to allow me an assistant, who should be paid by commission at the same rate as the other agents. This answered my purpose equally as well, and I appointed a Mr. Andrews, who remained some time with me, and eventually drew his commission, some £16, when he left me to go to New Zealand. This gentleman is now in the Bank of New Zealand at Auckland, and can give you any information you may wish. On the departure of Mr. Andrews, I appointed a Mr. Walker in his place, and a few weeks back, when this gentleman sent in his account to the AgentGeneral for commission, Dr. Featherston wrote to me, refusing to recognize Mr. Walker's claim because he was acting as my clerk, and at the same time calling upon me to refund the amount already paid to Mr. Andrews. I may say that Mr. Walker holds a letter of appointment from the AgentGeneral, authorizing him to act as agent, and it was an understood thing in Dr. Featherston's office that this agent acted as my clerk and was paid by commission. In a private interview I had with Dr. Featherston the other day, he entirely repudiated ever having sanctioned such a proceeding, and says he has no recollection of ever having had any conversation with me about my clerk's remuneration. Of course on the face of it, it is absurd to suppose I should wish my clerk appointed as an agent unless for the purpose of getting the commission, and still more absurd to suppose that I intended to pay that commission out of the sum allowed me for salary and expenses ; because, had I done so, the more emigrants I obtained the worse for me in a pecuniary point of view. There is one other thing I would like clearly understood in New Zealand, and that is that I have borne the whole expenses connected with my office in Belfast out of the £700 per annum allowed me for salary and expenses. lam particularly desirous that this should be understood, because, in consequence of the way my account appears in the Agent-General's books, the reverse of this seems to have been the case. I have seen my account with the Agent-General's office as furnished to the New Zealand Government, and any one looking carelessly at it would imagine that I had not only received the £700 per annum, but also, over and above that, further sums for expenses, a conclusion altogether false ; and I most positively declare that, with the exception of my assistant's salary, all the expenses of my office have been defrayed by me. I can get no settlement of my own account with Dr. Featherston, as he declines to settle a single account of mine until I have handed over to him all the correspondence in my office, especially that referring to the Auckland special settlement. This I cannot agree to for several reasons : in the first place, I am not at all sure that, were I so to do, he would hold out much encouragement to these people to go to Auckland; and in the second place, three-fourths of the correspondence is entirely of a private nature. I think it was most unfair of Dr. Featherston giving me notice at the end (16th) of June, that my remuneration was to be reduced from the lst of the month, and still more unfair to dismiss me at a moment's notice, when he must have known that it would take me at least a couple of months to bring my operations to a close; and most unfair of all to decline to settle my accounts with his office, now that I have ceased to act with him. I enclose a letter I wrote to The Times newspaper, and which has served the purpose of an advertisement. It has been the means of bringing forward a host of enquirers, several of whom will, I think, eventually go. lam in hopes of having a shipload in October. I am, &c., T. B. Gillies, Esq. Harrt W. Faenah.
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Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure 3 in No. 3. Emigration to New Zealand. To the Editor of the Times. Sir, —I observe your New Zealand correspondent, in his last letter from that Colony, expresses his surprise that something is not being dono in England by way of promoting special colonization and the formation of special settlements, for which the North Island of New Zealand is so eminently adapted. Perhaps you will permit me to announce, through the medium of your columns, that I have for some months past been engaged, on the part of the New Zealand Government, in organizing a party such as he describes. Owing, however, partly to the novelty of the undertaking and partly to the unexpected opposition of those from whom I expected assistance, the scheme has been unavoidably delayed. lam now, however, in a position to state that the scheme is so far matured that the first ship with passengers going out in connection with this scheme will leave England towards the end of October of this year. No one will be allowed to take part in this scheme who is not either a working farmer in possession of sufficient means to go upon and occupy his land, or else a man with sufficient capital to employ labour; to each of these two classes a free grant of forty acres per adult will be given, provided not more than 300 acres is claimed by any one family whose members are living together. As the public might be misled in consequence of the paragraph in your New Zealand correspondent's letter to which I have referred, you will, perhaps, kindly insert this letter for me, and I shall be very happy to give any further information on this subject to thoso who may wish it. I have, &c, Harrt W. Farnall, (late Member of the House of Eepresentatives of New Zealand, and Member of the Provincial Council of Auckland.) New Zealand Emigration Office, 2J, Corporation Street, Belfast.
No. 4. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. (Telegram). Christchurch, 25th November, 1874. Your letter covering Farnall correspondence has just come to me. I thank you for the trouble you have taken and are still willing to take. Ido not think the immigrants did sail in October. I am cabling home to ascertain. There will be plenty of time for action after reply. Julius Vogel. His Honor T. B. Gillies, Auckland.
No. 5. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. (Circular.) Sir, — General Government Offices, Dunedin, 19th December, 1873. I am sure that your Honor agrees with me as to the importance of a large proportion of the immigrants who arrive in Auckland being enabled, almost immediately after they have landed, to proceed to the country districts, either to commence operations on their own account, or to accept employment. In order that they may do so, however, there must be provided depots in which they can bo temporarily accommodated ; and it would be very advantageous if there were also provided small houses for married men with families. I shall, therefore, be ready to sanction a moderate expenditure for the conveyance of immigrants to country districts ; and also the payment of a proportion of the expense of renting suitable buildings (if any are available) for temporary depots. If it should not be possible to rent such buildings, I shall be glad to consider any recommendation which your Honor, from your knowledge of the different districts, may make with a view of providing depot accommodation. I think it most desirable that at different points where employment is, or will probably be, available, serviceable but cheap four-room cottages or huts should be erected, for the purpose of being let to immigrants, the cost per cottage not to exceed £100. Where the Provincial Government have land to spare in the vicinity of railway works, small areas might be included, with the cottages, in leases. This, however, I leave to the consideration of the Provincial authorities. I am willing, as a means of thus aiding to locate immigrants, to place a certain amount of money at your Honor's disposal, for building such cottages or huts, on the following conditions: — 1. That the cottages or huts be let to newly-arrived immigrants with families. 2. That the Provincial Government undertake and guarantee to return to the General Government the amount expended, with interest at 5 per cent., in four instalments, on the lst January, 1875, 1876, 1877, and 1878. I leave it to your Honor to arrange for the building of the cottages, and to decide under what conditions, other than those stipulated, they shall be let. If you approve of this proposal, I shall be glad to receive any suggestions from your Honor on the subject, and also to learn the amount of money you think you would require during the current year. I have, &c., His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. Julius Vogel.
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No. 6. His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland, to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Auckland, 16th April, 1874. Adverting to your letter of the 19th December last, on the subject of immigration depots, I have the honor to forward, for consideration by the Hon. the Minister for Public Works, the enclosed copy of a memorandum and sketch by Mr. Allright, recommending the construction of moveable cottages on a simple plan, in preference to the erection of larger buildings, to serve as immigration depots. If the Government approve of this recommendation, I shall be glad to receive an answer at an early date, in order that no time may be lost in preparing the cottages for immigrants expected shortly to arrive. I have, &c, J. Williamson, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.
Enclosure in No. 6. Memorandum for His Honor the Superintendent. Referring to a conversation with your Honor respecting the location of immigrants at various settlements in the Province, and the erection of depots for their accommodation on arrival, and cottages for their use when settled on their land, I have the honor to furnish herewith a rough sketch ofa cottage constructed on the simplest plan, with galvanized iron roof and sheet iron fireplaces. It is proposed that these cottages should be built where timber is cheap and can be easily procured, and then taken down, packed up, and numbered for re-erection at the places where it is proposed to locate the immigrants on their arrival. The outside ofthe buildings to be vertical boards and battens. The partitions to be lined on one side. The cost of each cottage, complete, at the present high prices of timber and labour, would be about £130. The freight would be an additional charge, and also the reerection, if the immigrants were not capable of re-erecting the cottages themselves. I beg to suggest for your consideration whether a system of providing these cottages for the accommodation of immigrants would not be found far preferable to building large and expensive depots for their temporary use at any one place, .and if it would not tend to make them more self-reliant than if they all lived in one large building. The cottages could at any time be taken down and removed to the land on which the immigrants are to be located, upon their giving tho required security for the repayment of the cost fixed on the building by the Government. H. Allright, Public Works Office, Auckland, 1874. District Engineer.
No. 7. The Hon. J. Vogel to His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 9th May, 1874. I hare the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 16th April ult., in which you forwarded for consideration of the Minister for Public Works, copy ofa memorandum and sketches, by Mr. Allwright, of moveable cottages, which you recommend for immigration depots, in preference to the erection of larger buildings. In reply, I have to inform you that, having consulted the Hon. the Minister for Public Works upon the subject, I approve of the design for cottages, and shall be willing to authorize the erection of some of the kind, in lieu of depots for immigrants. I should also be willing to consider a recommendation from your Honor for the construction of similar cottages under the terms of my letter of 19th December, 1873. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. Julius Vogel.
No. 8. His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland, to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Auckland, 3rd February, 1874. Herewith I have the honor to forward copy of a letter received from the Chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, containing a resolution passed by the Board in reference to the importation of deformed immigrants to this port. I have, &c, J. AVilliamson, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent. Enclosure in No. 8. Mr. W. C. Daldt to His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. Sir, — Auckland Harbour Board, Auckland, lst January, 1874. I have the honor to inform you that at a meeting of the Board held on the 20th ultimo, the following resolution was adopted:—
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" That, with the view of preventing the enormous influx of deformed persons now arriving in the port of Auckland, the Chairman direct the attention of the Provincial Government to this important public question." I beg to state for your information that other countries (the United States of America, for example) have for years strictly enforced laws prohibiting the admission of deformed persons as immigrants. Requesting that you will at your earliest convenience draw the attention of the General Government to this matter, I have, &c, William C. Daldt, His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. Chairman.
No. 9. Memorandum by the Under Secretart for Immigration to the Immigration Officer, Auckland. Wellington, 10th February, 1874. With reference to the enclosed copy of a letter from His Honor the Superintendent, transmitting a resolution of the Auckland Harbour Board, the Immigration Officer is requested to furnish a return of the number of deformed immigrants landed at Auckland under the immigration scheme of the General Government. C. E. Haughton.
No. 10. The Immigration Officer, Auckland, to the Under Secretart for Immigration. Sir, — Immigration Office, Auckland, 20th February, 1874. In reply to your Memorandum No. 32, dated 10th instant, with copy of letter from his Honor the Superintendent, and resolution of Auckland Harbour Board, I have the honor to state that there must be some misconception in reference to the " enormous influx of deformed persons here." I only know of the following immigrants, who are cripples, having arrived since the 25th September, 1872 : —Mary W , per " Hindostan ;" she was provided for immediately on arrival. Eobert W J , per "Lauderdale." He is club-footed. He found employment immediately on arrival. Two or three men, on arrival, were obliged to use crutches, in consequence of injuries received on the voyage. One man, with a broken arm, was removed to the hospital in an express ; several women, who were confined on the voyage, and two or three who were seriously ill, were removed in cabs, but none of them can be considered cripples. I have, &c, Edward L. Green, The Under Secretary for Immigration, Wellington. (for Immigration Officer).
No. 11. His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland, to the Hon. the Colonial Secretart. Sir,-— Superintendent's Office, Auckland, 11th March, 1874, I have the honor to call the attention of the Government to the fact that out of the seventy-two immigrants for this Province per ship " Mongol," only thirty-three reached Auckland per steamer " Phoebe." There is reason to believe that special inducements were held out to a number of the others to remain in Dunedin, and I feel bound to point out that such a course is objectionable and unfair to this Province. I trust that, for the future, arrangements will be made for sending out all immigrants for this Province direct to Auckland, or to some other port within the Province. I have &c, J. Williamson, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.
No. 12. The Hon. J. Vogel to His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 24th March, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge tho receipt of your letter of 12th March, enclosing copy of one to the Colonial Secretary, dated 11th March, both referring to the immigrants per " Mongol." You are aware that the " Mongol" arrived at Port Chalmers with her passengers in a bad state of health, and had, in consequence, to be quarantined. It was represented to me that some of the passengers did not desire to pursue their voyage to other Provinces. Seeing the great difficulty of dealing with persons in quarantine, and the impossibility of constraining immigrants to proceed if they did not desire to do so, I simply asked the Superintendent of Otago to provide passages for those who desired to go on to other ports for which they had shipped. I quite agree with your Honor as to the advisableness of immigrants being forwarded direct to their respective ports of destination, where, as in the case of Auckland, the facilities are unimpeachable. I have instructed the Agent-General to that effect. The only cases in which I have sanctioned his shipping emigrants to ports other than those to which they desire to go being—where no vessels
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are available for such ports, a condition which should not exist as respects Auckland; and where a vessel, being about to sail without the proper complement of passengers, it would be desirable, in order to avoid payments on account of short shipment, to fill her up with emigrants for a port or ports other than that to which she is to proceed. This also is a state of things which should rarely occur. Substantially, therefore, instructions have already been given to the Agent-General to the effect you desire; but I will again write to him on the subject. I have &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. Julius Vogel.
No. 13. His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland, to the Hon. the Colonial Secretart. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Auckland, 12th March, 1874. I have the honor to transmit, for your information, the enclosed copy of a report, by the Immigration Officer, in reference to certain French immigrants just arrived in Auckland, per ship " Queen of the Age," who have taken up their profession as ballet dancers. I enclose extracts from the newspapers, reporting their first appearance at the theatre last night. These immigrants were sent out to the Colony at the public expense, and the cost of their passage was nearly £225. I would request that the Agent-General bo advised of these facts, and instructed to exercise more discrimination in his selection of free passage emigrants for this Province at least. I have, &c., The Hon. Colonial Secretary, Wellington. J. Williamson, Superintendent.
Enclosure in No. 13. The Immigration Officer, Auckland, to His Honor the Superintendent. Sir, — Immigration Office, Auckland, 11th March, 1874. I beg to call your Honor's attention to the circumstance that a number of the immigrants by the " Queen of the Age," chiefly Frenchmen and their wives, who received a free passage to tho Colony in the professed capacity of mechanics of various kinds, a few days after arrival announced themselves as a Parisian troup of ballet dancers, and have duly advertised a performance, under that designation, in the Prince of Wales Theatre for this evening. As I assume it is not the intention of the Government to introduce persons of the profession referred to at the public cost, and who, in all probability, after a few weeks' sojourn here, will take their departure for some of the neighbouring colonies, I have felt it to be my duty to bring the matter, without loss of time, under your Honor's notice. I have, &c., H. Ellis, His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. Immigration Officer.
No. 14. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. (Circular.) Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 24th March, 1874. I have the honor to inform you that my attention having been dr.awn to vouchers which have been sent in for medical aud hospital expenses of sick immigrants after disembarkation, I propose, in order to prevent any difficulties arising in the adjustment of such claims, to authorize the payment by this Department of medical and hospital expenses for one month after arrival of the immigrants, after which period the immigrants to be considered as ordinary colonists, and dealt with in the ordinary manner by the local authorities. I shall be glad to have your concurrence in this proposal, which I have no doubt you will consider of a liberal nature. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. Julius Vogel.
No. 15. His Honor the Superintendent,. Auckland, to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Auckland, 21st April, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated the 24th ultimo, asking for my concurrence in an arrangement by which the General Government undertake to meet the medical and hospital expenses of sick immigrants for the period of one month from landing, but after that time to consider them as ordinary colonists; and in reply, to inform you that such an arrangement is satisfactory to the Provincial Government. I have, &c, J. Williamson, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.
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No. 16. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. (No. 91.) Sir,— Immigration Office, Wellington, 30th March, 1874. Having been advised by the Agent-General that a great many emigrants are now on tho water, who will in all probability arrive during the winter months, it has suggested itself to me to ask your Honor whether the Provincial Government are willing to accept tho responsibility of finding them employment, or whether you would prefer that the General Government should set apart some particular public work upon which they could for a time find occupation at rates of wages below those offered by contractors; thus avoiding competition with the ordinary day labour now in the Colony. Should your Honor be favourable to this view, I will at once move the Public Works Department in the matter, in order that no time may be lost in completing the necessary arrangements. I have, &c., His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. Julius Vogel.
No. 17. His Honor tho Superintendent, Auckland, to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Auckland, 22nd April, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 30th ultimo, in reference to the employment of immigrants expected to arrive during the winter months. I have no doubt that ready means of employment will be obtained for such of the immigrants expected to arrive, as may be found eligible and adapted to undertake labour or service amongst the settlers in the immediate neighbourhood of Auckland, or in the outlying districts of the Province. Nevertheless, though many public works are proposed to be undertaken shortly by the Provincial Government, the works are not likely to be of such an extent and magnitude, or so closely situated to the port of arrival, as to justify the Government in offering to the immigriants day labour thereon. Most ofthe Provincijil works which are likely to be undertaken will be performed under contract. If, therefore, any of the immigrants remain unemployed after a period subsequent to their arrival, the arrangement which you propose, for setting apart a portion of the General Government works for their employment, might be found convenient. I have, &c, J. Williamson, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.
TARANAKI. No. 18. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to His Honor the Superintendent, Taranaki. (Circular.) Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 16th October, 1873. I have the honor to forward herewith copy of an Order in Council, dated the 15th instant, establishing a system of free nominated emigration to the Colony, trusting to your cordial co-opera-tion with the General Government in their endeavours to bring population to the country. I also enclose copies of forms intended to be used by persons nominating their friends, which I shall be obliged if you will circulate through the medium of Provincial officers and schoolmasters. These application forms, you will observe, are returimblc to the Immigration Officers. If you agree to the propos.al I have made you by printed letter dated 14th instant, to take charge of the immigrants on arrival, I shall be glad if you will .assist and direct the Immigration Officer in your Province in respect to his treatment of these applications. i have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Taranaki. Julius Vogel.
No. 19. His Honor the Superintendent, Taran.aki, to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, sth December, 1873. I have the honor to <acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 16th October, 1873, together with a copy of an Order in Council, 15th October, 1873, establishing a system of free emigration to the Colony, and asking my co-operation with the General Government in their endeavours to bring population into the country; also, copies of forms to be used by persons nominating their friends, which forms you ask me to have circulated, &c. In reply, I beg leave to say that I shall have great pleasure if I can in any way assist the Government in bringing population into the Colony. The forms have been, and will again from time to time
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be, distributed as desired. I have seen the Immigration Officer, and I need only say that we will do all in our power to aid the views and wishes of the General Government in peopling the country. I have, &c., F. A. Carhington, The Hon. Julius Vogel, C.M.G., &c, Wellington. Superintendent.
No. 20. His Honor the Supebintendent, Taranaki, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. (Memorandum.) I beg leave to forward a letter, which I have just now received from Mr. Hulke, Immigration Agent, for the consideration of the Government; and I would earnestly recommend th<at the repairs, which are absolutely required in Marsland Hill barracks, be executed at once. F. A. Cabeington, New Plymouth, 17th November, 1873. Superintendent.
Enclosure in No. 20. The Immigeation Offices, New Plymouth, to His Honor the Supebintendent. Sic, — Immigration Office, New Plymouth, 15th November, 1873. I have the honor to inform you that no authority has been given me, as Immigration Officer for this Province, to effect repairs and alterations in Marsland Hill barracks, so as to render them habitable prior to tho arrivftl of immigrants now expected. Having on two previous occasions brought the subject before the notice of the Government, I trust I shall not be thought exceeding my duty in agfiin calling your attention to the urgent necessity for such repairs. I have, &c, W. K. Hulke, His Honor the Superintendent, New Plymouth. Immigration Officer.
No. 21. The Undee Seceetaey for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Taranaki. (Memorandum.) His Honor the Superintendent of Taranaki is informed that the Hon. the Minister for Immigration has approved of repairs to the Marsland Hill immigration depot to the amount of £IG7 14s. Gd., according to the estimate forwarded by the Engineer in charge on the Bth instant. Immigration Office, Wellington, 24th December, 1873. C. E. Haughton.
No. 22. His Honor the Supebintendent, Taranaki, to the Hon. the Minister for Immigeation. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, 29th December, 1873. Tour letter respecting immigration, " such as you addressed to other Superintendents " in October last, was duly received, and I did myself the honor of replying to it on the sth instant. Since then I have more thoughtfully considered this immigration question, and the great advantages the other Provinces are deriving from it, while at the same time we remain almost excluded from its benefits. Knowing as I do that unless we get a fair proportion of the people who are brought into the Colony, there will be but little chance of our progressing as we ought to do in this district (which is truly and proverbially known as the garden of New Zealand), I beg leave to solicit the attention ofthe Colonial Government to that which I am about to state. To me it is a matter of surprise and regret to find that the General Government consider, "in present circumstances, Taranaki is unable to take advantage of the immigration scheme to the extent designed." I now, therefore, submit for their consideration and regard, certain observations and remarks which, if aided and acted upon, will quickly place Taranaki in the position she should and will hold. Is it not clear to demonstration that the circumstances of Taranaki are such as should induce special consideration and judicious action ; and that, until the work which has been advocated for years, for the preservation of life and property, trade and commerce, be carried out, all efforts will avail but little in making this Province what it is ordained to be —a manufacturing, commercial, populous, and wealthy portion of the Colony ? No one is more alive than myself to the value and importance of immigration and railway communication, and I am free to admit all that can be said both for the making of through lines of railway and the introduction of immigrants. Indeed, we are most anxiously expecting the people Iso long since applied for, and unless they arrive shortly we shall be in great straits for the coming harvest and work in hand ; and while at the same time I express the great pleasure I feel in learning that all the other Provinces are getting a considerable number of immigrants, I cannot but remark that in all fairness we ought also to have our due proportion, but that hitherto we have not. Vet, nevertheless, I say that were this Province fairly peopled, and traversed by a railroad at once, it would in my opinion be unable to compete, in trade and commerce, with other of our Colonial districts which have a harbour. However bountiful may be our returns, and however varied may be 2—D. 5.
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our products, so long as our trade and produce be conveyed at railway cost, and we be restricted to one market, or be subjected, as we now are, to a loss of from £2 to £3 per ton on imports and exports, so long will wo remain as we are—a poor, depressed community, without inducement to produce beyond our own requirements, excluded, unheeded, and unknown to men of capital and enterprise, and debarred the trade of the world. Nothing less than a harbour can obviate this repression. The distance from this district is too great, either to Auckland or Wellington, to meet railway charges on all marketable products and yet compete with people of other districts which have a harbour, and who are not restricted to one market, but can choose throughout every port in this and the Australi<an Colonies, and other parts of the world, where they can best trade and exchange to advantage. Hence, from this cause, and from what I have stated, do what you will, people the district as you may, let the resources of the country bo developed as much as you like, yet, nevertheless, wo cannot thrive as this garden Province warrants we ought to do. And why ? Because we have not a harbour. To mo it is a source of anxiety that the good people of this Province have, through the want of harbour facilities, been debarred from voyaging, and seeing for themselves other parts of the world, in order that they might know, from observation and comparison, that the innate dormant wealth of Taranaki requires but little beyond a combined effort on their part to bring that wealth into use, and raise this Province to a position second to no other in New Zeahand. The geographical position of this place (in regard to intercolonial trade, and the special trade to be had with the Australian Colonies) is most commanding, which, together with the advantages we possess in soil, wood, water, water-power, and minerals, are such that one cannot but express surprise that our great desideratum should have been neglected for so many years ; and persons are n.aturally led to believe, consequent from such neglect, that a difficulty or unwarrantable cost bars the making of a harbour at Taranaki. So far from this being the case, I know, of my own knowledge, from long years of professiontil experience, and observation on this coast regarding the winds, tides, currents, drifts, and seas, &c, that the opposite is tho fact, and that great facilities exist for constructing a first-class harbour off the town of New Plymouth, which would give protection to maritime life and property, and be a means of peopling this Province to a large extent, without cost to the Colony.* Moreover, it would add immensely to our trade, encourage cultivation and factories, enhance the value of land, .and increase the revenue. All this could be effected at a cost less than our present restrictive system and boating establishment entails upon the community. In this opinion lam fully borne out in the report made on this New Plymouth harbour question by Messrs. Doyne and Balfour, Marine Engineers. I will here briefly extract a few statements made in their report, viz.: — " That, in our opinion, the most suitable site for the proposed harbour is that opposite the town of New Plymouth. " Our examination of the locality, and the evidence we have collected on the spot, have satisfied us that there are not only no insurmountable difficulties in the way of constructing a first-class harbour at New Plymouth ; but, on the contrary, remarkable and rare facilities, which promise to reduce very considerably the cost of the work. " Tho direct pecuniary loss to the community, resulting from the want of a proper harbour, is estimated by Mr. Chilman, the Collector of Customs, to have been upwards of £15,000 during the year 1864." Looking at the harbour question in a common-sense and business point of view, one is naturally led to ask, "Will it pay, if it be constructed P " My reply is, that it will pay progressively and immensely; and to those who have travelled and observed, and who have knowledge of such matters, I will add that they cannot but have noticed the marvellous activity and busy life which is always to bo seen in a harbour community (where the harbour is environed with good land, as is New Plymouth), when compared with other coastal towns, where the dull trade is carried on at broken and uncertain interv.als, attended with risk, loss, and additional cost to the mercantile community. If, for the carrying on of our now sm.all trade without a harbour (and while we have but a fractional portion of our land occupied) we sink and sacrifice yearly an amount of money sufficient to pay interest and sinking fund for a sum that would enable us to construct so desirable a work, is it not right to direct attention to what most assuredly will be our returns if the salubrious, beautiful, and fertile district of Taranaki be peopled and brought into use. Truly our harbour returns would be immense, and for tho following reasons, as well as for that which I have already adduced : —The town of New Plymouth is located in a position most commanding and convenient for trading with the Australian Colonies without the inconvenience of going north or south about, or making the passage through Cook's Strait; it has a good roadstead, perfectly free from shoals, with remarkable barrier landmarks, which bound the anchorage to the west, and a convenient depth of water near shore, with a 14 feet rise of tide at "full and change," and no impediment exists for shipping or landing passengers and cargo at any time of tide save in stormy weather ; and as "remarkable and rare facilities exist for the constructing of a first-class harbour at New Plymouth," would it not be politic and wise to have it made at once, seeing that to the windward and exposed part of the town a reef of unquestionable strength .and durability exists for the foundation and basis of the said harbour, " which promise to reduce very considerably the cost of the work." Moreover, the proposed harbour and town of New Plymouth are so centrally situated with regard to the whole of this Province, that it would be impossible to select a more judicious position for carrying on the trade of the country; added to which, there is not another place upon the coast of Taranaki (or, indeed, upon this west coast for hundreds of miles) where a like harbour can be made to rival it. And as the Province of Taranaki is larger, by sixty thousand acres, than the four English counties of Kent, Surrey, Middlesex, and Hertford, and, with the exception of the snow-capped heights of the beauteous and far-famed Mount Egmont, and other small amount of picturesque ranges, the whole of the land of the Province is available for either agricultural or pastoral farms of a first-class order, which being brought into use and fructified will necessarily create * I have good and reliable authority for stating that if a harbour were made at Taranaki, there are a large number of people and families, with means varying from £300 or £400 to £3,000 or £4,000 each, who would at once come and settlo here ; but without a harbour they will not venture, as they object to tho landing as now carried on, and the want of facilities for trading.—F. A, C.
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a trade which will centre at the most convenient harbour, and that harbour, sooner or later, will be New Plymouth. I will now only add that, where the geographical position of a place is so commanding and convenient, and where the country is so extensive and good, and where the natural facilities for making a harbour for refuge and trade are so advantageous and inviting, and where such an amount of good can be effected at comparatively small cost, with a certainty of large returns, as is the case at New Plymouth, it is the duty of those who have the well-being and prosperity of the community intrusted to them, to use every proper means in their power to cause so desirable a work as a harbour of refuge off the town of New Plymouth to be carried out; and this, I believe, may bo done by the General Government aiding in the way they havo already promised,* and by giving a concession of the proposed harbour site to a corporate body, who would undertake to construct aud keep tho harbour works, subject to receiving the land to be given for such work, together with harbour dues and tolls to be agreed upon by Government and Parliament, at the same time the Government to have the right to purchase at a just valuation on terms to be stated. In closing this letter I beg leave to say that I am urged on all sides to use my best endeavours with the Government for the carrying out of this harbour work, and that I have more than once brought the same question before the House of Representatives, supported by a unanimous resolution of the Provincial Council, which was favourably received ; and what I now ask is, that the promise which was made to me on the floor of the House on the 14th November, 1871, " be faithfully adhered to," together with such other aid as the Government may think a colonial work such as I desire to bo now carried out should receive. I have, &c, F. A. Carrington, The Hon. Julius Vogel, C.M.G., Premier of New Zealand, &c. Superintendent.
No. 23. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Taranaki. Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 24th January, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 29th December last, which purports to bo in reply to my circular letter of 14th October last, respecting immigration, but which is chiefly devoted to arguments for the construction of a harbour at New Plymouth. I hope shortly to be able to call in at New Plymouth, and to have an opportunity of conferring with your Honor. Meanwhile, I desire to say in reply to your letter that it is very far from the desire of tho Government that Taranaki should not obtain as many immigrants as it requires, and I have already instructed the Agent-General to arrange as speedily as possible for vessels to call periodically at New Plymouth with immigrants. With respect to the construction of a harbour, your Honor is aware that lands purchased in Taranaki under the Immigration and Public Works Loan Acts, 1870 and 1873, are, as soon as the purchase has been completed, to be handed over to the Province. I have to remind you that it has already been stated to you that the Government would interpose no obstacle to the Provincial Government m.aking the proceeds of such land applicable to the construction of a harbour at New Plymouth should your Honor and the Provincial Government decide so to apply such proceeds. I have also to remind your Honor that the Government last Session supported a Bill to enable money to be borrowed in advance on the security of these lands, but that the Bill was rejected by the Legislative Council. I hope that the Province will shortly be in possession of a sufficient quantity of land to allow of the question of constructing a harbour being decided on its merits, and with a feeling that should such a work be considered expedient the means for carrying it out will not be wanting. I do not think that the work is one which the Colony is likely to undertake at Colonial expense; and after the arguments used by your Honor as to the great local advantages which will result from a harbour at New Plymouth, I think it must be admitted that you have conclusively established the fairness of tho expenditure being borne by the Province. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Taranaki. Julius Vogel.
HAWKE'S BAT. No. 24. The Hon. the Ministeb for Immigeation to his Honor the Supebintendent, Hawke's Bay. (Circular.) Sib, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 16th October, 1873. I have the honor to forward herewith copy of an Order in Council, dated the 15th instant, establishing a system of free nominated emigration to the Colony, trusting to your cordial co-opera-tion with the General Government in their endeavours to bring population to the country. I also enclose copies of forms intended to be used by persons nominating their friends, which I shall be obliged if you will circulate through the medium of Provincial officers and schoolmasters. These application forms, you will observe, are returnable to the Immigration Officers. If you agree to the proposal I have made you by printed letter dated 14th instant, to take charge of the immigrants on arrival, I shall be glad if you will assist and direct the Immigration Officer in your Province in respect to his treatment of these applications. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Hawke's Bay. Julius Vogel. * Vide "Parliamentary Debates," 4th September, 1873, pages 899, 900, 901, 902, 903.
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No. 25. His Honor the Supebintendent, Hawke's Bay, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sib, — Superintendent's Office, Napier, 22nd October, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter ofthe 16th instant, enclosing copy of an Order in Council establishing a system of free nominated immigration to the Colony. The 100 separate forms sent have also been received. I beg to express my great satisfaction at the course the Government has adopted in this matter, and feel satisfied that the immigration that will be effected under this system will be most satisfactory in its character. As I have accepted the proposal made in your letter of the 14th instant, to take charge of immigrants on arrival here, I shall be glad to do as you request, and assist and direct the Immigration Officer in respect to his treatment of applications under this system. I would observe that it seems to me the system of free nominated immigration might be extended with advantage, so as to allow settlers to nomiimte immigrants whose names are unknown, and who would have to be selected by friends or agents at home. Considering that the Agent-General has the greatest difficulty in obtaining emigrants, the allowing such a system would materially assist him in getting suitable emigrants and of the classes required. There would also be the advantage arising from the circumstance that nominated immigrants have to be taken charge of on arrival in the Colony by their nominators, and thus the Government would be saved the cost attendant upou ordinary immigrants, who are also, I believe, to be brought out free of cost. I have, &c, J. D. Oemond, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.
No. 26. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Hawke's Bay. Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 27th October, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd inst., conveying your remarks with reference to the free nominated immigration regulations lately issued by the Government. I have to inform your Honor that the Immigration Officer has been instructed to submit to you for approval all nominations received under those regulations. A general system of nomination by vocation would not, in my opinion, answer any good purpose. As instructions have been forwarded to the Agent-General to grant free passages to applicants approved by him, any person instructed by a friend in the Colony to procure labourers, servants, &c, can, by application in the ordinary way, obtain passages for them if they are approved. If nomination by vocation were permitted, employers might nominate for the mere purpose of reducing wages, without being in any way responsible for employing the persons nominated. I will, however, have a form prepared, by which the person sending home to authorize an engagement, can apprise the Immigration Officer that he has done so, leaving to the Immigration Officer the discretion of recommending the Agent-General to give such nominees their passage, if he is satisfied a fair engagement has been made with them. They can apply for passages under this provision, or of course it will be open to them to apply for passages as ordinary emigrants. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Hawke's Bay. Julius Vogel.
No. 27. His Honor the Supebintendent, Hawke's Bay, to tho Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sib, — Superintendent's Office, Napier, 16th October, 1873. In view of the arrival of a considerable number of immigrants in this Province during the next few months, I beg to point out that there is no provision for accommodation in the event of illness and its being requisite to place the people in quarantine. There are two-eligible sites in the inner harbour, known as Park's Island and Koch's Island, and I believe one of these places could be secured. I shall be glad to treat for the purchase or lease, as may be found feasible, if I have your authority. With respect to quarantine barracks, the erection of such has been postponed, up to the present time, partly by my advice, as I wished to save the Colony all possible cost in connection with immigration to this Province. Now, however, that it appears hopeful that a considerable number of immigrants may shortly arrive, I feel it my duty to advise that a quarantine barrack, sufficient for the probable wants ofthe place, should be at once erected. I would recommend that the plans be prepared by the Colonial Architect, and tenders at once called for here and at Auckland and Wellington. The Provincial Engineer would look after the building whilst in course of construction, if that should be desired. I hope this subject may receive early attention, as I feel there is really necessity for provision being quickly made. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. J. D. Oemond.
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No. 28. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Hawke's Bay. (Telegram.) Buildings, 23rd October, 1873. I TniNK the expense of quarantine barracks at Napier might be avoided by agreeing that ships, in case of sickness, should put in at Wellington. It would cost £5,000 to erect barracks at Napier, besides staff expenses, and probably they would be very rarely used. Superintendent of Hawke's Bay, Napier. Julius Vogel.
No. 29. His Honor the Supebintendent, Hawke's Bay, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. (Telegram.) Napier, 23rd October, 1873. Be quarantine barracks for Napier. Having an agreement that ships, in case of sickness, should put into Wellington, would act injuriously to Province—raise freights, and seriously interfere with immigration, especially nominated. £2,000 will provide necessary accommodation, and hope you will authorize. Hon. Julius Vogel, Wellington. J. D. Oemond.
No. 30. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Hawke's Bay. (Telegram.) Wellington, 29th October, 1873. Ec quarantine station. I will authorize expenditure of £2,000 if you will agiee to defray any expense in addition for station and fittings, and will also agree to provide some one to take charge when not required for use. When required for use, cost of management will be paid by department. His Honor the Superintendent, Napier. Julius Vogel.
No. 31. His Honor the Supebintendent, Hawke's Bay, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. (Telegram.) Waipukurau, 17th January, 1874. Lowest tender for quarantine buildings, P.ark's Island, Napier, is £2,427. Have cut down accommodation to smallest necessary. Will you approve tender being accepted ? Hon. Julius Vogel, Christchurch. J. D. Oemond.
No. 32. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Hawke's Bay. (Telegram.) Oamaru, 18th January, 1874. If you think it reasonable, I authorize acceptance. His Honor J. D. Ormond, Napier. Julius Vogel.
No. 33. His Hon. the Supebintendent, Hawke's Bay, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Napier, 15th December, 1873. I beg to acknowledge and thank you for the copy ofthe Agent-General's letter of the 3rd of October, explaining the position of the German and Scandinavian contracts for immigrants. Although the original contracts appear to have been transferred, the Agent-General seems by no means sanguine that they can be given effect to. My object in writing now, is to state my opinion that it is very much more difficult to provide for a shipment of Scandinavians and Germans than would be the case with immigrants from the United Kingdom. This is especially so with married couples with families. Settlers, in the case of single men and women, put up with the inconvenience of employing people who do not understand what is said to them ; but for married couples with children it is difficult to get engagements, and from their want of knowledge of our language and ways, they do not readily find day or week work for themselves as English immigrants would do. If, therefore, Scandinavian immigration is carried on to any large extent, I should advise that the married people, or such of them as are suited for such a life, should be settled on land. They make very good settlers, and do well on bush land, as in the case of the Norwegian and Danish settlements in the Seventy-Mile Bush. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. J. D. Oemond.
No. 34 The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Hawke's Bay. Sic, — General Government Offices, Dunedin, 30th December, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15th instant, and to thank you for your suggestions as to providing for the settlement of Scandinavian and German immigrants,
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I should be glad to be informed whether, in case of further arrivals of such immigrants, your Honor would be prepared to arrange for placing upon land in Hawke's Bay those of them who are suited for such a life. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Hawke's Bay. Julius Vogel.
No. 35. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Hawke's Bay. (Circular.) Sic, —■ Immigration Office, Wellington, Bth November, 1873. It is very desirable that some of the immigrants arriving in your Province should at once leave the town and its vicinity and proceed into the country districts, either to become settlers on their own account, or to accept employment from settlers. To enable this to be done, I shall be inclined not only to allow a moderate expenditure for the cost of transit, but also a proportion of the expense for renting suitable buildings, if any are available, as temporary depots for the immigrants, in the country towns or villages. The scarcity of house accommodation is such in many of the country districts, that immigrants, especially families, inclined to settle or seek employment in the country, may find themselves deterred from doing so on account of the want of adequate shelter. It has suggested itself to me that it would be very desirable to erect, at different points where employment was available, serviceable but cheap four-roomed cottages or huts, not exceeding in cost £100, for the purpose of letting to the immigrants. Where the Provincial Government have land to spare in the vicinity of railway works, small areas of Land might be included, with the cottages, in a lease. This, however, I leave to the consideration of tho Provincial authorities. I am willing, as a means of thus settling immigrants, to place a certain amount of money at your Honor's disposal to build such cottages or huts, on the following conditions : — 1. That these be let to newly-arrived immigrants with families. 2. That the Provincial Government undertakes and guarantees to return to the General Government the amount expended, with interest at 5 per cent., in four instalments, on the lst January, 1875,1876, 1877, and 1878. I leave you to make such arrangements for building the cottages, and to let them on such conditions other than those stipulated, as may seem to you desirable. If you approve of this proposal, I shall be glad to receive any suggestions from your Honor on the subject, as also to learn the amount of money you think you would require during the current year. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Hawke's Bay. Julius Vogel.
No. 36. His Honor the Supebintendent, Hawke's Bay, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sib, — Superintendent's Office, Napier, 15th May, 1874. Referring to your letter of the Bth November last, I have, up to the present time, put off t.aking advantage of the authority therein given, for assisting immigrants to the inland districts, and for building cottages for renting to them, —in the first place, because the demand for labour has been so great that the immigrants have been readily disposed of from the depot in Napier ; and in the second, because I hoped private enterprise would have provided the necessary accommodation. This, however, has not been done ; and as a large number of immigrants are now on their way here, and further numbers are expected through the coming season, I feel that steps must be taken to provide as far as possible for their accommodation. It will also be both necessary and desirable that some of the immigrants should be sent into the inland districts for selection. My object in now writing to you is to ascertain whether a sum of £1,000 is available for building cottages for hire on the terms stated in your letter. Also, whether you will authorize an expenditure of £500 in building a depot at Waipawa, which is the most central position in the inland districts, and easily and cheaply got at. With respect to the cost of transit of immigrants to the inland districts, the amount will vary considerably; but I think an expenditure of about £1 a head will suffice to take immigrants and their luggage to those districts in which employment can be found for them. I shall be obliged by your informing me whether you will sftnction that rate. I shall be obliged if you will reply by telegram to those portions of this letter relating to the building of cottages and depots. I have, &c, J. D. Oemond, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.
No. 37. The Hon. the Ministee for Immioeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Hawke's Bay. (Telegeam.) Wellington, 18th May, 1874. In accordance with your Honor's recommendation, I approve expenditure not exceeding £500 for depot at Waipawa ; of £1 por head for conveyance of immigrants and their luggage to inland districts,
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when it is found necessary or desirable to so forward them; and I also am prepared to advance, in accordance with your Honor's request, £1,000 for building cottages, on the terms stated in my letter of the Bth November. His Honor tho Superintendent, Napier. Julius Vogel.
No. 38. His Honor the Supebintendent, Hawke's Bay, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. (Telegram.) Napier, 20th February, 1874. Se immigrants for Hawke's Bay.—The "Invererne" is due this month, but no advice of any immigrants to follow has been received. Will you instruct Agent-General to send a ship as soon as possible, with a good proportion of single women and single men, as they are more easily provided for in winter. The immigrants you order now are not likely to arrive before beginning June. I should wish another vessel to follow, to arrive end July or beginning August, and vessels with full complements to arrive here in each of the months of October, November, December, January. The Province will feel the want of labour badly before the first vessel you order now can arrive. Hon. J. Vogel, Auckland. J. D. Oemond.
No. 39. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Hawke's Bay. Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 17th March, 1874. Referring to the telegraphic correspondence which has lately taken place between your Honor and myself, relative to the supply of immigrants for Hawke's B.ay, I have the honor to inform you that I have approved the recommendation contained in your telegram of the 20th ultimo, and have instructed the Agent-General accordingly by telegraph. A copy of the telegram, which was transmitted upon the 14th instant, is enclosed for your information. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Napier. Julius Vogel.
Enclosure in No. 39. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to the Agent-Geneeal. (Telegram.) Wellington, 14th March, 1874. Oemond anxious shipload emigrants despatched for Napier immediately, with good proportion single men and women. Wants another ship arrive August, and one each arrive October, November, December, January. Endeavour comply. Featherston, London. Vogel.
No. 40. His Honor the Supebintendent, Hawke's Bay, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Napier, 20th February, 1874. A settler of this Province, named Mr. Philip Dolbell, formerly a native of Jersey, is about returning there on a visit, after spending twenty years in the Colony. Mr. Dolbell has been an industrious, good settler; one of those who has m.ade his own way, and done well. He has also represented his district (Mohaka) in the Provincial Council for a great many years. Mr. Dolbell has lately had numerous inquiries from his relatives and friends at the Channel Islands, as to the desirability of emigrating to New Zealand, and he feels confident that on his return to Jersey he will, without difficulty, get together a shipload of his countrymen to emigrate to Hawke's Bay. He represents to me that among such emigrants there would be a good proportion of well-to-do people, small farmers, who would bring capital with them to the Colony. Knowing Mr. Dolbell, I am of opinion he would be successful as an emigration agent, and that he would select good and suitablo people. Eor his information, I shall be obliged if you will be good enough to afford information on the following points : — Will the Government accredit Mr. Dolbell to the Agent-General ? Will the Government request the Agent-General to arrange for a direct ship from the Channel Islands, on being satisfied that the requisite number of suitable immigrants, to be approved by the Agent-General, are ready to emigrate? In case a proportion of the intending emigrants should be of the small farmer class, could it be arranged that they should get a second-cabin passage, by paving a small additional sum ? It is, in my opinion, so desirable to secure this class of emigrant, that a concession of this kind is well worth making, and I think if a similar regulation were generally allowed, it would tend to induce that class of persons to come out. I shall be much obliged if you will favour me with an early answer to this letter, as Mr. Dolbell proposes to leave for England by the next San Francisco steamer. I have, &c, J. D. Oemond, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Superintendent.
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No. 41. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Hawke's Bay. (Telegram.) Wellington, 12th March, 1874. Toue letter about Mr. Dolbell only just reached me. Am willing to give him letter of introduction to Agent-General, as ordinary returning colonist, and to send him copy of your letter. But what would be much better would be for you to appoint him your agent, the same as Duncan, agent for Canterbury, and Adams, for Otago, when he will be similarly accredited. There would be no objection to his selecting a shipload emigrants from Channel Islands for you if you appoint him as suggested. After your answer I will write by Suez. His Honor J. D. Ormond, Napier. Julius Vogel.
No. 42. His Honor the Supebintendent, Hawke's Bay, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. (Telegram.) Napier, lGth March, 1874. Re Me. Dolbell and immigration from Channel Islands. Shall be glad to have from you the letter of introduction for Mr. Dolbell to Agent-General you oifer. Also, if you will send copy of my letter to Agent-General. I feel satisfied that if Mr. Dolbell can satisfy the Agent-General he can get together a shipload of desirable immigrants from the Channel Islands, ho will meet with every assistance. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration. J. D. Oemond.
No. 43. (Letter of Introduction referred to above.) The Hon. J. Vogel to the Agent-Geneeal. Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 31st March, 1874. I have the honor to enclose copy of a letter received from his Honor the Superintendent of Hawke's Bay, having reference to Mr. Philip Dolbell, whom I have much pleasure in introducing to you. Mr. Dolbell is about returning to Jersey after spending twenty years in the Colony, and he has expressed his confidence that he will be able to induce many of his countrymen to emigrate. Whilst leaving entirely to your discretion whether you should arrange or not with Mr. Dolbell for the procuring a suitable class of emigrants from the Channel Islands, I feel sure that you will attach due weight to Mr. Ormond's recommendation. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Julius Vogel,
No. 44. The Hon. the Ministee for Immioeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Hawke's Bay. (Circular.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 24th March, 1874, I have the honor to inform you that my attention having been drawn to vouchers which have been sent in for medical and hospit.al expenses of sick immigrants after disembarkation, I propose, in order to prevent any difficulties arising in the adjustment of such claims, to authorize the payment by this Department of medical and hospital expenses for one month after arrival of the immigrants, after which period the immigrants to be considered as ordinary colonists, and dealt wiith in the ordinnry manner by the local authorities. I shall be glad to have your concurrence in this proposal, which I have no doubt you will consider of a liberal nature. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Hawke's Bay. Julius Vogel.
No. 45. His Honor the Supebintendent, Hawke's Bay, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Napier, 13th April, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 88, of the 24th March, informing me that you authorize the payment, out of immigration funds, of medical and hospital expenses on immigrants, for one month after their arrival in the Colony, after which period they must be provided for in the ordinary manner. I beg to state that I consider this a satisfactory arrangement. There have been cases of immigrants arriving here, who had been inv.alids at home and are so still here ; but I hope steps will be taken to prevent such persons being sent out in future. I have, &c, J. D. Oemond, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, "Wellington. Superintendent.
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WELLINGTON. No. 46. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington. (Circular.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 16th October, 1873. I have the honor to forward herewith copy of an Order in Council, dated the 15th instant, establishing a system of free nominated emigration to the Colony, trusting to your cordial co-opera-tion with the General Government in their endeavours to bring population to the country. I also enclose copies of forms intended to be used by persons nominating their friends, which I shall be obliged if you will circulate through the medium of Provincial officers and schoolmasters. These application forms, you will observe, are returnable to the Immigration Officers. If you agree to the proposal I have made you by printed letter dated 14th instant, to take charge of the immigrants on arrival, I shall be glad if you will assist and direct the Immigration Officer in your Province in respect to his treatment of these applications. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. Julius Vogel.
No. 47. His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sib, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 20th October, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your circular letter of the 16th instant, enclosing copy of an Order in Council establishing a system of free nominated immigration to the Colony, and also 100 forms intended to be used by persons nominating their friends, and requesting me to circulate them through the medium of Provincial officers and schoolmasters. In reply, I beg to inform you that I have caused the 100 forms received to be distributed amongst the schoolmasters, and, on your furnishing me with a further supply, I will have them distributed amongst the various local bodies of this Province. I have, &c, William Fitzheebeet, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.
No. 48. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation, to His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington. Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 2nd February, 1874. In accordance with my verbal promise to your Honor, I now send you copy of a Memorandum concerning a special settlement proposed to be established in Westland. The Memorandum gives the bare outline of the plan discussed between the Superintendent of Westland and myself. As I understand your Honor seriously contemplates the establishment of special settlements, I will add a few words in addition to the Memorandum, as in its present state it is, as I have said, a mere outline. I think it very desirable that in parts of the country thinly settled, or in which the settlement is practically not to any extent commenced, encouragement should be given to settlement in a concentrated form by the establishment of special settlements. Supposing immigrants to mainly constitute these settlements, I am of opinion that the Immigration Department is justified in rendering assistance. The vote taken for immigration is for "location " as well as for " introduction " ; besides that, there are various provisions in the Public Works and Immigration Acts which evidence the approval of Parliament to what has always been regarded by me as a part of the immigration and public works policy—the promotion of settlement. That special settlements, with the exception of the Scandinavian and Colonel Feilding's, have not been more actively promoted, is to be attributed to the very great demand, in the settled districts, for the immigrants who have already arrived. The time will shortly come when employment may not be so immediately and so generally available to newly-arrived immigrants, and it will be important to have special settlements in course of formation ready at once to receive them. Families of immigrants will for many reasons be most suitable for special settlements, and these will precisely be the immigrants who will first feel any slackness in the labour market. Without, therefore, laying down any rule against specially recruiting in the United Kingdom for immigrants for the purpose of the settlements, I am inclined to think that very desirable settlers may, with advantage to all concerned, be obtained by allowing immigrants who arrive in all parts of the Colony to volunteer for such settlements, should they wish to do so after perusing the regulations and conditions on which they are founded. A great advantage gained by this course will be, that it will avoid the risk of the settlements, in their earlier stages, being overcrowded. I am of opinion that the first success of a new settlement will much depend upon its preparedness to meet the purpose for which it is designed. By sending a few settlers to prepare in anticipation for others, and to make these additions pave the way to further additions, is to adopt a plan most likely to satisfy the settlers in the early days of their adventure. The success of special settlements will very much depend on there being some means of employment open to the settlers during the first two years. If such employment be available, there is no reason why the settlers should not pay, at convenient periods, a fair value for the land they are to acquire. 3-D. 5.
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In recognition of these principles, I shall not be averse to considering plans for special settlements, in which it will be necessary to advance some money for the employment of the settlers on useful works, to be recouped out of receipts from the settlement, to be secured to the Department. The formation of roads obviously suggests itself as the description of work on which the settlers might be employed, and the sale of the land as the source of recoupment of the advances ; but I do not expressly name these, because I am in hopes that some effort will be made to establish forest settlements, in which the settlers would have employment offered to them to utilize the timber, the returns from which would serve as a means of repayment for advances, in addition, if necessary, to receipts from the Land when cleared. The plan discussed with the Superintendent of Westland, of which the Memorandum herewith forwarded is an outline, contemplated a combination of an ordinary special settlement with a forest settlement. I adopt the phrase as a convenient one. I ask your Honor's consideration for a settlement of this mixed character, or for one in which the chief object will be that of putting to a profitable use the timber. Amongst the lands available for special settlements in this Province arc tracts of splendid forest. Tour Honor is aware that, to the ordinary occupier of small means, settlement on such land means the destruction, as rapidly as possible, of the timber which covers it. In fact, small occupiers cannot derive from the timber the great value it possesses. From an economic point of view, the destruction and the reckless use of the forests of the country do not probably entail so much loss as the improper treatment of the timber. Without dwelling on the question of the suitable time to cut down timber, or the best means of seasoning it, I presume it will not be questioned that the intrinsic value of unseasoned wood, such as is now commonly used, is infinitely less than that timber which has been subjected to a proper mode of treatment. At present, only green timber can be generally procured, and so there is a market for it; but were provision made for timber in a more fitting condition, it would command the favour of the market, and establish for New Zealand wood the reputation which it is believed to deserve, but of which the mode in which it is dealt with has, to some extent, deprived it. The object of a forest settlement would be of a twofold character —first, to prevent the forests from wanton destruction ; second, to prevent the trees from being cut down improperly or being prematurely sawn up. If lam correctly informed, in the State forests of several European countries the Government solely cut down tho trees and sell the logs to the saw-mill owners. I throw out for your Honor's consideration the question of whether a forest settlement might not be established on some such basis as the following : —We will suppose the locality selected is one towards which a railway is approaching, to connect it with a port of shipment or the centre of a large population. (A.) During the proper season, trees appointed by a competent overseer to be cut down. (B.) At other times a road or tramway through the forest to be constructed, and the logs stacked or placed so as to make them convenient for subsequent use, and in the meantime to run as little danger as possible from fire. When a sufficient number of logs are in a condition to be cut, and tho road usable, logs to be sold either for transport in their then condition, or, which would be much preferable, for treatment in saw-mills established on sites in the forest, cleared for tho purpose, and offered with the condition of purchasing at a stated price the logs belonging to the Government, and with a rigorous prohibition against cutting down by the occupiers themselves. (C.) Land not to be sold or disposed of until cleared of timber, but it might be agreed with the settlers, who would in the meantime have received good employment, that a portion of their earnings should be expended in the purchase of cleared land. (D.) Co-operative saw-mills and other factories for working timber might, under this plan, be arranged. I am of opinion that a settlement on the basis I have sketched out would be successful from many points of view, but I am ready to receive proposals for ordinary special settlements, or for settlements of a mixed character, such as that under discussion with the Superintendent of Westland. In an earlier part of this communication, I have advisedly used the phrase " supposing immigrants to mainly constitute these settlements," because I foresee that it may be necessary that they should not entirely constitute them. Of course, the Department considers the subject from the immigration point of view ; and in that light it appears to me that a small admixture of old colonists might be so valuable to newly-arrived immigrants that I would be justified, when it was considered desirable there should be such admixture, to recognize it as a condition favourable to, and in the interests of, the immigrants composing the settlement. Tour Honor, even if you do not agree with the views I have stated, will excuse my addressing you at such length on the subject; and as I desire to bring the matter under general consideration, I propose to publish this communication if your Honor does not object. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. Julius Vogel.
Memorandum as to Proposed Settlement in Westland. Special settlement of 100,000 acres, of which about 50,000 acres will be set apart for 250 families, say 1,000 adults ; the balance to be made a forest reserve, to be retained by the Government. Each adult to purchase 50 acres, at per acre per annum, for seven years. The Government to offer employment to male adults for two years, three days a week, or alternate weeks, at per day, either in making roads or cutting down trees on the Government reserve ; but the Government not to be bound to employ more than 200 adults at any one time, and no adult to be so employed for more than one year.
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The Government, after the cutting down of suitable trees on a portion of the reserve, to offer sites to persons on which to erect saw-mills, on condition of their purchasing the logs supplied by the Government at an agreed price. The General Government to advance for roads, &c, not exceeding £ , to be refunded out of the proceeds of the sale of land and the receipts from the forest reserves. The cost of sending the immigrants to the settlement to be defrayed by the Immigration Department. The Provincial Government to guarantee refund in seven years, unless the land be taken under the Immigration and Public Works Act.
No. 49. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington. (Circular.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 7th February, 1874. It is very desirable that some of the immigrants arriving in your Province should at once leave the town and its vicinity and proceed into the country districts, either to become settlers on their own account, or to accept employment from settlers. To enable this to be done, I shall be inclined not only to allow a moderate expenditure for the cost of transit, but also a proportion of the expense for renting suitable buildings, if any are available, as temporary depots for the immigrants, in the country towns or villages. The scarcity of house accommodation is such in many of the country districts, that immigrants, especially families, inclined to settle or seek employment in the country, may find themselves deterred from doing so on account of the want of adequate shelter. It has suggested itself to me that it would be very desirable to erect, at different points where employment was available, serviceable but cheap four-roomed cottages or huts, not exceeding in cost £100, for the purpose of letting to the immigrants. Where the Provincial Government have land to spare in thd vicinity of railway works, small areas of land might be included, with the cottages, in a lease. This, however, I leave to the consideration of the Provincial authorities. I am willing, as a means of thus settling immigrants, to place a certain amount of money at your Honor's disposal to build such cottages or huts, on the following conditions :— 1. That these be let to newly-arrived immigrants with families. 2. That the Provincial Government undertakes and guarantees to return to the General Government the amount expended, with interest at 5 per cent., in four instalments, on the lst January, 1875, 1876, 1877, and 1878. I leave you to make such arrangements for building the cottages, and to let them on such conditions other than those stipulated, as may seem to you desirable. If you approve of this proposal, I shall be glad to receive, any suggestions from your Honor on the subject, as also to learn the amount of money you think you would require during the current year. I have, <fee, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. Julius Vogel.
No. 50. His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 13th March, 1874. Referring to your letter of the 7th ultimo, I have the honor to transmit copy of a telegram respecting the erection of two small cottages at Featherston at a cost of £135, and I beg to recommend that the offer be accepted. It is my intention to erect similar cottages in the country districts throughout the Province, and as soon as tenders are received they shall be sent on to you for your acceptance. I have, &c, William Fitzheeeeet, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent. * # * The erection of these cottages for £150 was finally approved.
No. 51. His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic,— Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 26th March, 1874. I think it right to call the attention of the General Government to the necessity of some provision being made, by which employment will be found for a considerable portion of the immigrants to be landed at this port in the course of the next few months. My own idea respecting immigration is, that to make the policy a success, a great deal must be done beyond what has hitherto been done, namely, merely landing a lot of people on our shores. Up to the present time the demand for labour has absorbed those hitherto landed, but harvest work and shearing is now over, and to land several thousand people during the winter months, without the Government making arrangements for their employment, will lead to disastrous results ; besides, the object the Colony had in view, as the results of the immigration policy, was not only the supplying the
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labour market, but also the introduction of a large population and settling the same upon the waste lands of the Crown, and thus securing through the length and breadth of the Colony an industrious and thriving population. This can only be done by setting aside blocks of land, and forming settlements throughout the Colony, upon well-devised schemes, involving large expenditure in purchase money for such lands, and in construction of roads and erection of bridges. In this Province I should recommend that two or three blocks of land should be selected in the Wairarapa, between the Scandinavian camp above Masterton and the Manawatu Gorge, surveyed and laid off in sections ; that the road from Masterton to the Gorge, passing through these selected blocks, should be proceeded with energetically, and that immigrants arriving should be employed in making such roads, and should have sections of land allotted to them, such land to be paid for by instalments. In this way the public works of the Colony will be constructed, and the people settled down upon the lands. I would also suggest that on the west side of the Province a block should be selected (say the Paraekaretu Block, twenty miles from Wanganui) to be dealt with in a similar manner. On this block the Provincial Government would propose to spend £10,000 or £12,000 in roads, &c. If a scheme of settlement such as suggested in this letter should be adopted, I feel that this Province can easily find employment and secure the settlement of all immigrants now on their way, and of 500 a month, as requested in my letter of the 16th February Last; but if no scheme for settlement is agreed to, then I submit that providing for the immigrants to arrive within the next few months requires the serious consideration of the General Government. I have, &c., William Fitzherbert, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Superintendent.
No. 52. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington. Sib, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 7th April, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th inst., upon the question of dealing with immigrants who may be landed in the Province during the next few months, and of providing land for them to settle upon. 2. I was about to address your Honor, when I received your letter, as I had already addressed the Superintendents of Canterbury and Otago, respecting the employment of immigrants during the winter months, so as to ascertain whether your Honor is confident of the ability of the Provincial Government to give occupation to such immigrants should private work not be offered, or whether you would like the General Government to set apart some public work on which employment would be .available to day labourers at rates slightly below those offered by contractors, so that while the Government would not be competing with contractors, immigrants would not be able to complain of wanting the means of livelihood. 3. Tour Honor's letter raises this question, and I think it preferable to deal with it apart from that of special settlements, or of putting aside land for occupation by immigrants. 4. I shall be glad if your Honor will give me a reply to the alternative question stated in paragraph 2. 5. Further, I shall be glad if your Honor will consider whether the want of house-room has not become so pressing, that it would be desirable to have a number of portable cottages made, which would be available for erection in differents parts of the Province to which carriage can be obtained with facility. Some of those cottages might be erected as the nuclei of villages in the neighbourhood of public works, and be let to immigrants. lam aware that your Honor, in response to my circular letter of 7th February, has applied for authority to construct two cottages; but I think that the question requires to be more energetically dealt with, and that it is necessary a number of cottages should be provided. 6. With respect to your Honor's remark that "a great deal must be done" in connection with immigration, " beyond what has hitherto been done, namely, landing a lot of people on our shores," I have to say that I agree that something yet requires to be done, though I do not agree that more could have been done in the past. The great scarcity of labour in several of the Provinces —the large works for which contracts have been and are being let—made the supply of available labour one of the largest necessities of the Colony. Without it, in fact, there was risk of the ordinary industries of the country being paralyzed ; and notwithstanding the number of immigrants that have been introduced, the scarcity of labour continues so as to be injurious, to some extent, to private interests. To have unduly forced settlements upon land in the face of such a demand upon the labour market, would have been a mistake. 7. But I recognize, and have recognized, that as immigrants arrive and supply the ordinary wants of the labour market, it is desirable that there should be afforded to those who wish it, the opportunity of settling upon land. The best proof that I have done this, is to be found in the letter I addressed to your Honor on the 2nd February, 1874, to which I have not yet received a reply beyond a bare acknowledgment of its receipt, unless I am to consider that the letter in answer to which I am now writing is meant as such reply. In that letter I stated — " The vote taken for immigration is for ' location' as well as for ' introduction ;' besides that, there are various provisions in the Public Works and Immigration Acts which evidence the approval of Parliament to what has always been regarded by me as a part of the immigration and public works policy —the promotion of settlement. "That special settlements, with the exception ofthe Scandinavian and Colonel Feilding's, have not been more actively promoted, is to be attributed to the very great demand, in the settled districts, for the immigrants who have already arrived. The time will shortly come when employment may not be so immediately and so generally available to newly-arrived immigrants, and it will be important to have special settlements in course of formation ready at once to receiye them."
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8. There can be no objection to your Honor's proposal to set aside certain specified blocks of land for settlement, and to give to the settlers employment in making roads. Such a step is clearly indicated by my letter already referred to. In it I said, — " The success of special settlement will very much depend on there being some means of employment open to the settlers during the first two years. If such employment be available, there is no reason why the settlers should not pay, at convenient periods, a fair value for the land they are to acquire. " In recognition of these principles, I shall not be averse to considering plans for special settlements, in which it will be necessary to advance some money for the employment of the settlers on useful works, to be recouped out of receipts from the settlement, to be secured to the Department. The formation of roads obviously suggests itself as the description of work on which the settlers might be employed, and the sale of the land as the source of recoupment ofthe advances; but I do not expressly name these, because I am in hopes that some effort will be made to establish forest settlements, in which the settlers would have employment offered to them to utilize the timber, the returns from which would serve as a means of repayment for advances, in addition, if necessary, to receipts from the land when cleared." I understand your Honor's proposal to be similar to what I quoted, but that you do not include the feature of forest settlements. The Department would advance reasonable sums of money for roads to improve the blocks set apart, provided the repayment of the money were made a first charge upon the receipts of land within the settlements. 9. If your Honor will forward me a map indicating the positions of the blocks and the lines of road it is necessary to make in connection with them, I will, without delay, inform you of the decision of the Department upon the application. It will be necessary that the land should be taken under the Immigration and Public Works Act. 10. Tour Honor should also state the amount of expenditure you consider would be required on each block. 11. In the event of the Government being able to carry out the proposal, regulations would have to be framed. I could frame them, and submit them to your Honor, or your Honor could frame them, and submit them to me. 12. Any expenditure would, of course, require to be carried on under the inspection of the Public Works Department; but there should be no difficulty, should your Honor desire to have the active management of the settlement, in arranging that such should be the case. 13. I observe that your Honor, in referring to blocks in the Wairarapa district, says that they should be selected. I presume, therefore, that lam to understand that your Honor is not at present prepared to indicate their positions, or the amount required to be expended on them. If so, I should be happy, with as little delay as possible, to appoint some one to make the selection; or perhaps your Honor would prefer doing so, and would then state to the Government the position of each block. 14. Perhaps a personal interview would be more conducive to rapid results than will bo possible if correspondence is to be carried on, and if such is your Honor's opinion, I shall be glad to meet you at any time that may be convenient. 15. I attach great importance to the matter, and your Honor may rely that no unnecessary delay will be permitted in attending to it. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. Julius Vogel.
No. 53. His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 13th April, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 7th inst., in reply to my letter to you dated the 26th ult., upon the question of dealing with immigrants who may be landed in this Province during the next few months, and of providing land for them to settle upon. After reading such reply, I am of opinion that my letter to you of the 26th ult. did not sufficiently explain the views of the Provincial Government respecting the settlement of immigrants upon the waste lands of this Province, therefore I will again shortly put before you the proposals of the Provincial Government. lst. That the General Government should proceed (as rapidly as circumstances will allow) with the completion of the road from Masterton to the Gorge, already commenced and to be made out of £400,000 voted for roads in the North Island (see Vol. 2 of Appendix, House of Representatives, 1873, E. 1, p. 3—E. 2b, p. 9, and plan E. 2.] 2nd. If this, is agreed to, then the Provincial Government will lay off, in two or more blocks, from 20,000 to 30,000 acres of land upon such line of road, to be sold by Provincial Government to immigrants and others employed in making such roads, upon a system of deferred payments. 3rd. On the West Coast, the Provincial Government suggest that the General Government should, out ofthe vote for location of immigrants, purchase the Paraekaretu Block (46,000 acres), for the sum of £50,000 (being the amount at which such block of land was valued by General Government when security was required for the outlay on first section of Wanganui Eailway). If this proposal is agreed to, the Provincial Government will undertake to expend £25,000, being £50 per cent, of such purchase money, in making roads to and through such block. If these proposals meet with approval of General Government, the Provincial Government will have no difficulty in finding employment for the immigrants expected to arrive iv Wellington within the present year.
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As the tone of your letter of the 7th iust. is more courteous than has been the character of the letters which for some time past have been received by me from the General Government, I conclude by saying that the Provincial Government will have no objection to an interview with you to talk over this important question at any time convenient to yourself. I have, &c, William Fitzhebbeet, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Superintendent.
No. 54. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington. Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 18th April, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th, in reply to mine of the 7th instant, on the subject of the settlement of immigrants, in which you place before me the proposals of the Provincial Government. 2. I am glad that you have stated those proposals in a specific form, such as may enable us readily to come to a conclusion. 3. Concerning the Masterton Boad, I am informed by my colleague the Minister for Public Works, that the sum remaining at the disposal of the Government out of the £400,000 for roads in the North Island, would not be sufficient to metal the road. But there is still expenditure going on for the purpose of finishing the road, and arrangements might be made for metalling it if your Honor were prepared to allow the.cost to be a first charge upon the proceeds of the lands which you propose to offer for sale. It would, however, be better not to attempt to settle the details of such an arrangement for a few days, as Mr. Blackett has been specially instructed to inspect the road on his way overland from Napier, and to report respecting it. 4. As to the Paraekaretu Block, which, by your letter, your Honor proposes the General Government should purchase for £50,000, one half of the sum to be expended on roads to open up the land, and the other half to become the Provincial revenue, I have to say that such a purchase would obviously be outside the purposes for which the Immigration Fund was provided, seeing that already the Government has power to take land under the Immigration and Public Works Act, payment for it being made only as the land is disposed of. 5. I should be ready, however, to consider an arrangement upon some such basis as this : —The land to be offered for sale upon terms to be agreed upon with your Honor. An advance to be made by the Immigration Department for the construction of a road or roads for the benefit of the block, so that immigrants could be employed upon the road works. The advance to be repaid out of the proceeds of sales of the land. 6. I am concerned to find that your Honor does not consider that the letters received by you from the General Government for some time past have been of a courteous character. 7. The Government have had a very disagreeable duty to perform, in insisting that the law should be observed ; but it has been their desire to perform it with the utmost possible tenderness for your Honor's feelings. 8. I am glad to find that your Honor is better satisfied with my last letter, and I will not carp at any expression of opinion which is associated with the pleasure you will afford me in the interview you are kind enough to consent to. 9. It will be convenient for me to meet your Honor on Tuesday or Wednesday next, at half-past 12 o'clock. I shall be glad to find that either of those times will suit you, or to substitute any other time that may be named by your Honor. I have, &c, His Honor tho Superintendent, Wellington. Julius
No. 55. His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sib, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 24th April, 1874. I refer to our interview of the 21st instant and to-day, relative to the setting aside blocks of land in this Province so as to lie open for the selection of immigrants as they arrive, and to the draft conditions regulating the terms of settlement on such lands, which have been transmitted to you. I readily adopt the suggestion you made to the effect that, in the event of simultaneous applications, the decision shall be by lot, and not by auction. I propose that four blocks should be selected in this Province, by officers appointed by consent of tho General and Provincial Governments, out of the public lands of the Province, of say 20,000 acres each, suitable for location, having reference to quality of soil, timber, and neighbourhood of road already made or immediately to be made. The price of such land to be not less than 20s. per acre; the lines of roads throughout tho blocks to be first determined, and then the surveys to be made in relation to such lines, the land being sectioned into blocks varying from 50 to 500 acres. The precise price of each allotment to be determined by agreement between the General and Provincial Governments, after special report received upon the value of each block subsequent to survey. The land to be paid for upon the following terms, viz.: —2o per cent, cash on selection; 20 pea cent, at end of second year; 20 per cent, at end of third year; 20 per cent, at end of fourth year; 20 per cent, at end of fifth year.
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It is proposed to metal the road from Masterton to the Gorge (sixty miles), which has been formed and bridged by the General Government out of the vote of £400,000 for roads in the North Island. As I understand there will be no further sums available for the metalling of this road, and as it is of great importance, being the line proposed for future railway extension, the Provincial Government is willing to have it metalled if the funds can be provided ; and also to complete the line of road from Alfredton, intersecting this line from east to west. JThe cost of the first work is estimated at £15,000, of the second .at £10,000. In addition to these works there are others which the Provincial Government desire to press on this year, mostly having for their object the facilitating the settlement on land by immigrants. Altogether, the Provincial Government desire to undertake, this year, by means outside the ordinary .and territorial revenue, new works to the extent of £66,000, inclusive ofthe £25,000 already more particularly referred to. After the interview to-day, I am encouraged to ask the General Government if it will be prepared to sanction my opening negotiations with any Bankers, Loan Companies, or capitalists, who may be disposed to advance the above-named sum, for a period not exceeding five years, on the security of the before described blocks, and, if so, whether the Government will either themselves introduce, or promise to support if I introduce, a Bill into the Assembly authorizing such security to be given for any such loan. As 4 the Provincial Council meets on the 30th instant, I beg to be favoured with your decision as early as practicable. I have, &c, W. FITZHEBBEET, The Hon. J. Vogel, Minister for Immigration. Superintendent.
No. 56. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington. Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 29th April, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th April, on the subject of setting apart land for settlement, and referring to our previous interview on the subject. 2. Your Honor is aware, from what passed at the interview between us, how very much importance the Government attach to land being made available for settlement. Whatever may be said in favour of special settlements with land sold under conditions of cultivation, a preliminary want requires to be satisfied —that of enabling persons who have accumulated savings, or who are earning money from which they can put by savings, to obtain small farms to settle upon where circumstances permit them to do so. If an immigrant applied to me to know where, without competition, he could select and secure 200 or 300 acres of land in the Colony, I should find it difficult to tell him he could exercise any large range of selection except in the Province of Canterbury. It is true that, without conditions of settlement, such purchases might remain unimproved ; but even so, the purchaser is attached to the Colony, and looks forward to using his land, and the more he pays for it the more anxious he is likely to be to turn it to good account. 3. Therefore, I am very pleased to find your Honor ready to supply in this Province the means by which any one wanting land in small quantities may readily obtain it. I am glad you consent to dispen»ing with resort to auction between rival applicants. I would even suggest a step further, viz. : That when of two applicants for the same piece of land, one has already secured, by other selections, 500 acres, the preference should be given to the other applicant without drawing by lot. I presume, by your Honor's reference in your letter to the draft regulations which you submitted, that though you do not mention it in the epitome of the plan contained in your letter, you still adhere to the feature of selling by selection only alternate-sections, the sections not selected to be reserved from sale for at least two years. The plan then would in effect enable any one to go into the Land Office and come out at once a landowner, a point to which I attach much importance ; and by selling only alternate sections, and by charging a fair but sufficient price, another important point will be gained in discouraging the application of one or two persons for the whole of the land. 4. You will gather from what I have said, that the Government cordially approve of the proposed setting apart of land and the mode of sale. I now come to the conditions upon which your Honor is willing to make the reservation. I explained to you that the Government had not funds enough left, out of the vote for North Island roads, to complete the road between Masterton and the Manawatu Gorge, and that it was computed about £15,000 was required to complete it. Tour Honor expressed yourself willing to move the Provincial Council to vote the expenditure, if you could be assured of the means to meet it out of advances to be recouped by the sale of land, which the completion of the road would make saleable. You also stated that there were other roads and some bridges which you considered essential to promoting settlement, and to construct which you require an anticipation of revenue. I explained to your Honor, without committing myself to any precise declaration of policy, that I was of opinion the expenditure of the Colonial Government upon the railways (which were being constructed much quicker than was originally intended) was such that I did not think Parliament would be inclined to sanction either the raising or expenditure of much other borrowed money for a year or two, until the Colonial works were more nearly completed. At the second interview, your Honor, having taken into consideration what I had said, proposed to reduce to about one-third, the amount which you had contemplated asking authority to borrow, and inquired whether the Government would support a measure for raising the amount on the security of, and in anticipation of the proceeds of, the blocks of land proposed to be set apart.
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Tour letter under consideration now puts the inquiry into a specific shape. It has received the careful consideration of the Government, and I have the pleasure to inform you that the Government will support, in the Assembly, a Bill enabling your Honor to obtain by mortgage, within the Colony, the advance you ask for in your letter. The Government, however, make it a condition that you do not act in advance of such prospective power ; and as it is certain that, with the power obtained, you will be able to make the arrangement, the Government think it would be premature at present to enter into any negotiations, and would prefer you not doing so. Such negotiations might be entered into after the Bill passes, or whilst it is on its passage through the Legislature, with the clear understanding that the whole plan is dependent upon the approval of the Assembly. 5. The Government think, as the blocks are not yet settled, and they possibly might be away from the locality of the works proposed by your Honor, that at least £10,000 of the amount proposed to be raised should be dedicated to roads for the benefit of the blocks in question. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. Julius Vogel.
No. 57. His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic,— Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 27th May, 1874. Referring to your letter of the 29th ultimo, on the subject of setting apart land for settlement in this Province, I have the honor to inform you that the Provincial Government are quite prepared to agree to the terms of tho arrangement contained in the 4th paragraph of your letter, and to assure you that they will not act in advance of the prospective power proposed to be obtained from Parliament during its ensuing Session. I have, &c, William Fitzheebeet, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Superintendent.
No. 58. His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 16th February, 1874. I have the honor to call your attention to the desirability of more ships being put on to convey immigrants to Wellington. We consider that we are in a position to absorb 500 a month in this Province; and I express a hope that the Agent-General will be instructed accordingly. I have, &c, William Fitzheebeet, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.
No. 59. The Hon. W. H. Reynolds to His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington. Sic, — • Immigration Office, Wellington, 18th February, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 16th instant, in which you express an opinion that the Province of Wellington is capable of absorbing 500 immigrants a month, and request that instructions may be sent to the Agent-General accordingly. Will your Honor be good enough to inform me if you intend that these 500 immigrants should be exclusive of those nominated by their friends in the Colony. I have, &c, William H. Reynolds, (in absence of Minister for Immigration). His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington.
No. 60. His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 18th February, 1874. In reply to your letter of this date, relative to the application for instructions to be sent to the Agent-General to despatch 500 immigrants per month, in which you inquire whether this number is exclusive of nominated immigrants, I beg to say that the application was intended to be exclusive of those nominated by their friends. I have, &c, William Fitzheebeet, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.
No. 61. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington. Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 17th March, 1874. With reference to your Honor's letters of the 16th and 18th ultimo, upon the subject of qhe desirability of increased immigration to the Province, I have the honor to inform you that I have
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instructed the Agent-General, by telegraph, to endeavour to comply with your wishes, that 500 immigrants should be despatched monthly to Wellington. A copy of the instruction,* which was transmitted upon the 14th instant, is enclosed for your information. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. Julius Vogel.
No. 62. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington. (Circular.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 24th March, 1874. I have the honor to inform you that my attention having been drawn to vouchers which have been sent in for medical and hospital expenses of sick immigrants after disembarkation, I propose, in order to prevent any difficulties arising in the adjustment of such claims, to authorize the payment by this Department of medical and hospital expenses for one month after arrival of the immigrants, after which period the immigrants to be considered as ordinary colonists, and dealt with in the ordinary manner by the local authorities. I shall be glad to have your concurrence in this proposal, which I have no doubt you will consider of a liberal nature. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. Julius Vogel.
No. 63. His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic,— Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 30th March, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your circular letter of the 24th March, No. 88, in which you propose, in order to prevent any difficulties arising in the adjustment of claims for medical and hospital expenses of sick immigrants, to authorize the payment of such claims, by the Immigration Department, for one month after arrival of the immigrants, after which period the immigrants to be considered as ordinary colonists, and dealt with in the ordinary manner by the local authorities. In reply, I beg to state that I concur in the proposal therein contained. I have, &c, William Fitzheebeet, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.
No. 64. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington. Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 20th April, 1874. I am sorry to have to trouble your Honor with further reference to the question of renting the office of Messrs. Wakelin and Peyton, of Greytown. 2. A letter from these gentlemen, addressed " Dear Mr. Bunny," was forwarded to me enclosed in one addressed to yourself from the same gentlemen. In the Latter they expressed their willingness to let an office for immigration purposes and for use by the Provincial Engineer, at a rent of £20 a year; and they also stated that they were willing to take temporary charge of the office, or to act as immigration agents for the Wairarapa. 3. Upon this letter Mr. Bunny endorsed, " I recommend that this should be agreed to." I forward the papers to your Honor with the endorsements, " I think recommendations of this kind should come from the Superintendent. I may say I think that expenditure for rent should not be initiated by those who have offices to let. We have a depot at Greytown, and it is not the duty of the Department to provide a Provincial Engineer's office." Your Honor simply minuted "Recommended," but there was an explanatory note by Mr. Eliott, " His Honor the Superintendent recommends the establishment of an office at Greytown as well as a depot." I do not think your Honor was aware of this note, or that you would approve of Mr. Eliott acting as your interpreter. 4. I have now to ask your Honor to be so good as to say what it is you recommend, and to invite your attention to the whole of the circumstances. 5. I am of opinion that it is very undesirable that expenditure should be incurred at the behest of those who desire to supply that for which the expenditure is to be incurred ; and also that it is not desirable to combine office accommodation for the Provincial Government, with that provided for immigration purposes. 6. The depot which, as I understand, is already being established at Greytown, should serve all the purposes of an immigration office; and whoever has charge of the depot should be able to perform all the duties required in connection with the department. 7. But I desire that your Honor should understand that if you will inform me what your wishes are, I shall be ready favourably to consider them. I have, &c., His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. Julius Vogel. * Vide D. 1, p. 35. 4—D. 5.
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No. 65. His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 21st April, 1874. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, with reference to the offer of Messrs. Wakelin and Peyton to let a building at Greytown, to be used as an immigration office in the Wairarapa. In reply, I have the honor to recommend that an immigration office be opened in the principal street of Greytown, and the building now under offer is well suited for the purpose, the depot to which you refer not being near the business part of the township, and being, moreover, only intended as a temporary place for immigrants to stop at. With reference to your remark that "it is not desirable to combine office accommodation for the Provincial Government with that provided for immigration purposes," I beg to state that the suggestion that the building in question should be used as a Provincial Engineer's office, came from the gentlemen who offered to let it. I may add that it is not my intention to establish an Engineer's office at Greytown, such an office not at present being required for the purposes of the Provincial Government. I have, &c., William Fitzheebeet, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.
No. 66. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington. Sib, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 19th May, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 21st April ultimo, recommending that an immigration office be opened in the principal street of Greytown, Wairarapa, and that the offer of a building for the purpose by Messrs. Wakelin and Peyton be accepted. In reply, I have to inform you that, as your Honor continues to make the recommendation, I very reluctantly accede to it, bo far as to try the experiment for six months, and the rent of the building referred to is accordingly authorized for that period. In the meanwhile we shall be able to judge by results whether it is desirable to keep the office open. I presume that the person in charge of the Greytown depot will be able to look after the office as well, attending at certain stated times, and thus save the expense of another officer, which I should not be prepared at present to authorize. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. Julius Vogel.
No. 67. His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 19th May, 1874. Referring to my letter of the 21st ultimo, to which I have received no reply, I have the honor to request that Mr. J. Peyton may be appointed Sub-Immigration Officer for the Wairarapa district, with salary at the rate of £50 per annum. It is absolutely necessary that there should be a responsible officer in this district, who would take charge of and provide engagements for any immigrants sent to it. I have &c, William Fitzheebeet, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.
No. 68. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington. Sic,— ' Immigration Office, Wellington, 26th May, 1874. I am in receipt of your letter ofthe 19th May, recommending that Mr. J. Peyton be appointed .Sub-Immigration Officer for the Wairarapa district, with salary at the rate of £50 a year. I am constrained to point out to your Honor that this recommendation bears out my forebodings, that I was being drifted into approving Messrs. Wakelin and Peyton's original proposal to rent part of their premises, and to give one of them au appointment. These gentlemen are the owners of the newspaper published in the district, and it is of great importance the Press should hold to the conduct of immigration independent relations. For this reason, if for no other, I cannot approve the proposed appointment. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. Julius Vogel.
No. 69. His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic,— Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 28th May, 1874. I enclose copy of telegram just received from Mr. Wardell, in respect of charge of depot at. Greytown.
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Every effort is being made to distribute the newly-arrived immigrants over the Province, and it is absolutely necessary that some active and suitable person should be appointed without further delay. I know of no other person whom I can recommend for the duty than Mr. Peyton, unless at a considerably advanced salary. I refer to my letter on the subject of the 19th May. I have, &c, William .Fitzheebeet, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.
Enclosure in No. 69. Mr. Waedell to Mr. Eliott. (Telegram.) Featherston, 28th May, 1874. Who has charge of depot at Greytown. Hebbeet S. Waedell, H. J. H. Eliott, Wellington. Resident Magistrate.
No. 70. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington. Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 2Sth May, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this day's date, marked " urgent," with respect to Mr. Peyton's appointment. 2. In reply, I have to point out that Mr. Wardell's inquiry was, " Who has charge of depot at Greytown? " whilst your recommendation to me was, not that Mr. Peyton should take charge of the depot, but that he should take charge of the district for immigration purposes generally. 3. I am of opinion that some married couple (if possible), or some responsible person, should be appointed to take charge of the Greytown depot, and should reside in or near it. 4. I should be glad to receive your Honor's recommendation on the subject; or, if you wish it, I will select some one for the appointment. I have, &c., His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. Julius Vogel.
No. 71. His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 30th May, 1874. Relative to your letter of the 26th instant, I beg to say that the Provincial Executive, by whom the letter was considered, were unanimous in the opinion that the services of a competent person were immediately necessary, and as no member of the Executive was aware of any suitable person besides Mr. Peyton, Mr. Peyton has been requested to act in the meantime, and the Province will bear the charge. In reply to your letter of the 28th instant, I beg further to say that if you think proper to appoint any one else in place of Mr. Peyton, Mr. Peyton's services will be discontinued from such time as you may inform me of having so exercised your power. I have, &c, William Fitzheebeet, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.
No. 72. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington. Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 3rd June, 1874. Referring to your letter of May 13th, respecting the appointment of Mr. Peyton, I am informed that that gentleman has declined to hold the office, so that the little difficulty which had arisen on the subject is made more easy to be dealt with. The Colonial Secretary recommends Sergeant James Carlisle, of the Armed Constabulary force, as one who would make an active and intelligent Immigration Agent for the Wairarapa district, and directions will be given to station him in the district, if your Honor does not disapprove of the appointment. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. Julius Vogel.
No. 73. His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic, — • Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 4th June, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd instant, in which you state that the Colonial Secretary recommends that Sergeant James Carlisle, of the Armed Constabulary Force, should be appointed Immigration Agent for the Wairarapa district.
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I enclose you copy of a telegram I have just received from Mr. Peyton, recommending Mr. W. R. Bright; nevertheless, if it is the wish of the Hon. the Minister for Immigration that Mr. Carlisle should be appointed, I make no objection. I have, &c, William Fitzheebeet, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.
Enclosure in No. 73. Mr. Peyton to His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington. (Telegram.) Greytown, 4th June, 1874. I eecommend William R. Bright, Commission Agent, Greytown. Active business man. Can take charge at once. Scale immigrants rations never sent yet. Joseph Peyton.
No. 74 The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Wellington. Sib, — Immigration Office, Wellington, Bth June, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, with respect to the proposed appointment of Sergeant James Carlisle to act as immigration officer for the Wairarapa district. 2. I think that, on the whole, it would be better to give Mr. Carlisle a trial. If his services are not found useful, he can at any moment be brought back to the depot, whilst his being stationed in the Wairarapa will not occasion any expense, except it may be in the nature of a gratuity for services actually rendered. On the other hand, he will devote his whole time to the immigration business, unless there is absolute need of his services in connection with the Armed Constabulary. He would thus be able to travel throughout the district, as you might direct, for the purpose of obtaining nominations by settlers. 3. I attach very much importance to obtaining nominations of relatives and friends at home from the old and valued settlers of the Wairarapa, and Mr. Carlisle would no doubt render good service in that respect. We could not expect devotion to such work from Mr. Bright, who has, it .appears, other duties to perform, and whose salary would not be fixed in contemplation of his giving all his time to the work of the Department. 4. I hope your Honor will believe that in making this arrangement I am guided by a desire to promote to the utmost objects which you also desire to promote. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. Julius Vogel.
MARLBOROUGH. No. 75. His Honor the Supebintendent, Marlborough, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Blenheim, 18th November, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 31st October, No. 29,* and am much pleased to find that you are willing to treat this Province so liberally in regard to introducing immigrants, and to furnishing tho means to enable us to provide suitable accommodation for them on their first arrival, and maintaining them until they can be disposed of. I enclose a tracing of the plan for a barrack which I propose to erect, to accommodate about one hundred. It is drawn for a building of a less size than lat first intended, so that the cost may come within the amount you have kindly placed at my disposal. The funds of the Province are not such as to allow me to supplement it to any considerable amount without stopping other works that are urgently needed. I have, however, procured a good site for the building, on high ground and yet close to water carriage. I presume, from your letter, that I may advertise for tenders for the erection of this building at once, and that the money will be placed at my disposal when I intimate that it is required. It will not be necessary to increase the staff at present; but when the building is completed, and immigrants are arriving, I shall bo prepared to make some recommendation. If immigrants are sent from Wellington by the small vessels trading to this port, no expense will be incurred for landing, wharfage, or carriage of luggage, as the vessel can lie close to the building. The general arrangements you propose are satisfactory, and such as I shall feel much pleasure in endeavouring to carry out in this Province. I shall be obliged if you can give me any idea as to the time when we may expect any arrivals here, so that I may know when it will be necessary to have the barrack finished. I have, &c, A. P. Setmoue, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent. * Vide D. 4, p. 8.
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No. 76. The Undee Seceetaey for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Marlborough. (Telegram.) Wellington, lst December, 1873. Youe letter of 18th November, re immigration barracks. Hon. Mr. Vogel authorizes you to call for tenders for tho erection of the building. His Honor the Superintendent, Blenheim. C. E. Haughton.
No. 77. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Marlborough. Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, Bth November, 1873. It is very desirable that some of the immigrants arriving in your Province, should at once leave the town and its vicinity, and proceed into the country districts, either to become settlers on their own account, or to accept employment from settlers. To enable this to be done, I shall be inclined not only to allow a moderate expenditure for the cost of transit, but also a proportion of the expense for renting suitable buildings, if any are available, as temporary depots for the immigrants, in the country towns or villages. The scarcity of house accommodation is such in many of the country districts, that immigrants, especially families inclined to settle or seek employment in the country, may find themselves deterred from doing so on account of the want of adequate shelter. It has suggested itself to mo that it would be very desirable to erect, at different points where employment was available, serviceable but cheap four-roomed cottages or huts, not exceeding in cost £100, for the purpose of letting to tho immigrants. Where the Provincial Government have land to spare in the vicinity of railway works, small areas of land might be included with the cottages in a lease. This, however, I leave to the consideration of the Provincial authorities. I am willing, as a means of thus settling immigrants, to place a certain amount of money at your Honor's dispos.al, to build such cottages or huts, on the following conditions : — 1. That these be let to newly-arrived immigrants with families. 2. That the Provincial Government undertakes and guarantees to return to the General Government the amount expended, with interest at 5 per cent., in four instalments, on the lst January, 1875, 1876, 1877, and 1878. I leave you to make such arrangements for building the cottages, and to let them on such conditions other than those stipulated, .as may seem to you desirable. If you approve of this proposal, I shall be glad to receive any suggestions from your Honor on the subject, as also to learn the amount of money you think you would require during the current year. I have, &c., His Honor the Superintendent, Marlborough. Julius Vogel.
No. 78. His Honor the Supebintendent, Marlborough, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Blenheim, 19th November, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Bth instant (No. 35, 1873), and in reply, to inform you that I quite agree with you as to the desirability of getting immigrants distributed about and settled in the country districts. Your proposals to advance money to build cottages for this purpose, such money to be refunded by the Province by instalments, shall receive my full consideration, and at an early date I shall be able to make some definite proposition on this subject. I have, &c, A. P. Seymoue, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.
No. 79. His Honor the Supebintendent, Marlborough, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Blenheim, 17th December, 1873. I have the honor to bring under your notice the scarcity of labour in this Province, and the great demand that exists for immigrants. I trust that you will be able to supply our wants by sending a number of able-bodied men before harvest sets in, and a lot of single women to meet the demand for domestic servants. Although the barracks are not yet built in Blenheim, there is a small depot in Picton capable of accommodating from twenty to thirty adults, so that a small stream could be kept flowing into the Province through this channel. In your letter of Bth November, No. 35, 1873, you say that it is very desirable that some of the immigrants arriving in this Province should at once leave the town and its vicinity, and proceed into the country districts, and that you are willing to allow a moderate expenditure of cost of transit, and also rents for temporary depots or cottages. I must thank you for this offer, and hope you will givo me the opportunity to make use of it by sending the immigrants so urgently needed. In regard to your further proposal to advance money for building cottages in the country, such
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advance to be repaid by the Provincial Government in instalments, I do not at present consider it desirable to accept this offer, as we appear to be a long way oft" the difficulty it is proposed to meet. Should it, however, be found, when the barracks in Blenheim are completed and immigrants are actually arriving, that a further amount of accommodation is required, I will revert to the proposal you have kindly made. I have, &c, A. P. Seymour, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.
No. 80. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Marlborough. Sic, — General Government Offices, Dunedin, 2nd January, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 17th December, respecting the great demand for immigrants in Marlborough. I enclose copy of telegrams on the subject, —they sufficiently show my desire to meet your wishes, and the great difficulty there is in doing so. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Marlborough. Julius Vogel.
Enclosures in No. 80. (Copy Telegrams.) Dunedin, 27th December. Supebintendent Marlborough complains most strongly want of labour. Can you send him over some immigrants at once. Marlborough certainly has not had its share. C. E. Haughton. Julius Vogel. Wellington, 29th December. Will try and get some of present arrived immigrants for Marlborough. "Salisbury" and "Ocean Mail" will be duo about the same date in February, when we can certainly scud a batch. Hon. Julius Vogel. C. E. Haughton. . Dunedin, 29th December, 1873. Repeesented to Under Secretary necessity of sending immigrants to Marlborough. He replies, he will try to send some of present batch from Wellington, but will certainly be able to send some in February. Am sorry this does not promise to supply your wants very readily. I will, if you desire it, cable Agent-General to endeavour to send ship direct to Picton, or, if ship cannot be got, to send certain number of emigrants to some other port, to be thence transferred to Marlborough. State what number you would like me to cable for. His Honor the Superintendent, Marlborough. Julius Vogel.
No. 81. His Honor the Supebintendent, Marlborough, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Blenheim, 9th January, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram from Dunedin, of the 27th and 29th of December, and of the Bth of January ; also from Mr. Haughton, of the 7th January, and to inform you that the first instalment of immigrants has arrived all right. lam glad to receive even so small a number, trusting that it is only the commencement of a continuous stream. You propose sending more next month : if a numerous lot, I would suggest that some be sent to Blenheim aud some to Picton. Messrs. Fell Brothers, of Blenheim, have three sailing vessels trading to Wellington, and they are willing to bring immigrants across at a charge of ten shillings a head, or if fed on board, fifteen shillings a head. These vessels are leaving Wellington for Blenheim two or three times a week, so that no delay need arise. I am now able to inform you that, until the immigration depot is finished, I can procure the use of temporary buildings in Blenheim, suitable for a depot, at a very moderate cost. Three buildings have been placed at my disposal for the weekly rent of 30s. They are buildings attached to a flaxmill now out of work, comprising,—lst, men's house fitted up to accommodate twenty-five or thirty hands, kitchen, manager's room, and storeroom ; 2nd, double roomed cottage, with chimney; 3rd, large open storeroom, which could be fitted up with partition or bunks, if necessary. If you think that you will be able to send the immigrants, I would recommend that these places should be engaged for three months. The depot at Picton is suitable for about half a dozen families. The accommodation in Blenheim, as described, alone is sufficient for several families and a considerable body of single men, s.ay fifty or more. Lodgings can be found for single women elsewhere. In regard to sending a ship-load direct to this Province, I am obliged by your offer to telegraph to the Agent-General by cable to send a ship here as soon as possible, but I do not think that would be desirable. From the time that must necessarily elapse, a ship could not get here until the winter, when the busy time of the year is over. I would, therefore, prefer that as many as possible should be sent here during the summer from vessels now on their way out, and that a full ship-load should come here direct
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about next October: this could be followed by another in Dscember. An arrangement of this kind would meet our wants, and would be safe to carry out; but if a large number arrived in the winter, when there is not the same demand for labour, house room always being scarce, I am afraid that disappointment would ensue. I shall be glad to hear from you if you think we can get a moderate supply this summer, and that you will send us direct shipments to arrive as I have before requested. • I have, &c, A. P. Seymoue, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.
No. 82. The Undee Seceetaey for Immigration to His Honor the Supebintendent, Marlborough. (Telegram) Wellington, 14th January, 1874. Hon. Mr. Vogel authorizes renting of temporary buildings for immigrants when necessary. His Honor the Superintendent, Blenheim. C. E. Haughton.
No. 83. His Honor the Supebintendent, Marlborough, to the Hon. J. Vogel. Sib, — Superintendent's Office, Blenheim, 16th March, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 61, of the 9th March, 1874, enclosing a copy of a letter to the Agent-General,* instructing him to send a ship direct to Nelson once a month, with 150 immigrants to Nelson, and the balance for Marlborough. I shall be obliged by your informing me what arrangement will be made to secure an equitable division of the various classes of immigrants so introduced, as it would bo objectionable to have tho more serviceable picked out in Nelson, and the refuse sent on here. I note that you did not refer to the previous arrangement made, that a ship should come direct to the Province in October and another in December of this year, as requested in my letter No. 265, of the 9th of January, and to which, I believe, you had acceded, and instructed the Agent-General to carry out. I trust that the proposal to send the surplus immigrants from Nelson is intended as a supplement to this arrangement, and not as a substitute. We shall require a large number of immigrants in the spring, and I do not believe that we shall get either the quantity or the quality filtered through Nelson. I must, therefore, urge upon you the desirability of giving us the direct shipments we ask for. I have, &c, A. P. Seymoue, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.
No. 84. The Hon. J. Vogel to His Honor the Supebintendent, Marlborough. Sib, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 31st March, 1874. Referring to your letter of 16th March, I have the honor to state that the division of immigrants who may go to Nelson on their way to Marlborough will not be a matter of any difficulty, because emigrants will be selected at home for Marlborough, and will simply be shipped for that Province. 2. It is to be borne in mind that whatever instructions may be sent home for emigrants to be forwarded to particular Provinces, it rests with those who desire to emigrate, to choose the Province they wish to proceed to, and having chosen it, it is not often that they alter their choice. 3. From the instructions sent home, the Agent-General will understand that he is to select a certain number of emigrants for Marlborough, and to send them by vessel proceeding to Nelson. As your Honor, however, desires two direct shipments, I have cabled home to that effect. I have, &c. His Honor the Superintendent, Marlborough. Julius Vogel.
No. 85. His Honor the Supebintendent, Marlborough, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sib, — Superintendent's Office, Blenheim, 4th May, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 97, of 31st March, in which you state that you think there will be no difficulty about the immigrants shipped for Marlborough, via Nelson, reaching their destination. Ido not, myself, feel so confident. It is therefore with great satisfaction I note that you have sent for two direct shipments to the Province. I have, Ac, A. P. Seymoue, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent. * D. 1, p. 19.
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No. 86. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Marlborough. (Circular.) Sic,— Immigration Office, Wellington, 24th March, 1874. I have the honor to inform you that my attention having been drawn to vouchers which have been sent in for medicfil .and hospital expenses of sick immigrants after disembarkation, I propose, in order to prevent any difficulties arising in the adjustment of such claims, to authorize the payment by this Department of medical and hospital expenses for one month after arrival of the immigrants, after which period the immigrants to be considered as ordinary colonists, and dealt with in the ordinary manner by the local authorities. I shall be glad to have your concurrence in this proposal, which I have no doubt you will consider of a liberal nature. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Marlborough. Julius Vogel.
No. 87. His Honor the Supebintendent, Marlborough, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Blenheim, 4th May, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 88, of the 25th March, in which you propose that the Immigration Department shall pay for medical and hospital expenses for immigrants incurred within one month after their arrival, and to treat them after that time as ordinary colonists, to be dealt with as other parts of the population. I fully concur in that proposal, which I think is a liberal one. I have, &c, A. P. Seymoue, To the Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.
- NELSON. No. 88. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Nelson. Sic,: — Immigration Office, Wellington, 12th February, 1874. It is very desirable that some ofthe immigrants arriving in the Province, should at once leave tho town and its vicinity, and proceed into the country districts, either to become settlers on their own account, or to accept employment from settlers. To enable this to be done, I shall be inclined not only to allow a moderate expenditure for the cost of transit, but also a proportion of tho expense for renting suitable buildings, if any are available, as temporary depots for the immigrants, in the country towns or villages. The scarcity of house accommodation is such in many of the country districts, that the immigrants, especially families inclined to settle or seek employment in the country, may find themselves deterred from doing so on account of the want of adequate shelter. It has suggested itself to me that it would be very desirable to erect, at different points where employment was available, serviceable but cheap four-roomed cottages or huts, not exceeding in cost £100, for the purpose of letting to the immigrants. Where the Provincial Government have land to spare in the vicinity of railway works, small areas of land might be included with the cottages in a lease. This, however, I leave to the consideration of the Provincial authorities. I am willing, as a means of thus settling immigrants, to place a certain amount of money at your Honor's disposal, to build such cottages or huts, on the following conditions:— 1. That the cottages or huts be let to newly-arrived immigrants with families. 2. That the Provincial Government undertake and guarantee to return to the General Government the amount expended, with interest at 5 per cent., in four instalments, on the lst January, 1875, 1876, 1877, and 1878. I leave you to make such arrangements for building the cottages, and to let them on such conditions other than those stipulated, as may seem to you desirable. If you approve of this proposal, I shall be glad to receive any suggestion from your Honor on the subject, as also to learn the amount of money you think you would require during the current financial year. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent of Nelson. Julius Vogel.
No. 89. His Honor the Supebintendent, Nelson, to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. (Telegram.) Nelson, 4th February, 1874. The following resolution passed by Provincial Council, on recommendation of myself and Executive. I will write by mail: —" That, in the opinion of this Council, it is expedient that the General Government be requested to instruct the Agent-General to arrange for the transmission to this Province of
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one hundred and fifty persons per month, to consist of labouring men and their families, calculated for employment upon public works and in agricultural pursuits, but including in the number a fair proportion of artisans, such as blacksmiths, carpenters, coal and iron miners. At least three-fourths of the entire number to be natives ofthe United Kingdom." Oswald Cuetis, The Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.
No. 90. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Nelson. Sib, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 9th March, 1874. Herewith I forward for your Honor's information copy of a letter* to the Agent-General, dated the 6th ultimo, instructing him to forward immigrants to the Province of Nelson. I have, &c, Julius Vogel. His Honor the Superintendent, Nelson.
No. 91. His Honor the Supebintendent, Nelson, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. (Telegram.) Nelson, 11th February, 1874. Looking forward to arrival of immigrants and necessity for locating a portion of them immediately, I am anxious to make three blocks of land set aside for special settlement available without delay, by means of continuing the existing dray road further down the Buller Valley. These blocks are situated on four tributaries of the Buller, namely, Owen, Matiri, Matakitaki, and Marina, and the road requires to be continued from the Devil's Grip to Hampden and the Marina, between which points only a pack-track exists, and immigrants with their families and goods could only be conveyed to their locations with much expense and difficulty, and to be afterwards subjected to heavy charges for carriage of supplies. The Provincial Government being without funds to construct this road, which is .absolutely necessary to the location of immigrants upon land under special settlements scheme, I trust the Goverument will assist them with an advance of £12,000 to continue road from Devil's Grip to the Owen, where the nearest block is situated (the amount to be repaid in twelve months), <and the sum of £8,000 to connect the four intended settlements, by carrying on the road from the Owen to Hampden and Marina. The latter sum I trust the Government will contribute from the funds available for immigration purposes, with the undertaking on the part of the Province to refund the money in twelve months if the special settlements should not bo formed. Oswald Cuetis, Hon. Julius Vogel, Wellington. Superintendent.
No. 92. His Honor the Supebintendent, Nelson, to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Nelson, 21st February, 1574. I have the honor to request the .attention of the Government to the difficulty in which the Provincial Government will be placed in the absence of sufficient funds to carry out the scheme of special settlements, so as to make it available for the location of a portion ofthe immigrants who may be expected to arrive within a few months from this date. I trust, therefore, for the assistance of the General Government to enable me to make the four blocks of land which have been set aside for special settlements, available without delay for the purposes of settlement, by means of continuing the existing dray road further down the Buller Valley. These blocks are situated on four tributaries of the Buller, namely, the Owen, the Matiri, the Matakitaki, and the Marina, and the road requires to be continued from the Devil's Grip to Hampden and the Marina, between which points only a pack-track exists ; and immigrants with their families .and goods could only be conveyed to their locations with much expense and difficult}', while they would afterwards be subjected to* heavy charges for carriage of supplies. The Provincial Government is without funds to construct this road, which is absolutely necessary to the location of immigrants upon land under tho special settlements scheme. Under these circumstances, I hope the General Government will see their way to assist the Province by an advance of the sum of £12,000 to continue the dray road from its present termination near the Devil's Grip to the Owen, where the nearest block is situated; and also the further sum of £8,000 to connect the four intended settlements, by carrying on the road from the Owen to Hampden and Marina. I propose that the £12,000 should be repaid by the Province at the expiration of twelve months from the date of adv.ance. With respect to the £S.OOO, I hope the Government will consent to contribute that sum from the funds available for immigration purposes, on receiving an undertaking from the Province to refund the money in twelve months in case the special settlements should not be formed. I have, &c, Oswald Cuetis, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent. * Vide D. 1, p. 19. 5— D. 5.
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No. 93. Mr. T. Calcutt to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic,— Nelson, 11th March, 1874. Eeferring to, and in accordance with, your instructions to me in Auckland on the 28th February ultimo, I have the honor to state that I have visited and inspected the lands referred to in the letter of His Honor the Superintendent of Nelson to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, of date 21st February, 1874 (copy herewith), and more particularly described in the Nelson Government Gazette (also herewith), and numbered respectively A, B, C, and D, applying for the assistance of the General Government to enable the Superintendent to make, as therein named, the four blocks of land set aside for special settlements available without delay, by means of continuing the existing dray road further down the Buller Valley, and asking therefor on loan the aggregate sum of £20,000, and to report, for your information, that in my opinion this amount may, for the purposes mentioned in tho said letter, and in terms more particularly of the two last paragraphs thereof, be fairly and safely advanced. With respect to the settlement, by newly-arrived immigrants, of any or all these lands, I am clearly of opinion, after considering the matter thoroughly and from all points of view, that such a course would be premature and contain all the elements of failure, until, at any rate, the contemplated roads are completed for dray traffic. The total area in the four blocks computes to 70,000 acres, but I wish it to be distinctly understood that, in my opinion, the following is the approximate area of anything like level available land, viz.:—Block A, 5,000 acres ; block B, 5,000 acres ; block C, 15,000 acres, and block D, 3,000 ; making a total of 27,000 acres saleable in the market for about £23,000. The remainder of the 70,000 acres, namely, 47,000 acres, principally if not wholly mountain bush land, would at the same market rates probably realize £10,000 to £12,000 pounds. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, N.Z. , Thomas Calcutt.
Enclosure in No. 93. Extbact from Nelson Government Gazette No. 6, of .31st January, 1873. (A. —This is the best block, say 5,000 acres fair land, densely wooded, and level.) 1. Sampden Block. All that block of land on the south side of the River Buller, containing 14,000 acres, or thereabouts, the boundaries being as follows: —Commencing at the mouth of Doughboy Creek, on the bank of the Eiver Buller ; thence in a Southerly direction for a distance of four miles ; thence in an Easterly direction for a distance of six miles, crossing the rivers Matakitaki and Blackwater, to the bank of the Eiver Mangles ; thence by the Eiver Mangles to its junction with the Eiver Buller ; and thence down the Eiver Buller to the mouth of Doughboy Creek. Excepting the town and suburban sections of Hampden, all land held under license or lease, or which are now under application for lease or license under any ofthe provisions of " The Gold Fields Act, 1866," or any Act amending the same now or heretofore in force regulating the sale, leasing, or other disposal of the waste lands of the Crown within the Province of Nelson, and all land known to be auriferous or to contain minerals of value. (B. —This is fair land, but 5,000 acres would compass all available flat land in the block. Also densely wooded.) 2. Matiri Block. All that block of land on the north side of the Eiver Buller, containing 25,000 acres, or thereabouts, the boundaries being as follows, viz.—Commencing at a point near peg No. 430 of Mr. Poster's traverse ; thence North for a distance of six miles; thence West for a distance of seven miles ; thence South to the bank of the Eiver Buller to the mouth of the small stream running into the Eiver Buller at the western boundary of Mr. Jecklyn's freehold land ; and thence by the bank of the Eiver Buller to the said point near peg No. 430. Excepting all lands held under license or lease, or which are now under application for lease or license under any of the provisions of " The Gold Fields Act, 1866," or any Act amending the same now or heretofore in force regulating the sale, leasing, or other disposal of the waste lands of the Crown within the Province of Nelson, and all land known to be auriferous or to contain valuable minerals. (C. —This is principally open land, but poor. Only fit for gracing purposes.) Maeuia Block. All that block of land on the south side of the Eiver Buller, containing 21,000 acres, or thereabouts, the boundaries being as follows : —Commencing at a point on the bank of the Eiver Maruia, four miles below the junction ofthe Eiver Warwick with the Eiver Maruia; thence East for a distance of about three miles to the bank of the Eiver Warwick at its junction with the Eiver Deception ; thence South for a distance of eleven miles ; thence West for a distance of two miles ; and thence by a straight line to a point on the bank of the Eiver Maruia where this boundary commences. (D. —This is the least valuable of any of the blocks —say 3,000 acres level.) Owen Block. All that block of land on the north side of tho Eiver Buller, containing 10,000 acres, or thereabouts, the boundaries being as follows : —Commencing at the Buller Eiver, at a point near Peg 260, on Mr. Poster's traverse^ and running in a northerly direction from the Eiver Buller for a distance of six miles ; thence by a line West magnetic for a distance of four miles; thence by a line running in a
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Southerly direction to the mouth of a small stream running into the River Buller at about fifty chains west of the River Owen; and thence by the bank of the River Buller to the point near said Peg 260, where this boundary commences.
No. 94. The Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey to His Honor the Supebintendent, Nelson. Sic,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 12th March, 1874. Eeferring to your letter of the 21st ultimo, and to Mr. Eeynolds' reply of the 3rd instant, I have the honor to inform you that the Cabinet have agreed to advance the sum of £20,000 to your Honor for the purposes and on the terms mentioned in your letter. The Treasury will arrange the details as to mode of payment with your Honor, making the payments direct, on vouchers approved by you and certified by the Provincial Engineer, to whom also advances can, if necessary, be made. The Government accept your Honor's letter of the 21st of February as a formal undertaking on the part of the Province to fulfil the conditions in respect of the several sums of £12,000 and £3,000 respectively, which are stated therein, and to apply the money to the purposes for which it is to be advanced. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Nelson. Daniel Pollen.
No. 95. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Nelson. (Circular.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 24th March, 1874. I have the honor to inform you that my attention having been drawn to vouchers which have been sent in for medical and hospital expenses of sick emigrants after disembarkation, I propose, in order to prevent any difficulties arising in the adjustment of such claims, to authorize the payment by this Department of medical and hospital expenses for one month after arrival of the immigrants, after which period the immigrants to be considered as ordinary colonists, and dealt with in the ordinary manner by the local authorities. I shall be glad to have your concurrence in this proposal, which I have no doubt you will consider of a liberal nature. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Nelson. Julius Vogel.
No. 96. His Honor the Supebintendent, Nelson, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Nelson, lst April, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th ultimo, relative to the expenses incurred for medical treatment of newly-arrived immigrants, and to suggest that in case of immigrants actually under treatment at the expiration of one month after arrival, the Government should authorize the payment for continuance of such treatment until cured or discharged. With that alteration I should willingly concur in the arrangement you propose. I have, &c, Oswald Cubtis, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.
No. 97. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Nelson. Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, lst May, 1874. In reply to your letter of lst April, relative to the expenses incurred for medical treatment of newly-arrived immigrants, I have the honor to inform you that I concur in your suggestion that payment should be authorized by the General Government beyond the period of one month in cases where the patient has been under continuous treatment from the time of his or her leaving the ship. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Nelson. Julius Vogel.
WESTLAND. No. 98. The Immigeation Officee, Greymouth, to the Undee Seceetaey for Immigeation. Sic, — Immigration Office, Greymouth, 23rd February, 1874. _ . I have the honor to forward herewith a memorial, signed by sixty-five of the most influential residents of Greymouth, requesting me to call the attention of the Government to the large demand existing in the district for female servants. I have in previous communications referred to this subject, and recommended the introduction of single women; and I would especially refer to my
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report of 31st March, 1873. The influx of nominated immigrants is quite inadequate to meet the demand. All the single women who have arrived were engaged at once at very high wages, and I believe they are now all married. If fifty single women were landed here to-morrow, they would all be engaged at once. Hoping that the Government will be able to meet the wishes of the memorialists, I have, &c, James Wylde, The Under Secretary for Immigration, Wellington. Immigration Officer.
Enclosure in No. 98. Sib,— Greymouth, 20th February, 1874. We, the undersigned, beg to request that you will call the attention of the General Government to the largely existing demand here for female servants ; that the present supply is insufficient to meet our requirements ; and that we consider ourselves entitled to a proportionate share of this class of labour now being imported to other parts of the Colony, and towards the expenses of which wo so greatly contribute. We have, &c, James Tayloe, W. Kilgoue, To James Wylde, Esq., Immigration Officer, And sixty-three others. Greymouth.
No. 99. The Hon. J. Vogel to His Honor the Supebintendent, Westland. Sib, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 12th March, 1874. I have the honor to forward a copy of a letter from the Immigration Officer at Greymouth, covering a memorial, signed by a number of residents of that place, relative to the want of female domestic labour experienced, upon which I shall be glad to receive any remarks your Honor may have to offer. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Westland. Julius Vogel.
No. 100. His Honor the Supebintendent, Westland, to the Hon. J. Vogel. Sic, —■ Superintendent's Office, Hokitika, 21st March, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, forwarding a copy of a letter from tho Immigration Officer at Greymouth relative to tho want of female domestic labour. In reply, I would beg to state that I strongly recommend the introduction of female domestic labour, as it is one of the greatest wants experienced by families here, and there would be no difficulty in absorbing at least fifty in Greymouth and an equal number in Hokitika. Some provision will require to be made for their reception, and I would recommend that not more than twenty-five should be shipped for each port at one time. I have, &c, J. Bonae, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. Superintendent.
No. 101. The Hon. J. Vogel to His Honor the Supebintendent, Westland. Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 13th April, 1874. In referring to your letter of 21st March ultimo, relative to a communication from the Immigration Officer at Greymouth as to the want of female domestic labour, I have the honor to inform you that I have forwarded the whole correspondence to the Agent-General, with a request that he will endeavour to supply the demand. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Westland. Julius Vogel.
No. 102. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Westland. Sic,— Immigration Office, Wellington, 24th March, 1874. I have the honor to inform you that my attention having been drawn to vouchers which have been sent in for medical and hospital expenses of sick immigrants after disembarkation, I propose, in order to prevent any difficulties arising in the adjustment of such claims, to authorize the payment by this Department of medical and hospital expenses for one month after arrival of the immigrants, after
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which period the immigrants to be considered as ordinary colonists, and dealt with in the ordinary manner by the local authorities. I shall be glad to have your concurrence in this proposal, which I have no doubt you will consider of a liberal nature. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Westland. Julius Vogel.
No. 103. His Honor the Supebintendent, Westland, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Hokitika, 11th May, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 24th March, stating that the Government propose to authorize the payment, by the Immigration Department, of medical and hospital expenses for one month only after the arrival of the immigrants, and requesting my concurrence in the proposal. In reply, I have the honor to inform you that the provision for medical attendance on immigrants seems to me to be fair, although not having received any considerable number of immigrants, I have had but little opportunity to acquire experience on the subject. I have, &c, J. Bonae, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.
CANTEEBTJEY. No. 104. Telegeams between His Honor the Supebintendent, Canterbury, and the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. Christchurch, 9th October, 1873. Tendees for the immigration depot at the Ashburton received. Lowest, to complete January lst, £1,950. Will General Government provide half cost, if Provincial Government accept ? The amount is nearly double what I had anticipated, in consequence of rise of labour and material; but I think the work of pressing import.ance. It provides for twenty families. The Hou. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. W. Eolleston. Christchurch, 13th October, 1873. I omitted in my telegram to state that I have accepted tenders for barracks, presuming on your concurrence and contribution of a proportion of the cost. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. W. Eolleston. Wellington, 13th October, 1873. Cost of depot at the Ashburton very large. Summer is coming: would it not be possible to establish a camp there, and put the immigrants under canvas? I think that we can furnish tents from the stores here. All that would then be necessary to build would be a cook-house. His Honor the Superintendent, Canterbury. Daniel Pollen. Christchurch, 13th October, 1873. Ashbueton Immigration Depot. Ido not think tents would do. We want a permanent provision for distributing immigrants from the centre of a large newly-occupied agricultural district where labour is urgently required. I think the cost considerable, but absolutely necessary if immigration is to continue, and immigrants are to be fairly diffused. To keep immigrants in any numbers at centres of population tends to disease, discontent, and other evils. Trust the Government will accede to my proposal. Time is of the utmost importance. The Hou. the Colonial Secretary, Welligton. W. Eolleston. Wellington, 15th October, 1873. Ashbueton Depot. I will approve expenditure of £750 on behalf of General Government. His Honor the Superintendent, Canterbury. Julius Vogel.
No. 105. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to his Honor the Supebintendent, Canterbury. (Circular.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 16th October, 1873. I have the honor to forward herewith copy of an Order in Council, dated the 15th instant, establishing a system of free nominated emigration to the Colony, trusting to your cordial co-opera-tion with the General Government in their endeavours to bring population to the country. I also enclose copies of forms intended to be used by persons nominating their friends, which I shall be obliged if you will circulate through the medium of Provincial officers and schoolmasters. These application forms, you will observe, are returnable to the Immigration Officers. If you agree to the proposal I have made you by printed letter, dated 14th instant, to take charge of the
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immigrants on arrival, I shall be glad if you will assist and direct the Immigration Officer in your Province in respect to his treatment of these applications. I have &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Canterbury. Julius Vogel.
No. 106. His Honor the Supebintendent, Canterbury, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Christchurch, Canterbury, 23rd October, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, apparently a circular, ofthe 16th October, in which you forward an Order in Council establishing a system of free nominated emigration to New Zealand, and enclose 100 copies of forms intended to be used by persons nominating their friends, which you request me to circulate through the medium of Provincial officers and schoolmasters. I have given directions that the forms should at once be forwarded through tho country, through the Eoad Boards and other available means, such as were recently adopted by the Provincial Government with the same object and with great success, notice being given of the places where the forms may be had. With regard to the employment of schoolmasters for this or for any other purpose than the duties for which they are appointed by the Committees of their several districts, I am of opinion that such a course would be unadvisable, and should not be adopted. I consider that the clerks of the several Eoad Boards, the postmasters and storekeepers in the country districts, with occasional visits from the Immigration Officer, will afford ample facilities to those who may desire to avail themselves of the provisions of the new regulations. Referring to the last paragraph of your letter, I may state that I have not yet had the time and the opportunity of conferring with my Executive as to the course which the Provinci.al Government will adopt with regard to the proposals contained in your circular of the 14th instant. I will therefore address you on that subject on a subsequent occasion; in the meantime I may state that it has always been my opinion that endeavours to bring population into tho country will be successful in promoting the real objects of colonization very largely in proportion as they enlist the sympathies of the colonists in the country in the introduction of a good class of immigrants. Acting in this belief, the Provincial Government, in the month of June last, urged upon the Colonial Government tho establishment of a system of free nomination, which I am glad to see has now been adopted. I have, &c, W. Eolleston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Superintendent.
No. 107. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Canterbury. Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 27th October, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 23rd inst., and to thank your Honor for having given instructions for circulating the forms required under the regulations for free nominated immigration, and I will be quite satisfied if you will circulate them according to your own discretion. I have to request that your Honor will favour me with an early reply to my printed circuhar of 14th inst., as, in the event of the Province of Canterbury not accepting my proposals, other arrangements will have to be made. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Canterbury. Julius Vogel.
No. 108. Telegeams between His Honor the Supebintendent, Canterbury, and the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Timaru, 28th October, 1873. It is very important that you should authorize your officers to advertise and placard new regulations as to free nomination in same w.ay as the Provincial Government did recently, otherwise they will be a dead letter, and are now hanging fire, especially in this district. Will you authorize expenditure of, say, £500 on depot at Waimate? I have just had interview with Chairman of Board of Works and Mr. Studholme, who both strongly wrote about it. See my previous memorandum on this subject. If this system of depots in outlying districts is not pushed forward, the effects of pouring immigrants into the towns will, sooner or later, be disastrous. There is absolutely no house accommodation available in the outlying districts, and time for absorption and utilization of labour will pass away. Ashburton depot in hand. Please reply to me here to-day. W. Eolleston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent. Wellington, 28th October, 1873. Placaeds h.ave been sent for distribution to all Money Order Post Offices, Immigration Officers, and Provincial Governments. Touching the other matter, I have delayed further action about deposits till receiving your answer as to whether or not you are prepared to take charge of immigration on the terms of my circular letter. Please let me know at once. If you are, I shall be happy if you will make
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arrangements with Chairman, Eoard of Works, to look after immigrants in Timaru district. If not, I will communicate with him myself. Delay in replying to circular much to be regretted. His Honor the Superintendent, Canterbury. Julius Vogel. Timaru, 28th October, 1873. Voue circular as to taking charge of immigration reached me just before leaving Christchurch to visit Southern districts prior to meeting of Provincial Council, to ascertain wants generally, and particularly as to immigration matters. \ I could not properly reply to it without full consideration with my Executive. Meantime I have been doing my utmost to facilitate prompt action and good arrangement for reception and distribution of immigrants, especially in the matter of depots, one of which is already in hand. I hope my present inability to give an answer to your circular will not interfere with the continuance of the practical work which the Provincial Government has suggested and gone to considerable expense in forwarding for some time past. Waimate b<arracks could at once be got under way if sanctioned, and you have good and efficient officer here. It is important that the Provincial Government should know whether you approve this suggestion. I much regret my absence from Christchurch should cause you any inconvenience. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. W. Eolleston. * Wellington, 29th October, 1873. Pc Waimate Barracks. Will authorize you to take what action you consider desirable, provided the Colonial Government not expend more than £500. His Honor the Superintendent, Canterbury. Julius Vogel.
No. 109. The Hon. the Ministee for Isijiigbation to His Honor the Supebintendent, Canterbury. (Circular.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Christchurch, 29th November, 1873. It is very desirable that some of the immigrants arriving in your Province should at once leave the town and its vicinity and proceed into the country districts, either to become settlers on their own account, or to accept employment from settlers. To enable this to be done, I shall be inclined not only to allow a moderate expenditure for the cost of transit, but also a proportion of the expense for renting suitable buildings, if any are available, as temporary depots for the immigrants, in the country towns or villages. The scarcity of house accommodation is such in many of the country districts, that immigrants, especially families, inclined to settle or seek employment in the country, may find themselves deterred from doing so on account of the want of adequate shelter. It has suggested itself to me that it would be very desirable to erect, at different points where employment was available, serviceable but cheap four-roomed cottages or huts, not exceeding in cost £100, for the purpose of letting to the immigrants. Where the Provincial Government have land to spare in the vicinity of railway works, small areas of land might be included, with the cottages, in a lease. This, however, I leave to tho consideration of the Provincial authorities. I am willing, as a means of thus settling immigrants, to place a certain amount of money at your Honor's disposal to build such cottages or huts, on the following conditions :— 1. That these be let to newly-arrived immigrants with families. 2. That the Provincial Government undertakes and guarantees to return to the General Government the amount expended, with interest at 5 per cent., in four instalments, on the lst January, 1875, 1876, 1877, and 1878. I leave you to make such arrangements for building the cottages, and to let them on such conditions other than those stipulated, as may seem to you desirable. If you approve of this proposal, I shall be glad to receive any suggestions from your Honor on the subject, as also to learn the amount of money you think you would require during the current year. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Canterbury. Julius Vogel.
No. 110. The Hon. the Ministee for liijiigbation to His Honor the Superintendent, Christchurch. Sm, —■ General Government Offices, Christchurch, 2nd December, 1873. Eeferring to my letter of the 28th October, sent to you when at Timaru, I have tho honor to remind you that I suggested that in case you agreed to accept the management of immigration in the Province of Canterbury, I should be happy if you would endeavour to arrange with the Chairman of the Board of Works to look after immigrants in the Timaru district. I have now only to add, that any arrangement of the kind you may think it desirable to make will bo most cordially considered by me. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Christchurch. Julius Vooel. * The correspondence with regard to the circular will be found in D. 4, p. 10.
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No. 111. Telegrams between His Honor the Supebintendent, Canterbury, and the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Christchurch, 19th February, 1874. Uegent.—Provincial Government thinks it absolutely necessary that depot for immigrants at Akaroa should be established. Will General Government allow £500 for this r In view of large numbers immediately to arrive, it will be necessary to hire buildings at Akaroa. Will General Government authorize this ? The Hon. tho Minister for Immigration, Wellington. W. Eolleston. Auckland, 20th February, 1874. In accordance with your Honor's recommendation, I authorize expenditure not exceeding £500 for depot at Akaroa, and pending erection of same, authorize building to be temporarily rented. His Honor the Superintendent, Christchurch. Julius Vogel.
No. 112. Correspondence between His Honor the Supebintendent, Canterbury, and the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. (Telegram.) Christchurch, 27th February, 1874. Immigeation Officer recommends that provision should be immediately made at the depot, Addington, for accommodation of lying-in cases. The necessity of this has been strongly urged by surgeon; estimated cost, with suitable beds and other necessary appliances, about £200. Additional luggage shed also required ; estimated cost, £50. I recommend this expenditure ; will you approve? The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. W. Eolleston. (Memorandum.) Immigration Office, Wellington, 11th March, 1874. TnE expenditure recommended by His Honor the Superintendent, in his telegram dated 27th February ultimo, of £250 .at the Addington depot, has been approved by the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. The Provincial Secretary, Christchurch. C. E. Haughton.
No. 113. Coeeespondence between His Honor the Supebintendent, Canterbury, and the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. (Telegram.) Christchurch, 27th February, 1874. Immigeation Officer strongly advises lining quarantine buildings before winter; also erection of small building for dead house, a coal shed, and fencing off hospital. Estimated cost of lining about £350; other improvements, £125. The work appears to be necessary, and I recommend it to be done. Will you approve, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. W. Eolleston. (Memorandum.) Immigration Office, Wellington, 11th March, 1874. The expenditure recommended by His Honor the Superintendent, in his telegram dated 27th February ultimo, of £475 for completion and improvement of quarantine buildings, has been .approved by the Hon. Minister for Immigration. The Provincial Secretary, Christchurch. C. E. Haughton.
No. 114. The Hon. J. Vogel to the Cdaieman, New Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch. (Telegram.) Wellington, 9th March, 1874. By telegram from London, we are informed that the New Zealand Shipping Company have joined with tho Albion Company and Shaw, Savill, and Co., to ask the Government of New Zealand £1G for carriage of immigrants. It has also been publicly stated that the combination extends to the rates chargeable for freight. When all the protestations of the New Zealand Company against such a combination, all its declarations that its object was to upset and destroy a baneful monopoly, and tho consequent arrangement which the Government made with it, with a desire to assist in it resisting such a monopoly, are borne in mind, you may gather the feeling with which this intelligence is received by the Government. If it be true, then the monopoly which the Government temporarily granted to the Company was obtained on a false understanding ; and instead of the Company being a benefit to the Government and people of the Colony, it will only add to the difficulty of the Government, and to the cost of carrying on the business of immigration and public works. I place before you the feelings of the Government on the subject, in order that you should fully realize the importance which I attach to the answer I have to request you to make to the following question: —ls the Company prepared to give me the assurance th.at it will immediately cable home, absolutely instructing its officers to withdraw from all combination with other firms, and that it will in future conduct its business independently ? lam aware of negotiations between the Company and the Albion Company, but looking at what took place in respect to the Auckland Company, and all the surroundings and circumstances,
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there would seem to be ample reason to suppose that the Albion Company's London business has been constituted for the purpose of forming a link between Shaw, Savill, and Co., and the New Zealand Shipping Company, and disarming the latter. Julius Vogel. The Chairman, New Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch.
No. 115. The Chaieman, New Zealand Shipping Company, to the Hon. J. Vogel. (Telegram.) Christchurch, 9th March, 1874. Voue telegram too important for me to answer without consulting the Board. Personally, I should object to pledge the Company to the course you propose, nor should I be prepared to advise the Board to do so. W. Eeeves, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. Chairman.
No. 116. The Chaieman, New Zealand Shipping Company, to the Hon. the Pbemiee. (Telegram.) Christchurch, 11th March, 1874. The Board have met, and after having given full consideration, state that they regret not to be able to comply with your request. They wish to point out that when the Company first contracted with the Government, they had no idea that the adoption of free immigration would follow, and more than double the shipping requirements of the Government. This has largely increased the difficulty and cost of supply, and yet we have carried out our engagements with a liberality which has involved us on many occasions in serious loss. That the Agent-General has not always shown a responding consideration for us, but has rejected ships that have satisfied the Imperial Government, thereby putting us to serious loss and inconvenience. That the Agent-General states he will send 30,000 emigrants during the coming year; that these will require at least 120 ships, and will tax the united efforts of all the firms engaged in the New Zealand shipping trade. That the ordinary exports to New Zealand, combined with the railway plant, will be quite inadequate to furnish all these ships with a fair proportion of cargo, and, therefore, that the cost of conveyance of the emigrants must, as a matter of course, become greater, specially as ships become every month more difficult to charter, the Company having now to pay a pound a ton more than it did eight months ago for the outward charter of the same class of ships. Actuated as we are by a desire to satisfy the Government requirements, and feeling that this can best be done by uniting with other shipowners in offering to do the work of the Government on the most reasonable terms, we do not feel justified in forbidding our London agents to act conjointly with others in this case. We would add that the terms offered, namely, £16 per adult, compare favourably with those paid by the Governments of New South Wales and South Australia, who give sixteen guineas, though the business of your Government is more difficult and arduous, from its extent, from the number of ports in tho Colony, aud the small choice of vessels offering for charter. Moreover, we learn that the Agent-General proposes to enforce a new dietary scale, costing at least 10s. a head more than the present. I may add that the Board has read with extreme regret that part of your telegram which implies that if the Company now joins with other shipping firms in an offer to conduct the Government business on reasonable terms, it will, in your opinion, have obtained a previous contract from you on something like false pretences. The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. Eeeves, Chairman.
No. 117. The Hon. J. Vogel to the Chaibman, New Zealand Shipping Company. (Telegram.) Wellington, 21st March, 1874. In reply to yours of 11th, there can be no doubt the monopoly was given temporarily to you on the understanding that it would assist you in starting, and in your object of upsetting the previous longsubsisting shipping monopoly, fiepeated verbal communications, and correspondence which was commenced by the Chairman of the Provisional Directors, as well as the prospectus of the Company, show that the Company was to be managed from the Colony, and that its object was to upset the shipping monopoly. Indeed, the Chairman of the Provisional Directors expressly stated the objects to be, " To secure to the Colony increased shipping facilities ; to check the absolute monopoly hitherto held by one shipowning and shipbroking firm, which is felt to be detrimental to the trade and general interests of the Colony; and to insure the employment of a good class of ships; but not to create within the Colony a monopoly which might prove more powerful, if not more injurious, than that which at present exists." I have only to add that it seems to me the large increase of business should have strengthened the Company in their principal object, and not have induced them to abandon it. Julius Vogel. The Chairman, New Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch.
No. 118. Telegeams between His Honor the Supebintendent, Canterbury, and the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Christchurch, 11th March, 1874. Pbotinciax Goteenment recommend immigration depot, Eangiora; cost not to exceed £900. Do 6—D. 5.
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you approve, and will Minister of Works object to building being erected on ground taken for railway station purposes ? Plenty of room without interfering with railway. The Hon. J. Vogel, Wellington. W. Eolleston. Wellington, 12th March, 1874. Am willing to authorize erection of depot at Eangiora. £900 seems rather a large amount. Can it not be done for less ? With respect to site, I append memorandum by Mr. Eichardson. "Will you advise concerning it ? His Honor W. Eolleston, Christchurch. Julius Vogel. 3rd March, 1874. The Government bought the land referred to by Mr. Eolleston to save legal trouble, with intention of re-selling that portion which is not wanted for railway. Would recommend that His Honor be requested to point out to District Engineer O'Connor what land he proposes to take, and if found not likely to interfere with the railway in the future, I see no reason to object to the land being so occupied, except that a proportionate part of the cost of the land ought to be paid by Immigration Department, and be credited with proceeds of sale, should it be hereafter determined to sell the whole with the buildings. E. Eichaedson. Christchurch, 16th March, 1874, Eanoioea depot. Will restrict expenditure to £700, to include all fittings, &c. The Hon. J. Vogel, Wellington. W. Eolleston.
No. 119. Telegeams between the Hon. the Minister for Immigeation and His Honor the Supebintendent, Canterbury. Wellington, 26th March, 1874. Pc Eangiora depot. Would it not be better, instead of erecting this depot, to erect a number of small cottages, to be let to immigrants? Could you not have port.able cottages made, which it would be useful to erect in different parts of the Province? The want of house-room in the Colony is a most serious matter to be considered in connection with the number of immigrants arriving, and who will arrive during the winter months. I shall bo glad to know whether your Honor is willing to accept the responsibility of finding employment for those who aro arriving, or will .arrive during tho winter? Or would you like the Public Works Department to set apart some particular work on which the unemployed could find occupation at rates of wages below those which contractors offer, so that employing day Labour, the Government would not bo competing with contractors ? I should be glad also to know whether your Honor does not consider it desirable, at different points on the line of railway works, to establish small vilhages. A few cottages might be erected, and let to immigrants, and be made the nucleus of small communities. If your Honor desired it, I would forward you plans of portable cottages. Under the Canterbury Act, land is, I believe, readily obtainable by those who wish to settle. Therefore, your Honor will be the best judge whether it will be desirable, under the Immigration and Public Works Act, to take any special blocks to be put apart for immigrants upon other than ordinary terms. I will only say that if your Honor recommends such a course, I shall be prepared to favourably consider it. His Honor the Superintendent, Christchurch. Julius Vogel. Christchurch, 28th March, 1874. Small cottages are being built in various places. At Eangiora the depot is the same as a number of cottages of small size, and being in a central place, will be better than a number of cottages short distances apart, as better supervision can be exercised. Do not think portable cottages will suit. Without absolutely accepting responsibility of providing employment for all the immigrants that may arrive during the winter, the Provincial Government will cordially co-operate with you in making such arrangements as may be necessary to provide employment, and will be prepared to spend £10,000 for this purpose. Establishment of villages or special settlements is receiving the attention of the Provincial Government. Ido not think it will be necessary to acquire land for this under the Immigration and Public Works Act. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. W. Eolleston. Wellington, 31st March, 1874. Thanks for your telegram of 28th. I do not understand you advise any action re employment of immigrants or otherwise. If, however, I am mistaken, and you think some alternative provision desirable, will you see Minister for Public Works, who is at present in Christchurch ? His Honor W. Eolleston, Christchurch. Julius Vogel.
No. 120. Telegeams between His Honor the Supebintendent, Canterbury aud the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Christchurch, 14th April, 1874. Immigeation Officer strongly recommends the purchase of a thirteeu-roomed house at Oxford, at a cost of £250, in view of the large number of immigrants to be expected. We cannot wait until the
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cottages which the Provincial Government are erecting are built there. There are now twenty-six families remaining in depot here, who find it impossible to obtain houses to inhabit. Another reason for this purchase is that labour is much required at Oxford, where there is a large bush. I have personally ascertained that cottages are not to be had at Oxford. Probably 1,500 souls will arrive this month. The Hon. Julius Vogel, Wellington. W. Eolleston. Wellington, 14th April, 1874. Do you propose purchase at Oxford for a depot, and do you recommend it yourself? His Honor the Superintendent, Christchurch. Julius Vogel. Christchurch, 14th April, 1874. I peopose the purchase for a depot, and I recommend it. The Hon. Julius Vogel, Wellington. W. Eolleston. Wellington, 15th April, 1874. In accordance with your Honor's recommendation, I authorize purchase of house at Oxford. Of course you will take care that the title is good. His Honor W. Eolleston, Christchurch. Julius Vogel.
No. 121. Telegeams between His Honor the Supebintendent, Canterbury, and the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Christchurch, 25th April, 1874. Immigeant ships are due as follows:—" Appelles," 301 souls, now due; "Eakaia," 365 ditto; " Veruna," 320 ditto, ten days; " Ballochmyle," 480 ditto, May; " Atrato," 033 ditto, June; "Northampton," "City of Dunedin," "Stonehouse," 1,320, June; "Peeress," 260, Timaru, ditto: total, 3,679. " Atrato " alone, 106 families; only four nominated of these. Large proportion are called general labourers, a class difficult at this time of year of absorption. You will observe that other ships will arrive in two months, a total number of 3,679, or at rate of 20,000 per annum; and these arriving during winter months, cannot be absorbed on arrival. Large extra accommodation must be provided immediately. Accommodation for at least fifty more families is indispensable. Will you authorize this, also erection of room for luggage at depot, Addington ? The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. W. Eolleston. Christchurch, 15th May, 1874. Engineee's estimate of cost of constructing additional buildings at Christchurch depot, to accommodate fifty families, £1,135; luggage shed, £180 extra; wash-house, with vat, £100; total, £1,415. Edwaed Jollie, (in absence of Superintendent.) Wellington, 9th June, 1574. A telegeam from Mr. Jollie, dated 15th May, with respect to Addington depot, was handed to Mr. Eichardson when he was going South. I understand he has authorized the works, but in order that there may be formal reply on subject, I now authorize, in accordance with your Honor's recommendation, additions at Addington depot, at a cost not to exceed £1,415. His Honor the Superintendent, Christchurch. Julius Vogel.
No. 122. Telegeams between the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation and His Honor tho Supebintendent, Canterbury. Wellington, 24th March, 1874. The immigrants' depots you have erected or are erecting are, I presume, all upon Crown lands or upon reserves which your Honor would be willing to convey to the Colony? 1 have taken-this for granted. It is only now, my attention having been called to it, that I have thought it necessary to ask for an assurance on the matter. His Honor W. Eolleston, Christchurch. Julius Vogel. Christchurch, 2nd April 1874. lie sites of depots. Think there will not be any difficulty in arranging, but must consult my Executive before giving definite answer. Have explained to Mr. Eichardson. The Hon. J. Vogel, Wellington. W. Eolleston. Christchurch, 25th May, 1874. He additions, immigration depot, Addington. With reference to Mr. Eichardson's proposal, that the General Government lease the buildings for immigration purposes, and put up the necessary additions, provided that if the Provincial Government desired to repossess the property they should pay the General Government for all additions and improvements made by them, the Provincial Government will agree to this proposal, and will pay for such additions or improvements, to be valued at the time when the property may be resumed by them. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. W. Eolleston.
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Wellington, 26th May, 1874. Acknowledge your telegram respecting additions to immigration depot. I presume you clearly understand the agreement only refers to depot at Addington, and that other immigration buildings which the Department has erected must be conveyed to the Crown. His Honor the Superintendent, Christchurch. Julius Vogel. Christchurch, 28th May, 1874. I undeestand that present agreement refers only to Addington. Question as to Waimate and Ashburton depots will require further consideration, as Provincial Government has spent so much Provincial funds upon them. The buildings which now being adapted at Geraldine at a cost of £100 is Eoad Board property, and worth several hundred pounds. The matter may perhaps be best arranged by conference. The Hon. J. Vogel, Wellington. W. Eolleston.
No. 123. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to His Honor the Superintendent, Canterbury. (Circular.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 24th March, 1874. I have the honor to inform you that my attention having been drawn to vouchers which have heen sent in for medical .and hospital expenses of sick immigrants after disembarkation, I propose, in order to prevent any difficulties arising in the adjustment of such claims, to authorize the payment by this Department of medical and hospital expenses for one month after arrival of the immigrants, after which period the immigrants to be considered as ordinary colonists, and dealt with in the ordinary manner by the local authorities. I shall be glad to have your concurrence in this proposal, which I have no doubt you will consider of a liberal nature. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Canterbury. Julius Vogel.
No. 124. His Honor the Supebintendent, Canterbury, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Superintendent's Office, Christchurch, Canterbury, Sic— 15th April, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th ultimo, with reference to vouchers which have been sent in for medical and hospital expenses of sick immigrants after disembarkation, and proposing, in order to prevent any difficulties arising in the adjustment of such claims, to authorize tho payment, by the Immigration Department, of medical and hospital expenses for one month after arrival of the immigrants, after which period the immigrants to be considered in this respect as ordinary colonists, and dealt with in the ordinary manner by the local authorities; and in reply, to inform you of my acceptance of your proposal, with the exception of such cases as may prove to have been unfit for embarkation as immigrants in consequence of disease of long standing. I have, &c, W. Eolleston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.
No. 125. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor tho Supebintendent, Canterbury. Sib, — Immigration Office, Wellington, Oth May, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15th ultimo, in which, with regard to the proposal contained in my circular of 24th March, that the Immigration Department shall be liable for expenses incurred in the medical treatment of immigrants for one month only after arrival, you state that you are willing to agree to that arrangement, " with the exception of such cases as may prove to have been unfit for embarkation, in consequence of disease of long standing." I have to inform your Honor that I cannot accept this reservation absolutely. Such cases must be dealt with upon their merits, and I shall be prepared to authorize expenses for medical treatment beyond one month, when it appears that the disease is of such a character as would have justified the Medical Inspector at home in rejecting the emigrant. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Canterbury. Julius Vogel.
No. 126. Telegeams between His Honor the Superintendent, Canterbury, and the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Timaru, 15th May, 1874. Am here looking up immigration matters. Dep6t requires repair in roofing and elsewhere, to extent of about £20. Will you authorize this ? Please reply to-day. The Hon. J. Vogel, Wellington. W. Eolleston.
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Wellington, 15th May, 1874. In accordance with your Honor's recommendation, I authorize repairs to Timaru dep&t. His Honor the Superintendent, Canterbury. Julius Vogel.
No. 127. Telegeams between His Honor the Supebintendent, Canterbury, and the Hon. the Minister for Immigeation. Timaru, 20th May, 1874. I can make arrangements with the Eoad Board at Geraldine, through Mr. Tancred, by which, for about £100, I can fit up a large shed for immigrants, which will make good depot; the building is 60 feet xl 4 feet. Will you authorize this? 1 also propose, with your approval, to utilize E.M. Court at Temuka for immigrants. Please reply. The Hon. J. Vogel, Wellington. W. Eolleston. Wellington, 20th May, 1874. In accordance with your Honor's recommendation, I authorize expenditure of about £100, to fit up large shed for immigrants at Geraldine. I also approve of your making arrangements for utilizing the E.M. Court at Temuka for immigrants. His Honor the Superintendent, Timaru. Julius Vogel.
OTAGO. No. 128. Mr. W. B. Scandeett to the Hon. the Peemiee. Sic, — Invercargill, 30th September, 1873. I have the honor to hand you a resolution, unanimously passed at a meeting of the Eailway Committee (an organization appointed by an influential public meeting for the promotion of immigration, and the completion of the Wintonand Kingston Eailway) held at Invercargill on the 29th instant, and to solicit your consideration thereof:— " That the Secretary bo requested to communicate with the Hon. the Premier as to the urgent necessity that exists in this district for <an influx of immigrants to meet the requirements of the many public works proposed by the Eoad Boards and the Municipality, and the wants of the agricultural and pastoral settlers; and also to the fact that the contractors for the Colonial public works, such as the Winton and Kingston and Invercargill and Mataura Eailways, cannot obtain anything like the number of workmen they require ; and draw attention to tho circumstance that in the reunion agreement, every third ship was to have landed immigrants at the Bluff, whilst the Provincial Government have repeatedly promised that a stream of immigration should be directed to this district." I have, &c, W. B. Scandeett, The Hon. the Premier, Colonial Ministry, Wellington. Secretary Eailway Committee.
No. 129. The Undee Secbetaet for Immigeation to Mr. W. B. Scandeett. Sic,— Immigration Office, Wellington, 20th October, 1873. In reply to your letter of 30th ultimo, forwarding a resolution adopted at a public meeting upon the subject of immigration to Invercargill, I have the honor to inform you that a letter was addressed to the Agent-General on the 30th August last, suggesting that vessels bound for Dunedin with immigrants might make the Bluff a port of call for the purpose of landing immigrants, and that a telegram has been transmitted to him this day requesting that a vessel may be sent with immigrants direct to that place. I have, &c, W. B. Scandrett, Esq., C. E. Haughton. Secretary to Eailway Committee, Invercargill.
No. 130. Mr. J. W. Mitchell to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. (Telegram.) Invercargill, 24th October, 1873. Immigeation Committee instructed me to bring under your notice fact that no accession to population here since 6th. Terms reunion with Otago provided one-third immigrants to be landed at Bluff. Provincial Government entirely ignores wants of Southland in this respect, although large numbers of immigrants arriving at Port Chalmers. Want of labour of all kinds severely felt throughout Southland, crippling enterprise generally. Earnestly solicit your sympathies and exertions on behalf our district. The Hon. J. Vogel, Wellington. John W. Mitchell.
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No. 131. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to Mr. J. W. Mitchell. (Telegram.) Wellington, 25th October, 1873. I peopose instructing Immigration Officer, Dunedin, to send down one hundred of the immigrants that next arrive to Bluff. I hope this will be of service. J. W. Mitchell, Esq., Invercargill. Julius Vogel.
No. 132. The Undeb-Secbetaet for Immigeation to Mr. J. Seaton. Sic,— Immigration Office, Wellington, 28th October, 1873. A voucher has been received in this office for the sum of £140 75., claimed by yourself for services rendered as emigration agent in Great Britain, and for your return passage to this Colony. The Agent-General having advised the Government that you had ceased to conduct any business in connection with his Department upon May 31st, IS73 —up to which date your receipts for salary are to hand—the Hon. the Minister is unable to authorize any further payment upon this account until the Agent-General has been further communicated with, which, I am instructed to say, shall be by the next mail. The amount of £50 for return passage to the Colony has been duly certified here, and will bo passed for payment forthwith. I have, &c, J. Seaton, Esq., Dunedin. C. E. Haughton.
No. 133. Mr. J. Seaton to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic,— Portobello, Otago, 24th November, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of a letter from your office in reply to a claim preferred by me for the sum of £140 75., still owing, for sen ices rendered as emigration agent, including cost of return passage to the Colony. lam under the impression that the claim made has been misunderstood, otherwise the Government would not have decided to refer the matter to the AgentGeneral. I admit that I have been paid up to the time stated (31st May, 1873) ; indeed, the voucher forwarded claims from that date only, when I ceased to act under the Agent-General. But not having been appointed by him; I did not then, and I do not now, consider that my engagement with the Government terminated at/the date mentioned. At the time the Agent-General agreed to permit me to return home, I had written him desiring to be informed of the terms on which passages were to be granted to emigrants (as I had been kept in ignorance of the condition in force for some mouths), and demanding either to be supplied with the information necessary to carry on the work, or to terminate my engagement, as I would no longer be a party to the squandering of the means of the Colony in the way they were being done. I am satisfied if the Agent-General had considered he had any option in the matter, I never would have been permitted to engage in the work. I may mention, en passant, that he (Dr. Peatherston) told me that he considered that I ought to have been paid from the day of leaving New Zealand; that Mr. Friberg, who had been sent on a similar mission, had received payment from the date of his appointment ; and that he (Dr. Peatherston) never knew an officer ofthe Government being asked to travel on his own time before; but that the matter was not on his hands, but lay with the Government. When I accepted the appointment, I understood from the Superintendent of Otago, who arranged the whole of the terms with the Government —I never having been communicated with direct except on two occasions : the first was a letter appointing me, on the assumption that 1 had business of my own taking me to Britain ; the second was after Mr. Macandrew had telegraphed to Wellington, stating the Government were under a misapprehension, as I had no intention of visiting Britain unless under some such appointment as the one proposed ; —he (Mr. Macandrew) informed me that the Government were not prepared to give more than £350 per annum, with travelling allowance. On my hesitating to accept the appointment on such a salary, he urged me not to put any more obstacles in the w:iv ; that he would write to Dr. Peatherston, and recommend him to make it £400, which he was sure he would do ; and that it was understood I would have to remain at least three years. I made my arrangements accordingly. On arriving in London, when asked by the Agent-General how long 1 intended to stay, I explained the whole of the circumstances under which I was engaged, and that 1 intended to remain three years, or longer if he desired me. It was during this conversation that he informed me that he intended to write the Government regarding the cost of my return passage, as he expected difficulties would arise when the time came that I should go home. I cannot, therefore, think that the Government could have understood the nature of my claim, as it is quite evident that all connection with the Agent-General and myself ceased on the 31st May. Purther than that, he wrote and told me that an allowance would be made to defray cost of my return passage, which has not been done, although I am informed in the letter from the Immigration Office, ofthe 28th ultimo, that the cheque would be sent forthwith. I was twenty months to-day away from home, and have only been paid for fourteen. I therefore think, instead of tho claim being considered unreasonable, and further delay proposed before settlement, that under the circumstance I was entitled to some compensation for the inconvenience I was put to, as I never would have consented to go on the condition that I could bo dismissed at a moment's notice. I therefore think, as the Government appointed me, they are the only parties who can put an end to the engagement.
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On my arrival in the Colony, I telegraphed to the Hon. the Minister of Customs such was the case, and offered to come to Wellington if necessary. However, he did not think it was. I therefore consider myself entitled to claim up to the date of my arrival here, when I could resume my own business. Trusting that you will give the above statement your favourable consideration, I remain, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration. James Seaton.
No. 134. Ageeement by Mr. J. Seaton. I heeebt agree to accept as final the decision of A. E. C. Strode, Esq, E.M, and I. N. Watt, Esq, E.M, whether I have or have not any cl.aim against the General Government in connection with my late visit to Great Brit.am ; and if the decision of Messrs. Strode and Watt be that I have a claim, I will accept, as full satisfaction and discharge thereof, such sum as they may certify I am entitled to receive. Dunedin, 16th December, 1873. James Seaton.
No. 135. The Hon. J. Vogel to Messrs. Stbode and Watt. Gentlemen, — Dunedin, 16th December, 1873. I have to ask that you will be so good as to inquire and report whether Mr. James Seaton has any claim against the General Government in connection with his late visit to Great Britain ; and should you decide that he has any claim, I shall be glad if you will certify the amount to which you consider he is entitled. I have, &c, A. E. C. Strode, Esq., E.M. Julius Vogel. I. N. Watt, Esq, E.M.
No. 136. The Hon. J. Vogel to Messrs. Stbode and Watt. Gentlemen, — General Government Offices, Dunedin, 30th December, 1873. Eeferring to my letter of the 16th instant, and to the inquiry you have undertaken to make, whether or not Mr. Seaton has any claim against the General Government in connection with his fate visit to Great Britain, I have now the honor to forward, for your information, a copy of correspondence* which I have received from the Under Secretary for Immigration. If you require further information on the subject, or if you should think that any statement made by Mr. Seaton calls for explanation or comment, I shall be glad if you will afford the Department the necessary opportunity. If you consider it requisite that the Government should be represented by counsel, instructions shall, immediately on your communicating with the Department, be given to some gentlemen to attend during the inquiry. I have, &c, A. B. C. Strode, Esq., E.M. Julius Vogel. I. N. Watt, Esq., E.M.
No. 137. Messrs. Strode and Watt to the Hon. J. Vogel. Sic,— Dunedin, 15th May, 1874. EespectingMr. Seaton's claim against the General Government for £90 7s. for three months and two days' salary, at £350 per annum, submitted to us, we have the honor to report that, after taking the evidence of Mr. Seaton and Mr. Macandrew, and carefully reading the correspondence referred to us by yourself and him, we have come to the conclusion that strictly he has no claim upon the Government, but the circumstances of his appointment, service, and release therefrom were all peculiar, and apparently unfortunate for him. We would therefore recommend that, in full satisfaction of all demands, he should be paid the sum of £50. We have, &c, A. Chetham Stbode, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration. ■ I. Newton Watt.
No. 138. The Undee Secbetaet for Immigeation to Mr. A. E. C. Stbode. Sic — I have the honor, by direction ofthe Hon. the Minister for Immigration, to acknowledge the receipt of the report, signed by yourself and Mr. Watt, with reference to a claim of Mr. Seaton upon the Government, which was submitted to you for arbitration. *D. 1,1872, pp. 6, 13, 41; D. la, 1872, p. 23; D. 1, 1873, pp. 81, 90, 93, 108 ; D. 3, 1874, p. 1.
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In reply, I have [to express to you Mr. Vogel's thanks for your services in this matter, and to inform you that your recommendation that Mr. Seaton should be paid the sum of £50 has been carried out. I have, &c, A. E. C. Strode, Esq, Dunedin. C. E. Haughton. (Similar letter to Mr. Watt.)
No. 139. Mr. J. Seaton to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic,— Portobello, Otago, 18th May, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter dated Bth current from your office, enclosing copy of one from the Agent-General,* relative to my claim against the Government, which is now under arbitration. In reply, I would beg to remind you that when you proposed to refer the matter to the AgentGeneral, I stated that I had no claim against him, —that I had been paid up to the date he mentions. I also made a similar statement in the claim I preferred in writing. But as regards the latter portion of his letter, where he avers that I made no application to him for my passage-money, or it would have been advanced according to instructions, I dare not trust myself to characterize it. I shall send you copies of the letters that passed between the Agent-General and myself on that subject (Messrs. Strode and Watt have the originals), by which you will be able to judge how much reliance can be placed on his statements. At the time he agreed to terminate my engagement, I was promised a sum to cover cost of return passage, and as he did not remit that when he sent my last payment, I wrote the following letter:— " Sic,— " Glasgow, 4th June, 1873. " I have just received a cheque for £58 6s. Bd, being the usual monthly remittance ; but as you kindly agreed to permit me to return home, and promised I should have an allowance for return passage, as per former agreement, I am a little disappointed that it and the payment for the time occupied on the return voyage has not been included iv the cheque, as I have no business to detain me in Britain, and wish to proceed home by the earliest possible opportunity. " Will you have the goodness to forward the necessary funds to enable me to carry out that intention ? Tour early attention to the above request will much oblige, " Yours truly, "I. E. Featherston, Esq." "James Seaton." (Eeplt). " Sic,— " London, 7th June, 1873. " I am directed by the Agent-General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th instant, and am to request that you will bo good enough to inform him the name of the vessel in which you intend sailing for New Zealand, and the amount of your passage money, when an order will be sent you, payable in the Colony. —W. G. McKellae, pro I. E. Feathebston." " James Seaton, Esq." This note did not reach me till the 10th June, and the vessel I had taken my passage in was to leave on the following day, consequently I was precluded from sending the information required. The lameness ofthe excuse is only equalled by its effrontery, and. is just in keeping with the usage I met during the whole time I had the misfortune to be connected with his Department. I have written this letter more for the purpose of showing that I made no statement that I could not substantiate, than with the intention of blaming the Agent-General. If that had been my object, I have abundance of material, but will refrain in the meantime. I have, &c. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration. James Seaton.
No. 140. Mr. T. Bißcn to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic,-— Dunedin, 20th November, 1873. I have to advise you that I arrived here from Britain on the 11th instant, and would have advised you of my arrival earlier, but was informed you were expected in Dunedin daily, which must be my excuse for this apparent delay. I beg to enclose the amount of my claim for services rendered in Britain to date 11th instant, and trust you will, at your earliest convenience, give the matter your favourable consideration. I am, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Thomas Biech. The General Government of New Zealand to Thomas Birch. £ s d For services rendered in Britain under emigration scheme, — To 5 months and 10 days' salary, at £58 6s. Sd. per month ... 311 2 2 Eeceived for month of June, on account ... ... ... 27 0 0 £284 2 2 N.B.—The terms of arbitration accepted by Mr. Seaton, were offered to Mr. Birch, but were declined by him. * No. 80, D. 3, 1874, p. 48.
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No. 141. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. Sir, — General Government Offices, Dunedin, 17th December, 1873. I am aware that your Honor and the members of the Provincial Executive recognize the great advantages derivable from a large proportion of the immigrants to Otago being enabled, as soon as they land, to proceed to the country districts, either to commence operations on their own account or to accept employment. This, however, is at present often prevented by the impossibility of obtaining house accommodation or any proper shelter. I shall therefore be ready, not only to sanction a moderate expenditure for the conveyance of immigrants to country districts, and the payment of a proportion of the expense of renting suitable buildings, if any are available as temporary dep&ts in such districts, but I shall also be ready to aid in providing small houses, the want of which often prevents immigrants, and especially those with families, from at once moving into the country. I think it very desirable that, at different points where employment is or will probably be available, serviceable but cheap four-roomed cottages or huts should be erected for the purpose of being let to immigrants, the cost per cottage not to exceed £100. Where the Provincial Government have land to spare in the vicinity of railway works, small areas might be included with the cottages, in leases. This, however, I leave to the consideration of tho Provincial authorities. I am willing, as a means of thus settling immigrants, to place a certain amount of money at your Honor's disposal to build such cottages or huts, on the following conditions : — (1.) That the cottages or huts be let to newly-arrived immigrants with families. (2.) That the Provincial Government undertake and guarantee to return to the General Government the amount expended, with interest at 5 per cent., in four instalments, on the lst January, 1875, 1876, 1877, and 1878. I leave you to make such arrangements for building the cottages, and to let them on such conditions other than those stipulated, as may seem to you desirable. If you approve of this proposal, I shall be glad to receive any suggestions from your Honor on the subject, as also to learn the amount of money you think you would require during the current year. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. Julius Vogel.
No. 142. His Honor the Superintendent, Otago, to the Hon. tho Minister for Immigration. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 7th March, 1874. Eeferring to your letter of 17th December, Provincial Government desires to erect cottages for newly-arrived immigrants to extent of £10,000, on terms named by you. At present not a single house to be had. Wo propose erecting 100 cottages in different localities. Eeply. The Hon. J. Vogel, Wellington. J. Macandrew.
No. 143. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. (Telegram.) Wellington, 9th March, 1874. Am willing to advance £10,000 for erecting cottages, in compliance with your telegram. To save trouble, could you arrange to proceed with the erection, and to pass in vouchers from time to time for final payments ? His Honor, J. Macandrew, Dunedin. Julius Vogel.
No. 144. His Honor the Superintendent, Otago, to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Dunedin, 9th January, 1874. Eeferring to the plans and estimates of immigrants' depot at Oamaru, I have the honor to recommend that the tender of Steinhoff, £G49 10s, bo accepted. I have, &c, J. Macandrew, The Hon. the Premier. Superintendent.
No. 145. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. Sir, — General Government Offices, Dunedin, 9th January, 1874. I have the honor to approve, and to authorize you to give effect to tho recommendation made in your letter of this day's date, that the tender of Mr. Steinhoff, to erect an immigration depot at 7—D. 5.
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Oamaru for the sum of £649 10s., bo accepted ; the work to be done in accordance with the plans, &c, in your possession. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. Julius Vogel.
No. 146. His Honor the Superintendent, Otago, to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Dunedin, 6th February, 1874. Messrs. Cargill and Co. have received advices by last mail to the effect that the Albion Company, which has hitherto conducted emigration from the Clyde to this port with so much success and so satisfactorily to all concerned, is establishing a line of ships from London to Otago, from the beginning of this year, for which purpose they are adding to their fleet, and have now being built six magnificent iron ships specially designed for this trade. They are prepared to contract for the conveyance of emigrants from Clyde and London (on same general conditions as present contract from Clyde), number by any one vessel not to be under 100, at £13 10s, one-half paid at home, and one-half in the Colony, or at £13 if whole passage money is paid at home. I believe the above figures are lower than the contract rate with the New Zealand Shipping Company, and venture to suggest that the Agent-General be directed to make arrangements with the Albion Company for the passage of emigrants to this Province, from London as well as Clyde, on the terms indicated above. I would urge this suggestion, not on the grounds of price alone (for although that is an important point, it is but secondary compared with an effective service), but in consideration of the satisfactory performance of the Albion Company's line of ships during a long course of years, and in consideration of the liberal enterprise exhibited by the Company in extending their fleet of ships specially adapted for tho New Zealand trade. I may observe, with reference to an impression which seems to be on your mind when we conversed on this subject lately, that I have seen correspondence which is absolutely convincing to me that the Albion Company is not working into the hands of Shaw, Savill, and Co., or vice versa. The Company own all the ships sent out by them, and are thus directly responsible for every detail in the performance of their contract. I have, &c, J. Macandrew, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.
No. 147. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. Sir, — General Government Offices, Auckland, 18th February, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th inst., respecting the Albion Shipping Company and Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Co. In reply, I have to state that I have sent instructions to the Agent-General, that at the termination of any arrangements already made by him, and until he is further instructed by me, he is to divide the London and Otago business equally between the New Zealand Shipping Company and the Albion Company. I may add, that whilst I am quite sure the Otago agents of the Albion Company are unaware of any intention to effect a combination between that Company and Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Co, I am still of opinion that there is an understanding between the Company and the firm as to their present competition; or, perhaps, it would be more correct to say that I do not believe the understanding existing between them for many years has been disturbed. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. Julius Vogel.
No. 148. Telegrams between His Honor the Superintendent, Otago, and the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Dunedin, 13th February, 1874. Executive concurs with me in thinking immigration depot should be provided at Eiverton, which is centre of very large agricultural district. A plain building, not to exceed £300 or £400, should suffice. Shall we proceed with it ? The Hon. J. Vogel, Auckland. . ■ James Macandrew. Auckland, 16th February, 1874. In accordance with your Honor's recommendation, I authorize an expenditure of from £300 to £400 on immigration depot, Eiverton. His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. Julius Vogel. Dunedin, 21st March, 1874. Lowest tender depot Eiverton is £498, being in excess of amount which it was hoped would suffice. Shall we accept ? The Hon. J. Vogel, Wellington. J. Macandrew.
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Wellington, 21st March, 1874. Well authorize acceptance of tender of Riverton depot, if your Honor recommends it. His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. J. Vogel.
No. 149. Telegrams between His Honor the Superintendent, Otago, and the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Dunedin, 4th March, 1874. As it is desirable to establish immigrants' depots at Tokoniairiro and at Queenstown, I shall be glad if you will authorize a moderate expenditure thereon, say not to exceed £800 for the two ; the local municipality will be willing to take charge of them when erected. I propose organizing honorary local Committees to look after immigrants. The Hon. J. Vogel, Auckland. . J. Macandrew. Wellington, 9th March, 1874. In accordance with your Honor's recommendation, I approve of expenditure, not exceeding £800, for two depots, one at Tokomairiro and the other at Queenstowu. I am sincerely glad your Honor is going to carry out a suggestion I made in my circular, to enlist the aid of local Committees to welcome and assist immigrants. His Honor J. Macandrew, Dunedin. Julius Vogel.
No. 150. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. (Circular.) Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 24th March, 1874. I have the honor to inform you that my attention having been drawn to vouchers which have been sent in for medical and hospital expenses of sick immigrants after disembarkation, I propose, in order to prevent any difficulties arising in the adjustment of such claims, to authorize the payment by this Department of medical and hospital expenses for one month after arrival of the immigrants, after which period the immigrants to be considered as ordinary colonists, and dealt with in the ordinary manner by the local authorities. I shall be glad to havo your concurrence in this proposal, which I have no doubt you will consider of a liberal nature. I havo, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. Julius Vogel.
No. 151. His Honor tho Superintendent, Otago, to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Dunedin, 20th April, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 25th March, informing me that it is proposed to charge against the Province all medical and hospital expenses incurred in respect of immigrants after they have been disembarked for thirty days, an arrangement to which, as a general rule, there can be no objection; at the same time, it would be obviously unfair to charge this Province with the cost of maintaining immigrants who, like those per " Mongol," are bound for other Provinces, although, unfortunately, quarantined here. Upon the whole, it would save complication to regard all immigrants subjected to quarantine as being under the charge of the General Government until such time as they become a portion of the population of tho Province, which they cannot be considered as, until admitted to pratique. I have, &c, J. Macandrew, The Hon, Julius Vogel, Wellington. Superintendent.
No. 152. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 2nd May, 1874. Eeferring to your letter of 22nd April, I have the honor to inform you that it was never my intention that the Province should be charged, under any circumstances, with the cost of maintaining immigrants in quarantine. With regard to all matters, they are not assumed to be landed until admitted to pratique. I have, &c. His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. Julius Vogel.
No. 153. Telegrams between tho Hon. the Minister for Immigration and His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. Wellington, 24th March, 1874. Be Eiverton, Oamaru, and other depots. lof course rely upon your Honor having chosen sites for
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these, which are either the property of the General Government or which you will be willing at once to convey to the General Government. Please reply. His Honor J. Macandrew, Dunedin. Julius Vogel. Dunedin, 25th March, 1874. Immigrant Depots. Of course where sites do not vest in General Government already, they will bo conveyed to the Queen at once. The Hon. J. Vogel, Wellington. J. Macandrew.
No. 154. Telegrams between the Hon. the Minister for Immigration and His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. Wellington, 28th March, 1874. Sir F. D. Bell telegraphs that there is urgent necessity for erecting a rough shed at Bluff quarantine station. He states that if the " Davie " should arrive with sick on board, the present accommodation would not be sufficient for women and children, including, I presume, the sick. Will your Honor at once take steps in the matter, if you consider they are necessary. I append Sir F. D. Bell's telegram. His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. Julius Vogel. Dunedin, 30th March, 1874. Impossible to erect suitable buildings at Bluff in time for " William Davie." Would suggest that Customs boarding officers be instructed, in the event of infectious disease being on board, to direct ship to proceed to Port Chalmers to be quarantined. The Hon. J. Vogel, Wellington. J. Macandrew. Wellington, 31st March, 1874. Be Quarantine at Bluff. If the course your Honor recommends be adopted, it will be necessary to rescind proclamation for quarantine at Bluff, and to make Port Chalmers quarantine the quarantine for the whole Province. This will give rise to great dissatisfaction, and be very hard upon the vessel. Supposing, for example, some temporary cause for quarantining, the ship would have to proceed to Port Chalmers with all passengers, and probably great amount of goods, for Bluff. There is no knowing how owners would be affected as regards insurances. I will adopt this course if you wish it; but it seems to me preferable to make great exertions to have sufficient accommodation, even of the roughest kind, erected in time for arrival of vessel. She cannot well arrive in less than a fortnight. lam sure it would pay the vessel better, if quarantine buildings not quite completed, to keep passengers on board a few days, and help in finishing buildings, than if she were forced to proceed to Port Chalmers. Howover, I shall be guided by your Honor's wishes. If you agree with me about erection of shed, I authorize you to take steps immediately for its erection; but it should not be an expensive building. His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. Julius Vogel. DunediD, lst April, 1874. Have put quarantine barracks at Bluff in hand, to hold 150. With present rate of wages, work will be expensive ;it is, in fact, difficult to get workmen at any price. Have ordered the regular men in employment of Government to leave their other work to press this on. Will be done much cheaper and quicker than by contract, under direction of one of our smartest and best men. The Hon. J. Vogel, Wellington. J. Macandrew.
No. 155. Telegrams between the Hon. the Minister for Immigration and His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. Wellington, 26th March, 1874. A great many immigrants for New Zealand are now on the water, and many will no doubt arrive during the winter months. Are you confident of the ability of tho Provincial Government to give them occupation, should private work not offer, or would you like tho General Government to set apart some public work upon which immigrants might be employed if they could not get other work, but at somewhat less than the ordinary rate of wages offered by contractors ? Thus the Government, without competing with day labour, would provide for the necessities of those who might not be able to obtain other employment. I would move the Public Works Department to do this, unless you are satisfied you will be able to find occupation for any unemployed labourers. The question of houseroom is very important. Would it not be well to get a number of portable cottages made, that could be put up at a few hours' notice? I would forward you plans of two, three, and four-roomed cottages of the kind if you desire it. They might be erected in the neighbourhood of town, and iv different other parts of the Province, and be let to immigrants. lam aware your Honor, in conformity with my circular letter of 17th December, is moving in that direction, but would not portable cottages bo more convenient than rough huts ? It might also be desirable to put up some of these cottages by way of villages, upon points where public works are being constructed, say at the Waitaki, and on the line of the Dunedin and Moeraki Enilway. It appears to me that unless there is land available for immigrants in your Province, it might be desirable we should take under the Immigration Act one of the blocks that you propose for hundreds, and to throw it open to immigrants upon favourable terms. We would do this if you approved; and you might agree to accept as payment for the land the payments made by the immigrants. If it is true, as alleged, that there is not land for settlement to be obtained in Otago, something of the kind ought to be done, and I should be happy to receive a recommendation on tho subject from your Honor. His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. Julius Vogel.
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Dunedin, lst April, 1874. How many emigrants may be expected to arrive during winter months ? The extent to which we can employ them depends on this. Are pushing on erection of 100 four-roomed cottages all over Province. Carpenters exceedingly scarce ; none to be had under 14s. to 16s. a day. Shall be glad to have plans portable cott.ages, so as to be availed of in case of need. No lack of land aviiilable for immigrants; there would have been all the more had the desired hundreds been proclaimed. The allegation that there is no land for settlement to be obtained is of long standing, and will continue to be made until we have free selection. The Hon. J. Vogel, Wellington. J. Macandrew. Buildings, 2nd April, 1874. Present advices are, " Asia," 450 souls ; " Atrato," for Canterbury and Otago, 750 ; " Fleming " and another ship, name unintelligible, 720; and twenty-four vessels for Colony in March and April. Plans of portable cottages are being prepared by Colonial Architect; shall be sent as soon as ready. Do you advise any land being taken under Immigration and Public Works Act ? I await your Honor's reply. His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. Julius Vogel. Dunedin, 9th April, 1874. Provincial Government hope to have sufficient employment, in case of need, for all who are likely to require it, and who are able aud willing to work. Unfortunately there are too many among recent arrivals who are unable, or unwilling, and both. Query :In case of land taken under Public Works Act, can it be dealt with outside of the existing regulations ? —that is to say, can arrangements be made to locate a number of families contiguous to each other, should they so desire it, at the upset price, without their having to submit to competition or ballot, in the event of others desiring to acquire the same land ? The Hon. J. Vogel, Wellington. James Macandrew. Buildings, 11th April, 1874. Be land t.aken under Public Works and Immigration Act, Attorney-General advises " what the Superintendent mentions can be carried out under regulations under the Act. The land would not be subject to ordinary waste land regulations, when special regulations are made for the occupation or disposal." His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. Julius Vogel.
No. 156. Telegrams between His Honor the Superintendent, Otago, and the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Corporation of Invercargill, which has agreed to act as Committee to promote the location of immigrants, represents that there is urgent need for the depot there being rendered suitable for comfort and convenience of immigrants. This will involve some little expenditure. I have forwarded a couple of heating stoves, but shall incur no further expense unless specially authorized. Town Council statement sent. The Hon. J. Vogel. J. Macandrew. Wellington, lst May, 1874. Ixvehcarqill depot. Will authorize your Honor to have such improvements made as you consider necessary. If you think it desirable to authorize Town Council of Invercargill to make such alterations, I approve of your doing so. I presume the proposed alterations are of a trifling nature. His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. Julius Vogel.
No. 157. Telegrams between His Honor the Superintendent, Ot.ago, and the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Dunedin, 2nd May, 1874. Absolutely necessary with class of immigrants now arriving, if discipline is to be maintained at depot, to erect high wall. Both men aud women climb over present fence, and are a nuisauce to neighbourhood. I presume there will be no objection to this. The Hon. J. Vogel, Wellington. - J. Macandrew. Wellington, 4th May, 1874. Have received copy* of letter from Invercargill Municipality to your Honor. If you approve suggested alterations and additions to InvercargilVdepot, I authorize the same. I also authorize, it you consider it necessary, erection of high wall at depot. His Honor the .Superintendent, Otago. J. Vogel. B—D. 5.
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Dunedin, 4th June, 1874. Have received six tenders for fencing female yard, immigration depot. Highest, £693 ; lowest £230; which is so much in excess of what I anticipated when you authorized the work, that I shall not incur the expense without special authority. The work is absolutely necessary if we are to have more of the class of females now in depot. I can get no ship to take them home. Please reply. The Hon. J. Vogel, Wellington. J. Macandrew. Wellington, 4th June, 1874. Judging from published reports, I cannot disguise from myself the risk of possible further shipments from Cork poor-house before my telegram, stopping them, reached home. If you think it necessary to incur the expenditure, I will authorize it. His Honor the Superintendent, Dunedin. Julius Vogel. By Authority : Geohgb Didsbebt, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB74. Price Is. 9<J.]
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Bibliographic details
IMMIGRATION. (CORRESPONDENCE WITHIN THE COLONY.), Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1874 Session I, D-05
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41,728IMMIGRATION. (CORRESPONDENCE WITHIN THE COLONY.) Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1874 Session I, D-05
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