PAPERS RELATING TO IMMIGRATION.
D—No. 3
16
nis Honor the Superintendent, Hawke's Bay, 27 May, 1871. Keply thereto, 5 June, 1871.
And whereas it is desirable to promote the settlement of the Province of Hawke's Bay by availing of the above provisions : This Council is of opinion that the Superintendent shall request the Governor, — (1.) To make regulations to allow of the introduction, during the year ending 30th June, 1872, of any number of immigrants not exceeding 500, to be nominated by persons resident in the Province. (2.) To cause to be brought out, during the year ending 30th June, 1872, 100 single women, to be selected by such agents in Great Britain as the Superintendent may appoint. (3.) To enter into agreements for the special settlement of such blocks of land as may be set aside for that purpose by Act during the present Session of the Council, such special settlements to be colonized free of cost to the Province and on such conditions as the Council shall determine, a free grant of the land so set aside being given in consideration thereof.
No. 25. The Hon. W. Gisboeste to His Honor J. D. Oemond. Sib, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, sth June, 1871. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th ultimo, forwarding copy of a resolution unanimously passed by the Provincial Council of the Province of Hawke's Bay in reference to the immigration which, with your Honor-'s concurrence, is recommended to be introduced into that Province under the provisions of " The Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870." 1. With reference to nominated immigrants, the Government will advise His Excellency the Governor to issue regulations so soon as they receive your recommendation as to the amount to be paid by the applicants. Without seeking unduly to control the action of individual Provinces, the Government nevertheless desire to adopt as uniform a system as circumstances will permit, and I enclose for your information the regulations which have been issued for the Province of Wellington in reference to this class of immigrants. In the meanwhile, as I understand from your telegram of yesterday's date that you are anxious at once to receive applications from Colonists, your Honor is authorized to do so under conditions similar to those adopted for the Province of Wellington, should you intend to recommend similar terms. 2. The Government are fully alive to the importance of female immigration, and are prepared to adopt your Honor's recommendation as to the number to be introduced, with proper selection and under due protection; but as the Government cannot divest itself of direct responsibility, they can only authorize such immigration as is conducted under the supervision of the Agent-General. As the Agent-General has, however, power under the 4Gth clause of the Act to appoint sub-agents, the Government will be willing to recommend to his favourable notice the names of such persons as you wish to be appointed to select the female immigrants for the Hawke's Bay Province. The Agent-General will also be instructed with respect to the dates at which you wish these immigrants to be introduced, but as the season closes in October and does not reopen until about the beginning of April, the Government do not propose to give any definite instructions on this point, contenting themselves with indicating to the Agent-General their general desire that the wishes of the Province should be carried out as far as practicable. I do not observe any intimation, either in your letter or in the resolution of the Provincial Council, as to the terms on which female immigration is recommended to be conducted. Experience shows that it will be necessary to authorize the Agent-General to oft'er as large an inducement as possible, and I should be obliged by your Honor favouring me with your views thereon. The Government is advised that it has no power to include the immigration now on its way to Hawke's Bay as within the conditions of the Act, but if you will inform me of the amount, an appropriation of money will be proposed to the Legislature at the next Session of Parliament, the amount being repaid to the Province and charged as a payment on account of immigration under the Act. 3. With reference to the proposed special settlements, I shall be obliged by your furnishing the Government with plans of the blocks of land intended to be reserved by your Honor in the vicinity, if possible, of public works, the construction of which is in progress, under direction of the Government, together with a scheme of regulations to be agreed to by the General and Provincial Governments for the settlement thereon of the immigrants proposed to be introduced for that especial purpose. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Hawke's Bay. W. Giseoene.
No. 26. Memorandum: No. 2, for the Agent-General, London. Copt of a correspondence with the Superintendent of the Province of Hawke's Bay is forwarded for your guidance. You ■will perceive that the only class of immigration at present sanctioned is that of nominated immigration, on the condition that a deposit of £5 is paid by the applicant here at the time of making the application ; but that the regulations in connection therewith have not yet been submitted by His Honor for the approval of the Government. Public Works Office, Wellington, Bth June, 1871. W. Gisboene.