B.—No. 5

No. 21. !MB. KEJiJJJiG TO THE HONORABLE THE COLONIAL SECEETABT. Hamburgh, 20th April, 1863. Sin — You will have received a letter from me dated Q-alle, Ceylon, March 17th, 1803, in which 1 asked for instruction in case that I should, for some reason or other, not be able to arrange with Messrs. Godeffroy and Son. for the expedition of German emigrants to New Zealand. I have now the honor to inform you that I arrived here on the 14th instant. Since that time T have informed myself in different ways about German emigration ; but have principally negodarted with Messrs. Godeffroy and Son. It is with regret that I have to inform you that these gentlemen refuse to send out emigrants to Taranaki under the regulations furnished by your Government. After we had discussed the subject daily, and explanations were given on both sides. I received this morning the enclosed letter, in which you will see the reasons why these gentlemen refuse to act in accordance with the Government These are principally, "good men are not to be had under them ; the Government of Germany would not allow people to emigrate on such terms ; and they (Messrs. Godeffroy and Son) will not send men out under such unfavourable conditions, for the sake of the emigrants, as well as their own interest and good repute." 1 herewith send also the terms and conditions on which these gentlemen are willing to send out emigrants, and you will see by them, that the principal points in the Government Regulations are either done away with altogether, or so much altered, that 1 have not the power to accede to them, without referring them back to you for your Government's approval. This is particularly lamentable, as much valuable time wili be lost, knowing as I do that the Government is desirous of colonising the Province of Taranaki, with the least possible delay. But I feel that I have not the power, and cannot take the responsibility upon myself, to make such material alterarations in the system of immigration into Taranaki as are proposed by Messrs. Godeffroy and Son, although it is more like the plan which was proposed by Sir George Grey. There are yet a few points of importance which I have discussed with Messrs. Godeffroy and Son, but which your Government will finally have to decide upon. One is, the number of emigrants to be sent out. These gentlemen recommend very strongly that the number of emigrants should be at least 3,000. and if possible even, during a term of years, 6,000 souls. There can be no doubt that the larger the number is, the better for the colonisation : but if you should agree to the scheme as now proposed, you would get with 500 families about 2500 souls, because each family, of which the parents are of a more advanced age, constitutes generally five members. Messrs. Godeffroy and Son also make it a condition, that the Government should engage some person who should advise and guide the immigrants when on their land, to avoid misunderstanding, dissatisfaction, and confusion. You will perhaps remember that I was of the same opinion, and recommended to you, when in A uckland, Mr. Augustus AVeyergang, of Nelson, as a fit and able man to fill this office. With regard to the passage money, you see that Messrs. Godeffroy and Son claim the originally demanded sum of £18. The reason is, that I cannot or dare not engage the emigrants myself. The agents employed by this firm are all licensed by the respective German Governments, under which they act, and are bound by a high sum in the shape of security to act in accordance with the existing emigration laws, so that 1 as a stranger would not be allowed to act in the same capacity. This firm has also to employ an agent in the Colony, and if it is only to receive the payments for the passages in the shape of Government bonds ; and this must be a trustworthy person, and must be paid for it. It might appear by this that my presence here is of little or no use : but 1 believe and I think Messrs. Godetfroy and Son would, if asked, bear me out in it, that if I or some one else had not been here to answer the many questions put by them, and to explain matters generally, that this firm at anj T rate wotdd not have acceded to send emigrants to Taranaki. I must here mention that another shipping firm. Mr. Robert M. Sloman. made also application to me to send out the emigrants, and this gentleman would do it for less money than Messrs. GodefF'roy and Son. But 1 ascertained that this gentleman, who was certainly very respectable, and possessed of main" vessels, had hitherto sent only emigrants to America, and is not so much accustomed to look to the quality of the emigrants as to the quantity ; and frequent complaints have been made by the latter of the treatment and food on board his ships. Now, as it is of the utmost importance to get such men as are required for the successful settlement in the Taranaki. forest, I should have deemed it prudent to entrust Messrs. Godeffroy and Son with the selection of our emigrants, in preference to anybody else, if I could have otherwise done so. This firm, I have heard, is very careful in the selection of men. and I shall see next month two or three vessels with emigrants for Queensland, and will then be able to judge whether our people ought to be of the same stamp, or whether they should be different in one respect or another. The Government of Queensland had sent a Mr. Heussler, on exactly the same mission for that Colony, here, as I have been sent by your Government; but this gentleman found himself equally unable to select his emigrants, and entrusted Messrs. Godeffroy and Sun with this business, in preference to any other firm. The Honorable Senator Godeflroy told me that the conditions as he lias now proposed to send emigrants to Taranaki are still far more unfavourable than any other upon which he, has sent emigrants to other Colonies. You will see that the Senator asks for power to act in my capacity as Colonial agent, in ease your Government should agree to his proposed scheme of emigration ; and in this event, I presume you will at once furnish him with this power, as 1 should in all probability, I might say certainly, not to be able to stay long enough here to complete the

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