IMMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND, (FURTHER LETTERS TO THE AGENT-GENERAL).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1875 Session I, D-01b

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1875. NEW ZEALAND.

IMMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND, (FURTHER LETTERS TO THE AGENT-GENERAL).

Presented to both Souses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. The Hon. Sir J. Vogel to the Agent-Genebal. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sib,— 23rd June, 1875. I have already communicated to you verbally the telegram I received from the Government of New Zealand on the subject of the number of emigrants to be sent out during the present year. It is desirable, however, that I should place on record the instructions received, especially as they to a certain extent replace those I have already given to you. 2. The instructions in the telegram are to send out the following numbers of adult emigrants for the year ending 30th April, 1876: —Auckland, 2,200; Hawke's Bay, 1,000; Wellington, 2,000; Taranaki, 600; Marlborough, Nelson, and Westland, 400 each; Otago, 2,000; Invercargill, 1,000 ; Canterbury, 3,000. The telegram further says that direct shipments must necessarily be made to Taranaki and Invercargill, and that single women are much wanted in the colony. It also draws special attention to the order already sent for emigrants for the Westland special settlement. 3. These instructions must be implicitly followed; and those concerning the numbers to be shipped will take the place of the directions upon that point which are given in the table of numbers attached to my letter of 30th April. 4. You will, therefore, have to deduct from the numbers authorized by the telegram those shipped by you since the end of April last; and in distributing the balance you should fix the complement for each port in accordance with the terms of the telegram. 5. I understand from you that your engagements will lead to the completion of a large portion of the order by the end of July. Such being the case, you must use your own discretion as to the division of the remainder between the several months. The last portion of the period over which the instructions extend is that during which you might, with the greatest advantage, reduce the shipments; but, having regard to the total number authorized, you will have to make considerable reductions during the earlier months also. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. Julius Vogel. 9

No. 2. The Hon. Sm J. Vogel to the Agent-Genebal. Sib, — London, 26th June, 1875. I have the honor to inform you that I have received a telegram from the Government of NewZealand, expressing a wish that free immigration should be continued. 2. I have, therefore, to withdraw the instructions given in my letter of April 30th, for discontinuing free immigration and taking promissory notes. 3. The Government also express a desire that there should be the most careful selection of immigrants. 4. I have to impress upon you that other instructions contained in my letter of April 30th, are not withdrawn. For example, strict attention should be given to the directions under headings 11. and 111., " Selection of Immigrants," and " Surgical Examination." Indeed, you must not consider that any portion of the letter of April 30th is withdrawn, excepting so much as refers to the discontinuance of free immigration, and to the number of immigrants, about which I have already separately instructed you. 5. I believe it to be still desirable that you should issue a notice to immigrants. Although there is not to be a cessation of free immigration, it will be well to give as much information as possible to those who may contemplate emigrating ; and you should especially make widely known the fact that, upon receiving a requisition from a stated number of persons, you will send an officer to give information respecting New Zealand. The nature of the rations supplied, the manner in which the comfort of immigrants is attended to on board ship, and the care taken of them for a while after landing in the colony ; all these points, as well as others, referred to in the draft notice appended to my letter of April 30th, should be dwelt upon in your notice; and it should be freely circulated with the least possible

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delay. It may he said that, without issuing such a notice, you will he able to obtain the number of mmigrants you require, but the larger the number of applicants, the wider will be your range of selection, and most careful selection is, as I have said, particularly insisted on by the Government. Even if you are not able to accept, during the year ending April 30th, 1876, all those persons who desire to go to New Zealand, and who would make good immigrants, you may be able to accept them at some future time ; for I am of opinion there is no probability that the system of free or assisted immigration will be discontinued for a considerable period. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. Julius Vogel.

No. 3. The Hon. Sir J. Vogel to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, Sic, — June, 1875. I have the honor to inform you that, after considerable negotiation, the terms of a new charterparty and fresh arrangements for shipping have been agreed to with the New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), and with Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Company. 2. The course which I proposed should be followed in the negotiations will be found stated in section 12 of my letter of 30th April, to the Agent-General. In pursuance of those proposals, the Agent-General met me and Mr. Mackrell, and with the assistance of Mr. Kennaway, and the Shipping Officer (Mr. Smith), we went through the existing charter-party. A great many memoranda on the subject had previously from time to time been supplied to me by Mr. Smith. When we had agreed to the modifications of the charter-party we should require, representatives of the Shipping Company were invited to meet us, in order that they might be informed of and discuss the alterations required. I enclose copies of the correspondence which passed between the Manager of the Shipping Company, and the Agent-General and myself. Several interviews also took place, and finally the Shipping Company made arrangements to give Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Company part of the business. Part of the London-Otago business was left free, for possible arrangement with Mr. Galbraith, as well as all the Glasgow business. 3. You will observe that it has been agreed to pay £16 per adult emigrant, or £1 10s. in excess of the present rate. The letter of 2nd June, from the Manager of the Shipping Company, contains calculations showing the Company's views as to the increase. I am of opinion, from all the information I could obtain, that the Company have only moderately estimated the additional cost of the requirements under the new charter-party. It would not, however, be right to suppose that what has now been done throws upon the colony an additional cost of £1 10s. per adult emigrant, as compared with the cost that has been of late incurred. Since your telegraphic despatch to Auckland (to catch the San Francisco mail of 29th October, 1874) directing an increased dietary, the provisions necessary for that increase have been put on board each vessel by the Agent-General's Department; and the cost thus incurred, commencing with the " Fernglen," which sailed on 3rd January, has to be added to the £14 10s. paid to the Company for each statute adult. The additional cost as shown by the return attached has been £1 lls. s^d. per statute adult, thus making the total cost to the colony £16 Is. s£d. per statute adult. The new arrangement includes advantages in addition to those of the increased dietary scale. Those advantages are described in the Company's letter as —increased space for emigrants, extra space of 5 feet for luggage, improved dietary for infants (which, as infants are not charged for, has to be averaged over the total number of adults), cost to the Company from payment of a moiety of the passage money in the colony. There are, besides other advantages secured, such as a saving of 2s. 6d. a ton freight on all cargo, a larger power of enforcing penalties, and more substantial payment for demurrage, and larger powers to prevent objectionable cargo. I should also not omit to mention that, as the rate for emigrants to Hawke's Bay and the Bluff is now to be the same as to ordinary ports, there will be an actual saving in the cost of emigrants to Hawke's Bay, which has hitherto been £16 10s., £2 in excess of ordinary rates; the same addition has hitherto been asked for rates to the Bluff. Mr. Smith estimates the increased space per adult as equal to 7s. 6d. per head; the extra cost for provisions and medical comforts for adults at 17s. 6d. per head; the extra provisions for children at £1 Bs. per head; and the additional space for luggage at ss. per head. The payment in the colony of a moiety of the passage money represents 5 per cent, on that moiety. There still remains unestimated the value to the colony of the extra demurrage, the increased power as to penalties, the cost to the Company of insurance upon the moiety of the passage money, as well as the reduced rate of freight, and other advantages to which I have already alluded. 4. Many of the alterations in the charter-party have been made in consequence of instructions from the colony, such for instance as the improved dietary scale and the increased space per adult. The extra room for luggage has been required because experience has shown that the allowance under the old charter-party is not sufficient. The payment in the colony of half the passage money has more than once been insisted upon in despatches from the colony. The extra demurrage I thought it right to stipulate for. 5. I am of opinion that the increased cost under the new charter-party is reasonable ; and it must be remembered, in considering that cost, that emigrants will receive, in other things than food and medical comforts, far more than the bare terms of the law require. It is proposed that the duration of the arrangement now made shall be until the end of April 1876. 6. After much consideration, I determined to take upon myself the responsibility of modifying, as you permitted me to do, the instructions contained in your letter of 22nd December, 1874. Had I

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insisted, in the terms of that letter, on first-class passengers being excluded from emigrant ships, we should have had to pay (see New Zealand Shipping Company's letter, Enclosure No. 1) over £1 per adult emigrant extra. I have thought that, without this payment, what you required would be to a large extent met by the conditions which we have had inserted in the charter-party. 7. Although, for convenience sake, I am writing this in my own name, I have to state that the Agent-General has shared with me the whole of the task of revising the charter-party and the negotiations for the new contract; and I feel myself much indebted to him for the cordial co-operation he has given in the matter. I have, &c., The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, New Zealand. Julius Vogel.

Enclosure 1 in No. 3. The Manages, New Zealand Shipping Company, to the Hon. S;r J. Vogel, and the Agent-Genebax. The New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Sib, — 84, Bishopgate Street "Within, London, E.C., 2nd June, 1875. In compliance with the wish expressed by you, at the interview between yourself and the Agent-General, on behalf of the New Zealand Government, and Mr. Hall and myself, on behalf of this Company, I am instructed to state that my Board of Advice has carefully considered the proposed alterations in the charter-party, and the terms upon which, under the new conditions, the Company can undertake the conveyance of emigrants to New Zealand, j, j The principal alterations in the agreement appear to be as follow: — 1. Space for emigrants increased to 18 feet, but including hospital, dispensary, &c. This, though a modification of the original proposition, will add to the room hitherto occupied by the emigrants ; but for this, under the circumstances, the Company would not make any additional charge. 2. The extra space of 5 feet required for luggage. 3. The increased dietary and scale of medical comforts for adults. 4. The improved dietary for infants. No charge being made for infants, the necessary cost of their maintenance must be distributed over the payment for adults. 5. Cost to the Company, arising from a moiety of the passage money being made payable in the colony. 6. The proposed prohibition of cabin passengers in emigrant vessels. This I purpose dealing with separately. The actual increased cost to the company involved in items 2, 3, 4, and sis £1 12s. lOd. This, added to the sum of £14 10s. now paid, and which, you are aware, is barely a paying rate, brings up the passage money for adults to £16 2s. lOd. The Company being anxious to meet .the Government as far as it possibly can, is prepared to reduce this amount to £16, upon the understanding that every effort will be made to embark not less than 300 adults in each vessel. Understanding that you wish to have a separate rate of payment for children, the Board has carefully considered this point. Owing to the important additions to the dietary for children, the extra cost entailed upon the Company by this and the other proposed alterations will be £1 15s. B£d. Upon the understanding previously referred to, the Company would be prepared to convey children at £9 each. With regard, however, to the charge for children, I am desired to make a suggestion by which it appears to the Company the cost of their conveyance might be materially reduced. Whilst a considerable addition has lately been made to the articles of food especially adapted for children, no corresponding diminution has been made in the quantity of other food stipulated for them in the ordinary New Zealand dietary scale, which is in itself considerably in excess of that of the Board of Trade. The practical result is the issuing of a far larger quantity of food than children can consume. In their case, the Company would suggest that the supplies required by the Board of Trade, in addition to the special supplies of children's food provided by the New Zealand Government, would be amply sufficient; and, if this were conceded, it would enable the Company to reduce the charge for children by no less a sum than 19s. per head. The proposed power for prohibiting the carrying of cabin passengers, and the placing the poop at the disposal of the Government, would prove to this Company so serious a disadvantage and loss, that I trust the Government will not be indisposed to reconsider this question. On a moderate estimate, the actual loss to the Company entailed by the sacrifice of this portion of their vessels cannot be stated at less than £30') to £400 ; and if this condition were insisted upon, the Company would feel bound to add £1 per head to the charge for immigrants ; and also, if the saloon were used for emigrant purposes, the cost of restoring the same to its original condition would have to be added to the cost of passage money. Whilst the Company does not offer any opinion as to the general results to the colony of such prohibition, they feel bound to point out that, so far as their experience will serve as a guide, no disadvantage whatever arises to the emigrants from the presence of families as cabin passengers; on the contrary, it is considered to have a beneficial effect upon the conduct of the officers, as well as the emigrants. Should the Government see fit to reconsider its decision in this matter, so far as regards families, yet reserving the power of excluding single men not accompanied by their families, the Company would —although this restriction would involve some loss —so far meet the Government as not to make any additional charge on this account. No reference has been made to other alterations contained in the new charter-party which are disadvantageous to the Company, in the hope that in practice their operation will be made as little onerous as possible, and on the understanding that the Company will continue to receive their fair share of any cargo which the Government may have to forward to the colony. I have, &c, Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G., and O. B. Stbickxand, the Agent-General for New Zealand. Manager.

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Enclosure 2 in No. 3. Hon. Sir. J. Vogel and the Agent-General to the Manager, New Zealand Shipping Company. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster S.W., Sib,— June 9th, 1875. We have carefully considered the terms of your letter of the 2nd instant, respecting the proposed new charter-party, and we now beg to place on record the substance of what was agreed to between the Hon. Mr. Hall, Mr. Strickland, and ourselves, at the interview on the 7th instant. 2. We cannot agree that any such understanding should exist as " that every effort will be made to embark not less than three hundred adults in each vessel." It would be most inconvenient that such an understanding should exist outside the charter-party, and, as a matter of fact, we propose not to send so large a number by many of the chartered vessels. A similar objection applies to the passage in your letter, " on the understanding that the company will continue to receive their fair share of any cargo which the Government may have to forward to the colony." Whilst the Agent-General will always be disposed to give to the Company a fair share of the Government carrying business, provided he is able to approve of the Company's terms, we think it undesirable that there should be a record of the existence of such an understanding as that which you propose. 3. Subject to the terms of this letter, we agree to —and the Agent-General will pay —the price proposed by the Company for the conveyance of adult emigrants, namely, sixteen pounds per head. 4. We notice what you say about the reduction of the dietary scale for children. We are not able at once to come to a conclusion upon the point, but we are willing to accept your proposal of nine pounds for the conveyance of each child, subject to a reduction equal to the actual cost of any decrease we may make in the children's dietary scale. 5. We should require you to put on ships for the Bluff and for Hawke's Bay without extra charge, and we should propose to continue present terms as to Timaru and Taranaki, namely, one pound per head for each adult actually landed at either of those places. 6. We notice your remarks as to the proposed prohibition of any but Government passengers, that, "if this condition were insisted upon, the Company would feel bound to add one pound per head to the charge for emigrants, and also, if the saloon were used for emigrant purposes the cost of restoring the same to its original condition would have to be added to the cost of passage money." In view of these very serious additional charges, we have decided, in the absence of further instructions from the colony, to modify the prohibition in the direction suggested by your letter. We propose, therefore, to substitute for the absolute prohibition now contained in the charter-party, such conditions as, — Steerage passengers paying their own passages, not to be allowed to proceed to the colony in any emigrant ship, unless specially approved of by the Agent-General. No private passengers of any description to be berthed between decks without the special permission in writing of the Agent-General. Single men not to be taken as saloon passengers unless they are members of some family proceeding in the same ship. Single women to be allowed the use of the poop deck, as at present. 7. As we understand that this letter substantially embodies the modifications which the Company are willing to agree to, we shall be glad to receive from you without delay, a statement to that effect. We have, &c, The Manager, Julius Vogel. New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited). I. E. Featheston.

Enclosure 3 in No. 3. The Manager, New Zealand Shipping Company, to the Hon. Sir J. Vogel and the Agent-General. The New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Gentlemen, — 64, Bishopsgate Street Within, London, E.C., Bth June, 1875. Upon re-examination of the figures transmitted to you as being the actual additional cost for providing for children under the proposed new dietary scale, I find the extra charge of Bs. 9d. per head incurred by the addition to the general dietary scale was not included, and that therefore, upon the proposed new conditions, the rate for children should, in the Company's proposal of the 2nd instant, have been stated as £9 9s. 5-jd. instead of £9 Os. B|d. As I understand further explanations respecting the dietary for children have been received from the colony, I submit these particulars in the event of your deciding to re-arrange the scale. I have, &c, Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G., and O. R. Stbickland, I. E. Peatherston, Esq., Agent-General. Manager.

Enclosure 4 in No. 3. The Manager, New Zealand Shipping Company, to the Hon. Sir J. Vogel, and Agent-General. The New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Sies, — 84, Bishopgate Street Within, London, E.C., 11th June, 1875. • Referring to my interview with you this day, relating to the error in calculating the cost for providing for children, as submitted to you in the Company's proposal of the 2nd instant, I now beg to place on record the understanding arrived at respecting the same, viz.,— That the rate of passage money for chidren be nine pounds (£9), the quantity of butter being reduced by one and a half ounces per week, and the onions dispensed with. The Company to inform the Agent-General if it undertakes the whole of the emigration which is now offered to it, upon the conditions conveyed in the despatch of the 9th instant. I am, &c, Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G., and O. E. Strickland, I. E. Peatherston, Esq., Agent-General. Manager.

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Enclosure 5 in No. 3. The Manager, New Zealand Shipping Company, to Hon. Sir J. Vogel and the A gent-General. The New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Sies, — 84, Bishopgate Street "Within~ London, E C, 14th June, 1875. I am now instructed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, in which you detail what portion of the Company's proposals to convey immigrants to New Zealand under your new charter-party you assent to, and also to which portion you made objection. With reference, however, more especially to the" paragraph relating to the cargo, the Company desires now to be more clearly informed, as since my proposal to you of the 2nd instant, I have been instructed by cablegram from the colony to undertake (if offered) the whole of the Government business, with the exception of the emigration from the Clyde; and as the cargo is of so much importance, and bearsso materially upon the due and proper carrying out of emigration arrangements, I have now to inquire if, in the event of the Company undertaking the whole of the emigration business —as now offered to it at our interview of the 11th instant—the whole of the Government cargo will also be placed at its disposal, on terms to be agreed upon. I have, &c, Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G., and O. E. Strickland, I. E. Featherston, Esq., Agent-General. Manager.

Enclosure 6 in No. 3.

Ship. Coat of Extra ProTisions. Total Number Statute Adults Embarked. Average Cost per Statute Adult. "Fernglen" " Tintern Abbey " " William Davie " "Cicero" ... " Wennington " "Hindostan" " Dunedin :>... " White Kose " "Hannibal" " Earl of Zetland " " Countess of Kintore "... " Eorf'arshire " " Collingwood " " Star of China " " James N. Fleming " ... "Alumbagh" " Dover Castle " "Halcione"... " Blairgowrie " £ b. d. 258 12 1 436 16 6 263 2 0 306 4 2 164 13 5 244 18 10 245 7 11 222 9 0 264 13 9 438 19 0 170 18 3 200 17 1 428 5 0 299 10 7 397 9 7 590 2 0 434 17 11 445 14 11 565 1 10 155 270 144 185i 111 155 177 165 185 280 117.V 198 230 200 255i 334I 332| 228£ 384 £ s. d. 1 13 3 1 12 4 1 16 6 1 13 0 1 10 0 1 11 8 1 7 8| 17 0 18 7 1 11 4 19 1 19 5 1 17 3 1 9 11 1 11. 1 1 15 3 16 2 1 19 0 19 5 The aver; ige of 19 ships is £1 lls. 5-|d. 21st June, 1875. Ed 'abd A. Smith. By Authority : Geoege Didsbuet, Government Printer, Wellington.—1875. Price 6d.]