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1880. NEW ZEALAND.
EMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND. (LETTERS FROM THE AGENT-GENERAL.) [In continuation of D.-2, Sess. II., 1879.]
Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of Sis Excellency.
Schedule of Correspondence.
No. Date. Subject. Page. 1879. 2 3 4 $ 6 7 8 9 io ii I 2 13 14 16 <7 18 May 1 May 20 May 20 June 2 June 14 July 1 July 2 July [ 2 July 12 July 16 July 17 July 17 August 1 September 1 October 1 October 3 October 3 November 1 November 3 November 4 November 8 November 8 November 11 November 11 November 19 December 1 December 1 December 3 Monthly report for April. Proposal to engago ships for special class of emigrants Acknowledging letter of nth March relative to emigrants from Canada lie emigration of men discharged from Her Majesty's service Monthly report for May Acknowledging telegram re Sir George Grey's interview with the King Natives Monthly report for June Forwarding correspondence with Mr. Henry Jepson as to supply of steel rails, &c. lie employment of Mr. Bathgate as lecturer As to employment of paid Local Agents ... As to further employment of the Eev. J. Berry As to employment of Mr. Jeffreys as lecturer As to employment of Mr. Clayden as lecturer Monthly report for July Monthly report for August ... Monthly report for September Five pounds will be charged per male adults for passages of nominated emigrants Mr. Press and party sail per " Maraval "... Monthly report for October .. As to limiting the despatch of nominated emigrants ... Acknowledging letter of 1 ith September as to services of Mr. Clayden As to further reducing number of Local Agents Further as to single men saloon passengers by emigrant vessels ... Forwarding forms of undertaking required from emigrants before embarkation Further as to Mr. Press's party of emigrants per "Maraval" Further as to return passages of Surgeons-superintendent further as to accepting promissory notes from emigrants Monthly report for November. Has limited despatch of nominated emigrants With correspondence relative to searching the Crozet Islands by H.M.S. " Comus " for survivors of the "Knowsley Hall." Has renewed Mr. Jeffreys's engagement as lecturer ... As to demand for school-teachers in New Zealand Further as to proposal to make Falmouth a port of departure for emigrants to New Zealand. As to Agent-General's staff being required to pay income-tax 1 1 2 2 2 3 4 S 5 s 6 6 7 7 8 8 8 9 9 10 10 19 20 21 22 ro 11 ■4 '4 15 15 if, 23 25 26 28 29 3 1 December 3 December 13 December 18 18 18 18 3 2 December 18 1880. 20 33 34 35 36 :>7 38 39 40 4' 42 43 44 45 46 Januarg 1 January 1 January 26 January 27 January 27 January 28 February 2 February 1 o February 12 February 20 February 20 March 1 March 5 March 8 Acknowledging letter of 6th November as to conduct of emigration Annual report for 1879 As to preserved meat supplied by Mr. Gear As to free passages for female servants accompanying families to New Zealand Further in reply to letter of 6th November as to the conduct of emigration ... Further as to employment of the Rev. J. Berry Monthly report for January ... Forwards application from Mr. Marshall for specimens of New Zealand products Forwarding correspondence re emigration of women to the colonies As to an additional allowance to the Rev. J. Berry ... Acknowledging receipt of letter reporting arrival of passenger ships, &c. Monthly report for February ... Has granted extension of engagement to Mr. Bathgate Acknowledging letter as to practice of Her Majesty's Customs in regard to immigrants' luggage. With report from Mr. G. M. Reed as to his proceedings as emigration officer in the North of Ireland. Further as to the " Knowsley Hall." H.M.S. " Raleigh " will search Amsterdam Island 20 23 -M ■M 2S 3 5 26 26 27 28 28 29 3° 47 March 19 3° 48 March 22 32
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Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by command of His Excellency.
Note. —ln the monthly reports from the Agent-General, the detail of sailing of vessels with emigrants and shipment of materials has been omitted. No. 1. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, Ist May, 1879. I have the honor to report as follows as to the proceedings of my department during the month of April:— From the date of my last report the number of applications for passages and information respecting the colony continued to increase to such an extent that as many as a thousand letters were received in one day. 1 found it expedient therefore to withdraw all the advertisements, and on receiving the Hon. the Premier's telegram stating that I was to arrange for the year for only two thousand emigrants in addition to the thousand already ordered, I was compelled to stop accepting any more families or single men, as the number already approved will probably be sufficient to provide the number required. The number of nominated persons wishing to obtain passages has also very much increased ; and to these, of course, I give priority. I propose to make a special arrangement with the New Zealand Shipping Company to lay on two of their passenger ships to take a special class of emigrants, who propose to settle and farm in New Zealand, and who will take with them a moderate amount of capital. There will be only one class of passengers taken, and the accommodation will be superior to that given to ordinary emigrants, but not equal to that of saloon passages. The cost will be about £23, of which, in cases I approve, I propose to contribute a portion—say about .£lO. I propose also to utilize Mr. Reed's and Mr. Berry's services in obtaining the right description of persons to go out by this opportunity. I have every reason to believe that a very useful body of colonists will be introduced into New Zealand by this means. Mr. Reed, with my approval, has taken on the office-rooms formerly used by Mr. Cochrane, at Belfast, and will open them as an office at which information relating to New Zealand can be obtained, and where applications for free and assisted passages can be made. I have, &c., Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 2. The Agent-General to tho Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 20th May, 1879. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, No. 70, of 11th March,* informing me that it will be sufficient for me to obtain the usual certificates of health and character of any emigrants from Canada the Rev. Mr. Ogg may desire to have sent out to New Zealand. 1 have, &c., Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
* No. 32, D.-l, Ben, 1., 1879.
1880. NEW ZEALAND. EMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND. (LETTERS FROM THE AGENT-GENERAL.) [In continuation of D.-2, Sess. 11., 1879.]
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No. 3. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 20th May, 1879. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 29th March, No. 85.* I note that the Government do not consider it desirable to encourage the emigration of men who have received discharges from Her Majesty's service. I am pleased to find that my action in regard to the complaint made by Mr. Brereton has met with approval. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 4. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 2nd Juno, 1879. I have the honor to report as follows as to the proceedings of my department during the month of May :— The applications for free passages' have somewhat fallen off since the withdrawal of all advertisements, but large numbers (in large excess of those received in previous years) are still being received. These, of course, I am declining, at all events for the present. In a few instances the applicants offer to pay half the cost of their passage, and in such cases, where they belong to suitable occupations, such as carpenters, bricklayers, farm labourers, &c., I have entertained the applications. A large number of communications have been received during the past months, asking for information respecting the colony, and applying for the pamphlet which I am about publishing, giving information as to farming and mode of acquiring lands, and other particulars respecting New Zealand. I have reason to believe that the number of full-paying passengers who will proceed to the colony this season will much exceed the average. The arrangement made with the New Zealand Shipping Company for the despatch of the two special ships which I mentioned in my last report, is attracting much attention, and will, I believe, be the means of obtaining some very suitable colonists. I propose to arrange with the Shipping Company for a special ship to proceed to Auckland about November, on the same terms. I have instructed Mr. Berry to use every effort in bringing the resources of the colony under the notice of persons having capital and experience in farming, and he assures me that he has every reason to think that he will be successful in inducing a number of persons of that description to proceed to New Zealand. I have extended his engagement for another three months—namely, from July to September (both inclusive). Mr. Reed proceeded to Belfast in the early part of this month, and has opened an office at No. 2, Customhouse Square, in that city. He reports that he has received a large number of applications for information, and that his time is fully occupied in dealing with them and with applications for free or assisted passages. Mr. Holloway has been employed in selecting the coal-miners required for Wcstport. He has selected for my approval about twenty from the Forest of Dean, and will proceed to Lancashire and Yorkshire for the purpose of making inquiries and reporting to me as to the desirability of selecting the remainder from the coal-miners in those counties. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 5. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 14th June, 1879. Referring to the Hon. the Premier's telegram of the 21st ultimo (copy herewith), I have the honor to inform you that I at once was able to give it circulation throughout the United Kingdom through Reuters telegram office. I attach herewith copy of it. I have, &C, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
* No. 36, D.-l, Seas. 1., 1879.
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Enclosure in No. 5. (Telegram received 22nd May, 1879.) Premier and Native Minister met King Natives recently. King's advisers hesitated accept proposals made Government last year, ltewi, great Ngatimaniapoto chief, supported adoption, and declared adhesion Government. King and advisers still hesitating, proposals were withdrawn. Since then Rewi, with general considered consent, takes leading position. Rewi and tribe determined utilize their lands by lease and sale. Propose roads, railways, telegraphs shall be constructed, and arrangements made so that law enforced throughout colony. Important details respecting boundaries require consideration, but whole result meetings very favourable. News from Waimate district satisfactory. Grey.
No. 6. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, Ist July, 1879. I have the honor to report as follows as to the proceedings of my department during the month of June :— A much larger percentage of the nominated people are coming forward, so that in all probability I shall have to engage vessels for the conveyance of emigrants at reasonable intervals during the months of September and October. The inclination amongst all classes in the United Kingdom to emigrate to New Zealand is still very great, as shown by the large number of inquiries made, both personally and by letter, at this office. There have been a large number of applications for the new pamphlet on " Land and Farming in New Zealand" which I have brought out. No less than 6,000 penny postage stamps have been received at this office within the last two months for this and other books and papers which I distribute, and, in addition, a large number have also been sent out by Messrs. Street, Stanford, and W. H. Smith and Co. (railway stalls). Mr. Berry, Mr. Reed, and other gentlemen employed in the promotion of emigration, have also had supplies of these pamphlets and other books, and they have also through these means been widely distributed, and in many cases I circulate them gratuitously. As I surmised in my last report, the number of full-paying passengers proceeding to the colony is very large, amounting, so I am informed, to about one thousand souls during the past month of June only; and the applications for such passages are not, I understand, in any "way falling off. It is perhaps too early to definitely report as to the success of the arrangement made by me with the New Zealand Shipping Company for special ships for farmers, but, as far as I can judge from the number of inquiries made at this office respecting them, a good number of eligible colonists are preparing to avail themselves of the advantages offered. I have arranged, as you desired, with both Mr. Julius Jeffreys and Mr. Clayden for their services in connection with the promotion of emigration to New Zealand. Mr. Jeffreys has proceeded to the West of Englaud for that pui'pose, and Mr. Clayden will commence shortly to lecture, &c, in Berkshire and the adjoining counties. I have also been in communication with Mr. Clements and Mr. Sutherland, and have furnished them with supplies of pamphlets, &c. Mr. Berry reports that he has received a very large number of communications as the result of his lectures and the articles which were published in the Christian World —in fact, so numerous have they been that he has been obliged to suspend lecturing, &c, to enable him to reply to the letters which he has received. On his introduction I have indicated my willingness to arrange with Mr. Grant, a gentleman who is farming largely in Lincolnshire, and who represents a number of other farmers who are thinking of proceeding to New Zealand, to furnish him with a free passage to the colony to enable him to examine for himself and report to his friends as to the opening which New Zealand would afford them. On receiving a memorial, signed by a number of farmers, which Mr. Grant has promised to send me, I shall address the Government again on the subject. Mr. Holloway has been proceeding with the selection of the coal-miuers for Westport, and for that purpose has visited Gloucestershire, Yorkshire, Durham, and Lancashire. About fifty men and their families have been finally approved, and will proceed to the colony by the ship to Nelson, sailing from Plymouth on the 22nd August. Great care has been exercised in their selection, and I trust they will prove to be the class of men required. I have, &c., Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
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No. 7. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 2nd July, 1879. I have the honor to transmit herewith copy of a correspondence which has taken place with Mr. Henry Jepson concerning certain propositions he makes with regard to the supply of steel rails and ironwork in New Zealand, and the establishment of a company in connection therewith. I have, &c., Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
Enclosure 1 in No. 7. Mr. Jepson to the Agent-General. 146, Cross Lane, Salford, 14th June, 1879. Sir,— The Supply 100,000 Tons Steel Rails in New Zealand. I beg leave to make certain propositions to you respecting this matter —namely, that the supply of these rails may be undertaken at the market price prevailing in England at the time each lot is delivered, less the cost of freight; that, as there are unforeseen risks and losses to be provided against in the purely speculative character of the undertaking, it is desirable that for the cost, loss of time in bringing out capital and labour to New Zealand as a permanent establishment (the New Zealand Government and colony would derive possibly all the benefit of the enterprise), a grant of land should be made in proportion to the amount of capital and labour, skill, &c., sent out by the firm obtaining the contract, to meet the drawbacks that may be encountered in labour, finance, and numerous other ways, owing to the crude condition of the science in relation to New Zealand, and to the imperfect knowledge pertaining thereto in this country. I beg to ask if you would consider a proposition to form a company in England, having at the head experts from all the principal iron-making districts in the kingdom, and to establish the firm under your own auspices; to obtain grants of land for the company according to the amount of capital subscribed, and the amount of skilled labour, &c, sent out—to each shareholder according to his shares. By those means the development of the iron industry may be assured, and the industrial and agricultural interest will both grow together and support each other. The establishment of the plant, being permanent, will need a future development of the demand for iron, and the agricultural interest will need a demand for the products of the soil and the farms, both of which will be furthered and developed by the other. The interested shareholders in the land and industries will do all they can to increase the population of the colony and send out labour to New Zealand instead of to the United States and other parts abroad, both to the industrial and farming establishments. It would be further inducing if the Government Avould undertake to purchase the whole requisite amount of rails at a market price for an indefinite time, and other ironwork of the company. Trusting you will give the proposition your consideration, 1 have, &c., Sir Julius Vogel, Agent-General for New Zealand. Henry Jepson. P.S.—This scheme would be both advantageous to New Zealand and England alike : it would insure the necessary capital and skill being got, and also a return and equivalent for the same.
Enclosure 2 in No. 7. Mr. Kennaway to Mr. Jepson. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 18th June, 1879. I am directed by the Agent-General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th instant, and to inform you that no discretion is given to him in the matter to which you refer. Any proposition of the kind should be submitted to the Government, with references, to show the ability of the proposer to give effect to the proposal. The Agent-General cannot say, however, how such a proposition would be received. I have, &c, Walter Kennaway, Henry Jepson, Esq. Secretary.
Enclosure 3 in No. 7. Mr. Jepson to the Agent-General. Sir,— 14G, Cross Lane, Salford, 23rd June, 1879. I beg leave to respectfully request yon to forward my letter of the 14th instant for the consideration of the New Zealand Government. I have, &c., Sir Julius Vogel, Agent-General for New Zealand. Henry Jepson.
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No. 8. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 12th July, 1879. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 15th May, No. 118,* transmitting copies of correspondence with Mr. John Bathgate, aud requesting me to utilize his services in England in promoting emigration to the colony. In reply I beg to state that I will give effect to your wishes in this matter. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 9. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 12th July, 1879. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 122, of 21st May last,f directing my attention to the amount of commission paid to local agents, aud to the opinion of your predecessor in office expressed in his letter of the 23rd April, 1878. % This was a subject which I have not neglected to take into consideration in connection with other matters relating to the organization of this department, and, by my letter No. 193, of 12th February last,§ in reply to that of the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, No. 191, of the 4th December last, in which, amongst other matter, he expressly asked for information respecting the dispensing with the sorvices of the local agents, I stated the steps which I had decided to take respecting them, and which had the effect of dispensing with the services of 117 local agents out of 159, the result being that I retained tho services only of 2 local agents in Ireland, 16 in England, and 20 in Scotland. la my letter to the Colonial Secretary I gave my reasons for so acting; and the receipt of this letter was acknowledged by letter dated 21st April. I may explain hero that I felt unable to deal at once with the local agents, as suggested in your predecessor's letter of 23rd April, 1878, || as when I received it the emigration work of the year was in full operation, and all the local agents had received definite instructions for the season, so that if I had then dispensed with their services they would have all probably protested against my action, and I might have been, proceeded against for breach of contract. I may also remark that in the three previous years to this—namely, 187G, 1877, and 1878 — the desire to emigrate on the part of that class of workpeople residing in the United Kingdom suitable for the requirements of New Zealand has been very slack in comparison with the feeling which has arisen since the beginning of this year ; so that, although I could have obtained a large number of emigrants this year without any aid from local agents, yet in the previous years it would have been perhaps difficult to have done so. With regard to your remark to the effect that it appears to you that, with the assistance of the gentlemen who have been sent from the colony for the purpose of disseminating information respecting New Zealand, there is less need than ever of paying local agents by commission, I would venture to observe that they do not altogether supply the place of local agents. The local agent is useful principally on account of his having a permanent office in a certain locality, at which intending emigrants can apply for forms, &c, aud whose personal knowledge of the applicants, and of the persons who sign their testimonials, can be made available in selecting emigrants. For instance, Mr. Burton, who was one of the most successful of those who came from the colony to assist in promoting free emigration, found it of very great advantage that the services of the local agent of the district to which he more especially confined his work were retained, so that both could work together on the object they had in view. At present, however, considering the very strong feeling in all parts of the country in favour of emigration, the services of the local agents are not required. The payments for this year, therefore, to local agents will be, comparatively speaking, very small. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 10. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London. 16th July, 1879. I have the honor to enclose the copy of a letter received from the Rev. Mr. Berry. In reply to his letter, I have stated that I do not consider I have authority to make so extended an appointment. I shall be glad if you will telegraph " Richmond," to indicate that I am to accept Mr. Berry's proposal, or " Oliver," to indicate a negative answer. Mr. Berry is one of the best agents you have sent Home. It is fairly a question, however,
* No. 47, D.-l, Sew. 1., 1879. f No. 49, D.-l, Sese. 1., 1879. J No. 12, D.-l, 1878. § No. 1, D.-3, Sess. 11., 1879. || No. 12, ».—l, 1878.
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whether lecturing in Government pay may not be overdone. It is impossible for me to know, much loss be responsible for, all that is stated, and there is the danger of future complaints by unsuitable emigrants if too much persuasion is attributable to Government agents. At present there is no want of desire to emigrate to Now Zealand. Occasional short visits from lecturers fresh from the colony are somewhat different from the continued employment of lecturers who are paid by the Government to persuade people to emigrate. I trust that these remarks may not bo held to reflect on Mr. Berry, who has, I think, done excellent service, and whose zeal cannot be overpraised. I have, &c v Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
Enclosure in. No. 10. The Rev. J. Berry to the Agent-General. Sir, — Cadlcy Villas, near Preston, Lancashire, 13th July, 1879. As my engagement with the New Zealand Government terminates at the end of September, I must shortly determine whether I return to the colony or continue in my present occupation for another year. I have the honor therefore to submit to you a proposal to renew my engagement for another year —namely, from October, 1879, to October, 1880. I shall be glad to continue as heretofore under your direction, lecturing wherever you approve, and averaging about three lectures per week; also continuing to devote my whole time to spreading sound information about New Zealand, with the view of inducing suitable persons to emigrate to the colony. If rcappointcd, I shall be glad to work as heartily as hitherto, and, with increasing influence and experience, even more successfully, I hope. The terms I propose are, £600 salary for the year, with j£2so for travelling expenses. As I pay my own passage to and from the colony, the sum proposed will hardly cover my actual expenses. I think, also, that I could do good service by attending occasionally at the office in London to reply to newspaper correspondence and to answer attacks that are made from time to time upon the colony. I may hint this as a matter of detail, and do so most respectfully. I shall be glad of a reply at your earliest convenience. I have, &c., The Agent-General for New Zealand. Joseph Berry.
No. 11. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 17th July, 1879. Referring to your letter No. 187, of the 2nd October last, enclosing copy of letter from the Under-Secretary for Immigration to Mr. Julius Jeffreys, and requesting me to avail myself of his services in promoting emigration to New Zealand, I have the honor to inform you that Mr. Jeffreys called on me with the above-mentioned letter on the 20th ultimo, and that, in accordance with your wishes, I arranged with him to endeavour to obtain desirable settlers for the colony who would take out capital with them. I have engaged to allow him £1 a day (including Sundays) and actual railway fares, such engagement to be for three months from the Ist instant. At the termination of this period I shall be able to judge by results whether it is desirable to extend Mr. Jeffreys'" engagement. Mr. Jeffreys has proceeded to the West of England, his headquarters being at present at Exeter. I have furnished him with a supply of the " Official Handbook " and other pamphlets, for distribution. I have, &c., Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 12. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 17th July, 1879. Referring to your letters No. 107, of 2nd May,* and No. 110, of 7th May,t respecting the arrangement made with Mr. Clayden, 1 have the honor to inform you that I have arranged with that gentleman to give lectures in Berkshire and the adjacent counties. Mr. Clayden intends to commence his work next week.
* No. 42, D.-l, Sess. 1., 1879. t N°. 44, D.-l, Sess. L, 1879.
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He is, I understand, publishing his lecture in the shape of a pamphlet, for the purpose of distributing it amongst those whom he considers would make suitable colonists. I have furnished him with a supply of Official Handbooks and such other pamphlets as I have for distribution, and he will receive every assistance which it is in the power of my department to render him. I have, &c., Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 13. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7 , Westminster Chambers, London, Ist August, 1879. I have the honor to report as follows as to the proceedings of my department during the month of July :— The nominated people, influenced evidently by the present state of things throughout the United Kingdom, are coming forward in numbers greatly exceeding those in previous years, and, as the number of nominations transmitted from the colony is comparatively very large, I shall have to despatch vessels with nominated emigrants for probably Otago, Canterbury, and Wellington towards the end of September or beginning of October. The number of applications from suitable persons for assisted (paying half cost of passage) passages by the Government emigrant ships has so increased during the past month that I have concluded to discontinue entertaining any more, at all events for the present. In taking this step I had under my notice the fact that the number of full-paying passengers by every ship sailing to New Zealand is still very large, and likely to continue so. Mr. Berry and Mr. Clayden have been engaged in lecturing—the former in the North of England, and the latter in Berkshire. The demand for the " Official Handbook," the "Land and Farming" pamphlet, and other books which are issued by this department, has continued to be very large during the past month. It is evident that the publication of the land laws, &c, has supplied a want which has been much felt by persons contemplating emigration to New Zealand. So far as can be judged at present, the first special ship for farmers, sailing early in September, will take a full complement of passengers, the larger portion paying the full amount of their passage-money ; a few apparently suitable families having been assisted by me. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 14 The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, Ist September, 1879. I have the honor to report as follows as to the proceedings of my department during the month of August:— In accordance with the directions received by telegrams from the Hon. the Premier, I have to-day commenced to issue forms of application for passages to nominated persons on the conditions mentioned therein —namely, that every male adult is to pay the sum of £5 towards the cost of his passage to the colony. I shall not entertain applications from any but nominated people until I receive your instructions, which I understand you have sent by mail which is due here on the 30th instant. Mr. Clayden and Mr. Berry have continued to deliver lectures, &c., during the past month, Mr. Clayden having been in Berkshire, Lincolnshire, &c, and Mr. Berry in Scotland. I have placed Mr. Holloway on reduced pay, on similar conditions to those which I arranged with him on two or three previous occasions when free and assisted emigration has been partially suspended. There have been a very largo number of applications for information respecting the colony during the past month ; and the demand for the " Official Handbook " and for the " Land and Farming" pamphlet has been so large that the number of these books which I have on hand will probably be exhausted by the end of the year if the demand continues to the same extent as for the last six months. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
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No. 15. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, Ist October, 1879. I have the honor to report as follows as to the proceedings of my department during the month of September : — I have arranged to withdraw the special ship advertised to sail for Auckland in November, the persons who have already taken passages in her being provided for in an ordinary passengership sailing about the same time. A good proportion of nominated persons are still applying for passages, and, except in a few cases, they do not raise any serious objection to the payment of £5 per male adult, which I have required to be made in all cases where forms were issued on or after the Ist September. As your instructions, received by letter by last mail via San Francisco, do not contain any direction to add to the number of emigrants already ordered for this year, I shall continue, with few exceptions, to entertain applications for passages from those only who are nominated. At the present rate there are a sufficient number of this class of emigrants coming forward to fill about three ships a month. Mr. Clayden and Mr. Berry have continued their lectures during the past month. The latter-named gentleman terminated his engagement on 30th September, and proceeds, I believe, to New Zealand some time during this month. I consider that Mr. Berry has rendered very good service to the colony, and have pleasure in recording this opinion. Mr. J. Bathgate has proceeded to Scotland, and is engaged in promoting emigration of suitable persons to the colony. I have arranged to give passages to and from New Zealand to Mr. Grant, Mr. Grant, jun., and Mr. Foster, the representatives of a large number of farmers, principally of Lincolnshire, who intend to proceed to New Zealand in case Messrs. Grant and Foster's report is favourable. Messrs. Grant and Foster proceed in the steamer " Norfolk," which will be despatched from London on the 18th instant. The number of inquiries at this office for information from farmers and others contemplating emigration to New Zealand are still numerous, and large numbers of persons paying the cost of their own passages are proceeding to the colony. I have, &c., Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. A gent-General.
No. 16. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sißj— 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 3rd October, 1879. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 170, of the 16th August, transmitting further lists of nominations. Referring to your directions that I am to exercise as much discretion as possible as regards enforcing the payment of the £5 for male adults in the case of persons nominated prior to the decision of the Government communicated in your letter No. 165, of 14th August,* I have already informed you in my monthly report for August that I commenced on the Ist September to issue forms of application for passages to nominated persons on the condition that male adults were to pay £5 towards the cost of their passage. A few of the applicants have made representations that they did not expect to have to pay this, and in such cases I have decided to take promissory notes for the payment. I do not think it necessary to make any other exception, and shall therefore, in accordance with your direction to make the actual number of free passages to be granted as low as possible, continue to require, as regards all applicants to whom forms have been issued on or after Ist September, the payment of £o per male adult irrespective of the date at which the nomination may have been made. I have, &c., Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 17. The Agent-Gbneral to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir,— 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 3rd October, 1879. I am informed by Mr. Arthur Clayden that a Mr. John Press is organizing a party of from thirty to fifty persons to go to New Zealand by the ship " Maraval," which sails shortly for Wellington. Mr. Press is anxious to obtain for his family and friends the temporary use of the immigration depots at Wellington and Auckland, some of his party proposing to remain at Wellington, and some to go on to Auckland.
* D.-l, Sees. 11., 1879.
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I shall be glad if the Government can see their way to accede to Mr. Press's proposal, and afford him, as well as other immigrants of a similar class, accommodation at the immigration depots, as no doubt such accommodation would prove very convenient to new arrivals on their first landing in the colony. I have furnished Mr. Press with a letter to the Immigration Officer at Wellington. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 18. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7', Westminster Chambers, London, Ist November, 1879. I have the honor to report as follows as to the proceedings of my department during the month of October :— In pursuance of the instructions which I have received during the past month by telegram from the Hon. the Premier, I shall endeavour to avoid engaging any vessel for despatch of emigrants during the month of December; but probably there will be a number of nominated emigrants who, under existing engagements, will require to be provided with passages during the month of January, and for them I shall probably have to engage one or more vessels to sail during that month, but the number will not, I believe, be large. As I have remarked in previous monthly reports, the number of persons nominated by their friends in the colony wishing to avail themselves of the Government passages has been, and apparently would continue to be, unprecedentcdly large; so that there would, I believe, be no difficulty in filling two or three ships a month with this class of emigrants only: whereas in previous years it has never been found possible to collect a sufficient number of nominated persons to fill even one ship. This is to be accounted for by the extraordinary depression which exists, more particularly in all the agricultural districts of the United Kingdom, and which is compelling numbers of persons connected with agricultural pursuits to leave the country. Mr. Clayden is still continuing to hold meetings and give lectures in various parts of the country, and his efforts are mainly directed towards inducing persons with capital to proceed to the colony. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 19. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7', Westminster Chambers, London, 3rd November, 1879. Referring to the telegrams* which have passed between the Hon. the Premier and myself respecting the suspension of emigration, I have the honor to inform you that I have taken steps in accordance with the directions contained therein. The number of nominated persons desirous of availing themselves of their friends' invitation is, however, still very large, and I shall probably have some difficulty in postponing the time of their leaving for the colony, without giving some dissatisfaction. Nominated people, as a rule, look upon themselves as having a right to passages, and this feeling is of course increased since the system of requiring part-payment in the colony of the passages of male adults has been initiated. The three ships engaged some time ago to sail with emigrants for Otago, Canterbury, and Auckland, on the 12th, 26th, and 28th of this month respectively, will all embark full complements of nominated people; and to meet existing engagements I shall probably have to despatch a ship conveying nominated emigrants for Wellington, Nelson, "Wcstland, Marlborough, and Taranaki, some time in January or February. In reference to my telegram to the Hon. the Premier of the 23rd October,f I would remark in confirmation thereof that since April last I discontinued entertaining applications for free passages except from nominated people and from a few others who were expressly recommended to me by Mr. Clements, Mr. Sutherland, Mr. G-. M. Reed, and a few others personally connected with the colony; but these latter did not exceed two hundred in number. In fact, at the end of April I caused an advertisement to be inserted in a large number of newspapers, stating that, in consequence of the enormous number of applications for passages, such applications were not invited, and, if sent in, could not be replied to. In the case of a few applicants who offered to pay half passage-money, I granted passages on their being found to be suitable emigrants ; but even this I discontinued, as I advised you in my monthly report dated Ist August last.
* Enclosures in No. 2, D.-IA, Sees. 11., 1879. t D.-U, Sess. 11., 1879. 2—D. 2.
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In August last, on receipt from the Government of a telegram directing me to reduce the number of emigrants as much as possible, I abstained from issuing notices to nominated persons informing them of their nominations, and confined myself to entertaining the applications of those nominated people only who applied of their own accord to this office. The first vessels of the season conveyed those who had been approved for passages before the end of April, many of whom wore not nominated ; but the ships despatched since the first week in August have taken only nominated. With regard to single women, the Hon. the Premier's telegram directs me to continue to send them; but I would point out that, unless they are sent in regularly-appointed Government emigrant ships, I have no other desirable opportunity of providing passages for them, for unless I can send at least 150 I have no right to call upon the Shipping Company to provide a separate ship for them. Moreover, it is a question whether it is expedient to send out a large number of single women unless they are accompanied during the voyage by a number of married people and their families. I may observe also that, whilst I am told to continue to send them, I have exhausted the total number of emigrants other than nominated, whom lam authorized to send; nor do I know to which port it is desired I should send them, in case it is wished I should do so. On the whole, I have determined, therefore, not to entertain applications from single women, except in very special cases, until I receive further instructions with respect to the manner in which the Government desire them to be sent out. I have, &c., Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 20. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 4th November, 1879. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 11th September, No. 184, relating to the services of Mr. Clayden, which I have duly noted. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 21. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, Bth November, 1879. Referring to your letter of the 11th September, in which you suggest that it is desirable that I should further reduce the number of paid local agents, 1 have to inform you that there now remain on the list of local agents the following—namely, two in the North of Ireland, sixteen in England and Wales, and, excepting Mr. Ottywell, twenty-five for Scotland. The amount payable to these for the present season will not amount to more than, perhaps, £170. Some of those on the list do very little as regards the obtaining of emigrants; but their retention on the list is, I think, for various reasons, expedient. Some of them are connected with associations, and would perhaps use their influence in opposition to the colony if their appointment as local agents was taken from them. In fact, a great deal of the opposition which during the present year has been shown to New Zealand in the columns of country papers has, I believe, had more or less to do with some of the agents whose services I dispensed with in the year. As you are aware, I dispensed with the services of 139 agents. At some future time the assistance of those I have retained might prove desirable. I estimate that the amount of commission payable to local agents (Mr. Ottywell excepted) in sending out, say, 5,000 emigrants, would not exceed under ordinary circumstances .£2OO to £250. In speaking of local agents, I of course do not include Mr. G. M. Reed, Mr. Clayden, and others who have been sent Home from the colony for the purpose of promoting emigration to New Zealand. I have, &c., Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 22. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, Bth November, 1879. Referring to your letters Nos. 183 and 186, of the 21st August and 12th September respectively, and to your remarks therein respecting single-men saloon passengers by emigrant
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ships, I have the honor to call your attention to my previous communications on the subject,* in which I pointed out the difficulty of my exercising discretion in the matter of allowing such passengers to proceed in emigrant vessels. Under the provisions of the present shipping contract, which were arranged in the colony, I am, as 1 have pointed out in previous letters, practically unable to deal with the matter. Even if I could make searching inquiry into the character of every young man applying for a saloon passage in an emigrant ship, yet the fact remains that the influences which bring about an undesirable state of things by his being on board, still exist, notwithstanding that the young man may be proved with every certainty to be steady and of good character previous to the time he embarks. It therefore appears to me that, even if a young man is of good character, yet there still exists a very considerable objection to his being on board a ship in which he must, as a saloon passenger, be every day in close proximity (for the single women occupy half the poop-deck, and the saloon passengers the other half) to a large number of single women of a class perhaps inferior to his own. I would venture to suggest, therefore, as the practice is considered and proved to be of an objectionable character, that in the next shipping contract (if any is made), single men, as saloon and second-class passengers, be excluded altogether; for experience has shown me that it is quite impossible to make inquiries as to the character of such passengers of such a conclusive nature as to insure an emigrant ship freedom from the evils complained of by Dr. Russell, as well as by several other of our staff surgeons. I have, &c., Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 23. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 11th November, 1879. Referring to your letter No. 88, of the 29th March last, in which you requested me to require each person receiving a free or assisted passage to sign an undertaking of the truth of his representations, and making himself liable for the payment of the passage in case such representations prove false, I have the honor to transmit herewith twenty of the forms which have accordingly been prepared under Messrs. Mackrell and Co/s advice, and which have lately been brought into use. Under this arrangement the emigrant has to complete the form of application, with the conditions attached thereto, and the form and conditions have then to be forwarded to the colony, so that the declaration of the emigrant can be confirmed by him, in presence of the Immigration Officer, on his arrival, and can then be used against him in case any of his representations prove thereafter to be false. The certificate and schedule mentioned in the conditions are retained at this office for future reference if necessary. A number of the emigrants by the ships "Canterbury" (for Otago), " Westland" (for Canterbury), and "Earl Granville" (for Auckland) have used these forms, which I propose to forward direct to the Immigration Officers of the district to which the emigrants are proceeding. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
Enclosure in No. 23. Emigration to New Zealand. Free and assisted passages granted by the Government of New Zealand are subject to the following conditions and regulations : — 1. The classes eligible are married and single farm labourers; also single women, such as cooks, housemaids, nurses, general servants, dairy-maids, &c., who are not under fifteen, nor over thirty-five years of age; also, persons nominated by their friends in New Zealand, provided such nominations have been approved by the Government in the colony. In all cases they must be sober, industrious, of good moral character, of sound mind, free from bodily defect or deformity, in good health, able to perform the duties of the occupations to which they belong, and must be going to the colony to reside and settle there. The charge for ship's outfit must be paid in advance. (See clause 12.) 2. The Government will not give passages to families having more than three children under twelve years of age; this does not, however, apply to approved nominated families if the number of children and their ages are correctly given in the nomination. Persons who have been in Australia or New Zealand are not in any case eligible.
* No. 8, D.-2,1879.
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3. In filling up the form of application, the applicant must bo careful to give full particulars as to the nature of his occupation, and to furnish all other necessary information. With this form he will receive a schedule containing certain certificate forms; and unless he can obtain proper signatures to these certificates, he will not be accepted. In addition to the printed certificate, the applicant must send in a written certificate or testimonial from his employer, past or present —the latter being required unless there is some reason to the contrary —stating that he is properly qualified for the occupation entered in his application paper, and that he is sober, honest, industrious, and of good moral character. The applicant's proposal will not be considered until all the documents referred to are received. It is desirable that the applicant should also send a written certificate or testimonial from his clergyman or minister; if, however, he is unable to do this, he should state the reason why such certificate or testimonial cannot be forwarded. These written testimonials are sent on to New Zealand for the information of those employers who apply for servants at or before the arrival of emigrants, and then are returned to the emigrant. In cases where the applicant, from any cause whatever, does not proceed to the colony, he must apply for the return of his testimonials within a month from the date of the Agent-General's decision, otherwise the Agent-General cannot undertake to return them. 4. No person will bo allowed a passage unless he shall have been approved of by the AgentGeneral. No single man above the age of forty years, and no married man above the age of forty-five, will be allowed any assistance. But any person so ineligible on account of age, and related to a family eligible for assistance, may, if he is approved by the Agent-General, receive a passage on payment of the entire expense incurred in providing it. 5. As soon as the intending emigrant shall receive notice that he has been approved of, he must pay the sum required of him. He will then, as soon as his passage is arranged for, receive an " Embarkation Order/ naming the ship in which he is to sail, and the time and place at which he is to embark. The sums paid will be absolutely forfeited if the applicants should fail to embark at the time and place appointed. The contract ticket will be issued to the emigrant before he embarks or on board the ship. 6. The filling-up the accompanying '•' Form of Application " does not, nor does even the signature of the " Certificates," entitle the applicant to a passage; and he is warned against leaving his employment, or making any preparation for emigrating, before he has received his " Embarkation Order." The Agent-General does not undertake to send replies when applicants are ineligible. 7. The emigrants are expected to pay their own expenses to the port, and up to the period of embarkation. Single women who have been away from their homes in domestic service will, however, until further notice, either receive a free pass to the port of embarkation, or bo refunded, previous to the sailing of the vessel, a reasonable amount on account of railway or steamboat fares. 8. If any false statement or false signature shall be found in the form of application or the certificates, or if the applicant shall fail to embark at the time and place required, or if, upon appearing at the place of embarkation, any applicant or any member of his family shall be found to have any infectious disorder, or any bodily or mental defect, contrary to any statement in the application and certificates, or to have been in Australia or New Zealand before, or to have made any false statement, such persons will not be allowed to embark, and will forfeit any deposit which may have been made on account of their passage-moneys or outfit-cost; and in case any applicant or any member of his family shall afterwards be found to have been in Australia or New Zealand before, or to have made any other false statement whatever, the applicant shall and will pay full passage-money for himself and his family to the Government of New Zealand. 9. The applicant should state the name of the place in New Zealand to which he desires to proceed. If no place is mentioned the Agent-General will, if the applicant is approved, provide a passage to such part of the colony as he may deem fit. Ship's Regulations. 10. Provisions, fyc. —Provisions, medical attendance, cooking, and cooking utensils are supplied on board without charge to emigrants. The ordinary dietary of the emigrants, and the medical comforts and other articles and appliances for the use of the sick, are largely in excess of the quantities required by the Passengers Act of the Imperial Government. Special dietary is provided for children. 11. No one will be allowed to embark with a less quantity of clothing for each person than— For Males. —Six shirts, six pair stockings, two warm flannel or Guernsey shirts, two pair new shoes, two complete suits strong exterior clothing. For Females. —Six chemises, two warm and strong flannel petticoats, six pair stockings, two pair strong shoes, two strong gowns, one of which must be warm. For Children. —Seven shirts or chemises, four warm flannel waistcoats, one warm cloak or outside coat, six pair stockings, two pair strong shoes, two complete suits of exterior clothing. The clothing need not be new, but it must be serviceable. It will bo examined at the depot, before embarkation, to see if the quantity is sufficient. 12. Ship's Outfit, Passage-money, fyc. —The requisite mattresses, bedclothes, utensils, and a supply of marine soap for washing clothes during the voyage, will be provided by the Government
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at the following rates, which sums must be paid by the emigrants before they can receive their embarkation orders—namely : For single men, 20s. each; for single women (except those mentioned below), 20s. each; for married people, 20s. each; for children over twelve years of age, 20s. each; for children between twelve years and one year, 10s.; infants under twelve months at date of embarkation, free. Single women of seventeen years of age and upwards, and who are domestic servants, will, until further notice, be supplied with ship's outfit free of cost. Emigrants must find their own towels. Each male adult will be required to pay the sum of .€5 towards the cost of his passage. 13. The emigrants will bo divided into three classes, and berthed in three separate compartments in the ship : Ist, single mcii' —-that is, all unmarried males above twelve years of age ; 2nd, married couples, with children under twelve years; 3rdly, single women —that is, all unmarried females above twelve years. The single women will be placed under the superintendence of a matron. 14. Luggage, fyc. —All luggage should be distinctly marked in paint with the name of the passenger and the ship; and boxes containing articles which will be required on the voyage should have the word " Wanted," written conspicuously upon them. The whole quantity of luggage for each adult allowed free of charge is fifteen cubic feet measurement; luggage in excess of this quantity will only be taken if there is room for it in the ship, and will be chargeable with freight at a rate not exceeding Is. per cubic foot. Emigrants will not be allowed to take on board any bedding, spirits, gunpowder, lucifer or other matches, or any dangerous articles. All the luggage will be examined at the depot, and any prohibited articles will be forfeited. Emigrants must present themselves at the emigration depot on the day named on the embarkation order. As all boxes are put into the hold of the ship, and those marked " Wanted " can only bo got at about once a month during the voyage, the emigrant should keep a supply of linen for immediate use in a canvas bag, which he can keep in his berth. 15. Male emigrants are required, as a condition of their receiving either a free or assisted passage for themselves or their families (if any), to perform the duties of fire and boat drill during the voyage whensoever called upon by the Captain or Surgeon-superintendent to do so. 10. The following notes are added for the information of intending emigrants : — (1.) Emigrants receiving free or assisted passage, on arriving at their destination, are received by officers of the Government, and maintained for a reasonable time at a comfortable depot. They are free to make their own engagements, and are not required to repay any amount of the passage cost (unless specially stipulated before sailing), nor are they required to work for the Government. (2.) Full information as to the current rate of wages can be obtained at the depots in the colony, and lists of persons requiring servants, &c, are kept there. (3.) Nominated persons are those who have been named by their friends in New Zealand as suitable emigrants, and, subject to such nominations being approved by the Government in the colony, and to the particulars given respecting them being correct, and to their having good health and characters, they will be offered passages by the first available ships. They are expected in all cases to comply with the foregoing conditions, and to complete the application form and certificate schedule the same as other emigrants. (4.) Should any intending emigrant prefer to go in a passenger ship, paying for his own passage, he should apply to either the New Zealand Shipping Company, 84, Bishopsgate Street, London; Shaw, Savill, and Co., 34, Leadenhall Street, London; or toP. Henderson and Co., 15, St. Vincent Place, Glasgow. Julius Vogel, Agent-General for New Zealand. 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., October, 1879. [This " Form of Application " must be properly filled in and signed, folded so as to leave the printed address outside, and returned to this office without delay. The applicant should carefully read the conditions, and take care that this form is completed in accordance with the directions given. Incomplete applications will not be entertained?^ To Her Majesty the Queen, and the Government op her Colony of, and the AgentGeneral for, New Zealand, and Each of them. I hereby apply for and request the grant of an assisted passage to [State place in New Zealand applicant desires to go to] , New Zealand, for myself and the other persons named below, upon and subject to the conditions hereunto annexed : and I hereby declare that the statements contained below are true; that I [and my family] are of good character and in good health, and free from any bodily or mental defect; that I [and they] go to the colony to reside or settle there; and that I have not, and neither has either of them, ever been in New Zealand or Australia before : and I hereby pledge myself [and family] to conform to and comply with the regulations for the voyage, and the conditions hereto attached, and not to leave the ship until she arrives in . And I will, for myself [and family], confirm this agreement, with the conditions attached, in the presence of the Immigration Officer there. And I hereby agree to pay in cash the sum of £ for ship outfit mentioned in clause 12 of the said con-
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ditions and regulations, a copy of which has been furnished to and is retained by me, and .€5 towards the cost of the passage of each male adult. I am, Sir, (Address in full.) (Date.) Confirmed by the said at , New Zealand, this day of , 188 . (Signature.) Immigration Officer, New Zealand. Witness to the signature :
The Christian and surnames, in full, of the applicants and their children (if any) must be entered here, together with all the other particulars required respecting each of them.
Applicants must be careful in filling in the column describing their occupations. Descriptions such as " Labourer/' " Mechanic/' " Engineer/' are not sufficient.
No. 24. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 11th November, 1879. Referring to my letter No. 865, of 3rd October, respecting Mr. Press and a party of intending emigrants to New Zealand, I have the honor to transmit copy of letter which I have received from Mr. Press, covering a number of letters addressed by members of his party to the Immigration Officers of Wellington and Auckland, also several others with no address. These letters appear to have been written with the idea that the Immigration Officers will perhaps be able to find employment for the writers in anticipation of their arrival in the colony. I may mention that Mr. Press and his party have sailed in the ship "Maraval" for Wellington. I have had no communication with them respecting their emigration, with the exception of that coming through Mr. Clayden, as regards their being allowed to occupy the Immigration Barracks on their arrival, nor have I had any opportunity of judging whether they are a suitable body of emigrants. They have all paid for their own passages, and are, so far as lam aware, proceeding to New Zealand entirely on their own responsibility. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
Enclosure in No. 24. Mr. Press to the Agent-General. Sir, — Ship "Maraval/' Gravesend, 30th October, 1879. lam now here with the party referred to in your letter dated 3rd instant. As a party we number 85| statute adults. Your effort on our behalf in the matter of the Emigrants' 1 Barracks at Wellington and Auckland was gratefully appreciated at our meeting to-night. Wishing still to prosper our people, with myself, as much as possible, I have asked them to write enclosed letters, which I trust you will be good enough to send forward to their destination. Thanking you for your kindness. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. John Press.
No. 25. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 19th November, 1879. 1 have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 198, of 23rd September last, pointing out that the clause in the letter of appointment of Surgeons-superintendent referring to their return passages is not definite enough.
Christian and Surname Eelationin full. ship. Whether Married or Age. Single. County where born, and where living lately. Kull Description of Occupation. Name, Address, and Occupation of present Employer, and how long employed by him.
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I have already called your attention to this matter in connection with the payment which I was directed to make to Dr. Russell, and would now add that in framing the clause in question it was intended that the amount of the payment of the return passages should be settled in the colony when the surgeon was prepared to return, as it was thought that your department would then be in a better position to determine what should be allowed than I am at the time when the surgeons receive their appointment in this country. For instance, at certain times it might be an advantage to hasten the return of experienced ship-surgeons, while at others there would be no necessity for allowing them more than the cost of returning by an ordinary sailing passenger-ship. However, as you desire me to arrange this matter at the time of appointment, I would propose to return to the old mode of payment — namely, that of paying the surgeons, on their reporting themselves to me as willing to be reemployed, the sum of £50. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 26. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sik, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, Ist December, 1879. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 203, of 4th October last, requesting me not to take any promissory notes whatever from emigrants ; and in reference thereto I would remark that there are from time to time special cases in which it is, I think, expedient to take promissory notes rather than let the emigrant proceed free from any obligation whatever. For instance, there are cases in which emigrants come to the port of embarkation with clothing insufficient for the requirements of the voyage, and with no apparent means of their own to procure what is necessary. In such cases it would be perhaps too harsh a proceeding not to allow them to embark, while it would not be desirable to supply clothing without laying the emigrant under some obligation or liability, as the result of the latter course might be that others would follow his example under the impression that they would also obtain supplies of clothing free of cost if they came without it. A case in point occurred this week at Plymouth, where a nominated family (H. L. and six children) came forward for embarkation with barely more than the clothes they had on. L. at first stated that he had no money, but on his being called upon to sign a promissory note for the cost of the clothing supplied, ho paid a large portion of the amount in cash. Again, cases occur in which emigrants, on being inspected by my despatching officer and the Surgeon-superintendent of the ship, are discovered to have evidently understated their ages for the purpose of rendering themselves apparently eligible for free or assisted passages. Under such circumstances persons, when they have no family or other persons dependent on them accompanying them, are as a rule not allowed to embark; but there are cases where it is expedient to make exceptions to that rule, and to allow them to proceed, taking a promissory note for the cost of their passage when they are unable to pay for it, either in part or whole, in cash, as it would be evidently undesirable to allow such a proceeding to pass without its involving the perpetrator of it in some liability or obligation. There are other cases in which the person nominating does not, through want of information, give a correct description of his friends—such, for instance, as the ages and numbers of children. —when it is desirable, for the sake of example, if for nothing else, to tako promissory notes in case the emigrant is unable to pay what is required in cash. Under circumstances such as I have named, and others of a similar exceptional nature, I presume I am right in understanding that discretion will be allowed me to take promissory notes. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 27. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, Ist December, 1879. I have the honor to report as follows as to the proceedings of my department during the month of November :— I have, in accordance with the instructions received by telegram from the colony, endeavoured to limit the emigration of nominated people as far as possible. A large numbor, however, have communicated with this office respecting their nominations; and I shall therefore he glad to receive instructions as to the date when I can entertain their applications for passages. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
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No. 28. The Aoent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 3rd December, 1879. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a telegram (copy attached) from the Hon. the Premier respecting the "Knowsley Hall," and desiring me to urge on the Admiralty the desirability of their sending a vessel to search the Crozet Islands. Immediately on its receipt I waited personally on Admiral Hall, the Secretary to the Admiralty. I found that Admiral Hall was not at all favourable to a compliance with my request. He, however, on my pressing its urgency, left me, to discuss it with the Lords of the Admiralty. After some time, he returned with an unfavourable answer. I felt the matter was too important to be left in this condition, so I asked the First Lord to see me himself. After most courteously listening to the strong representations I made, he asked me to embody them in a letter. This I did; and lam glad to say that the reply was favourable. I herewith transmit copy of the correspondence, by which you will observe that the Admiralty have decided to order H.M.S. "Comus" to examine the Crozet Islands for the purpose of ascertaining whether any shipwrecked people are among them. I may remark that I agree with the Admiralty as to the danger and inexpediency of ships running so close to these islands; and I would suggest for the consideration of the Government whether, in arranging for any shipping contract, it would not be well to insert a provision by which the ships taking Government emigrants or cargo shall not proceed above the latitudes recommended by the Admiralty in the parliamentary papers long since published. You will observe by the letter from the Admiralty that the Imperial Government will not take any steps towards establishing a depot on these islands. Under such circumstances, and as, no doubt, the feeling of enterprise which pervades the mercantile marine will from time to time prompt captains to take their vessels along the route which lies in their neighbourhood, I think it would be very desirable, if possible, to establish a depot there by means of private contributions, aided by the colonial Governments. With this object in view, I added to the telegram, which I have this day sent to the Hon. the Premier informing him that H.M.S. " Comus " would search the Crozets, a paragraph asking if the Government in New Zealand will grant any aid towards the cost of such a depot. I have, &c., Junus Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
Enclosure 1 in No. 28. The Premier to the Agent-General. (Telegram.) Wellington, 26th November, 1879. Great anxiety respecting ship " Knowsley Hall." Urge Admiralty order search Crozets. Vogel, London. Hall.
Enclosure 2 in No. 28. The Agent-General to the Right Hon. the First Lord of the Admiralty. Sir., — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 28th November, 1879. I have the honor to avail myself of the permission you gave me at the interview I had with you yesterday to reopen the question of sending one of Her Majesty's ships to the Crozet Islands to search for supposed survivors of the " Knowsley Hall." It is, of course, impossible to express a positive opinion that the " Knowsley Hall " was wrecked off the Crozet Group, but, looking at the various causes which may have contributed to her loss, I am fortified by good authority in saying that wreck off the Crozets is the most probable. Such also is the opinion in ISlew Zealand, as the telegram of the Premier of the colony which I submitted to you yesterday attested. The question then is, should the doubt be set at rest by succour being sent in case of its being needed. Actual experience has shown, in the case of the wreck of the " Strathmore," that life may be supported for a considerable time on these desolate islands; but, even were it otherwise, and no survivors remain to tell the tale, it would at least be satisfactory that the dead should be buried, and some precaution taken for the future. For it is much to be regretted that no stores were deposited on the islands when H.M.S. " Wolverine " called there. I would indeed submit that in the interests of humanity, if there were no reason to suppose that the survivors of the '.' Knowsley Hall " were in the islands, stores should be deposited there. I would further submit that the nearly three years which have elapsed since the last visit was paid to the islands, is a long interval to leave without inspection a dangerous group of islands in the immediate vicinity of the commonly-used track to Australia and New Zealand. It is true that the adoption of a high-latitude route, which brings vessels near to the Crozets, is in opposition to the express recommendation of the Admiralty. This is, indeed, one of the arguments which I understood Admiral Hall to lay stress upon as a reason for not sending one of Her
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Majesty's vessels to the spot. I must respectfully submit that the merchant marine of Great Britain has grown up by the exercise of a fearless enterprise, which relied on itself rather than on Government aid. Notwithstanding the opinion of the Admiralty, merchant ships continue to pass near the Crozet group. I have myself passed close to it, and probably at least a ship a week passes within three hundred miles of it. When property only is at stake, the mercantile marine usually takes care of itself; but when life or death is the question at issue, it has been usual to look to Her Majesty's ships to spare no pains, and to be deterred by no fear from rendering the promptest aid. A nation which again and again, and yet again, sent out costly expeditions to search for the remains of Sir John Franklin and his party cannot rest contented under the possibility, not to say probability, that some seventy human creatures may be wearing away their lives upon forlorn islands, close to a much-frequented track, without seeking to solve the question. Fortunately, the solution is at once easy and comparatively cheap. One of Her Majesty's vessels, with little risk or expenditure, can call off the group; and, as I have said, even if the "Knowsley Hall" survivors are not there, the cause of humanity will be served by a visit after an interval of three years, and by the establishment of a depot containing stores for the use of shipwrecked persons. I am aware that on a previous occasion My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty expressed au unfavourable opinion concerning the establishment of a depot at the Crozets, for various reasons given. Some of those reasons are partially met by Captain Brine's experience on his visit to the group in the " Wolverine;" and for the rest I respectfully urge that those reasons are not sufficiently a justification for leaving without succour a group of dangerous islands, to the near neighbourhood of which ships, whether prudently or not, are in the habit of resorting. However, I am more concerned in asking for a search after the " Knowsley Hall " than for the establishment of a depot. I may point out that, whilst I am moved in this matter by the Government of New Zealand, the question is not one of a colonial character. The vessel, it is true, was proceeding to New Zealand; but she sailed from England, and the relations and friends of the unhappy seventy people on board reside in this country. I feel sure that I am uttering an opinion that would be echoed by hundreds of thousands of persons if the facts were known, when I add that the people of this country cannot rest contented with the possibility—not to say probability—of seventy human beings being allowed to perish for want of aid on a group of islands situated about a thousand miles from Her Majesty's possessions in South Africa, and within two hundred miles of a much-frequented sea-way. I have, &c., The Right Hon. W. H." Smith, Julius Vogel, First Lord of the Admiralty. Agent-General for New Zealand.
Enclosure 3 in No. 28. Admiral Hall to the Agent-General. Sir, — Admiralty, 2nd December, 1879. In reply to your letter of the 28th ultimo, representing the necessity of sending one of Her Majesty's ships to the Crozet Islands to search for the supposed survivors of the ship " Knowsley Hall," I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to inform you that H.M.S. " Comus" will shortly proceed to China, and will be ordered to examine the Crozet Islands and ascertain if any shipwrecked people are among them. My Lords, however, observe that your letter contains no reason whatever for supposing that the " Knowsley Hall" has been wrecked on those islands, or has foundered near them. I am further to remark that their Lordships are unable to undertake to provide a depot of provisions and other stores at the Crozets; and they cannot too earnestly urge on all who have any interest in the mercantile marine of Great Britain that ships should not be encouraged to run so far south as these islands, for by doing so the masters not only endanger the lives and property in their charge, but most probably lengthen the voyage to a considerable extent. I have, &c., Sir Julius Vogel, Agent-General for New Zealand. Robert Hall.
Enclosure 4 in No. 28. The Agent-General to the Premier. (Telegram.) London, 3rd December, 1879. Have persuaded Admiralty let " Comus," shortly proceeding- China, examine Crozets. They will not establish depot there. Will Government New Zealand aid, if money privately subscribed, establish depot. Reply prompt. The Premier, Wellington. Vogel. 3-D. 2.
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No. 29. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 3rd December, 1879. Referring to my letter No. 610, of 17th July, in which I informed you of the arrangement which I had made with Mr. Julius S. Jeffreys, I have the honor to inform you that I extended his engagement from the 30th September to the 30th November, and have now again renewed it for two months; and in reference thereto I have to request you to instruct me by telegram or otherwise whether lam to continue to employ him. If you send me a telegram containing the word " Jeffreys" I shall understand that lam to renew his engagement ; if, however, you telegraph the word " Julius," I shall understand that I am not to continue it. I have reason to believe that Mr. Jeffreys has been the means of inducing several persons with capital to proceed to New Zealand. I may, however, remark that, while there is no doubt that agents such as Mr. Jeffreys and others are often instrumental in persuading persons having capital to go out to the colony with a view of settling there, yet it is a question in my mind how far the representations they make, and which are practically uncontrolled, throw responsibility on the Government in cases where the persons thus induced to go do not succeed. 1 have, &c., Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 30. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 13th December, 1879. I have the honor to inform you that I have lately received a number of letters from America, representing that paragraphs have appeared in many of the newspapers in that country stating that school-teachers were in demand in New Zealand, and referring applicants for such appointments to me. As I have not received any communication from the educational authorities in New Zealand respecting this matter, I have replied that I am unable to give any further information than that all such appointments are made by the Education Boards in the colony, to whom personal application is necessary. As I have also similar applications made to me from many persons in this country, stating that they hold good certificates as school-teachers, I shall be glad to receive from time to time such information respecting the subject as will enable me to reply more definitely than I am at present able to do. I have, &c., Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 81. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 18th December, 1879. I have not received a reply to my letter of 23rd April, No. 355,* other than a telegram.f In my letter above referred to I asked the Government for permission to enter into negotiations with the view of laying before thorn a proposal, which they could accept or not. The tone of the telegram surprised me, because it would seem as if the Government considered that I had asked them to give a definite acceptance to a proposal, whereas I was only opening the way to laying one before them. Besides, I had reason to believe the Minister for Immigration thought favourably of the suggestion. I venture therefore to reopen the subject. I have seen a little of Falmouth since I first wrote on the subject, and I should find it difficult to overrate its capabilities. Its harbour is splendid; and, as it is practically out of the Channel, the convenience to passengers who dread the Channel passage is not to be overrated. The town is at present in. a very depressed condition, and I am convinced the Government could make almost their own terms. The advantage of having a depot solely at the disposal of emigrants to New Zealand would be very great. I consider the common use of the depot at Plymouth by all the colonies a great disadvantage. Not only have our arrangements to be made to fit in with those of other colonies, but of course the risk of infection is increased by the use of the depot being so largely extended. In my opinion, if the Government had a depot here of its own it might be made almost, if not quite, self-supporting, and be the means of saving a great deal of money now spent on assisted emigration. I believe the time has come when a large number of people are willing to pay their own passages. If the Government on moderate terms allowed to emigrants the use of a depot on this side and of one in the colony, the difficulties in the way of self-paying emigrants would be largely removed. The railway service to Ealmouth is very much improved;
* No. 1, D.-7, Sess. L, 1879. t 2, D.-7, Seas. 1., 1879.
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besides, passengers could bo got there by steamer from London. Its proximity to Ireland makes Falmouth convenient for Irish emigrants. Ido not propose that the Government should erect a depot. I think an arrangement could be made with the Dock Company for the uso of a suitable building. One important circumstance in connection with Falmouth has to be considered. The time of the voyage is always calculated from the last point left, and by using Fulmouth the voyage to New Zealand will be practically shortened, sometimes by several days. I enclose to you copies of two communications I have received, by which you will see that the charges ef tb* port were overstated in the report of Mr. Smith which I enclosed in my former letter. In both these letters you will observe it- i« stated that a fixed payment might be agreed on, and in my opinion a very light one would be accepted. I have, &c., Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
Enclosure in No. 31. Mr. Howe to the Agent-General. Port of Falmouth Chamber of Commerce, Falmouth, Sir,— 18th November, 1879. I am directed by the Council of this Chamber to write you in reference to the letters, given in various newspapers, which you addressed to the New Zealand Government to advocate the claims of Falmouth to become an emigration depot for that colony. We are naturally anxious that the advantages should be well known, so that increased trade may result; but Mr. E. A. Smith's report to you tends to injure the port by not fully giving the charges. Mr. Smith states that the dock charges are 3d. per register ton; but this applies to vessels remaining in the docks a fortnight, whereas for ships only calling for passengers (who can walk on board) the charge is only Id. per register ton, and no harbour dues if the ship come direct to the docks. There is also a charge on passengers of Id. each, with from 2d. to Gd. each for luggage. If, however, vessels were calling regularly a fixed annual sum might be agreed on, to cover all charges. Whilst thanking you for what you have already done, we shall be glad if you will put the matter of charges right with the proper authorities. I have, &c, W. Rowe, Sir Julius Vogel, Agent-General for New Zealand. Secretary. Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure in No. 31. Mr. Bennetts to Mr. Tweedy. Sir,— Falmouth Docks Offices, 15th November, 1879. The docks rate for harbour dues is 3d. per register ton, for which a ship can remain a fortnight. A reduction has always been made to Id. per register ton to ships remaining only one or two days. This on a 1,200-ton ship will be from £15 to £5, Passengers are charged Id. each, with from 2d. to 6d. each on luggage. An arrangement can be entered into for a fixed sum per annum, to cover all charges. I have, &c, John P. Bennetts, R. M. Tweedy, Esq., Falmouth. Secretary.
No. 32. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 18th December, 1879. Referring to my letter No. 483, of the 23rd May, 1878*, in which I brought under your notice the practice of the Governments of Victoria and South Australia as regards the payment of the income-tax charged by the Imperial Government oil the salaries of the officers attached to the departments of their Agents-General, I have the honor herewith to transmit a memorandum, signed by the officers of my department, calling my attention to the fact that the New South Wales Government have now adopted a similar course to that of the Governments of Victoria and South Australia, and have instructed their Agent-General not only to pay out of public funds the income-tax charged against the salaries of the officers of his department, but also to refund the amounts previously paid by them. I venture to suggest that the officers of my department be placed on a similar footing to
•No. 21, D.-2, 1878.
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those belonging to the Australian Agencies, as otherwise, I think, considerable dissatisfaction will be felt. The work of the office is very heavy, my officers are most industrious and willing, and they feel that they should be placed on a not worse footing than the officers of other Agencies. Their salaries were not fixed with a view to their being subjected to the pressing and uncertain deductions the income-tax imposes. It does not seem to me compatible with the dignity of a Government to allow the salaries appointed by it in payment of the services of its officers to be diminished by the exactions of other Governments. I have, &c, _ JjJZKJS ¥©&££) — The Hoii. ike iliiiistsr fci 1 Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 33. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister, for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, Ist January, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th November, No. 228,* relating to the plans for the conduct of emigration to the colony. In reply I beg to state that I will give my earnest attention to your wishes in the matter, and to the remarks on the various points contained in your letter. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 34. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, Ist January, 1880. I have the honor to report as follows as to the proceedings of my department during the month of December :— There still exists a strong desire to emigrate to New Zealand amongst a large number of people in this country, and a number of applications for free or assisted passages are daily received at this office. Mr. Bathgate, Mr. Clayden, and Mr. Julius Jeffreys continue to lecture and hold communications with persons thinking of emigrating to New Zealand. There would probably be no difficulty in commencing to send out emigrants at the end of June or the beginning of July, if I receive instructions as to the requirements of the colony in that respect not later than April next; although an earlier intimation would be desirable, as it is important in the selection of suitable emigrants that sufficient time be allowed after notice is given of the resumption of emigration to enable persons thinking of emigrating—first, to make up their minds ; secondly, to apply, and be approved; and, thirdly, to complete their preparations for the voyage, &c. Herewith I enclose statement showing the number of emigrants despatched by this department during the past year of 1879, by which it will be seen that the total number of 8,071 souls, equal to 6,909^ statute adults, were despatched during that period, of which number 4,649 souls, equal to 3,967 statute adults, were nominated emigrants. These do not include those who went in the special ships for farmers, to a few of whom I gave some assistance towards the cost of their passages. I would take occasion to remark that the management of the past year's emigration has been peculiarly difficult, arising, no doubt, from the exceptional circumstances which have existed both in this country and in the colony. In the early part of the year I received instructions to send out a large number of emigrants by steamer, and also to commence to advertise for applications for free passages by ships sailing during the emigration season, which in previous years had usually commenced about the end of June. I was also instructed to place myself in communication with the Imperial Governmentf with respect to the despatch of 6,000 emigrants, concerning which the Hon. the Premier had telegraphed direct to the Secretary of State ; and in case the Imperial Government declined the ofi'er thus made to them, I was directed to increase the number of emigrants for the year by 2,000, ■which instruction was, however, on my asking by cablegram for an explanation, modified by one directing me to send out 1,000 emigrants, so as to arrive during the winter months. The result of advertising, and of the action taken by the Imperial Government in communicating to the Boards of Guardians in this country, information to the effect that New Zealand required 6,000 emigrants, coupled with the extraordinary state of distress then and since existing, brought to this office an enormous number of applications for free or assisted passages from persons of all descriptions and classes from every part of the United Kingdom, and had I not
*JN To. 2, D.-U, Sess. 11., 1879. fD--2, Sess. 11., 1879.
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previously dispensed with the services of 123 local agents, these numbers would have, no doubt, been considerably increased. The number of communications received at this office about this time from intending emigrants, some applying for passages, some for information respecting the colony, exceeded any that had ever previously been received, numbering for weeks at the rate of a thousand letters a day. Under such circumstances, I deemed it necessary in April to inquire of the Government by cablegram what number of emigrants would be required in addition to those already ordered,-and was instructed in reply to arrange only for 2,000. This necessitated my at once taking steps to stop, as far as possible, the enormous number of applications which were daily pouring in from all quarters. I had already withdrawn all advertisements ; but, as that step had only a small effect in reducing the number of applications, I issued a special advertisement stating that no further applications could be received. I continued to entertain applications from persons nominated in the colony; but the numbers of this description of emigrants increased month by month, until towards the end of the year I was able to fill three ships a month with nominated emigrants only. As evidence of the largely-increased number of nominated emigrants, I would point out that, whereas out of 77,897 statute adults sent out by this department since the commencement of emigration under the General Government, up to 30th November, 1878, only 9,977-| were nominated—that is, about 13 percent, of the whole number —during the past year, out of 0,907^ statute adults, 3,907 were nominated —that is, about al\ per cent. In August, however, I received a telegram from the colony instructing me to reduce the number of emigrants ordered as much as possible. As I had already stopped entertaining any applications except from nominated persons, and as I did not suppose that the Government intended me not to send out that description of emigrants if they desired to go, the only step left me to take was to discontinue sending out notices to nominated persons inviting them to avail themselves of the passages offered to them. Within a few days of the receipt of this telegram, I received instructions by cablegram to require male adult emigrants to pay £o towards the cost of their passage. This system I commenced, as regards nominated persons, on the Ist September. The applications, however, from nominated persons did not fall off, and sufficient numbers came forward, as I have previously stated, to fill three ships every month. In October, however, 1 received further instructions to suspend even nominated emigration so far as I possibly could; and this I have done so as to limit emigration since the end of November to one shipment of about seventy emigrants, from the Clyde to Otago. lam glad to be able to report that, notwithstanding the heavy strain to which my department was put, both on account of the enormous amount of correspondence, and the frequent and somewhat sudden changes in the mode of conducting emigration during the past year, few, if any, complaints or dissatisfaction have apparently been caused to the very numerous correspondents and applicants communicating with this department. I was compelled to add largely to the number of clerks iv the department; and their being engaged only temporarily, and not beiug accustomed to the work of this office, required much extra supervision on the part of the permanent officers of the department. Mr. Ilolloway was actively engaged in seeing and reporting on intending emigrants of the working-classes during the early part of the year: and I may specially mention his efficient services in the obtaining of the fifty colliers whom I was instructed to send to Nelson. The despatching of the ships from the Clyde has been, I believe, very efficiently conducted by Mr. Otty well, who has also, as local agent for Glasgow and Edinburgh, performed his duties in a very satisfactory manner., a number of very suitable emigrants having been selected through his agency. It is, I think, a matter of congratulation that all the ships conveying Government emigrants, both from Plymouth and Glasgow, were despatched, with hardly an exception, with punctuality, and also without an accident or exceptional mishap, such as detention from epidemic. Tho only special misfortune which has, so far as I am at present aware, marked the past year of 1879, is the almost certain loss of the " Knowsley Hall," which, however, did not contain any Government emigrants amongst its passengers. I was glad to succeed in this case in inducing the Imperial Government to send out Her Majesty's ship " Comus " to search the Crozets for the survivors, should they have been wrecked there; and also to have been instrumental in sending out a quantity of stores to form a depot on those islands for the use of any persons who may be shipwrecked there at any future time. An uuprecedentedly large number of publications respecting New Zealand have been issued during the past year. So numerous were the applications for information respecting the land regulations and the prospects of farming in New Zealand, that I was induced to prepare and publish a pamphlet entitled " Land and Farming in New Zealand," in which the Land Act of 1877 was given in extenso, with copies of maps which I had received from the colony, and sundry other useful information. So great a demand ensued for this book that the first edition of 5,000 copies was quickly disposed of, and I have had to reprint 750 more iv order to keep up the supply required. Iv addition to these, over 4,000 Official Handbooks and several thousand of the pamphlet containing the paper which I read at the Colonial Institute, together with large numbers of Mr. Berry's and Mr. Claydcn's pamphlets, and also of almanacs and books sent from the colony, have been distributed throughout the
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United Kingdom. Payment has boon received for a large number, aud at one time for many weeks three or four hundred penny stamps were daily received at this office as payment for the Official Handbook and the "Land and Farming 1' pamphlet. The inquiries from professional men, such as barristers, solicitors, medical men, civil and mechanical engineers, &c, for information as to the prospects of their obtaining appointments, practices, or employment in the colony, have been very numerous. I have also received and replied to a number of communications from school-teachers of various grades, some writing from the United States and Canada, asking whether there are openings in New Zealand for persons of their vocation, lief erring to these, I would remark that it would be of great assistance to this department in replying to such inquiries, if information as to the apparent requirements of the colony in these respects were sent to me from time to time. A large amount of valuable time has been taken up, both as regards myself aud the Secretary and other officers of the department, by interviews with persons who call at this office for information. During the past year a number of gentlemen have arrived from the colony, either engaged by the Government to lecture and otherwise promote emigration to New Zealand, or with letters of introduction to me desiring me to avail myself of their seryices. I sent Mr. G. M. Reed to establish an office at Belfast, and to act in accordance with his instructions in promoting emigration, more especially in the North of Ireland. The Rev. Mr. Berry travelled through a large number of English counties, lecturing and otherwise promoting emigration of the working-class, but more especially of those who were prepared to introduce capital into the colony. A pamphlet which Mr. Berry published respecting New Zealand had a very large circulation. Mr. Julius Jeffreys has also been working with the same object in view, principally in the southern aud south-western counties of England. Mr. A. Clayden has also been engaged constantly in delivering lectures, holding meetings, and having personal interviews with intending emigrants of a superior class. Mr. J. Bathgate has been delivering lectures and otherwise promoting emigration in Scotland. The papers on the colony which he contributed to " Chambers's Journal " no doubt directed the attention of many to New Zealand as a desirable field for emigrants. Amongst those who have gratuitously given their services I may mention Mr. Sutherland (from Otago), Mr. J. Kennerley, Mr. Clements (from Auckland), and the Rev. Mr. Skinner and Captain Barry, all of whom placed themselves in communication with this office. There are no doubt many others, whose names I do not mention, who have given valuable assistance in promoting emigration to the colony. I also attach a statement showing the total quantity of railway and other materials and goods sent out by this department to the colony in pursuance of orders which have been received for execution. In additio.n to what is included in this list, this department has also supervised the part execution of several orders intrusted to contractors in the colony, a large portion of material required in such contracts having been obtained in this country through agents, who had to look to this office for supervision, directions, and payment. In another statement are shown the amount of material and goods under contract on 31st December, 1879, a large portion of which would probably have boon despatched by this time had I not received instructions from the colony to postpone their shipment as much as possible. During the past year tenders were invited for t!ic manufacture in New Zealand of 100,000 tons of steel rails. A pamphlet was carefully prepared by mo from the information furnished from the colony, and several hundreds of this pamphlet were distributed throughout the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany and other parts of the Continent of Europe. The subject appeared to raise a considerable amount of interest and attention, and a large number of communications thereon were received and answered by me. I have also during the past year received from the colony a large quantity of hematite ore and ironsand and clay, and have taken considerable trouble to bring these natural products of the colony under the notice of manufacturers in this country and on the Continent; but I found a great disinclination on their part to go to any expense or trouble in the matter. I sent a quantity of the ironsand to Messrs. Brown, Bayley, and Dixon, who promised to try it, but I have not as yet received any report from them. I have also supplied several others with small quantities for the purpose of experiment; and Mr. Rees, C.E., who is now in England from Taranaki, and is, I understand, in communication with some manufacturers on the subject, has been supplied with a quantity of the ironsand. So far as I can judge, the hematite ore would—at all events at present —be of no commercial value for importation to this country or to the Continent. During the past year I have received and replied to a large number of inquiries respecting the establishment of industries in the colony. Amongst the more important concerning which I have received communications, 1 may mention the manufacture of beet-root sugar, the establishment of potteries, fisheries, collieries, carpet-weaving, brush factories, paper-making, the manufacture of salt, and the cultivation of tobacco. The work intrusted to this department, in addition to that of emigration, and of the execution and shipment of orders received from the colony on behalf of every Government department there, has been increasingly onerous during the past year.
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The work involved in payment of pensions and annuities, the payment of moneys belonging to intestate estates to persons entitled to the proceeds of the same, the receipt of premiums on life policies of the New Zealand Government Insurance Office, increases year by year —the two last named, I may remark, requiring special care and vigilance. Amongst some of the special matters which have engaged the attention of this department during the past year, I may mention the conduct of the appeal case of Spence v. Pearson, the selection of a teacher of deaf-mutes, the collection of books, catalogues, and specimens of educational apparatus for the Educational Library and Museum at Wellington, and the obtaining for the colony from the Gilchrist Trustees a biennial scholarship of £100 a year for three sears. I .have also been in direct communication with the Chairman of the Governors of the Canterbury College respecting the obtaining and sending out of exhibits for the Museum of Technical Science which that Corporation are establishing at Christchurch. The collection and despatch of over a thousand birds for the Acclimatization Society of Canterbury was supervised and otherwise attended to by the officers of my department. During the great part of the year my attention and time have been exceptionally and anxiously occupied with important financial arrangements and the negotiation of the five-million loan, in both of which matters the department has contributed its assistance. I attended the session of the International Telegraph Conference as delegate for the colony, and in that capacity endeavoured to maintain such measures as I considered conducive to the interests of New Zealand. The report of the proceedings, which occupied a number of sittings, I have already forwarded to you. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General. Return showing Total Amounts of Shipments made by the Agent-General's Department during the Year 1879. 13,298 tons rails and fastenings, 1,199 sets high-wagon ironwork, 801 sets low-wagon ironwork, 20 locomotive engines, 1 vertical engine, 1 locomotive traverser, 15 composite carriages, 950 sets switches and crossings, 151 packages machinery and tools for railway workshops, 212 packages duplicates for engines, wagons, &c, 1,314 tires, 54 cases drawbars, 120 fish-plates, 2,016 pairs wheels and axles, 29 axle-boxes, 993 packages ironwork for bridges, 3 stone-breaking machines, 1,226 cases, &c, telegraph material, 975 cases telegraph insulators, 287 tons telegraph wire, 7 cases telegraph stationery, 120 knots telegraph submarine cable, 63 cases printing type, 97 cases bookbinding material, 12 wall letter-boxes, 6 cases postage-stamp paper, 17,012 gallons paraffine oil, 260 kegs sulphate of copper, 429 packages ordnance stores, £3,000 bronze and silver coin, 25 cases Snider rifles, 1,000 cases cartridges, 119 cases fuses, 1,084 cases stationery, 10 bales blankets, 10 cases sheets, 20 bales shirts, 1 paper-cutting machine, 19 cases survey instruments, 80 packages miscellaneous goods, including tin plates, badges, lighthouse material, microscopes, enamelled plates, ink, buttons, colours, photographic material, charts, transfer sheets, coats, caps, serge, clocks, steam-gauges, swords, belts, cotton-waste, &c, &c. W. Kennaway, Ist January, 1880. Secretary. Statement showing Amount of Material and Goods under Contract on the 81st December, 1879. Thkee sets of scales for weighing engines, stationery for General Assembly Library, stationery for Legislative Council, bookbinding material, rail-fastenings (W.R. 6/79), spring balances for locomotives, brass tubes for locomotives, stationery for Railway Department, envelopes for Post Office, enamelled plates, notice-plates for Telegraph Department, postage-stamp paper, wrapping paper, Constabulary stores (C.S. 162/79), chemicals for Telegraph Department, 500 carbines, 3,000 gallons paraffine oil, 1 locomotive wheel, savings-bank forms, colours, &c. (C.S. 135/79), telegraph stationery, 24 india-rubber plates for Fairlie bogie centres, 250 Constabulary greatcoats and 1,000 jumpers and 1,000 trousers (C.S. 110/79), stationery (C.S. 92/79), 25 horseboxes and 50 cattle-trucks and wheels and axles (P.W. 42/79), 100 drawbars, 1,500 revolvers, 200,000 rounds ammunition for revolvers, 1,500 rifles, rolling-stock (P.W. 24/79), 10 locomotive engines, clock and chronograph, cable- and anchor-testing machine, bookbinding material (C.S. 195/78), rails, fastenings, tires, stationery (C.S. 170/78), 1,500 Snider carbines, 4 composite carriages (P.W. 63/78). W. Kennaway, Ist January, 1880. Secretary.
No. 35. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. SiKj— 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 26th January, 1880. Referring to your letter No. 20 1, of 29th September last, I have the honor to enclose extract from the Times paper of the Bth instant, containing a letter which I addressed to that paper, and in which, in accordance with your instructions, I drew attention to the preserved meat which had been procured from Mr. J. Gear, of Wellington, and which had successfully stood the test of twice passing through the tropics.
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I may mention that the Secretary of the Society of Arts has since called on me and stated that he proposes to submit to the Council of that Society the expediency of offering its aid in the way of organizing the Exhibition I suggest. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 36. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 27th January, 1880. I have the honor to bring under your notice a matter affecting the question of the emigration to New Zealand of single women who are domestic servants. By your letter No. 112, of 6th May, 1875,* instructions were received by this department not to assist single women proceeding to the colony with families, and, although such instructions were limited to those families who took out the servants for their own convenience, yet practically it obliged all domestic servants wishing to obtain free passages to go in the Government emigrant ships. In the minds of many eligible domestic servants I believe there is a strong disinclination to go out in Government emigrant ships; so that, while, on the one hand, many eligible servants who would not otherwise emigrate would go to New Zealand if they were engaged by and went with families, on the other, many families who would not otherwise take out servants with them would select and engage servants if they could obtain for such servants free passages in the same ships as they themselves went. More than one instance has come under my notice in which persons wishing to engage servants and to send them out by the emigrant ships, have found great difficulty in obtaining suitable servants willing to go out in that way. My impression is that, while probably the allowing of free passages to servants going out with families would not materially increase the number, yet that it would have the effect of introducing into the colony single women who would be superior in respect to training to the average of those sent out in the emigrant ships. I therefore consider it right to bring the matter under your notice for the consideration of the Government. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 37. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 27th January, 1880. I have the honor, in continuation of my letter of the Ist instant, No. 5, to further reply to your letter No. 228, of the 6th of November last.f If the state of things existing during the past year continue to exist in England during the present year, and presuming that favourable reports will be received from the colony, I am still of opinion that the imposition of a charge of £v on each adult male would not stand in the way of my selecting desirable male emigrants to the extent which it is at all likely you will require, provided you give me an early notice of the number and descriptions which you wish me to despatch. I notice what you say regarding the wish of the Government that the suspension of emigration should only be regarded as of a temporary character. I am glad that this is your wish, because it woufd occasion great regret here if it were supposed that there was growing up in the colony a feeling against receiving these desirable members of the working-classes. At the same time I do not think it is either necessary or desirable to disguise that there is a considerable change in the position of affairs. Up to last year the colony had mainly to depend for immigrants upon the persons selected here for that purpose. It is true a large number of persons were nominated in the colony by their friends; but only an inconsiderable proportion of those thus nominated were willing to proceed. A great change has arisen in this respect. During the year 1879 the proportion of nominated immigrants to the whole sent out was 58 per cent., whilst previously it averaged only about 13. To some extent this increase of nominated emigrants is due to the dearth of employment in this country, but it is also largely due to the increased experience of previous immigrants, and the success they have met with in the colony, which they represent in sending letters to their friends here. The news of such success travels beyond the immediate circle of the persons concerned; and, as another effect, we have the very large increase of persons who proceed to the colony on their own motion, paying their own expenses. I think the Government might promote emigration on a very considerable scale, with the expenditure of much less money than formerly, if more discretion were left to the Agent-General on this side as to the terms he might offer, and if on the other side the emigrants could be assured of the use of depots for a time. The nominated system will, I believe, continue to supply a large number of
* No. 58, D.-l, 1875. t No. 2, D.-IA. Sess. 11., 1879.
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emigrants. Nominated emigrants do not, perhaps, in physique and other capabilities, quite come up to the average of carefully-selected emigrants ; but they have the great advantage of proceeding to friends who more or less are bound to see to their welfare. It rests, too, with the officers in the colony, by careful consideration of each case, to keep up the excellence of the nominations accepted, and as the range of selection increases it is to be presumed they will more vigilantly exercise discretion than when the smaller numbers appeared to make it less necessary. I notice with much interest your remarks about the class of emigrants suitable to the colony. I have not yet seen the new Land Bill or Bills as finally passed; but, supposing that they follow the line indicated by the Bill you forward to me, there is no question there will be ample competition for the land offered on such favourable terms. In connection with this subject, I may be permitted to express regret that I have been prevented from offering encouragement to the laying-on of vessels for the exclusive carriage of middle-class passengers. I believe, if the system commenced by the "Wanganui" had been continued, it would have been found most valuable. I will endeavour to give effect to your wishes as to the discretion I am to exercise regarding nominated families who arc likely to have exceptional chances of finding immediate employment on their arrival in the colony. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 38. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 28th January, 1880. Referring to your letter No. 243, of the 19th November last, requesting me to afford you information respecting the payments made to the Rev. Mr. Berry for the seven months ending August last, I have the honor to inform yon, in the first place, that on Mr. Berry's arrival from the colony the alternative arrangement of placing the whole of his services at my disposal for a period of six months was adopted, as it was obvious that his simply confining himself to lecturing would not promote the object which the Government had in view so much as his also using other means, such as personal interviews, and otherwise communicating with intending emigrants. In May last Mr. Berry applied to me to know whether his engagement would be extended, expressing at the same time his willingness to continue it if satisfactory arrangements could be made. As there was evidence that Mr. Berry was very successfully carrying into effect the intentions of the Government when he was engaged in the colony, and that, if he discontinued, his work at the end of the six months, he would leave much that he began unfinished, I took upon myself the responsibility of extending his engagement for three months, ending 30th September last, which, I may remark, is the most important part of the year for doing work such as that in which Mr. Berry was employed; and, as he represented that his travelling and other expenses were much heavier than he anticipated, I agreed to increase the rate of his remuneration by .£2O a month. In thus continuing Mr. Berry's engagement I considered that I was acting entirely in accordance with the intentions of the Government when they determined to employ Mr. Berry and others in the promotion of emigration to the colony. In my monthly report, dated June 2nd, for the month of May last, I stated that I had extended his engagement for another three months—namely, from July to September (both inclusive); but I regret to find that no separate communication was made to the Government at the time, giving the particulars of the increased rate of remuneration. The sum, therefore, of £370 is made up of six months' remuneration at .£5O per month, and one month at .£7O. Mr. Berry, in July, brought under my notice the subject of his re-engagement after the end of September, and I thereupon referred his proposals to the Government in my letter to yourself (No. 605, of July 16th); and, on receiving in reply the Hon. the Premier's telegram of the 12th September, I at once informed Mr. Berry of the Government's decision; and his engagement was thereupon terminated on the 30th September last. I have, &c., Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 39. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sik, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 2nd February, 1880. I have the honor to report as follows as to the proceedings of my department during the month of January:— 4—D. 2.
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I shall not, so far as I can at present judge, have to engage any more ships for the conveyance of emigrants, either nominated or otherwise, until I am in receipt of instructions from you which will necessitate my doing so. Although there are not so many full-paying passengers going out to New Zealand at the present time as in the previous months, yet 1 believe that, if favourable reports from the colony are received, a large number of suitable people will proceed to New Zealand during the summer and autumn months of this year, and that if you require a number of emigrants belonging to the farming class, there will be no difficulty in obtaining them, as well as any others, such as carpenters, bricklayers, blacksmiths, &c. Mr. Clayden and Mr. Bathgate continue to lecture and hold meetings in various parts of the country. Mr. Julius Jeffreys has received notice that his services will not be required after the end of this month. The demand for information respecting the colony continues, and there are now only about 600 copies of the " Official Handbook " and about 350 of the " Land and Farming " pamphlet left in stock. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 40. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 10th February, 1880. I have the honor to transmit copy of correspondence which I have had with Mr. W. Marshall on his making application for specimens of New Zealand products to illustrate the lectures which he proposes to give in some of the principal cities on the continent of Europe, and in reference thereto have to request you to inform me whether the Government wish any action to be taken towards complying with Mr. Marshall's request. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
Enclosure in No. 40. Mr. Marshall to the Agent-General. Sir, — 1, Place dcs Terreaux, Lyons, 26th January, 1880. See enclosed extract from " The Colonies and India." It is thought that lectures, accompanied by exhibition of colonial products, will do much towards drawing public attention to the immense resources of the colonies. Samples or specimens, maps, engravings, or photographs, would be much appreciated by the public. Ido not suppose anybody here has ever seen a specimen of native flax or kauri gum. If you are good enough to send a small collection of different things, please address same as indicated in above extract. Am expecting a large collection from Washington, United States; think, though, the public will be more interested in what represents Australasia—New Zealand in particular, as it can furnish Europe many things. I have, &c., The Agent-General for New Zealand. William Marshall. Copy of Extract. Mr. W. Marshall (Membre de la Societe de Geographic, Lyon) is authorized by the French Minister of the Interior and of Public Instruction to give a series of lectures, at the Palais dv Commerce, Lyons, on the United States, and on Great Britain, her colonies, and India. As it is important to create public interest in our colonies, especially in regard to commerce and agriculture, it is requested that prospectuses, samples, and specimens of colonial products be forwarded for exhibition. These lectures are free, and it is proposed to give them also at Paris, Geneva, and Brussels. Address W. M., Palais dv Commerce, Lyon. P.S.—All objects of value will be returned immediately after being exhibited.
No. 41. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 12th February, 1880. I have the honor to transmit herewith copy of letter which I have received from the honorary secretary to a society which has been recently formed for the purpose of promoting the
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emigration of women to the colonies, under conditions set forth in the printed prospectus which I also enclose, together with a copy of my reply. At an interview which I had a short time ago with a gentleman representing the society, I pointed out that, while no doubt there was a largo continuous demand for good experienced domestic servants in New Zealand, yet it would be, in my opinion, necessary, before encouraging a special emigration of educated women not accustomed to such service, to institute careful inquiry as to the openings for their employment when they arrived in the colony. I shall therefore be glad to receive such information as will enable the society to judge how far it is expedient to promote such emigration so far as New Zealand is concerned. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, AVellington, Agent-General.
Enclosure 1 in No. 41. Mrs, Walter Browne to the Agent-General. Women's Emigration Society, Sir, — 38, Belgrave lload, London, S.W. I am instructed by the committee of the Women's Emigration Society to forward to you the enclosed statement of the Society's objects and list of proposed rules. I am to ask whether, if you approve of these, you would be kindly willing to apply to the Government of New Zealand for detailed information as to the extent of the demand for women in different parts of the colony, who belong to the more educated classes, but who are yet prepared to make themselves generally useful as to the particular occupations for which such women are required. You will observe the Society by no means limits itself to sending out women of this class; but it is the class with regard to which the greatest caution is clearly required, and as to which the committee are anxious to obtain the fullest information. With regard to women emigrating as domestic servants, I trust we may consider that any applying through this Society will be placed by the Emigration Office on the same footing as those applying direct, provided they fulfil the required conditions. Waiting for the favour of a reply, I have, &c, Effie S. Browne, Sir Julius Vogel. Hon, Sec.
Enclosure 2 in No. 41. The Agent-General to Mrs. Walter Browne. Madam, — 7, Westminster Chambers, S.W., 13th February, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note without date, but the envelope bearing the postmark of the 11th instant, containing a statement or prospectus of the Women's Emigration Society. I will submit a copy of your note and enclosure to my Government, and advise you of the result as soon as I know it. In the meanwhile applications recommended by your Society which come within the qualifications and conditions of the emigrants I am empowered to send out, will receive due consideration. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, Mrs. Walter Browne. Agent-General for New Zealand.
No. 42. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 20th February, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 3rd January, No. 1, enclosing copy of an application from the Rev. Joseph Berry for an additional allowance for his services. I do not think Mr. Berry at all overstates his case or the work he did. He laboured indefatigably, and, I believe, with good results. I should think also that the pecuniary results are as he has stated them, and if he had made his applicaton through me I should have recommended it for favourable consideration. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon, the Minister for Immigration, Agent-General.
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No. 43. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir,— 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 20th February, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 3, of the 3rd January, enclosing copies of telegrams respecting the ships " Waitara," " Southesk," "Euterpe," and "Hereford;" the three first named being private passenger ships, and the last a Government emigrant vessel. lam glad to observe so very favourable a report respecting the " Hereford " and of the emigrants which I despatched iv that vessel. Your letter also transmits copies of memoranda respecting the disposal of Crown lands, and also copies of "The Land Act 1877 Amendment Act, 1879," and " The Public Reserves Sale Act, 1879," Referring to that portion of your letter in which you allude to the difficulty which occurred to me in respect to the number of emigrants ordered for the past year, I may explain that precise instructions were sent to me, practically limiting the number of emigrants to 3,000, and subsequent instructions did not appear to me to override them ; but I now understand that I am empowered to send out emigrants in accordance with the terms indicated in your letter now under reply. I am glad to observe that the Government have given directions that all the facilities afforded to Government emigrants shall also be granted to persons who have paid for their own passages. I have felt similar apprehension to that which you have given expression to, as to the prospects of many of those who, during the past year, have proceeded to the colony paying for their own passages; but, the Government having decided to send from the colony special agents to promote emigration, I aided those gentlemen who were thus employed to the best of my ability. I did not think that 1 was justified in throwing difficulties in the way, but I could not help feeling that, whilst they might successfully promote emigration to a large extent, yet that the danger existed of their encouraging unsuitable persons to proceed to the colony. A few discontented people may make their complaints widely known, both in the colony and here. It is quite possible that, whilst the actual balance of tho operations of these agents will be largely beneficial to the colony, it may appear on the surface to be otherwise. I have frequently taken the opportunity of pointing this out verbally to them, and I expressed myself in similar terms in my letter to you, No. COS, of 16th July last. I have now issued, iv accordance with your directions, a letter to the gentlemen who are still acting as agents, again calling their attention to the importance of not encouraging unsuitable persons to proceed to the colony. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 44. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, Ist March, 1880. I have the honor to report as follows as to the proceedings of my department during the month of February : — On the 25th February the ship " Geraldine Pagct" sailed from Plymouth for AVellington with 206 souls, equal to 178-| statute adults, including 108 single women. These emigrants arc principally for Wellington, but there are a few for Canterbury and other parts of the colony, whom the Shipping Company undertake to forward to their destination. On receipt of the Hon. the Premier's telegram of the 26th ultimo, intimating that the number of unemployed in the colony were numerous and increasing, I communicated the substance of it to those gentlemen who are still engaged in promoting emigration, and I am, in accordance with the instructions contained therein, warning men without means that the present is not a favourable time for them to proceed to the colony. I had previously issued a circular to Mr. Reed, Mr. Clayden, Mr. Bathgate, and others, embodying the views expressed in your letter No. 3, of 3rd January last. As intimated in my last report, I do not intend to engage any ship for the conveyance of emigrants until I receive instructions from you which will necessitate my doing so; but, as I presume that ships will be despatched with nominated emigrants during the English summer and autumn months of the year, I shall probably shortly give notice of the Government's intention to grant free passages to single women who are experienced domestic servants. I have withdrawn for the present from circulation the printed sheet, a copy of which I sent with my report for January. I thought that, under the circumstances mentioned iv the Hon. the Premier's telegram, it would be the safest course to pursue. . The " Official Handbook " is now practically out of print, the number of copies now on hand being under 300. I may mention that Messrs. Money, Wigram, and Co/s steamer "Norfolk" is being despatched direct for New Zealand, and an announcement is made of the establishment of a
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new line of sailing ships from Glasgow to the colony. The latter is named the " Shire Line," and the ships belonging to it are owned by Messrs. Law and Sons, of Glasgow. Mr. Clayden and Mr. Bathgate continue to lecture and hold meetings in various parts of the country. I have, &c., Julius Vogel. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
No. 45. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, sth March, 1880. Referring to the telegram from the Hon. the Premier, copy of which I herewith enclose, I have the honor to inform you that, as no previous communication to which the telegram could apply had reached m&, I referred it to Mr. Bathgate for explanation, and I herewith transmit a copy of his reply. As Mr. Batbgatc's explanation appeared to me the natural one under the circumstances, I have acted under the authority which 1 assume the Government desire to give me, and have granted Mr. Bathgate an extension of six weeks to the time originally granted him for leave of absence. I have, &c., Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
Enclosure 1 in No. 45. The Hon. the Premier, to the Agent-General. (Telegram.) Wellington, 28th February, 1880. Bathgate decide. Vogel, London. Hall.
Enclosure 2 in No. 4-5. Mr. Bath gate to the Agent-Guneral. Sib, — London, 2nd March, 1880. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your secretary's letter of Ist March. The tele•gram from the Hon. the Premier of New Zealand to you, " Bathgate decide," refers to a suggestion made by me in a letter to the Hon. the Minister of Immigration of date January Ist, that I should, for the reasous therein stated, remain in England for three months louger than was at first intended. I requested that in the event of my suggestion being approved a telegram should be sent, "Approve/ Instead of doing so, the Premier has wired to you to decide. I now respectfully submit that, if I am bound to leave on April 28th, as 1 must do to reach the colony within the year, it will not be so satisfactory for the interest of the colony as if I remained in this country a short time longer. I am still engaged in correspondence with intending emigrants of the best kind—agriculturists with means. I am specially invited to deliver addresses to the Midland Farmers'" Club, the Chamber of Commerce, Birmingham, the farmers at Lincoln, Louth, Hull, Dumfriesshire, and other quarters. I send you letters received from Mr. Saxelby, Hollywood, near Birmingham, as an instance of the correspondence in which lam engaged. He is anxious that I. should appear before the Farmers'1 Club in the beginning of May, to meet the effect of a paper on the North-western States of America, read by Mr. Finlay Dun, the Times reporter, at the last meeting of the club. To do all I have mapped out will require much more time than I have at my disposal before the 28th April. These meetings are solely for the purpose of interesting agriculturists. 1 leave for Bewdley to-morrow, on the invitation of Mr. Joseph Tangye, the eminent machinist of Birmingham, to lecture at Kidderminster on Thursday, that place being considered the best agricultural centre. I enclose you a copy of the handbill and letter inviting gentlemen to the platform, showing the object of the lecture to be for the information of agriculturists. I should regret if the limited time left me precluded me accomplishing what I have in view. I therefore repeat my willingness to remain here as expressed in my letter to the Government; but, on the other hand, I now feel a strong desire to rejoin my friends. I suggest that the extension of my leave be restricted to six weeks, which time, if I keep well, will enable me to overtake with comfort the most pressing engagements opening up. "New Zealand, its Resources and Prospects," lias had a ready sale. Although iv the hands of the trade little more than fourteen days, the first edition of 2,000 copies has disappeared, and a second is now issuing. I enclose the card of the shipping firm to which I recently referred. I have, &c., The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. John Bathrate.
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No. 46. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, Bth March, 1880. Referring to your letter No. 272, of the 30th December last, I have the honor to transmit copy of a circular which is being issued, containing the information furnished by you concerning the manner in which the household and other effects imported by passengers into New Zealand are dealt with by the Customs authorities. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
Enclosure in No. 46. I am directed by the Agent-General to furnish you, for the information of intending emigrants to New Zealand, with a copy, as given below, of an extract from a letter, dated 30th December, 1879, received from the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. " It is the practice of the Customs of this colony to give a very liberal interpretation to the exemptions specified in the tariff of passengers' baggage and effects, and to admit free of duty all household and other effects imported by passengers for their own private use, and not for sale. Such articles would also be treated in the same manner if the owner, from any cause, had to leave them behind, and they were scut out by a vessel following the one in which he took his passage." Walter Kennaway, Secretary.
No. 47. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 19th March, 1880. I have the honor to transmit copy of a report which I have received from Mr. G. M. Reed of his proceedings as Emigration Officer in the North of Ireland. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General,
Enclosure in No. 47. Mr. G. M. Heed to the Agent-General. New Zealand Emigration Office, 2, Customhouse Square, Sir,— Belfast, 13th March, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your circular of the 25th February, in which you notify instructions received from the Government in the colony, urging '* the great importance of not in any way encouraging the emigration of unsuitable persons to the colony." You say that in his despatch the Hon. the Minister for Immigration states that " on the whole he is favourably impressed with the class of people who have come out of their own accord. Those of the agricultural class will, he has no doubt, do well; but he fears there will be considerable distress among those of the class of architects, surveyors, engineers, and tradespeople generally : and he further adds that it is impossible not to recognize that great difficulties may arise from indiscreet puffing of the colony." I have also the honor to acknowledge memorandum from Mr. Kcunaway, Secretary, of 27th February, notifying your receipt of a telegram from the Premier, stating that " the unemployed are numerous and increasing," and desiring the Agent-General " to warn men without means against coming out at present." lat once acted on these instructions, and should have formally replied ere this, but that I was waiting for leisure in order to take the opportunity of reporting to you generally on the method I have adopted in relation to emigration, and in accordance with your instructions, received from time to time, since I came over to Ireland. With regard to the first three months, May, June, and July, 1879, the correspondence was so great as to keep myself and my clerk fully employed, from which circumstance, and the great number of persons calling at the office for consultation and advice, I was unable to visit the country districts except to a limited extent. During these months I came in contact chiefly with the class of farm-labourers and domestic servants, whom I encouraged to emigrate by representing fairly, I think, the existing condition of affairs in the colony; selecting, also, and approving such a number for free and assisted emigration as you prescribed for the North of Ireland. I also encouraged the emigration of carpenters, "blacksmiths, masons, and bricklayers, knowing as I did that at that time there was demand for such, and having- no instructions to the contrary.
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I also came in contact with a considerable number of farmers, who came to consult me as to their prospects of disposing of their farms and emigrating. To these I held out warm encouragement. In the latter part of July and in August I proceeded to the farming districts in the north of Antrim and borders of Londonderry, lecturing at Coloraine, and meeting with farmers at Bushmills, Portrush, and in the district near Ballymoncy. Subsequently, in August, I proceeded to Counties Fermanagh and Tyrone, lecturing in the public halls of Ermiskillen and Omagh, and holding meetings with farmers in the surrounding districts, and at Clones, in County Monaghan, when returning. During this period I addressed myself mainly to farmers, explaining the prospects presented, and announcing the giving of assisted passages to farmers in special cases, this concession being withdrawn at the end of the month. I also encouraged the emigration of farm-labourers and domestic servants, intimating, however, at all times, that free and assisted passages had ceased; and, in reply to inquiries, I always stated the rate of wages ruling for various employments, as furnished to me by the Immigration Department on the reports of the several Immigration Agents in the colony. In the month of September I visited the southern portion of County Down, lecturing or speaking to meetings of farmers at Downpatrick, Newcastle, Kilkeel, Warrenpoint, and the district near Newry. These meetings, both by posters and by special invitations conveyed through friends and acquaintances acting for me, were expressly stated to be for farmers and farm-labourers; but as some of all classes attended, and entered into the discussions which I invited, I gave such information about the prospects of various classes as was required, discriminating, I think, with care between those who should and those who should not go to the colony. For a good part of the month of October I was laid up with bronchitis, and unable to do much beyond the requirements of the office. In the month of November I visited a fine farming district in the borders of Counties Armagh, Monaghan, and Tyrone, lecturing and holding meetings of farmers at Monaghan, Middletown, Tynam, Coolkill, Caledon, and Glasslough. During the close of the month and beginning of December I proceeded to Plymouth to see the last emigrant vessels of the season off, returning by London. In December, after a short visit to County Armagh, I went over to Scotland, to see one of the emigrant vessels leave the Clyde. On returning I visited the northern portion of County Down, meeting with farmers at Bangor and Donaghadee. Thereafter I had meetings with farmers in the districts around Ballymena and Lame, in County Antrim. I subsequently proceeded to Cookstown, the farming district around which I visited to some extent, as well as the neighbouring district near Magherafelt, &c. The first half of January I devoted to the district in the western portion of County Down, around Bainbridge, where I lectured and had interesting meetings with farmers at Dromore, near Hillsborough, and Scarva, and in the vicinity of Bainbridge. In the latter half of the month I visited County Monaghan, and, making Ballibay as the centre, gave considerable attention to a very interesting farming district. At my lecture in Ballibay, by preliminary arrangements, I had a hall filled with farmers almost exclusively, many coming from great distances. I had also meetings with farmers at Cahans, Smithborough,Newbliss,Three-mile House, and numerous private interviews in various parts of the country. At each lecture and meeting I distributed large numbers of the pamphlet, " New Zealand, the Home for the Emigrant." In February I visited the borders of Cavan and Fermanagh Counties, interviewing farmers in the districts of Lisnaskea, Newtownbutler, and Belturbet. I also visited the district on the western shores of Lough Neagh, County Derry, lecturing and meeting with farmers at Mavola Park, Castledawson, Magherafelt fair, and in the district around Magherafelt, Tren, "and Dungannon. I also lectured in the County-town of Antrim, and interviewed farmers in the districts; also lectured at Ballinahinch fair, and visited and interviewed farmers in that portion of the County Down. At each lecture and meeting I distributed pamphlets. In all these lectures and meetings since I began, my special aim was to enlist the interest of farmers, and any reference to other interests was only secondary. When questioned, I have always stated, to the best of my knowledge, the prospects presented to others; and I can with certainty declare that I have never lectured once without making special and distinct enumeration of the classes and persons that I considered unsuitable for the colony. Until I received the last instructions, I have, while mentioning that depression had extended over the colony and pro* duced want of employment in some places, held out encouragement to farm-labourers and domestic servants. Similarly, though not to such an extent, I formerly encouraged the four trades—carpentei'Sj blacksmiths, masons, and bricklayers. All varieties of the genus " clerk " I have pointedly discouraged ; and that numerous and well-known class of men, of no particular calling, who are " prepared to turn to anything that offers." Shopmen of all kinds, and those of other trades than those specified above, I have refrained from encouraging; but when they are determined on going, and are willing to take the chance, I have always given them the best information and advice I know. With reference to farmers —to whom I have always considered it my special duty to direct my attention —I may briefly state that I have found everywhere throughout the North of Ireland
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a strong desire to emigrate —and to New Zealand, as a general thing, in preference to any other colony. But the "tenant-right—the chief asset of the farmer in Ulster—has been so depreciated by the farming disasters of the last few years that the farmers who, a few years ago, could have taken considerable capital with them, find great difficulty in realizing as much as would pay the passages of their families and leave a margin for commencing life in New Zealaud. They incline, therefore, to cling to their farms, in the hope that one good harvest may enable them to realize at something like the prices of the past; but the desire to emigrate is painfully evident. Referring to the unsuitable classes specified by the Hon. the Minister for Immigration— "architects, surveyors, engineers, and tradespeople generally"—l may state I have never been asked respecting the prospects of the first three, nor have I in any lecture or interview referred to them, or come in contact with any of them contemplating emigration. As to the little pamphlet headed " New Zealand, the Home for the Emigrant,'" I have distributed between 7,000 and 8,000 copies during the past two months. I have taken special pains that it should mainly reach the farming classes : and the distribution has taken place at the following towns, generally at fairs and markets, sometimes by the agency of farmers acting in a friendly spirit in the town lands; sometimes by my own hands, after lectures and meetings, and when passing through the country districts : At and around Bainbridge, Dromorc, Hillsborough, Ballinahinch, Downpatrick, Donaghadee, and Bangor, in County Down; at and around Tynan, Armagh, Middle town, Lurgan, Scarra, and Portadown, in County Armagh; Lisnaskea, Fivemile Town, Marquis Bridge, Enniskilleu, and Newtownbutler, in County Fermanagh; Balliboy, Monaghan, Glasslough, Clones, Smithborough, and Newbliss, in County Monaghan; Belturbet and Cootehill, in County Cavan; Omagh, Newtownstewart, Caledon, and Duugannon, in County Tyrone; Castledawson, Colcrainc, Magherafelt, and Toomc, in County Deny; Antrim, Ballymena, Lame, and llandalstown, in County Antrim, I have thus lectured, held meetings of farmers, and distributed the pamphlets at various points throughout each of the counties of Ulster except Donegal. I may add that 1 regret the withdrawal of the pamphlet, as I found it very useful in evoking an interest in the colony and in answering correspondence. I think it might be modified, and still issued with advantage. I have thus given a general view of my course of procedure since I came. The correspondence even during the winter has been considerable, and is now rapidly increasing. I have usually managed to bo in Belfast one day or part of two each week, so as to attend to what might have arisen in the office. In conclusion I may add that, though I have a strong confidence in the colony, its capabilities and its future, I do not think I have " indiscreetly puffed " it, to use the words of the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. On the contrary, lam profoundly convinced that one unsuitable emigrant does more harm than half a dozen good ones can do good; and lam confident that my words and letters have had a damping effect on the aspirations of great numbers of persons who would otherwise have been added to the ranks of unsuitable emigrants. I have, &c, G. M. Reed, The Agent-General for New Zealand. Emigration Officer.
No. 48. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 22nd March, 1880. Referring to the correspondence which has passed between us respecting the loss of the ship " Knowsley Hall," I have the honor to transmit paragraph taken from the Times, and copy of my letter to the First Lord of the Admiralty calling his attention to the same. You will be glad to see by his reply that Her Majesty's ship " Raleigh " has been ordered to call at the Island of Amsterdam for the purpose of rescuing any shipwrecked persons that may be there. I also attach a paragraph from the Times, that Her Majesty's ship " Comus " proposes to call at St. Paul's, an island close adjoining the Island of Amsterdam; so that in all probability that vessel will call at the latter island. I have, &c., Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.
Enclosure 1 in No. 48. The Agent-General to the Right Hon. the First Lord of the Admiralty. g IR _ 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 20th March, 1880. I have the honor to call your attention to the following paragraph, which appears in the Times of this morning. _ In case there is reason to believe in its correctness, I beg to suggest that it be telegraphed to the Cape, with instructions that the " Comus " or some other vessel shall visit the island with as little delay as possible. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Right Hen. W. H. Smith, M.P., Admiralty. Agent-General.
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Enclosure 2 in No. 48. Admiral Hall to the Agent-General. Sir, — Admiralty, 20th March, 1880. T am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this day's date, enclosing an extract from the Times relative to a statement made by the captain of the British ship " Vancouver" that he had observed lights on Amsterdam Island. My Lords desire me to inform you in reply that a telegram lias been sent to the Cape of Good Hope, directing H.M.S. " Raleigh," now on her way to Sydney, to examine Amsterdam Island in case of any shipwrecked crews having landed there. The " llaleigh may be expected to arrive at the Cape of Good Hope about the middle of April. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Robert Hall.
By Authority : G-eobge DmsiiUitT, Government Printer, Wellington. —1880. trice Is. 6d.] 5—D. 2.
Permanent link to this item
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Bibliographic details
EMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND. (LETTERS FROM THE AGENT-GENERAL.) [In continuation of D.-2, Sess. II., 1879.], Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1880 Session I, D-02
Word Count
25,205EMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND. (LETTERS FROM THE AGENT-GENERAL.) [In continuation of D.-2, Sess. II., 1879.] Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1880 Session I, D-02
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