Page image

D.—No. 5

The Government is to charge for these rations only the cost prices, in no event more and above the average prices ruling in the market for each article during the time these rations have been provided. These rations are to be paid for by the Immigrant before receiving the title to his land in the same proportions, and at the same intervals, as the repayment for passage money and purchase of land. No interest to be charged by Government on the price of the rations. 19. Every Emigrant can at once be naturalized in the Colony, and take the Oath of allegiance to the British Sovereign. Johk Cesab Godeffroy. and Son. Hamburgh, 20th April, 1863:

No. 22. MESSRS. GODEFFROY TO HIS EXCELLENCY TnE GOVERNOR. Hamburgh, 23rd April, 1863. Youe Excellency,— The December mail brought us a letter from the Honorable Colonial Secretary, Mr. Domett, advising the speedy arrival of Mr. Kelling, whom your Excellency had chosen to arrange with our firm the Immigration into New Zealand. In thanking your Excellency for this new mark of confidence we beg to advise the safe arrival of Mr. Kelling, but at the same time we must express the sincere regret aa re felt in perceiving by the instructions of Avhich Air. Kelling Avas bearer, the utter impossibility of furthering the views of your Excellency regarding German Immigration into New Zealand upon the proposed basis. AYe have fully explained to Mr. Kelling the alterations Avhich are quite essential to be made in the conditions if we are to take charge of this difficult task. AYe do not doubt that Mr. Kelling has referred all our objections to the decision of the Honorable the Secretary of State; nevertheless Aye cannot refrain also from making some observations to your Excellency. The propositions held out to the Emigrants to NeAv Zealand as proposed are much more unfavourable than those to many other Colonies ; the Emigrants are to refund all favors received in passages, rations and land ; the price for the latter is too high, they have not got the choice of it, but must take Avhat is assigned to them. Utterly impossible it is to enrol Emigrants to serve as border-militia, or to perform road work at a salary fixed beforehand. These distinctly worded proposals Avould be considered as enrolling troops on foreign service, which is strictly prohibited all over Germany; and as to the Avish to get road work performed by the German Immigrants beloAv the current rate of wages to other Avorkmen in the Province of Taranaki, it resembles the Coolie importation into the AVest Indies. All these conditions must be entirely done away with, if success is to attend the German Immigration into New Zealand, and if Aye are to take charge of it in Europe. Your Excellency knows us sufficiently well to be convinced that only if we are sure that the Emigrants we induce to choose New Zealand as destination, Avill feel happy in their home, we can further this emigration. We must therefore in the first instance be perfectly and morally satisfied that the conditions offered to the emigrants Avill lead to their happiness, and in the second instance a proper person should be appointed by your Excellency to act as Government Immigration Superintendent to receive and instal the immigrants, to see to their rights, wishes and necessities, at least in the beginning, when these people are unacquainted Avith the country, its habits and its language. Air. Kelling, by his frank and loyal character, by his knoAvledge of the habits of his countrymen, and of all the customs of New Zealand seems to be the proper person for this office, and we beg to draw your Excellency's attention to his paramount fitness for this most necessary Government office. It is with the highest respect that Aye sign— Your Excellency's Most obedient and humble Servants, John Cesae Godeffroy & Son. To His Excellency Sir George Grey, X.C.8., H.AI. Governor of New Zealand, Auckland.

20

PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert