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

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1878 Session I, D-02

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1878. NEW ZEALAND. IMMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND. (LETTERS FROM THE AGENT-GENERAL.)

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of Sis Excellency. Schedule or Coeeespondence. Ko. Date. Subject. Page. | :1877. 1 June 7 Report 'for month of May* ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 2 July 5 Report for month of June ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 3 July 16 Forwarding correspondence re Gefman immigration ... ... ... ... 3 4 July 20 Farther re German immigration ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 5 July 27 Re engagement of surgeon-superintendents through Mr. Moore's Agency ... ... 5 ti August 1 Pleased his action with regard to Scotch Agency is approved ... ... ... 6 7 August 20 In the matter of the reduction of the expenditure of his department ... ... 6 8 March 1 Forwarding correspondence with. Mr. Kennaway re renewal of his appointment ... 10 9 November 13 Further re Mr. Kennaway ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 11 10 November 12 Further re German immigration ... ... ... ... ... ... 11 11 December 4 Terms of Mr. Holloway's re-engagement... ... ... ... ... ... 11 12 December 1 Eeport for month of November ... ... ... ... ... ... 12 13 September 24 Difficulty of dealing with nominated cases during suspension of free emigration ... 13 14 October 0 As to giving assisted passages to small capitalists ... ... ... ... ... 14 1878. 15 January 30 Further re nominated passages during suspension of free emigration... ... ... 14 16 March 26 Forwarding copies of paper on New Zealand read by him at the Colonial Institute ... 14 17 May 1 Report for month of April ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 15 18 May 21 Offering suggestions for promoting superior class of emigration ... ... ... 16 19 May 2A Forwarding memo, from Messrs. Andrew and Ottywell on the subject of emigration ... 16 20 May 23 Defence of the operations of his department ... ... ... ... ... 18 21 May 23 Will the Government authorize him to pay the income-tax charged by Imperial Government on his officers' salaries ? ... ... ... ... ... ... 20 :h Reports are furnished each month by the Agent-General, but where they merely mention the departure of vessels, shipnient of railway materials, goods, &c., it has not been considered necessary to print them.

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Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly, by Command of His Excellency. No. 1. The Agent-G-.enebaTj to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. (No. 530.) Report for Month of May. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sic,— 7th June, 1877. I have the honor to report as follows as to the proceedings of my department during the month of May. The undermentioned ships were despatched with emigrants during the month: — On May sth, the ship " Waikato," from Plymouth to Port Lyttelton, with 143 souls, equal to 127 adults. Of these, 93 were single women, the remaining number comprising 11 families, two of whom were to be forwarded to Wellington. On May 4th, the ship " Columbia," conveying 26 souls, equal to 20J- adults, for Hawke's Bay, via Auckland. About 48 souls, equal to 38 adults, selected through the Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation, will be despatched to Wellington via Port Lyttelton by the ship " Waimate." Some difficulty was experienced in obtaining shipping from the New Zealand Shipping Company for these emigrants, as the direct ship, the " Orari," was engaged to take a larger quantity of deadweight than the Despatching Officer approved, and also a consignment of Government cartridges were waiting for shipment to the same port. I therefore found it expedient to make a special arrangement for the conveyance of these emigrants to Wellington, particulars of which I give in a separate letter. The Premier's telegram, giving me instructions as to the amount and description of emigration for this year, was received on the 21st May. As, from the fact that emigration operations had almost entirely ceased for the last five months, it was of great importance that the intelligence of tho resumption of emigration should be circulated as speedily and widely as possible, I at once, by means of Eeutor's Telegram Office, procured the insertion of a paragraph giving the substance of the telegram in nearly all the newspapers of the United Kingdom. This was all the more important as, on account of the comparatively late date at which the instructions have been received, and the small number of classes of labour to which the choice of emigrants to be sent out is to be limited, much difficulty will probably ensue in obtaining the full numbers within the time mentioned, particularly as, now that the fine weather has commenced, and hay and corn harvest is fast approaching, the class and quality of labour most required in New Zealand will also be in great demand in the United Kingdom. I have inserted short advertisements, announcing that n.nigrants will be sent out during the summer and autumn months, in a large number of newspapers, and have also issued short advertisements more particularly addressed to domestic servants, farm labourers, &c, in the country newspapers. The Local Agents have also been informed that they can send in applications, and the persons nominated are being communicated with as speedily as possible. The result of these and other steps taken has shown itself by my receiving a largely increased number of applications, of which only a percentage can be regarded prima facie as eligible. Much valuable time is taken up, as you may imagine, by applications for all kinds of appointments, »which the applicants consider will become necessary on account of the resumption of emigration. In selecting emigrants for this year, I intend, except under very exceptional circumstances, to give free passages only to those persons whose vocations are those named by you, and also to limit the number of children (including infants) under twelve years of age to three to each family, except, in accordance with your directions, where they are nominated from the colony. As regards the shipping arrangements, I have to report that, after some negotiation, the Albion Company have undertaken the emigration from the Clyde to Port Chalmers and the Bluff. I give below a statement showing the approximate dates of sailing, destinations, and ports of embarkation, and to which I intend to adhere as far as possible. The vessels put down as starting I—D. 2.

1878. NEW ZEALAND. EMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND. (LETTERS FROM THE AGENT-GENERAL.)

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for Canterbury and Auckland from the Clyde will have to be provided for by the New Zealand Shipping Company:— Date of 3Sailing. To From July 11 ... ... Canterbury ... ... ... ... Plymouth. July 13 ... ... Wellington ... ... ... ... Plymouth. July 13 ... ... Port Chalmers ... ... ... Clyde. July 25 ... ... Auckland ... ... ... ... Plymouth. July 27 ... ... Nelson, Blenheim, and Westland ... Plymouth. August 8 ... Port Chalmers ... ... ... Plymouth. August 10 ... Canterbury ... ... ... ... Plymouth. August 15 ... The Bluff ... ... ... ... Clyde. August 22 ... Hawke's Bay ... ... ... Plymouth. August 29 ... Canterbury ... ... ... ... Clyde. September 12 ... Wellington and Taranaki ... ... Plymouth. September 19 ... Port Chalmers ... ... ... Clyde. September 26 ... Canterbury ... ... ... ... Plymouth. September 28 ... Nelson, Blenheim, and Westland ... Plymouth. September 28 ... Auckland ... ... ... ... Clyde. October 17 ... Hawke's Bay ... ... ... Plymouth. October 19 ... Canterbury... ... ... ... Plymouth. October 19 ... The Bluff ... ... ... ... Clyde. October 31 ... Canterbury ... ... ... ... Clyde. November 7 ... Nelson, Blenheim, and Westland ... Plymouth. November 9 ... Canterbury ... ... ... ... Plymouth. November 9 ... Port Chalmers ... ... ... Clyde. The ships despatched in accordance with the above list will, if they each take an average complement of emigrants, be sufficient to complete the numbers ordered. Mr. Hollowayhas resumed the active duties of his appointment, and I have taken the opportunity of impressing upon him the necessity of his labours giving some material results. lam inclined to think that his plan of going rapidly from one district to another was not the best he could adopt; he will therefore concentrate his work more, by remaining in districts likely to give the class of emigrants wanted. He commenced his duties on Monday last, and already reports a successful commencement. In order to utili/ze the Scotch Agency as much as possible, and to avoid the necessity of making any large increase to the clerical staff of this office, I have decided that the Agency at Edinburgh shall deal with all applications from the whole of Ireland, as well as those from Scotland. I have, therefore, directed Mr. Cochrane and the Local Agents in Ireland to place themselves in direct communication with the Scotch Agency. The following shipments of railway material and other stores have been made during the past month : 1,234 tons rails and fastenings, 1 case band-saws, 14 cases stationery, 15 cases copying paper, 116 cases telegraph material, 5 cases clocks. Tenders for the supply of the following articles, ordered from the colony, have been accepted, viz. : 6 tank engines, 1 Columbian press and steel die, spring steel (Oxley's). The San Erancisco mail letters from New Zealand dated up to April 10th were delivered at this office on the 28th May. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Jtjliits Vogel, Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 2. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Report for Month of June. (No. 625.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sib,— sth July, 1877. I have the honor to report as follows as to the proceedings of my department during the month of June. On June 6th, the " Waimate " sailed from London with 48 souls, equal to 88-J statute adults, being emigrants selected through the Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation. Under the arrangements of which I have already advised you, the "Waimate" proceeds direct to Port Lyttelton, whence the emigrants will have to be transhipped by the New Zealand Shipping Company to Wellington. Both the " Waitangi " for Canterbury and the " Wairoa " for Wellington will, so far as I am at present aware, be despatched from Plymouth on the dates mentioned in my last report—namely, the 11th and 13th of this month. The list sent in to the New Zealand Shipping Company on the 30th ultimo gave 234 i adults as expected to embark by the "Waitangi," and the number to go by the "Wairoa" will probably amount to over 150. The " James Nicol Eleming " will also sail from the Clyde at the date given (13th instant), and will probably take about 220 adults. Finding that the number of emigrants wishing to proceed to Nelson, Blenheim, and Westland were coming in very slowly, I was compelled to postpone the despatch of the ship laid on to convey emigrants to those places, and to fix its date at the latter end of August.

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After transmitting the provisional list of dates of sailing, I received your letter No. 85, of 4th May, in which I observed a minute of the Hon. J. D. Ormond, recommending that the emigrants for Hawke's Bay should be despatched so as to arrive iii November and December. In pursuance of this recommendation I propose to endeavour to send the first party of emigrants for Hawke's Bay by ship sailing Bth August, if I can get a sufficient number together by that time. I am not confident that I shall be able to despatch the whole number required for Hawke's Bay at the short intervals indicated by Mr. Ormond, but I will do my best to give effect to his recommendations. The following dates of sailing of ships, subsequent to the "Waitangi," "Wairoa," and ".Lames Nicol Fleming," have been fixed : — For Name of Ship. From Auckland, July 27 ... ... Otaki ... ... Plymouth. Hawke's Bay, August 8 ... Mataura ... ... Plymouth. Canterbury, August 10... ... Eangitikei ... ... Plymouth. The Bluff, August 15 ... ... Marlborough ... ... The Clyde. Nelson, Blenheim, and Westland, August 22 ~. ... ... Waipa ... ... Plymouth. Port Chalmers, August 24 ... Hurunui ... ... Plymouth. Canterbury, August 29 ... ... Eakaia ... ... The Clyde. I trust to be able to despatch the above vessels at the dates mentioned, with a fair number of emigrants, but of course the near approach of harvest militates very much against the prospect of obtaining farm labourers in anything like large numbers. As I have advised you in a separate letter (via San Erancisco), I have adopted special measures to promote the emigration of single women domestic servants. I have offered for the next two months to supply that class of emigrants with the ship's outfit (bedding, &c.) free of co.st, and also to give them free passes by railway and steamboat to the port of embarkation. I shall also communicate with the principal registry offices for domestic servants, offering to pay them the commission given to Local Agents for single women, and furnishing them with forms to send in. I shall exert myself to the utmost to materially increase the proportion of single women domestic servants amongst the emigrants sent out this season. In the case of both the "Waitangi" and "Wairoa" the proportion of this class of emigrants approved shows an increase as compared with previous shipments. The Scotch Agency appears to be working very satisfactorily. I intend, if I can find time, to pay it a visit of inspection before the autumn. Mr. Holloway has been engaged in endeavouring to obbtain emigrants in the neighbourhood of Yeovil, Somersetshire. I have taken an opportunity of impressing upon him the necessity of his showing tangible results for his work. I believe him to be anxious to do his best, but hitherto I am inclined to think that he has not sufficiently concentrated his efforts in one district. The correspondence of the department is now very large, and a great deal of time is occupied with the consideration of applications to emigrate, of which a largo number have to be rejected. I have been constantly engaged in one way or another in promoting the settlement of the Inscribed Stock Bill. I have now hopes that it will pass this session in a shape the Bank will be willing to adopt. I shall address you separately about it, but could not well omit reference to it in describing the work of last month. The editor of " Fraser's Magazine " admitted iv the July number a short paper which I wrote in reply to an attack which appeared in the June number of the magazine. My reply was neither so long nor so vigorous as I should have desired, but I could not have obtained admission for a longer or more decided article. The following shipments of railway material and other stores have been made during the past month : 992 tons rails and fastenings, 28 tons 10 cwt. steel, 500,000 ball cartridges, 400 (loose) shot, 173 packages military stores, 5 cases instruments, 1 case charts, 4 cases stationery (Surveyor-General), 1 case stationery (Insurance Department). Tenders for the supply of the following stores ordered from the colony have been accepted : Steel die (Inland Eevenue Stamp), Waterlow and Sons; bookbinding material, Waterlow and Sons; railway tickets, Waterlow and Sons; stationery for constructed railways, Waterlow and Sons ; Columbian press, Hopkinson and Cope; 4 tank engines (for Auckland), Avonside Engine Company. The San Erancisco mail letters from New Zealand dated up to May 7th were delivered at this office on the 19th June. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Julius Vogel, Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 3. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. (No. 639.) Sic— 16th July, 1877. _ I have the honor to forward for your information a copy of a letter which I have received from the Colonial Office, enclosing, by direction of the Secretary of State, a report by the British Vice-Consul at Dantzig, on German emigration to the Australasian Colonies. I have, Sec, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.

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Enclosure 1 in No. 3. Mr. John Branston to the Agent-Geneeal. Sic,— Downing Street, 3rd July. 1877. I am directed by the Earl of Carnarvon to transmit to you a copy of a report by the British Vice-Consul at Dantzig, on German emigration and the Australian Colonies. Copies of this report have been sent to the Governor of the colony which you represent in this country. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. John Beanston.

Enclosure 2 in No. 3. The Agent-Geneeal to the Undee Seceetaey of State for the Colonies. Sic,— 16th July, 1877. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Branston's letter of the 3rd instant, transmitting, by Lord Carnarvon's direction, a copy of the report of the British Vice-Consul at Dantzig, on German emigration to the Australasian Colonies; and I have to request that you will convey my thanks to his Lordship for the same. I have, &c., Julius Vogel, The Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Colonial Office. Agent-General.

No. 4. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Minister for Immigeation. (No. 658.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sic— 20th July, 1877. In continuation of my letter of the 16th instant, No. 639,1 have the honor to enclose for your information a copy of a letter which I have received from Mr. Branston, of the Colonial Office, enclosing a further despatch from Her Majesty's Vice-Consul at Dantzig, containing a translation of a paragraph which has appeared in the official organ of the German Empire, reflecting on the condition of certain German emigrants to the colony ; and also of a letter which I have addressed to the Under Secretary of State on the subject. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Julius Vogel, Wellington. ■ Agent-General.

Enclosure 1 in No. 4. Mr. Beanston to the Agent-Geneeal for New Zealand. See,— Downing Street, 13th July, 1877. With reference to the letter from this department of the 3rd instant, transmitting to you a copy of a report by the British Vice-Consul at Dantzig on German emigration and the Australian Colonies, I am directed by the Earl of Carnarvon to transmit to you a copy of a despatch, in which the Vice-Consul calls attention to a paragraph which has appeared in the official paper of the German Empire in reference to the condition of certain German emigrants in New Zealand. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. John Beanston.

Sub-Enclosure 1 to Enclosure 1 in No. 4. Mr. Keuge to the Earl of Deeby. My Lobd, —i British Vice-Consulate, Dantzig, 20th June, 1877. I have the honor, with the greatest respect, in referring to the contents of my report on " German emigration and the Australian Colonies," of the 10th May, to enclose herewith an extract of the translation of a paragraph which appeared in this morning's Danziger Zeitung. The paragraph in question appeared first on the 18th June in the official Berlin Staats Anzeiger, and it will therefore pass through all those newspapers which are devoted, for some reason or another, to the Government at Berlin, as it indicates strongly that the Government wishes to put a check on emigration in general, and especially to the Australian Colonies, considering that they have become a field of attraction for German immigrants. In all probability the dissatisfaction and distress of the German immigrants referred to in the official journal has been greatly exaggerated, and I venture to think that an explanation or contradiction on the part of the London Agent-General for New Zealand would prove to be in the interest of all those colonies which desire to have foreign immigrants. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Earl of Derby, &c, &c. Adaleeet Keuge.

Sub-Enclosure 2 to Enclosure 1 in No. 4. [Translated lextracfc from the Danziger Zeitung of June 20th, 1877.1 Dueing the last few years there has been, particularly in Germany, a remarkable agitation for emigration to New Zealand, especially since the Colonial Government, in 1873, gave their Agents in London instructions to give a considerable number of emigrants free passage. However, the

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demand was soon more than covered, and then there existed a great surplus of labourers for whom no proper employment could be found, particularly as the want of knowledge of the language caused the greatest difficulties. The New Zealand Government telegraphed early in 1876 to their Agent-General to discontinue to give emigrants from the Continent free passages; this caused lately a diminution of emigration in that direction, but a considerable number of emigrants have notwithstanding arrived in the colony from Hamburg who had been engaged before counter orders arrived from the Colonial Government: these have been bitterly disappointed in their expectations. The provinces in the South of New Zealand refused to receive non-English immigrants ; the new arrivals were therefore sent to Wellington, and from there divided among the neighbouring settlements, but there were too many, and no employment. Ignorant of the English language, the people found themselves in the greatest embarrassment; they were not offered the same rate of wages as English labourers: many were in great distress. The Government, it is true, willingly took charge of them but they demanded to be sent back home to Europe. Should the reports of the circumstances of former immigrants be ever so favourable, New Zealand is certainly at present no field for German immigration.

Enclosure 2 in No. 4. The Agent-Geneeal to the Under Seceetaby of State for the Colonies. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sic— 19th July, 1877. I havo the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Branston's letter of the 13th instant, transmitting, by direction of the Earl of Carnarvon, a copy of a despatch from the British Vice-Consul at Dantzig calling attention to a paragraph from a German official paper in reference to the condition of certain German emigrants in New Zealand. In 1874, when it was decided to reduce the number of immigrants to whom assistance was to be given, it was thought desirable to discontinue German emigration. I append, at foot, the passage from my letter in which I, as a member of the Government, gave instructions to the then AgentGeneral to endeavour to end the outstanding contracts for German shipping. At the time, it was contemplated to take promissory notes from the emigrants. This intention was afterwards abandoned, but it was still deemed desirable to discontinue German emigration to New Zealand, and the AgentGeneral received instructions to that effect. The principal reasons for its discontinuance were that sufficient British emigrants could be obtained, that the cost of German emigrants was larger on the whole, and the arrangements more complicated, and that, owing to their want of knowledge of the language, German emigrants were less able to rely on themselves. I believe the German immigrants, in which designation were included the Germans, Scandinavians, and Italians who sailed for New Zealand from Hamburg, have been uniformly successful. With the exception of a few Italian tradespeople who were unsuited to the colony, I have not heard of any desire of the foreign immigrants to return. The Italians who desired to return were, I think, aided to do so. I have, Sec, The Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Julius Vogel, Colonial Office. Agent-General for New Zealand.

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure 2 in No. 4. ExTEACT. The introduction of the system of promissory notes points to the necessity of making some change in your arrangements for shipping Germans and Scandinavians. Apart from this necessity, while I do not deny the special excellence, in some respects, of those immigrants, I do not see why we should be unable to obtain from the United Kingdom the number of immigrants we require. The expenses of dealing with Germans and Scandinavians on their arrival in the colony, and the disadvantages arising in many cases from the foreign shipping arrangements, make me think that it would be better on the whole to end these contracts It would be intolerable that our own countrymen should have to pay for reaching New Zealand, while we were conveying foreigners thither entirely at our own expense.

No. 5. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. (No. 706.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sic,— 27th July, 1877. • I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 93, of 19th May, respecting the engagement of surgeon-superintendents through Mr. Moore's agency, and I am glad to observe that you concur with me in thinking that there is no reason to suppose that any officer of this department has been improperly influenced in the matter. In pursuance of your request that I should inform the gentlemen concerned of your opinion in the matter, I have adopted the course of furnishing them with your letter for perusal. I have, Sec, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Julius Vogel, Wellington. Agent-General.

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No. 6. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 701.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sic, — Ist August, 1577. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 26th May, No. 102. 1 am glad to find that you express approval of the action I have taken regarding the reconstitution of the Scotch Agency. I have, Sec, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Julius Vogel, Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 7. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sic,— 20th August, 1877. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th June, No. 122, in which you tell me that, although you approve of the reductions already made, you desire that they be increased after the Ist of January next, and that from that date you wish me to " bring the total cost of the London and Edinburgh Agencies to a sum not exceeding £4,000 per annum, exclusive of the salary of the Agent-General." Before I proceed to indicate the plan I propose'to adopt, I wish to mention to you that there are two points wjiich I particularly referred to you for instructions, but as to which you have given me no special reply, but rather left me to suppose that you desired me to exercise my own discretion concerning them. The first is, as to the retention of Mr. Cochrane. Concluding as I did from your replies to my letters that I must deal with this case myself, I thought it better, as Mr. Ottywell is in future to have charge of the Irish Agency, to ask him whether he considered it necessary to retain Mr. Cochrane. I forward you copies of the correspondence, and, in view of Mr. Otty well's expressed opinion, I propose writing to Mr. Cochrane that after the end of this year his services will be dispensed with. If you disapprove of this, there will be time to recall the intimation before the time arrives. The second point as to which you have not given me instructions is, as to whether I may comply with the conditions asked by Mr. Kennaway, which I fully pointed out in my letter No. 212, of March Ist, to which letter yours at present under consideration is a reply. As lam of opinion Mr. Kennaway's services are essential to the department, and the conditions he asks reasonable, I propose to signify to him the assent of the Government to them when the proper time arrives to do so. I consider the general power which you give me in your letter under reply is meant to cover this. Should you, however, not approve of what I propose, there is plenty of time, before I shall have to give Mr. Kennaway the assurance, for you to write me not to do so. If I do not hear from you to the contrary before the 31st December, I shall agree to the terms asked by Mr. Kennaway. I now proceed to show you the present expenditure of the office, exclusive of certain extra temporary charges for clerical assistance, advertising, and postage, incidental to the large emigration proceeding, and which charges will cease with the despatch of the emigrants now ordered. I assume that if, after I have made the reductions you desire, emigration operations are resumed on a considerable scale, a temporary increase of assistance, postage, and advertising may be charged to those operations, without interfering with the ordinary departmental expenditure. By the estimate subjoined you will observe that the total cost per annum of the London and Edinburgh Agencies, exclusive of the salary of the Agent-General, amounts to £5,520. Possibly some of the items may not come within the scope of the expenditure you desire to sco reduced. For example, part of the postage is really returned by the Post Office to the colony, and the rent includes a room for the Audit officer, which might be estimated at £50 per annum. The reductions I see my way to readily make are the Belfast Agency, including Mr. Cochrane's salary, £570, and Mr. Holloway, £150. This gentleman could be engaged at any time when emigration operations were sufficiently large. I propose to at once give him notice that his services will not be required after the Ist December. These two amounts will bring the expenditure down, to £4,800. There is one clerk in this office to whom, I think, an increase of £10 a year should be given, and an increase of £6 to the messenger. On the other hand, I think I can dispense with one clerk at £120 a year, leaving, say, a further reduction of £100, or reducing the total to £4,700. Beyond this, I must really ask you for advice or instructions. The next item which, it seems to me, can be best dispensed with, is the Scotch Commissioner at £286 per annum. I think Mr. Ottywell is quite capable of conducting the Scotch business with the experience he has now gained, but there were reasons, excellent ones in my opinion, which led me to arrange as I did with Mr. Andrew ; and before ending that engagement I should like your opinion if it is to be ended. Mr. Andrew would probably require the Agency to be removed, but that would not involve much difficulty. If this £286, paid to the Commissioner, is to be taken off, the amount is reduced to £4,414. Beyond this I cannot go without pointing out to you that the efficiency of the department may seriously suffer. Up to this point we retain the most valuable officers, and temporary increases would enable the business of the office to be carried out on the largest scale, supposing you decided to resume immigration. But if I reduce beyond this I must get rid of officers who would' be sadly missed when assisted emigration is resumed. I presume that it is only a question of time when assisted emigration will be continued, and, in any case, I suppose nominated immigration will go on. If lam wrong in these surmises, of course other reductions could bo made, but, if I am right, I strongly advise that you relax your instructions so as not to compel me

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to reduce beyond the amount I have indicated; and, as regards the Scotch Commissioner, I should like your express instructions. I hope I may be allowed to point out, in respect to the excess over £4,000, that, besides the recouped postages and the room provided to the Audit officer, which together we may put down at at least £100, this department now renders services to many departments to an extent that may possibly have escaped your notice. It does a great deal of work for the Colonial Secretary's Department, exclusive of the Public Works Branch, the orders for which come through the Colonial Secretary. It buys stores of all kinds for the Printing Department, the hospitals, the Education Department, the SurveyorGeneral's Department, and the Geological Department, all of which are branches of the Colonial Secretary's Office. It does a little for the Annuities and Life Insurance Department, and may do a great deal if my suggestion of extending the annuities business here be carried out. It does also a little for the Public Trustee. It does a great deal for the Treasury, and a considerable amount of business for the Post Office. It does a little for the Marine Branch of the Customs, and something, not much, for the Houses of Assembly. One thousand pounds annually might reasonably be apportioned amongst these departments, and the balance (divided between the Public Works and Immigration Departments) would not bo very much. The departments would really gain by this proposal, for lam persuaded that in the old days, before the Agent-General's Department was established, the commissions on purchases cost them more, whilst the duties were very much less. I have, Sec, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Julius Vogel, Wellington. Agent-General.

Enclosure 1 in No. 7. Mr. Kennaway to Mr. Ottywell. 31st July, 1877. Heeewith I transmit copy of correspondence relating to the Belfast Agency, and in reference thereto have to request that you will report to me as to the best mode of carrying the directions of the Government into effect. For the Agent-General, Mr. Ottywell. W. Kennaway. Sub-Enclosures to Enclosure 1 in No. 7. Letter from the Hon. the Minister for Immigration to the Agent-General, No. 97, 21st May, 1877. Letter from the Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration, sth February, 1877.

Enclosure 2 in No. 7. Mr. A. O. Ottywell to Mr. Kennaway. Sic, — 3, Hope Street, Edinburgh, 7th August, 1877. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your memorandum of 31st July, also copy of correspondence relating to the Belfast Agency; and I observe that you desire me to report to you as to the best mode of carrying the directions of the Government into effect. I have carefully perused the correspondence referred to. I gather therefrom that the Agency at present existing at Belfast is to be discontinued, although this is not specifically stated either in the letter from the Government or in your memorandum. I assume, also, that it is not your wish or intention to establish a branch office at Belfast in connection with the department; but that you desire that, while the district of which that town may be regarded as the centre and outlet should be more thoroughly worked than it is under the present arrangement, there should be an actual saving of expense to the Government in reorganizing the Agency. lam of opinion that there will be little difficulty in accomplishing both these objects. If the emigration to be carried on were on a scale similar to that conducted in 1873-75, I should be disposed to recommend that an active officer should be appointed, who could report to this office and work generally in conjunction with this Agency ; but, having regard to the comparatively moderate emigration now proceeding, I am strongly of opinion that it is unnecessary to incur the expense which such a course would entail. I recommend that a trustworthy Local Agent be appointed at Belfast, whose remuneration should be the ordinary commission, with bonus. He should send all letters and applications to this Agency, and receive his instructions therefrom. Ido not advise that he should be required to work for New Zealand only : a good and active Agent would not be likely to agree to such a condition. But in order (1) to give the New Zealand Government a positive advantage, as compared with other offices for which the Agent might work, and (2) to insure promptitude in the conduct of the correspondence with this office, I recommend, further, that a clerk be appointed to assist the Agent in his New Zealand business, to write letters, make out returns, and do other clerical work required in connection therewith, and, if necessary, to superintend the embarkation of the emigrants on board the Plymouth and Glasgow steamers : the salary of the clerk to be paid by the department. The Agent would pay office rent, postages, and all other expenses. The general arrangement could be made terminable by three months' notice on either side, and the engagement of the clerk could be monthly according to the usual practice of the department.

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The Agency might Le personally inspected from this office, from time to time, if you should consider such a course advisable, and reports occasionally sent to you as to its general working and efficiency. Mr. Andrew has perused this memorandum, and concurs in the opinions expressed therein. I have, &c, Mr. Kennaway. Albert 0. Otiyvvell, Secretary. P.S. —If you approve of the general arrangement indicated in this letter, there will remain the question of the person to be selected as Local Agent for Belfast. It is important to secure the services of an Agent experienced in the business of emigration. It occurs to me that Mr. Turbitt, the Agent at Strabane, might be disposed to remove to Belfast. Mr. Turbitt has worked for New Zealand for about ten years, and appears to be a man of great activity. Ido not know him personally. If Mr. Turbitt were allowed to work the Strabane district by means of a sub-agent (to be approved) he might possibly be disposed to abandon his other Government emigration agencies, if that course were considered expedient. A. O. O.

Enclosure 3 in No. 7. Mr. Kennaway to Mr. Ottywell. (Memorandum.) 9th August, 1877. I have received your letter of the 7th instant respecting the Belfast Agency, and containing suggestions for carrying into effect the directions of the Government as contained in the letter No. 97, of 21st May, from the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. I do not, however, understand that the Government have instructed me to discontinue Mr. Cochrane's services ; they probably desire to obtain your recommendation on the subject, which I shall be glad to receive. For the Agent-General, W. Kennaway. Mr. Ottywell.

Enclosure 4 in No. 7. Mr. Ottywell to the Agent-Geneeal. (Memorandum.) 11th August, 1877. I have received your memorandum of 9th instant on the subject of the Belfast Agency. I am sorry that I was not aware of your view respecting the instructions of the Government on this subject before writing my letter which you acknowledge. As I should be sorry to write or say anything which would tend to prejudice Mr. Cochrane's position in the service of the Government, it would perhaps be well to regard my letter of the 7th instant as withdrawn. If the meaning of the Hon. the Minister is simply that Mr. Cochrane's office should be brought into direct connection with this Agency, as you have anticipated that instruction by the arrangements recently made, I do not think that I can make any useful suggestions on the subject. The Agent-General, London. Albeet O. Ottywell, Secretary.

Enclosure 5 in No. 7. Mr. Kennaway to Mr. Ottywell. (Memorandum.) 14th August, 1877. I have your memorandum of the 11th instant respecting the Belfast Agency. You appear still to misunderstand the present position of the matter to which it refers. In my letter to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration of the sth February (copy of which was sent to you), you will see that I referred the question of continuing Mr. Cochrane at Belfast to the Minister. The reply directed me to place the Belfast Agency under your directions. No direction was given about Mr. Cochrane, and I therefore understood that the Minister wished to know your opinion on the subject. I shall be glad, therefore, to know whether you consider the retention of Mr. Cochrane's services expedient or necessary. - For the Agent-General, Mr. Ottywell. W. Kennaway.

Enclosure 6 in No. 7. Mr. Ottywell to Mr. Kennaway. Sic, — New Zealand Agency, 3, Hope Street, Edinburgh, 17th August, 1877. I have received your memorandum of 14th instant, respecting the Belfast Agency. In this memorandum you point out the present position of this question, and direct me to state whether I am of opinion that the retention of Mr. Cochrane's services is expedient or necessary. In reply, I beg to say that, having regard to the altered circumstances to which you refer, I do not think it is necessary to retain Mr. Cochrane's services as Agent at Belfast. I have, Sec, Albeet O. Ottywell, The Agent-General, London. Secretary.

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* The cost of these items is estimated from the actual cost of the same during the first three months of the present year, when there was extra heavy correspondence to the colony. f These items comprise cost of telegrams within the United Kingdom, local railway fares, cabs, foreign postage, newspapers, &c, &c. J These items exceed the actual cost of same during first three months of this year, an extra allowance being made to meet CoBt of additional correspondence with Ireland. 2—D. 2.

Enclosure 7 m JNo. t. Estimated Cost of the Department of the Agent-General. Permanent Staef. Salaries — £ s. d. £ s. d. Secretary ... ... ... ... 800 0 0 Private Secretary ... ... ... ... 400 0 0 1,200 0 0 Emigration — London Office — Despatching Officer ... ... ... 400 0 0 Clerk ... ... ... ... 180 0 o Clerk ... ... ... ... 120 0 0 Clerk ... ... ... ... 120 0 0 Mr. Holloway ... ... ... ... 150 0 0 970 0 0 Edinburgh Agency — Commissioner ... ... ... ... 286 0 0 Secretary ... ... ... ... 400 0 0 Clerk ... ... ... ... 90 0 0 Clerk ... ... ... ... 30 0 0 Mr. Cochrane ... ... ... ... 500 0 0 1,316 0 0 (Sic.) Miscellaneous — London Office — Accountant ... ... ... ... 500 0 0 Clerk ... ... ... ... 225 0 0 Clerk ... ... ... ... 130 0 0 Messenger ... ... ... ... 39 0 0 894 0 0 Of/ice Expenses — London Office— Eent of office rooms ... ... ... 450 0 0 Eent of store ... ... ... ... 31 4 0 Officekeeper, Ac. ... ... ... 36 0 0 Gas ... ... ... ... ... 10 0 0 Stationery* ... ... ... ... 120 0 0 Postage* ... ... ... ... 180 0 0 Miscellaneous! ... ... ... 80 0 0 907 4 0 Edinburgh Office— Eent of office rooms ... ... ... 50 0 0 Officekeeper ... ... ... ... 10 0 0 Gas ... ... ... ... ... 8 0 0 Stationery! ... ... ... ... 30 0 0 PostageJ ... ... ... ... 30 0 0 Eent of office (Belfast Agency) ... ... 30 0 0 Officekeeper, stationery, Ac (Belfast Agency) [40 0 0 Miscellaneousf... ... ... ... 30 0 0 233 0 0 £5,520 0 0 Temporary Staef. Salaries (Emigration) — London Office— £ s. d. £ s. d. Two clerks at 30s. a week ... ... 156 0 0 Messenger at 10s. a week ... ... 26 0 0 182 0 0 Edinburgh Office — One clerk at 25s. a week .. ... 65 0 0 Messenger at 10s. a week ... ... 26 0 0 ■ 91 0 0 £273 0 0 7th August, 1877. Walter Kennaway.

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No. 8. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 212.) 7, Westminster Chambers. Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sic, —■ Ist March, 1877. I have the honor to forward you a memorandum from Mr. Walter Kennaway respecting a renewal of his appointment. After looking through the papers supplied to me by Mr. Kennaway, I am inclined to agree with him that the provision respecting the sum of £250 to be paid for his return expenses was not originally intended to be coupled with the condition that he would not be entitled to it if he continued in the service beyond the three years. I have not my original memorandum, but I judge from the memorandum which Mr. Kennaway made of our conversation when, under the express authority of the Cabinet, I personally made the arrangement with him. Probably my memorandum will be found amongst the official records, or in the private Cabinet journal. If I am right in my impression as to the original understanding, the proviso in the letter of appointment was outside that understanding, and was probably due to the desire to leave no liability existing beyond the three years' term, as also to make it necessary there should be a fresh agreement when that term expired. I see no reason why Mr. Kennaway should not receive the £250 if he remain longer in the service, provided he uses it to take his family and himself back to New Zealand. I urgently recommend Mr. Kennaway's re-engagement, and I consider the terms he proposes fair, viz., that he should hold the appointment subject to a right of notice on either side of three or six months. Seeing the importance of his office, I think the latter term the better, as it would give some opportunity to sup ply his place. The £250 should be made contingent on his starting for New Zealand, accompanied by his family, within, say, six months of his leaving the department. I have to express a strong opinion that Mr. Kennaway's services are most valuable to the Agency. He has a good knowledge of the colony, and is well trained to the work of an official department, and to these qualifications adds great application, steady devotion to his work, an evenly balanced and sound judgment, and very considerable ability. It would be difficult to supply his place. In justice to Mr. Kennaway, I have to ask that you will (if there is no obstacle in the way) communicate to me your decision by return mail. I have, Sea., The Hon, the Minister for Immigration, Julius Vogel, Wellington. Agent-General.

Enclosure in No. 8. Memoeandum from Mr. Kennaway to the Agent-Geneeal. In accordance with your suggestion, I beg to bring under your notice the subject of my appointment as Secretary to your department, and herewith are papers relating thereto. 2. Three years are mentioned as the length of the term of my appointment, which I presume commenced from the date of my reporting myself to the late Agent-General —namely, January 2nd, 1875. 3. Should the Government deem fit to offer to renew my engagement on terms similar (with one exception) to those indicated in my letter of appointment, I am willing to continue to place my services at their disposal. 4. The exception to which I refer is the limitation of the time during which I should be entitled to receive an allowance for my return passage to the colony, my letter of appointment stating that " should I remain in the service over three years, I should not be entitled to receive any amount for my return passage." 5. I did not understand at the time I accepted the appointment that this was one of the conditions, and, as my letter of appointment was sent to me so late as to reach me only three days before I left, I had no opportunity of settling the point. In my letter of October 23rd, 1874, acknowledging the receipt of my letter of appointment, I took occasion, however, to draw attention to it, and to state that I did not so understand it. 6. As, unless I remain in the service of the Government, I should return to the colony, I have to ask the Government, in case they see fit to renew my engagement, that the allowance (£250) for my passage to the colony be made to me, should I return within a reasonable time, say six months after the termination of my engagement. 7. In connection with my passage expenses, I may say that at the time of tho year I had to leave the colony in 1874 there were no direct sailing vessels being despatched to England, and, in order to comply with the express wish of the Government that I should leave as soon as possible, I went via Suez which involved me in an expenditure of £300 over and above the amount (£250) allowed, whereas by sailing vessel tho allowance would have been sufficient. 8. I also think it right to add that I have found the cost of living in England more than I anticipated, and much more so than it is in the colony. 9. I do not, of course, ask for another three years' engagement, but would venture to suggest one with three or six months' notice on either side. 10. The attached papers will give you the correspondence which took place on the occasion of my appointment, and will confirm the statements made in this memorandum. 28th February, 1877. Walt.cc Kennaway.

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No. 9. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 1060.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir, — 13th November, 1577. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 156, of the 10th September, informing me that my view of the arrangement with Mr. Kennaway, as stated in my letter No. 212, of the Ist March last, is substantially approved by the Government. I herewith transmit copy of memorandum with which I communicated the Government's decision to Mr. Kennaway, and copy of that gentleman's letter in reply. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Julius Vogel, Wellington. Agent-General.

Enclosure 1 in No. 9. Memoeandum from the. Agent-Geneeal to Mr. Kennaway. 9th November, 1877. I heeewith transmit, for your information, copies of letters which have passed between the Government and myself on the subject of your memorandum of the 28th February last. Mr. Kennaway. Julius Vogel.

Enclosure 2 in No. 9. Mr. Kennaway to the Agent-Geneeal. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, London, S.W., Sir, — 12th November, 1877. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, transmitting copies of letters which have passed between the Government and yourself on the subject of the memorandum which I addressed to you on the 28th February last; and in doing so I would take the opportunity of thanking you for the favourable manner in which you communicated to the Government the representations which I made therein. I have, Sec, Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G., Agent-General for New Zealand. Waltee Kennaway.

No. 10. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 1119.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 23rd November, 1877. Eeferring to your letter No. 165, of 21st September, I have the honor to inform you that I transmitted a copy of the report, furnished by the Sub-Immigration Officer at Wanganui, respecting the condition of the German immigrants, to the Colonial Office, and herewith forward copy of a letter received from Mr. Under Secretary Malcolm in reply to my communication. I have, Sec, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Julius Vogel, Wellington. Agent-General.

Enclosure in No. 10. Mr. Under Secretary Malcolm to the Agent-Geneeal. Sic, — Downing Street, 20th November, 1877. I. am directed by the Earl of Carnarvon to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th instant, enclosing a copy of a report made to the Government of New Zealand by the Sub-Immi-gration Officer at Wanganui respecting the condition of tho German emigrants who have settled in that part of the colony. Lord Carnarvon caused a copy of your letter, and its enclosure, to be forwarded to tho Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and has suggested that they should be communicated to the British ViceConsul at Dantzig, in continuation of your previous letter of the 19th of July last. I have, Sec, The Agent-General for New Zealand. W. E. Malcolm.

No. 11. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigeation. (No. 1135.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sic,— 4th December, 1877. Eeferring to that portion of my letter of 20th August in which I informed you that I intended to dispense with the services of Mr. C. Holloway, I have the honor to inform you that on reconsidering the matter I determined, in lieu of giving him notice that his services will no longer bo required, to offer to place him on the same footing as 1 arranged with him to occupy in the early part of this year —namely, to give him leave of absence until his services are again required, and during that interval to pay him salary at the rate of 355. per week.

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During the past emigration season Mr. Holloway has proved himself very useful and energetic in the discharge of the duties of his office as Special Emigration Agent, and I believe, if emigration is resumed next year, that his services are well worth the expenditure incurred in retaining him in the employment of the Government. His knowledge and position as regards farm labourers of the country districts make him especially useful in obtaining emigrants of that class, and in making special inquiries into the circumstances of those who apply direct to this office for passages to the colony. I have, &c., The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Julius Vogel, Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 12. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Report for Month of November. (No. 1132.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, 8.W., Sic, — Ist December, 1877. I have the honor to report as follows as to the proceedings of my department during the past month of November. The following vessels were despatched for the undermentioned ports at the dates given below:— On November 3rd, the " Gainsborough," from Plymouth, for Nelson and Wellington, with 17 souls, equal to 17 statute adults, for Nelson; 68 souls, equal to 63 statute adults, for Westland; 56 souls, equal to 46 statute adults, for Marlborough ; 18 souls, equal to 15^ statute adults, for Hawke's Bay ; and 91 souls, equal to 78-|- statute adults, for Wellington—the total nnmber being 250 souls, equal to 220 adults, including 81 single women. On November sth, the " Carnatic," from Plymouth, for Lyttelton, with 195 souls, equal to 177 adults, including 51 single women. On November 20th, the " Piako," from Plymouth, for Port Chalmers, with 167 souls, equal to 146 adults, including 37 single women. On November 23rd, the " Wellington," from the Clyde, for Port Chalmers, with 295 souls, equal to 272 adults, including 82 single women. On November 25th, the " Wanganui," from Plymouth, for Lyttelton, with 261 souls, equal to 221 i adults, including 75 single women. The above-named five vessels thus embarked during November a total of 1,148 souls, equal to 1,085$ adults, including 326 single women —making the total number despatched, since the receipt of your instructions of May 19th, 5,356 souls, equal to 4,8051 adults, including 1,402 single women. In my report, dated October Ist, for the month of September, a clerical error was made in giving the numbers proceeding by the "Eakaia" from the Clyde to Lyttelton: instead of 258 souls, equal to 226^ adults, they should have been given as 294 souls, equal to 273 adults. The stormy weather which was prevalent during the end of October and nearly the whole of last month has been partly the cause of some of these vessels not being despatched on the days named in my previous report. The " Piako" was detained on account of two cases of scarlet fever having occurred amongst the emigrants after they were embarked. Every precaution was at once taken to prevent the spread of the illness, and the Board of Trade officers, on whom lay the responsibility of detaining or allowing her to proceed, allowed her to sail after a detention of five days. The sailing of these vessels brings to a close the emigration season of this year, as although, as will be seen by a return I attach hereto, the whole number ordered in the Premier's telegram of May 19th has not been sent, yet any vessels sailing after the end of November would not probably arrive before the end of February, the latest date at which the Government desired that emigrants should arrive in the colony. I withdrew all the advertisements inserted in English and Irish papers at the end of October, and those in the Scotch papers were withdrawn on the 9th November. The services of the clerks taken on temporarily at this office and at the Agency at Edinburgh, at the commencement of the emigration season, will now be dispensed with, and, one of the permanent clerks at this office having resigned his appointment, I shall not fill up the vacancy caused by his retirement. As regards Mr. Holloway, taking in consideration the value of his services in the obtaining and selection of farm labourers, I have arranged to give him a reduced salary until either his services are again required, or it is determined to dispense with them altogether. The number of applications for passages was at once much reduced on the withdrawal of the advertisements, but still there are many yet applying both for passages and for information respecting the colony. Tenders for the conveyance of Government cargo and emigrants to New Zealand were invited during the past month, and a number of shipping firms applied for the conditions and forms of tender, but tenders were received only from Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Co., the New Zealand Shipping Company, and Messrs. Trinder, Anderson, and Co. for the London or Plymouth service, and from the Albion Shipping Company only for the Glasgow service. The following shipments of railway material and stores were made during the past month : 10 cases stationery, 7 packages clothing (Industrial Schools at Burnham, Canterbury), 415 tons rails, 216 tyres and 28 wheels, 1 case vulcanite shields, drugs for the Christchurch Hospital, 3,300 gallons oil, 65 sets wagon ironwork, 150 wheels and axles, 503 packages telegraph material, 86 packages bookbinding material, 3 cases chemicals.

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The following tenders were accepted during the past month: 756 tons steel rail-; and fastenings, 2,917 tons steel rails and fastenings, stationery ordered by Public Works (memo. 64/77). Despatches from the colony via San Francisco, and dated up to the 22nd September, were received at this office on the sth November. I have, &c., The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Julius Vogel, Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 13. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 908.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 24th September, 1877. I have the honor to direct your attention to the difficulty which is experienced in dealing with nominated cases during the period of the suspension of free emigration. The persons nominated receive the usual communications from their friends, that their nomination has been prima facie approved by the Government, and some of them at once communicate with this office, desiring to be informed when they can proceed to the colony. I would venture to suggest that I receive authority to make arrangements, so that, at all events, nominated families and single men can, if approved, take their passages at any time during the year. They might be allowed, for instance, to proceed, should they elect to do so, by ordinary passenger

Enclosure in No. 1 j. Eettjrn showing Num' ier of Emigrants (Statute Adults) November (both inclusive), tent to New Zeal: 1877. md from June to 1,350. 350. 1,700. 400. 400. Otago. BlUTE. Canteebuey. Wellingti Auckland. IN. Ships. Nos. Adults. Ships. Nos. Adults Ships. Nos. Adults. Ships. Nos. Adults. Ships. Nos. Adults James Nicol Fleming Waipa Canterbury Oamaru (via Bluff) Piako Wellington... 218* 191* 240 182 146 272 Marlborough Oamaru 171* 58* Waitangi ... Eangitikei ... Bakaia Opawa Hereford Carnatic Wanganui ... 226* 249* 273 252 288 177 221* Waimate Wairoa Hurunui Gainsborough Hereford 38* 175* 170* 78* 5* Otaki Apelles Hereford 194* 212 1 Total ... Total ... 468* Total 407* Total 230 Total ... 1,687* 1,250 400. 100. 100. 100. 100. Hawke's Bay. Tabanaki, Nelson. Marlbokotji lH. Westland. Ships. Nos. Adults. Ships. Nos. Adults Ships. Nos. Adults. Ships. Nos. Adults. qv. „ Nos. ShlPs- Adults Ships. Hataura Renfrewshire 3-ainsborough 161J 181* 15* 358* Hurunui 79* Waitara Gainsborough Hereford 93 17 2 Waitara Gainsborough 46* 46 Waitara Gainsborough Hereford 52* 63 4 Total Total 79* Total ... Total ... 92* Total ... 119* 112 'ote. —The figures at the top p of columns are the numbers ordered to o be sent to the ports of New Zealand named therein. Summary. Otago... Bluff ... Canterbury Wellington Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Nelson Marlborough . Westland Ordered. Sent. 1,350 1,250 350 230 1,700 1,687£ 400 468! 400 407! 400 358| 100 79* 100 112 100 92| 100 119! 5,000 4,805! 1st December, 1877. Walter Kennaway, Secretary to the Department.

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vessels, and I could allow the amount of rate of passage-money payable under the existing shipping contract towards the cost of their passage, they making iv other respects their own arrangements with the shipowners. I do not think, presuming that not less than 150 could be taken, that it is probable that a sufficient number of nominated emigrants could be got together so as to fill a separate vessel for each port of New Zealand, but, if it were thought a more desirable course than to allow them to take separate passages by any vessel, arrangements might be made by which a vessel could be despatched, say in April, for Wellington, conveying nominated emigrants for all parts of the colony, to be transhipped from Wellington to their respective destinations. Notices to that effect could be issued to all persons nominated, and if they did not avail themselves of the opportunity they would then have no reason to complain. I merely point out one or two ways in which the difficulty could be met, but, on the whole, I would venture to suggest that the necessary arrangements might be left to my decision at the time, subject to any general instructions which you think fit to give me on the subject. I have not the proposed conditions for the new shipping contract, so that I cannot say how far it would be consistent with such conditions to give passages as I have suggested. If there were yet time it would be desirable to embody a clause in the contract that by any ship of the contractors sailing to New Zealand, not emigrant ships, I might send a few emigrants at contract rates. I have, <fee, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Julius Vogel, Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 14 The Agent-General to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. (No. 923.) Sic, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., sth October, 1877. I have the honor to inform you that I have granted an assisted passage to Mr. S C and family, under the following circumstances : — Mr. C has a family of seven sons and three daughters. One of the sons, having recently married, takes his wife with him, and five out of the seven are over fifteen years of age. I had a personal interview with Mr. C , and satisfied myself that he would in all probability prove to be a desirable colonist. He takes a small capital and some goods with him, and on the whole he appeared to belong to that class of superior emigrants to which your letter No. 96, of 22nd May, refers. I therefore offered, on his representing that if he obtained assistance he would emigrate to and settle in New Zealand, to assist him to the extent of paying, towards the cost of the passage of himself and family, half the present contract rate of passage-money; and, with the concurrence of the New Zealand Shipping Company, as to the passage being taken by one of Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Co.'s ships, Mr. C and his family have proceeded, under the above-mentioned arrangement, by the ship "Adamant," to Nelson. In connection with this matter I may add that I have offered to entertain another application of a similar nature from one who proposes to take out a small capital and settle in New Zealand. Ido not, however, intend to continue the system without further definite instructions from the Government. I shall be glad, therefore, if you will inform me whether the Government deem emigration of this description of sufficient importance to justify my continuing to act as I have done in Mr. C 's case. I have, &c., The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Julius Vogel, Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 15. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. (No. 95.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sic, — 30th January, 1878. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 196, of the 28th November, respecting the cases of nominated emigrants during the period of suspension of free emigration, from which I understand that, in accordance with the suggestion contained in my letter No. 908, of the 24th of September, I am to send nominated emigrants out during the suspension of ordinary free emigration, provided the necessary arrangements arc not inconsistent with the provisions of the shipping contract, and do not involve transhipment of the emigrants, after their arrival in the colony, to a greater extent than has hitherto been the case. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Julius Vogel, Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 16. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 26th March, 1878. I have the honor to forward you copy of a paper I read at the Colonial Institute. It is my duty to say (though I regret to lay myself open to the imputation of egotism) that the paper has given a great deal of satisfaction, and that I have been much congratulated on it.

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Under ordinary circumstances, I should offer it to a magazine to reprint, as is often done with papers read at institutes, and I do not doubt it would be accepted: but it has occurred to me that it would serve a better use if printed for distribution from this office. I have constant evidence of the desire for information concerning New Zealand later and less bulky than the Official Handbook. I have great pleasure in placing the paper at the disposal of the Government. The fact that it is written by me personally will relieve the Government from being identified with any of the opinions contained in it with which they may disagree. I subjoin a memorandum as to terms on which the printer is willing to publish it. If you will telegraph me the word " Institute," I shall understand you wish me to have it printed for the Government. I have, Ac., The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Julius Vogel, Wellington. Agent-General.

Enclosure in No. 16. Estimate for Eeprinting Paper on New Zealand (consisting of 3 sheets, demy Bvo., and wrapper). 1, 2, and 3, Oxford Court, 109 a, Cannon Street, E.C., 27th March, 1878. Printing 3,000 copies, and doing up in wrapper, £23 17s. Ditto 5,000 ditto, £36 Bs. Terms, cash net. Pro Unwin Beothees, J. W. WILTSHIEE.

No. 17. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. (No. 410.) Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., Ist May, 1878. I have the honor to report as follows as to the proceedings of my department for the past month of April. On the 26th of April I received your telegram instructing me that the first ships conveying emigrants for this year should arrive in the colony in October, and that you had concluded shipping contract with the New Zealand Shipping Company, leaving the contract for the shipping required from the Clyde to the Albion Shipping Company. I have communicated with the New Zealand Shipping Company on the subject, and have given them notice that I shall require ships, at the following dates, for the under-mentioned ports:— June 28 ... ... A ship for Wellington. July 10 ... ... ~ Auckland. „ 12 ... ... „ Hawke's Bay. ~ 17 ... ... „ Canterbury. „ 26 ... ... „ Nelson, Westland, Marlborough, and New Plymouth. I have also communicated with the Managing Director of the Albion Shipping Company, and have ascertained that the Company, while now unprepared to take emigrants at the rates named in their tender, are willing to do so at the rates accepted for the conveyance of emigrants from London and Plymouth. I shall propably arrange for a vessel to convey emigrants to Otago, sailing from the Clyde on the 10th July. Pending the receipt of your instructions by mail, I have abstained from issuing any application forms, as the conditions attached thereto might have to be altered as regards the immigration for the present year. I have, however, instructed Mr. Holloway to make his arrangements at once for visiting and obtaining emigrants in some of the agricultural districts. I do not anticipate much alteration in the circumstances usually attending the obtaining of emigrants. Although, at present, there is want of employment as regards a very large number of working men in tho United Kingdom; yet, as a rule, they do not belong to the classes required in New Zealand. Strikes in the North place a large number of artisans employed in cotton manufacture out of employ, and the decrease in the demand for iron manufactures creates a scarcity of employment amongst the ironworkers ; but these are not the emigrants required. As regards farm labourers, the present prospects of the English harvest, both hay and grain, are very favourable, so that the demand for their labour in this country will probably not be less than in previous years. The wages of domestic servants of experience are not any lower than they were. In the advertising columns of the Times I observe cooks requiring places naming from £20 to £30 a year as their rates of wage, so that the inducement held out by New Zealand by way of higher wages is not very strong. I shall, if not otherwise instructed, continue to offer free ships' outfits and free passes to the port of embarkation to single women who are domestic servants. Letters via San Francisco, dated up to the 2nd of March, were delivered at this office on the 16th of April. I have, Sea., The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Julius Vogel, Wellington. Agent-General.

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No. 13. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 425.) Sic, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 21st May, 187 S. I do myself the honor of renewing the representation which I have more than once previously made as to the expediency and practicability of promoting from this country the emigration of a most useful class of colonists —persons possessed of moderate capital and of a knowledge of farming, and prepared to devote both their capital and ability to agricultural pursuits. I am convinced that, if facilities were offered to persons of this class to obtain land before they leave, on easy terms of payment, and to procure passages to the colony of a somewhat more comfortable nature than those provided to ordinary emigrants, numbers would avail themselves of the opportunity. There is another class of persons, of whom the number is very large, to whom the colony might be a favoured home. I allude to the growing youths of this country whose parents are unable to find for them a career here. Persons of moderate capital or with fixed incomes of even a considerable extent are unable to know what to do with their sons, for the demand for employment here in almost every class of life is less than the supply. Besides, to the manly youths of Great Britain outdoor life, such as that of farming in New Zealand, possesses incomparably more attraction than sedentary occupations. Ido not see why the Government should leave to private speculators the profits of special settlements when it might itself do all that is required. As what I have written before may not have been sufficiently precise, I now venture to submit a more detailed plan. Let the Government put apart a tract of good agricultural land of from 30,000 to 50,000 acres in extent —it need not be in one block; several blocks would answer equally well. Let the land be surveyed, and authorize me to dispose of this land to emigrants of a desirable character. I feel sure I could procure suitable emigrants. In fairness to the people already in the colony, I am of opinion that a larger price should be paid for this land by purchasers here than they would have to do if they risked a visit to the colony before purchasing. I think so much an acre should be added to the price which would have to be paid in the colony. These payments should be deferred, on the usual rates of interest, and the terms might be made to include passage-money. Eor example, a family desires to emigrate, and wants 200 acres. The cost of the land, with deferred payments, let us say, represents X, and the cost of the passage, say, T. These added together, after deducting the cash payments, could be divided over a term of years, or it might be required that the passage be paid in full, and a less cash deposit be required on the land. As the possession of capital to work the land would be a necessity, it might be stipulated that the emigrant should remit through the Government a certain amount, to be available for his use after his arrival. Under these terms some young men might be allowed to emigrate. To meet the case of young men possessing strength and capital, but wanting experience and knowledge, I venture to suggest, as an experiment, that a few, say, twenty, be received at the Agricultural School which is, I believe, to be formed at Canterbury, on terms which will comprise a payment for their education and for a piece of land at the end of the time, when they may have gained sufficient knowledge to practically deal with it. I should be glad to be placed in a position to carry out these views, because I am sure that I should be able by their fulfilment to benefit the colony. I have, Sec, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 19. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 419.) Sic, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 21st May, 1878. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th of March. It is, of course, a subject of great regret to me that you find the emigrants sent from Scotland during the last year were not equal to those sent in former times. I gather from your letter that the emigrants from Ireland have not shown themselves equal to those from Scotland. Since the amalgamation of the Scotch and Irish immigration, nearly the whole of the Irish immigration has been of necessity sent to Otago, as, with two exceptions, the Scotch vessels proceeded there. lam sorry to say that the Irish agents do not exercise that caution in the selection of emigrants which they might and ought to do. It would be impossible for me to say one word against the Irish people, of whose warm-hearted temperament and great natural ability I have been all my life an admirer, and amongst whom I count many intimate friends. But, as I have said, the agents are not sufficiently cautious and sensible of the responsibility devolving on them. There is something to be urged in their defence ; their task of selection is unusually difficult, because of the fact that, during the last two years, Ireland has been so prosperous as to offer great inducements to its most valuable population to remain at home. It has for some time been a common remark that the only two European countries in a prosperous condition are France and Ireland. Tou will readily see how much the inducements within a country militate against obtaining as emigrants the best of its population, and narrow the range of selection. I propose, as soon as the loan arrangements are concluded, to visit Scotland, and personally promote an increase of the emigration from thence. Meanwhile lam doing what I can from here in this direction, as also in that of promoting the best class of immigration from Ireland. I beg to enclose a memorandum on the subject from Mr. Andrew and Mr. Ottywell. There is no doubt truth in what they say about the difficulty interposed by the season we select; but you will recognize

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that my instructions forbid my sending emigrants to arrive in Otago at a time which would enable, according to Mr. Andrew and Mr. Ottywell, the best selection to be made. I have. &C, The Hen. the Minister for Immigration, Julius Vogel, Wellington. Agent-General.

Enclosure in No. 19. Messrs. Andeew and Ottywell to the Agent-Geneeal. Sir, — New Zealand Agency, 3, Hope Street, Edinburgh, 15th May, 1878. Eeferring to your memorandum of the 3rd instant, instructing me to confer with Mr. Andrew and report to you as to the adoption of any means by which the number of Scotch emigrants could be increased, I have the honor to state that I have conferred with Mr. Andrew ; and the following remarks represent our views on the matter: — As to the comparatively small number of Scotch emigrants obtained during last season, the following causes, in our opinion, have contributed to this result, — 1. Tho late period of the year at which emigration was commenced. I have in a previous letter referred to this point. The date at which Scotch shepherds and farm servants leave their yearly or half-yearly engagements is 26th May, and they are usually engaged for fresh service long prior to that date. You may remember that some time since I submitted to you one or more letters from shepherds, stating that the time had arrived at which they were " spoken to " with reference to re-engagements. As our first vessels will not sail until the end of June, and we have hitherto been unable to give any assurance of passages to applicants, we have probably for this season lost a number of agricultural workmen who might, under other circumstances, have been fixed for New Zealand. The same remarks apply to the class of female servants, whose half-yearly term closes 15th May. The first vessels last year did not sail until July, and they will leave at about the same time this year. The large number of servants' boxes lying at tho railway station to-day shows that very many servants are changing their situations this term. I counted, at about 3 p.m, seventy-two servants' trunks on the platform of the Caledonian Station, and this represents only a small portion of this class of traffic in Edinburgh during the present term. 2. Emigration from Scotland to the Australian Colonies appears to have largely diminished as compared with former years. Wages are generally good. And lam unable to find that there is any considerable excess of labour in any of the agricultural or pastoral districts of the country. 3. The restrictions under which emigration to New Zealand has been carried on —■ («.) The free passages last year were confined to farm labourers, shepherds, carpenters, bricklayers, and female servants. This restriction excludes a large section of the emigrating class. (S.) And these passages were refused to families containing more than three young children, including infants. These restrictions were not formerly in force in Scotland, and doubtless occasion the loss of many persons who would otherwise avail themselves of the advantages offered. 4. Mr. Andrew desires specially to point out that tho Scottish peasantry are of very cautious habit, and usually require a long time to make up their minds upon so momentous a matter as emigration ; and that it is therefore of great consequence that we should be in a position to deal with them at the time the applications are made. Mr. Andrew is also of opinion that the office should be always before the notice of the public — that is, that the emigration advertisement, although the wording of it might be altered from time to time, as required, should never be entirely withdrawn. 5. There can be no doubt that the recent practice of absolutely suspending the emigration for six months is a great disadvantage in the successful conduct of the system. Mr. Andrew informs me that the Otago Provincial Government never suspended their emigration, although they reduced the rate of despatch and widened the intervals between the sailing dates during the winter months. This was also generally the practice of the Canterbury Provincial Government. For example, the emigration now closes at the end of November. A vessel might be fixed to sail at the beginning of March following, and the regular sailings resumed in April or May. As to the adoption of means to increase the number of Scotch emigrants this season, — 1. We recommend that the emigration announcement should be much more widely circulated, and should appear in a much larger number of newspapers than was the case last year. Emigration to Queensland has been proceeding for some months, and will no doubt continue during the remainder of the year. Many of our Local Agents act for that colony ; and we shall have to do the preliminary work of the season at a time when other emigration schemes are in full operation. It would therefore be well to adopt a more than usually attractive form of advertisement, and have it well set up, in order that the attention of inquirers may be drawn thereto. 2. Tou will remember that Mr. Jamieson, the Local Agent at Sandness, Shetland, has during the recess written several letters respecting the season's emigration. It has been suggested to me that something might be done by a personal canvas of the district, and that Mr. Jamieson would be the man to do it. The suggestion seems worthy of consideration. If you approve, Mr. Jamieson might be asked to state his views on the subject. No doubt the matter might be so arranged as not to interfere with other Agents, who would be benefited also, as they would be likely to receive more applications and draw a larger commission as the result of Mr. Jamieson's efforts. I have, Ac, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Albert 0. Ottywell, 3-D.—2.

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No. 20. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 433.) 7. Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster. S.W.. Sic,— 23rd May, 1878. Eeferring to your letter No. 28, of the 15th February last, and to the remarks made by Dr. Coward in his memorandum, a copy of which was contained in your letter No. 34, of the 27th of the same month, I would take the opportunity of making a few observations respecting the character and health of tho emigrants sent out during the emigration season of 1877. I have carefully examined the official reports received from the colony respecting the vessels despatched during the above period, and I attach a schedule hereto giving extracts therefrom, referring to the health and character of the emigrants. Tou will observe that, as regards the character of the emigrants by ten out of twenty-one vessels, the Immigration Commissioners expressly and favourably report, and that as to the remainder they do not make any remark; but I think it is fair to assume that, as each shipment of emigrants was selected under the same regulations and with the same amount of care, they also were of a satisfactory description, and this assumption is confirmed by the favourable tenor of the quarterly reports of the Immigration Officers up to December 31st last, extracts from which I also attach. The Immigration Officers, with two exceptions, in these reports speak well of the class of immigrants, and report that they obtained employment without difficulty. The Canterbury officer reports unfavourably as regards the emigrants by one ship, and the Nelson officer reports that the men emigrants were unable to get work for a long time; but he gives as the reason for this, that the demand for labour was exceedingly limited, and he recommends the discontinuance of free emigration to that district. But in all other cases the reports are favourable, the Canterbury officer remarking, as regards the ships to his port, excepting one only, that the emigrants were very good. That one exception was the " Eakaia," which sailed from Glasgow to Canterbury. . The Wellington officer remarks favourably on the large proportion of single women sent out, and that all appeared of the right class; and as regards the emigrants by one ship, the "Hurunui," he states that they were the finest body of emigrants he had seen brought to Wellington. The remaining reports are all more or less favourable and satisfactory. Then, as regards the question of mental and physical health, I can scarcely believe, in tho remarks made b}' J)r. Coward to the effect that the number of persons sent out either mentally or bodily incapable is becoming very numerous, that that gentleman intended to refer to the emigrants sent out by the Government, at all events to those sent out during the past season of 1877 ; for I find that, out of twenty-one ships, expressly satisfactory remarks are made as to the health of the emigrants by twelve of those vessels, and, with the exception of the cases of the young woman who had paid her passage by the " Wanganui," and of a young man, an emigrant by the " Canterbury," there are no remarks of a contrary nature as regards any of tho twenty-one vessels. The number of deaths occurring on board these twenty-one vessels bears, I think, satisfactorjr evidence as to the health of the emigrants. Twenty-nine deaths occurred during the voyages of these twenty-one vessels, carrying over 5,000 people; and of these twenty-nine, twenty-two wore infants, two were children under twelve years of age, and five only adults. I do not desire, in citing the above-mentioned facts, to be understood to endeavour to prove that all the Government emigrants sent were without exception suitable both as regards health and occupation, for it is impossible I believe to adopt any system which would bring about so desirable a result; but I believe that the checks employed to prevent unsuitable persons from obtaining Government passages are as complete as can practically be used. That the application of these checks by this office is not inefficient, is, I think, borne out by the following statistics, as per schedule attached. This schedule shows that, excluding the nominated cases, there were 4,838 emigrants sent out during the past year ; that to obtain them applications from 15,805 persons were received and considered :of these, 5,226 were rejected or declined; 4,390 did not proceed with their applications, in consequence of the information furnished to them from this department as to the description of emigrants required, and for other reasons; and 1,351 who were approved did not embark, leaving 4,838 who finally sailed. There is no doubt that New Zealand is looked upon as a most desirable sanitarium, and that a number of persons who are invalids, either by paying their own passages, or doing so through the assistance of their friends, proceed to the colony every year. Not infrequent inquiries aro made at this office by persons of this description, but I havo always peremptorily discouraged the idea of such people going out to New Zealand, and have quoted in more than one instance the provisions of the Imbecile Passengers Act for that purpose. It is also no doubt tho case with persons who are mentally weak, that their friends not unfrequently endeavour to get rid of them by encouraging and assisting their going to a distant part of the world, like Australia or New Zealand ; and it therefore happens, on rare occasions, that persons with incipient diseases, physical and mental, manage to be accepted as emigrants, whose diseases cannot be discovered without a more searching medical examination than it is expedient to adopt in the general selection of emigrants. And, similarly, there are rare cases in which persons with false characters, or by means of forged certificates (which are, I believe, almost always detected by this office), or by false representations as to the nature of their occupation, manage to obtain passages, but who are found to be unsuitable when they are tried by actual experience in the colony. But, judging from the character of the reports sent Home, I am led to conclude there was a minimum of such cases as regards the emigration of last year. And here I may remark that, in addition to the difficulty of weeding out the unsuitable, there is the difficulty of reaching those who are most suitable. It may be taken as a rule that those most wanted in New Zealand, such as the really good class farm labourers, or the experienced domestic servants, are also in good demand here,

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and, more particularly as regards the first named, are difficult to induce to move from their position in this country. Although not obtaining such high wages as they would in New Zealand, they are obtaining higher than they did in former years, and with that, as a very general rule, they are disposed to be content, and not risk a change which involves the discomfort of moving, and of a long voyage to, what is to them, an unknown part of the world. Again, as regards the agricultural labourer, it has been found expedient to limit the period during which emigration is carried on to certain months of the year, and these months are the very ones during which there is most demand for the agricultural labourer in this countr yname ly, during the two months preceding harvest, during harvest itself, and during the two months following that season. During the months when the agricultural labourer as a class mostly feels the result of a scarcity of employment, emigration to New Zealand is closed to him. The want of continuity in keeping up the stream of emigration throughout the year increases to a certain extent the difficulty of obtaining the most suitable emigrants. As regards 3Scotland specially, I am assured by Mr. Andrew that an advantageous opportunity is missed of obtaining a good number of farm labourers, Sec, from Scotland, in consequence of emigration to New Zealand not commencing earlier, as the "term " time at which engagements are made in Scotland commences in May, and farm labourers then make engagements for six months. To take advantage of this would require vessels to be despatched early in June, thus arriving in the colony early in September. A similar opportunity is missed as regards the "term" time in November. The Australian Colonies which carry on emigration, despatch ships throughout the year, diminishing the number perhaps sent out during the winter and spring months—one or, at the outside, two ships per month are all that are sent; whereas during the New Zealand emigration season at least one ship a week has to be despatched, in order that the emigrants required should arrive in the colony within the time specified. I do not mention these considerations for the purpose of myself recommending any change in the system of limiting the emigration to a certain season of the year, as it is more within the province of those within the colony to form an opinion ;—whether, for the sake of perhaps obtaining a better class of emigrants, and probably a larger number of single women, it is expedient to make any alteration. But I would venture to state that it is of importance that instructions as to the number and description of emigrants required for the season in each year should be furnished to this office as early in the year as possible. If the first emigrants have to arrive in the colony in October, it would be desirable that this office should receive the particulars as early in April as possible. Eeferring to the Timaru Herald's remarks in connection with an advertisement that appeared in the Times, but which was not issued by this office, it is desirable, before I close this letter, that I should briefly explain the process by which the selection of emigrants is made, in order to show that the system of selection which the writer deprecates, and which would be manifestly unsatisfactory, does not exist. All applicants have first to fill up an application form giving particulars as to age, occupation, Ac, If they are found to be prima facie eligible, a form is issued containing printed forms of certificates as to the character and health of the applicants, the first of which has to be signed by persons who know the applicants, and the second by a medical man, and added to them is a certificate to be signed by a magistrate or clergyman, certifying to the authenticity of the signatures to the first-named certificates. In addition to these, written testimonials are required, showing that the applicants are experienced in the duties of the occupation to which they state they belong, and special inquiries are in many cases made direct to the employers, or others signing the certificates. If the applicants reside within a reasonable distance of this office, they are required to call and see tho Secretary to the department, and Mr. Holloway has personal interviews also with a large number. All applications are flnallv decided on, either at this office or at the Scotch Agency, and the forms of those applications introduced by Local Agents are as rigidly examined, and the conditions as strictly adhered to, as in the cases of those who apply direct to this office, or direct to the Scotch Agency. I may mention hero that, of the 5,027 sent out last year, 2,496 were introduced through the Local Agencies, 841 were nominated, and 1,690 applied direct to this office or to the Scotch Agency ; but the application of the whole number were finally decided on either at this office or by the Scotch Agency. The emigrants embarking at Plymouth are carefully inspected by the Despatching Officer of this department and by the surgeon-superintendent of the ship at the depot before embarkation, the latter of whom has to give his certificate that all who embark are, so far as he can judge, in good health, of sound mind, and free from any bodily defect likely to impair their usefulness in the colony. As regards the emigrants embarked at the Clyde, the medical inspection there, in the absence of a depot, is not made under the same favourable circumstances as at Plymouth. At both ports there is a final inspection by the Imperial Government medical officer. I have made this letter bear the character of a defence of the operations of the department, but I am bound to say that I rather assume than otherwise any censure on your part upon the nature of those operations. The passage in tho Timaru Herald and Dr. Coward's remarks may have been written on the spur of the moment, and on the incitation of exceptional misconduct on the part of some of the immigrants. On the other hand, there is a remarkably conspicuous approval of a large portion of the emigrants contained in the report of the Commissioners and Agents already alluded to. lam confident too that you will not fail to recognize the impossibility of keeping a large body of emigrants free from all objectionable persons. I have, Ac, The Hon. the Minister of Immigration, Julius Vogel, Wellington. Agent-General.

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No. 21, The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 453.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street. Westminster, S.W.. Sic,— 23rd May, 1878. I learn, from the Agents-General of Victoria and South Australia, that their Governments instruct them to pay the income-tax charged by the Imperial Government on the salaries of the officers of their departments. In the case of this department, however, the income-tax has been hitherto paid by the officers themselves out of their salaries, and as the General Assembly probably vote the salaries presuming that no such deductions are made, the Government may feel itself justified in acting in accordance with the practice of the above-mentioned Governments. In any case I have thought it my duty to bring the matter under your notice. I have, Ac, The Hon the Minister for Immigration, Julius Vogel, Wellington. Agent-General. By Authority: Geobce Didsbuev, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB7B. Price Is.]