LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS TO THE AGENT-GENERAL FOR THE COLONY OF NEW ZEALAND.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1876 Session I, A-08b

A.—Bb

1876. NEW ZEALAND.

LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS TO THE AGENT-GENERAL FOR THE COLONY OF NEW ZEALAND.

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

The Hon. the Colonial Secretary to the Hon. Sir J. Vogel, K.C.M.G. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 19th October, 1876. Adverting to your letter of the 9th ultimo, in which you notify your willingness to accept the office of Agent-General for New Zealand, I do myself the honor to enclose a commission, signed by the Governor in Council and issued under the Public Seal of the colony, appointing you to that office. 2. The commission, as you will perceive, is dated on the 19th of September, but the appointment is to take effect from the 9th of that month, the date on which you signified your acceptance of the office, and the Gazette notice will be issued accordingly. 3. The salary attached to the office will be the same as that paid to your predecessor, Dr. Featherston —namely, £1,500 a year—and £700 will be allowed for passage money for the removal of yourself and family to England. As you are aware, the late Government came to the conclusion that travelling to any extent was unnecessary on the part of the Agent-General. The authority, therefore, for £4 4s. a day travelling allowance is cancelled; but, should you find it necessary to travel on the public service, the same rate of allowance will be made to you as is drawn by Ministers in the colony —viz., two guineas a day. 4. You will observe that no definite term is assigned in the commission to the duration of the office. It is, however, understood, as expressed in my letter of the 6th ultimo, that, for the reason therein assigned, the appointment is only for one year certain from the date of your arrival in England. 5. The views of the Government as to the future conduct of the business of the department are so well known to you that I need not here do more than generally indicate them on the following points: — 6. As to Immigration: It is intended to contract largely the expenditure in this direction ; and subject to special instructions, which will be from time to time addressed to you, to limit the number of persons sent to the colony to an average not exceeding 5,000 adults per annum, giving precedence in all cases to persons nominated by settlers in the colony. 7. The Government rely upon your reducing and keeping within the lowest limits consistent with efficiency the staff of the Home establishment of your department. The practice of nominating immigrants from the colony is now increasing to such an extent that I think the expenditure in the way of advertisements and of local emigration agents may be very considerably reduced, if not altogether stopped, without any detriment to the public service. 8. On matters of finance you will receive separate instructions, as occasion arises, from the Government. 9. Public Works: With reference to the large supplies of materials and stores for railways and other public departments, but more particularly those for railways, you will be good enough to take the earliest opportunity to very closely scrutinize the action of the Inspecting Engineers as to how they carry out the duties for which they receive so high a remuneration. On reference to the correspondence in your office in London, you will find that several serious complaints have been made during the last few months, and each mail takes Homo further complaints, tending to show that there is either no inspection at all, or, if there is any, it is of a very insufficient nature. Should you have any reason to suppose that any irregularities are taking place, you will, of course, take such action as you may consider best in the interest of the Government, bearing in mind that it is of the utmost importance that there should be a really efficient inspection before the goods are paid for in England. 10. In conclusion, it only remains for me to express to you the thanks of the Government for the readiness with which you have placed your services at the disposal of the colony. I have, i&c, The Hon. Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G., Wellington. Daniel Pollen.

By Authority: Gteoboe Didsbuey, Grovernment Printer, Wellington.—lB7G. Price 3d.]